Lavonte David’s Stamina
November 17th, 2024
Pushed to the limit?
Joe has to wonder if this is going to catch up with Lavonte David.
Tooling around yesterday on the NextGen Stats page “NFL Pro,” Joe saw the defensive league leaders in snaps in a game.
Of the top-18 who have posted the most defensive snaps in a game this season, soon-to-be 35-year old Bucs inside linebacker David appears three times.
A few times this season, David has shown signs that he’s an NFL senior citizen. Joe has noticed a couple of plays where David got juked that normally you’d never see.
Hey, David is human!
David has logged 83, 82 and 80 snaps in separate games this season. That’s a lot for a young player, forget a guy in his mid-30s.
Joe doesn’t expect David to get too many breaks. The Bucs have zero depth at inside linebacker. So as long as David is standing, he’s likely going to be on the field, like it or not.
Overall, per FantasyPros.com, David ranks sixth in total defensive snaps this year with 677.
This makes Joe wonder the following: everybody seems to think the Bucs will have a cakewalk through the final seven games of the season. “This Joe” is not exactly on board with that.
With David in his mid-30s logging so many snaps, will that catch up to him when the Bucs need him in order for a final push to a potential wild card berth?
Is David going to be fried by Christmas?
November 17th, 2024 at 10:29 am
He’s a pro. An experienced vet. He knows how to manage his body.
Nothing to worry about.
November 17th, 2024 at 10:40 am
I am a little concerned with David losing steam by week 14-16 and that’s mostly due to overcompensating for the lack of ILB help. Seems to me he is carrying a lot more of the burden with blitzing, coverage, and lining the D up. He has more on his shoulders this year but I won’t be surprised at all if he dominates the rest of the year.
November 17th, 2024 at 10:40 am
The fact that there ARE 80 plus snaps in a game is a huge problem in and of itself
November 17th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Thought that too.
November 17th, 2024 at 10:48 am
One of my all time favorite Bucs… he def looked a bit slower the last 2 games. First time I’ve ever said that about Lavonte. It is what it is. Sure would be nice if we add any depth at all at ILB.
@Beeej – 💯 spot on. Defense just can’t get off the field either, which obviously doesn’t help.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:00 am
NFL Elder Statesman Lavonte David is a consummate pro.
Both in terms of how he plays and how he conducts himself as a teammate, as well as for the fans and the rest of the league.
I’ve wondered (and worried) about this same thing a few times.
Thankfully, I think Lavonte would be smart enough to pull himself off the field and/or say something if it got to the point he thought he would get injured or seriously burn out.
The x-factor is Coach Swiss Cheese, and whether he plans for the fact that we’re razor thin at ILB, and schemes up some coverages that don’t involve having Lavonte on the field for a few plays here and there.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:34 am
80 plus snaps a game!!? D just can’t get off the field. Sigh…
November 17th, 2024 at 11:45 am
IF Davis is smart, this will be his last season. he has understandably lost a step. he’s been doing it a long time. Walk off under you on power dude.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:58 am
He is the top tackler on the team. Why would the Bucs want to keep their best defensive player off the field?
November 17th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Does LVD 54 get into the HOF????????????
November 17th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
This is the exact opposite of what you would want to see for a player in LVD’s situation. Unfortunately due to the horrendous play by the other ILBs, there’s not much of a choice. Probably our thinnest position group on the team outside QB. I hate to see a legend go out like this, but it’s probably his last season and probably should be. If anyone in the Glazer family has a lick of sense, bowles will be gone the day after the season ends, which means a new defensive scheme next year. Overall that’s a great thing, but for a 35 yo LB, probably not so much.
Thanks to Lavonte for his dedication & professionalism. Unfortunately he will always be under appreciated and undervalued by those outside of TB, but Bucs fans know that he was a game changer & tone setter during some rough times. He’s a Bucs legend and belongs in the RoH sooner than later.
November 17th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
I think we’re seeing guys like LVD, AWJ, and Vita, trying to fill voids by doing more than just their jobs – because poor decisions (looking at you JTS, Anthony Nelson, Jordan Whithead, and maybe even Yaya), and injuries have decimated this defense.
It may age LVD and others – which only adds to the list of needs on defense.
We’ll have to have a defense-heavy draft – AND add some elite defensive free agents next season…but we have to go on a run THIS season first.
Getting defensive players like Mike Edwards, Josh Hayes, etc, BACK – may just make the defense average. Getting offensive WEAPON Mike Evans – BACK – and getting Jalen McMillan back and INVOLVED, leaning on the run game – is our only chance to score enough points in these final 7 games to go on that run to close this season like last season. It’s a stretch, but it’s possible.
November 17th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
To have the stamina to report for work every day when every game is Groundhog Day all over again — that’s amazing. How does he not just go into Lovie’s office and projectile vomit all over his desk?
November 17th, 2024 at 1:38 pm
the bucs need smarter bigger faster tougher linebackers who can drop back in pass coverage and tackle,not constantly arm & grab miss tackeling the defense needs to be revamped,McCullough is horrible as is the entire secondary.the front defensive line are the reason the bucs have any kind of defense .the play calling on both offense and defense suck.period. 6- 11 season,I hope I’m wrong
November 17th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
David will be solid but this idea that we have “for sure” wins is silly. No matter how bad a teams record, they are still pros playing for their next pay day. Thinking we’ll just show up and win is a bit delusional. Our defense is bad and if the offense sputters these games will be closer than we would prefer. You get to the 4th quarter, last possession and we can’t stop anyone.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:11 pm
Age?
Are you guys kidding?
Did you not see David blow up Jukinski the FB then tackle McCaffrey?
Are you guys blind?
He’s still making superhuman plays.
He’s still our best player.
November 18th, 2024 at 2:34 am
A few times this season, David has shown signs that he’s an NFL senior citizen. Joe has noticed a couple of plays where David got juked that normally you’d never see.
Hey, David is human!
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i saw this too, and am still trying to act like it never happened…can we please just act like it never happened 🙂
November 18th, 2024 at 9:43 am
He looked VERY slow against the Niners.
November 18th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Someone commented it already but I agree LVD is a pros pros he knows how to manage his body especially at this stage in his career. Not to concerned. He is showing signs of being human but overall dude is a beast hopefully he can find another gear and let it rip