Lavonte David’s Injustice
December 13th, 2014
There is little doubt Lavonte David is one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL. Maybe the best. Joe wouldn’t argue.
But when fans vote for the Pro Bowl, they don’t often look at David’s tackles and his sideline-to-sideline play.
They look at sacks, which is something David isn’t asked to do (but perhaps, should).
Thus, David often gets overlooked and it has usually reserved Bucs coach Lovie Smith all sorts of fired up. In no uncertain terms, Lovie thinks David is getting screwed by lumping him in with 34-defense outside linebackers. David is now eighth in the voting at the position.
“One of the injustices out there is how we do that,” Lovie said. “For us, those aren’t outside linebackers. You guys got a few minutes? We could talk about this for a while. [Pass-rushing] outside linebackers, those to us are defensive ends – those are rush guys. To me, as I talk about a linebacker, I’m talking about a guy that can play in space, that can rush, that can drop, [play] man coverage, there’s a wide variety of things that we’re asking him to do as opposed to – most of the time when those Pro Bowl ballots go in, you look, ‘OK, how many sacks does he have?’ Outside linebacker. See, that’s not what I’m talking about.
“Thank God they didn’t hold that against Derrick Brooks. Because Derrick, how many sacks did [he have]? Not a lot of sacks. But a linebacker who can do it all, that’s what we talk about on the outside as our guys, and he’s as good as there is at doing that.”
Joe is convinced had Brooks been asked to blitz and sack more, he would have been thought of as the Lawrence Taylor of his time. Brooks was that good, that fast, that devastating.
And Lovie is right. David is getting hosed by Pro Bowl voters because, quite simply, they don’t know any better.
December 13th, 2014 at 8:48 am
And he is on an irrelevant team again causing him to get overlooked.
December 13th, 2014 at 8:54 am
We should be blitzing him more….end of story…
December 13th, 2014 at 8:56 am
Brooks was super fast but he wasn’t all that large. Taylor was too fast for tackles and too big for RBs and TEs, that’s what made him special, that and his long arms and angular frame. Brooks isn’t built to be a great pass rusher, he’s built to run with back and tight ends, and sometimes wide receivers, in coverage…and if he HAD been asked to blitz more, it’s safe to assume that his INT numbers would have went down.
December 13th, 2014 at 9:18 am
No one should care about the Pro Bowl. The All-Pro team is more important and all that really matters and Lavonte made that last year. Not sure he does this year because of how bad they are and he missed time but he still has a good shot. Actual knowledgeable football people, the ones who vote All Pro, know how good he is. Moron fans who vote for the Pro Bowl? Who cares? Besides I’d rather not risk his injury in glorified 7 on 7.
December 13th, 2014 at 9:58 am
LVD is known on every NFL team for what he is, the best OLB in the league. Fans don’t know because most of the don’t see him as the Bucs games have small foot prints do to our record.
Our defense is good now and will much better next year, if we get an offense that includes a quality QB, OL, OC, and imaginative plays, he and the rest of them will be seen and talked about a lot more. If you look at any of the pregame TV shows on any channel, we are mentioned little if at all.
But LVD will still be playing at the All Pro level.
December 13th, 2014 at 9:58 am
There’s a lot of injustice out there – but Lavonte not making the Pro Bowl isn’t something I lose any sleep about. He’s a great player and will soon be one of the highest paid men in the sport. His fans are legion – I doubt he has to pay for a drink in this town.
The only injustice with the Bucs I’m seeing lately are fans who shill out large amounts of money to watch a team that is among the worst in all of pro sports around the world lose repeatedly. If the fans don’t show up, they’re called disloyal. And if they do show up they’re virtually guaranteed to leave disappointed.
But a soon to be 10 million a year player? Nah.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:01 am
@bucrightoff
^^^The truest statement ever made.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:15 am
The real down side is that Pro-Bowls are important when considering HOF careers. Being hosed from Hawaii can destroy a legacy over time.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:25 am
Note to Lovie: Look in the mirror, do you see the problem?
December 13th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Yup everything you said Brandon is correct. I don’t think Brooks was built to rush the passer like LT was. He would have to have Vonn Miller like ability to bend around and closing speed, and i don’t think he had that.
December 13th, 2014 at 11:19 am
Cmon in this scheme, Lavonte doesnt make any significant plays. Last year, he had INTs, forced fumbles, sacks. Last year he should have gone to the pro bowl. I disagree with you Joe, sorry to tell you this, Lavonte is not the same player as last year and he doesnt deserve to go this year. You know it and everyone else knows it too.
December 13th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
I think it’s crazy that David is being overlooked for the Pro-bowl AGAIN. But considering it happened last year and is now happening again this year makes me wonder if enough Bucs fans are voting for him? The sack #’s hurt him as well as our team being horrible right now but his play is worthy of the Pro-Bowl.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Looks like Jared doesn’t watch football. He watches stats.
LVD is still the best linebacker in the league. He is the best one on one tackler in the league. And is the best thing we have on the bucs. Bad mouthing LVD is just ignorant.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:12 pm
The reason Bucs don’t get voted in is because bucs have some of the least dedicated fans in the league.