Lavonte David Credits Lovie Smith, Hardy Nickerson
September 30th, 2024
Former Bucs head coach Lovie Smith.
Joe knew it was hidden somewhere.
And Joe found it.
Lovie Smith did something great for the Bucs organization other than hiring Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and agreeing to let Licht draft two offensive linemen in 2015.
So yesterday, much was made about how iconic linebacker Lavonte David hit the 1,500 career tackles mark, which is a combined total of tackles and assists.
Yeah, yeah, it’s wonderful, but Joe was more interested in David passing Hall of Famers Rondé Barber and Brian Urlacher this month in career solo tackles. David has 1,052, just ahead of Urlacher (1,046) and Barber (1,044), the iconic Bucs cornerback.
Against the Eagles yesterday, David also had a strip/sack, which means he recorded his 30th career forced fumble.
That puts David deeper into rare, rare territory. Consider that Bucs Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks forced 24 fumbles. Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis had 19. Linebacker Bobby Wagner has 6, and he’s considered a slam dunk future Hall of Famer playing David’s position since 2012.
David was asked about hitting 30 forced fumbles on the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday.
He said “it’s a mindset” and he credited former Bucs head coach Lovie Smith (2014-2015) and his former linebackers coach at that time, ex-Bucs Pro Bowl linebacker Hardy Nickerson. He said they taught him the approach. “That’s just something that I’ve always had my mind on since [playing for them].”
Joe never would have predicted having a warm Lovie feeling on this Victory Monday.
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September 30th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
Lovie was a great LB coach for us, back when Tony Dungy was Head Coach. He knows how to coach Linebackers, he coached up Derrick Brooks!
September 30th, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Had to have been Hardy…
September 30th, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Hardy was the first *good* Buc I knew about. Then Paul Gruber
September 30th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Nickerson belongs in the Ring of Honor.
September 30th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Hardy Nickerson changed the entire losing culture of this organization! Can’t say enough good things about him. A hero for us old timers for sure.
September 30th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Soo sad to see Ira sleeping on Lavonte. Especially since he’s watch him FIRST HAND for so long. While he sings the praises of Kuechly and Wagner…
I hope something finally clicks and our only Hall of Fame voter starts talking up Lavonte to the rest of the bunch. I know he’s conservative and doesn’t like rocking the apple cart. But Lavonte is better than John Lynch was (at their respective positions) he is right there with DB55 and Rhonde too. One of the greatest Bucs there is.
I won’t get off my soap box until this man gets his Jacket.
September 30th, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Hardy was the ultimate alpha dog! He single-handedly changed the losing culture as soon as he came here from Pittsburgh. He mentored Brooks and Sapp as well.
September 30th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
Nickerson was the beginning of the change. Thank you, Hardy.
September 30th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
LakelandBuc Says:
Lovie was a great LB coach when Tony Dungy was Head Coach.
^^^^^^^
1000% Agreed.
Although HC didn’t work out, we should absolutely appreciate and respect Lovie’s contribution to Bucs history.
September 30th, 2024 at 7:56 pm
David passing Urlacher…a recent Hall of Famer…should put him in the absolute mix for hall of fame himself. With Ira…the Mariano Rivera of Buc Hall of Fame closers…you have to like his chances eventually.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:08 pm
Never forget Lovie saying he was watching games in his basement when he had a year off and he had all kinds of special info and insights. Then we went and did the loatcdecade.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:21 pm
I really don’t get the bashing of Lovie here, outside of David and McCoy he had very little on defense, and still managed a top 10 finish. He was too soft in his playcalling, but he also made Dirk run a balanced offense with an ultra efficient run game, which is what 90% of the people in here complain about.
Also, really interesting when I was listening to Bears podcasts from last year after we beat them, and the FBI was raiding their coaches homes (and it was reported the team headquarters which turned out to be fake), it was some real soap opera stuff that was very fun to hear. Anyways, I bring it up, because in that time they were talking about Lovie Smith with such reverence, it was really remarkable compared to how you CAN like a former player or coach and not just non-stop trash them because they’re no longer here. I mean the garbage in Chicago can do that, yet people here can’t. Very odd.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:33 pm
BTW, these Lions uniforms tonight are terrible. Yeah, their normal uniforms suck, but these are even worse. Typical trash from Nike, just color in everything black and give the helmet a flat finish and call it a day.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Because of the lack of annual accolades for Lavonte, my fear is he will be overlooked for the hall of fame. He is worthy of first ballot entry in my opinion.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Hardy belongs in the Ring of Honor. He brought a toughness,and professionalism to the BUCS. His example was instrumental to the development of players like Sapp and DBrooks. Really helped get franchise on the right path.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Yes.
September 30th, 2024 at 8:55 pm
Rich McKay belongs in the Bucs Ring Of Honor. The Bucs was a laughingstock of the NFL before they hired him as GM. He drafted Hall of Fame players, lots of Pro Bowl players. He even brought a Super Bowl here!!
September 30th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
CD III TOASTED!
September 30th, 2024 at 8:59 pm
Lakelandbuc
Agreed. If he hadn’t been run off by lil Napoleon. No telling what might have happened.
September 30th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
I hope stats speak louder than words here.
Lavonte is a first ballot HOF or a crime has been committed.
September 30th, 2024 at 9:27 pm
Defense Rules, I actually think the Lions’ unis look pretty cool.
September 30th, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Agreed on the Nike garbage uniforms.
September 30th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Kick the marketing guys to the curb, those uniforms look like a Village People reunion!
September 30th, 2024 at 10:18 pm
CD strikes again…
September 30th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Hardy was my all time favorite Buc. Donnie Abraham was another.
September 30th, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Unis are ok, nothing special.. actually love the helmets though
October 1st, 2024 at 2:20 am
Unis from Nike…Somewhere Alex Karras is knocking out a horse!
Enough of this crap Nike!
October 1st, 2024 at 3:49 am
David having 30 forced fumbles to Wagner’s 6 is CRAZY. He also gets way more TFL’s than anybody else playing MLB.
October 1st, 2024 at 4:33 am
Lavonte is 34 years old and has been around. Good for him in crediting Lovie and Hardy. He is being honest. We are so lucky to have LD.
Tony Dungy is a great man and coach, and he generated others to follow suit. Raheem seems to be doing well now too. Yes, there were some bad times, but there were many good times too. That is the NFL.
Agree with others, Hardy should be in the Ring of Honor.
October 1st, 2024 at 6:56 am
A truly remarkable buccaneer. I remember Joe drooling over Lavonte’s college tape at Nebraska, and the articles highlighting how much you liked him as a prospect and fit for the Bucs. Same with Godwin.
Do it again this year, Joe, but for OLB/Edge this time. 🤞
October 1st, 2024 at 8:07 am
It’s no surprise Lavonte David would say such things about those two considering how upset he was when the Bucs jettisoned Lovie Smith for an even worse head coach.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:30 am
Nicolas, the Bucs signed Hardy in ‘93 or ‘94. They drafted Gruber in the first round in 1988.
October 1st, 2024 at 11:07 am
I liked the Lion’s unis–especially the helmets! That’s the only thing I like about them, though.