Lavonte David Talks To Joe
January 29th, 2015
As he promised weeks ago on “10 Sports Extra” with Joe’s friend Chris Fischer, stud Bucs outside linebacker Lavonte David arrived in Phoenix, site of Super Bowl XLIX, to roam through radio row yesterday and go through the car wash.
David had made it clear he wanted to start marketing himself to stop these galling snubs from Pro Bowl honors and All-Pro teams.
With one more season on his contract, David, no doubt, also is marketing himself to the NFL, in case his team and the Bucs can not reach an agreement.
David had but a few brief moments when Joe caught up to him, but David was kind enough to talk.
JoeBucsFan: Last year, yeah, it was an ugly year. But for the final 10 weeks or so, defense was not the problem. You guys played decent defense. How motivated are you — are you chomping at the bit to get back to playing already to prove to the NFL that you are not a 2-14 team?
Lavonte David: Me, personally, that’s how I feel right now. I’m ready to get back after it. I am ready for OTAs to get here so that we can start working and start that mindset on the whole team. Yeah, it was a tough year for us. Things didn’t turn in our favor. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. Luckily, we have next year to look forward to.
Joe: Speaking with a Bucs defensive coach a few weeks ago, won’t mention his name, Joe asked him how much of the struggles were because the coaches — who were all first-year coaches with Tampa Bay — had to learn you and your teammates as players, too? A lot was made about how players had to learn the new system, Lovie’s system. Could you tell that it took the defensive staff time to learn your skills and your teammates’ skills?
David: Yeah, I think so. We both had to feel each other out. We had to learn how they coach and they had to learn how we react to coaching and things like that, and teaching formats and things like that. I think as [time] went along, everybody got on board with everybody else. Everybody understood what was wanted and what was needed from each other, both coaches and players. Defensively, I think that’s why there was such a big turnaround from the beginning [of the season] to the end.
Joe: Surely you talk to your teammates a lot and have since the end of the season. Among that chatter, you all know you finished 2-14. Do you or any of the other Bucs think changes [in personnel] are going to happen because of that record?
David: Uh, nah, not at all, man. Like you said, it was a tough season, but a lot of football games we were in we could have won. So you can’t really point fingers at anybody. It is us as a whole. Us as a group. We have to be accountable for that.
January 29th, 2015 at 9:30 am
If the Bucs front office can’t find a way to reach an agreement with David then they should leave, not him. That’s a ridiculous suggestion.
January 29th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Yeah, why would the Bucs not be able to reach an extension agreement with David? That is nonsensical. The Bucs will do whatever is necessary to keep David a Buc. The fans will demand no other option.
January 29th, 2015 at 10:22 am
I love the team based approach Mr. David has. HE WILL BE A BUC long term because like, BigSombrero said if they can’t get this guy under contract, the front office should be made to leave WITH Mr. David.
January 29th, 2015 at 11:56 am
He’s right about the team not needing to point fingers…at least on the defensive side of the ball… apparently, Marcus Arroyo has fingers pointed all over the globe at him. Whether it is right or wrong, Arroyo is taking the fall for Tedford’s illness and lack of talent at QB.
January 29th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Players like LVD come along only once in a while, if he is not signed the ownership must change.
As far as Arroyo is concerned, he took the bullet for Lovie. He was a new NFL QB coach and overnight given the OC’s job also is not his fault plus we don’t know what Lovie was telling him or not telling him. As the Head Coach, Lovie has the responsibility to devote his attention to this and, if he did, he failed, and if he did not, he doesn’t deserve the job. His quote on preserving continuity with a team that has only won one or two games at the time is beyond insane.
January 29th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
“Do you or any of the other Bucs think changes [in personnel] are going to happen because of that record?” “Uh, nah, not at all, man”. Really, I think it is yes, yes and more yes. If they didn’t produce last year, then they will be gone, see ya. bye, bye, don’t let the door hit you in the @ss, hasta la vista baby, both on offense and defense. Lots of new faces next year (please).
January 29th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Translation: man I just came to see if belicheat needed another linebacker.
January 29th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Don’t here many people speak about it, but the hit David put on the Saints Graham was one of the hardest hits on any player during the whole year.
Took Graham out of the next three games and as one TV announcer said during a game towards the end of the season, “Graham hasn’t been the same player since he was injured.”
OB, Arroyo took the bullet because the offense was his responsibility. He was under qualified and ill equipped to do the job and it showed to anyone who has the least bit of understanding and knowledge of the game.
Arroyo was Tedford’s friend and hire and with the quitter gone, there was no reason to keep him around.
If you weren’t so blinded by your irrational hate of Lovie you would comprehend that.