Why Does Lavonte David Get A Pass?
November 4th, 2016
Maybe his worst season in NFL.
Bucs fans gnash their teeth in rage because they claim Bucs stud Gerald McCoy doesn’t do anything.
Some Bucs fans also believe GMC is the face of losing because, well, he is civil to fellow football players?
It may come as a shock, but GMC was on the roster the last time the Bucs had a winning record, 2010. But there is one Bucs player, rumored to be a stud linebacker, who isn’t even the Bucs’ best linebacker. And this guy actually did drop a goose egg on the field, not recording one sack or assist or tackle in the beatdown in Phoenix.
That would be Lavonte David, who had four tackles last night. David has never been on a winning team in the NFL and seems to be regressing with each season. He had a bad first half last year but came on strong at the end. Joe hopes that is the case this year.
Shoot, Joe even remembers David admitting he mentally checked out of a game once because the Bucs had a penalty on their first snap!
Yet GMC is some form of Lucifer to Bucs fans? OK.
It is interesting that when David played for hardarse coaches like that whackjob Bo Pelini at Nebraska, and former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, David was a complete and total stud. A true sideline-to-sideline terror.
Playing for lax Lovie Smith and seemingly easy-going Mike Smith, David is a lesser player.
Some guys are motivated in different ways. Perhaps David needs some fire and brimstone from a coach to get him to play at an elite level?
November 4th, 2016 at 5:11 am
Given the number of issues the Bucs have on D I do not think that LD is a high priority of hate to Buc fans Joe. McCoy is much more visible as is the secondary who gets exploited big time night after night under a DC that probably will not get fired as he is the best buddy of Tampa’s offensive minded head coach. Simply said, the guy got paid and like many athletes, he got slack after he got the paycheck.
Could a hard core coach light a fire under him? Perhaps. Is he a bust? Well at least he had a couple of good seasons while many of the Bucs 2nd rounders are out and out busts and the one the Bucs pulled down from FSU this year seems to be maintaining this illustrious tradition! Sure LD could turn it up a notch and make a few good tackles and perhaps even force a fumble or pick but I still think the Bucs go 3-13 or 4-12 this season after that garbage I saw last night.
November 4th, 2016 at 5:20 am
Isaid for the longest all David wants to do is play down hill. He is a liability in coverage. He is missing tackles. David needs to be cut at the end of the season.
November 4th, 2016 at 6:02 am
In his defense (pun intended), the entire group of linebackers isn’t exactly setting the world on fire, specifically Kwon Alexander, and especially in pass coverage. I’m still not understanding why he gets a pass (again, pun intended). Sure he racks up tackles, but his run fits are terrible far too often and I’ve reached the conclusion that he has to be trying to let opposing backs and tight ends run free in the intermediate area of the field. That’s the only possible way they can be so open. He takes poor pursuit angles every game, which often result in explosive plays for the other team. Devonta Freeman caught wohat should’ve been at most 8 yard check down. I think he turned it up field for a 30+ yard gain. I think it was on a third down. I’m sure Kwon whiffed on the tackle.
I think Kwon will be a big reason the trajectory of this franchise changes for the better in the near term. But if we’re going to be critical of the linebacking corps, no one should be immune. He needs to be better.
November 4th, 2016 at 6:21 am
Joe are you related to McCoy?
Really
How about 100 Million for McCoy
3rd in tackles on the DLine
Supposed to be the LEADER
ProBowler
So until you hold him to the standard of a ProBowler
How can you ask about the LB.
Maybe if McCoy was in the play not face down on the ground DAVID would play better
November 4th, 2016 at 6:24 am
True LBs play has been horrible across the board. I said last year stop blaming the coaches, players share the majority of the blame. Players tried to blame their play on Lovie but pass defense sucked under Schiano too. David and GMC have been here threw it all.
November 4th, 2016 at 6:31 am
This is the type of article that tells anyone paying attention, this season is a dumpster fire.
November 4th, 2016 at 6:58 am
You saw a team last night, very young in the secondary, linebackers and defensive line (a few vets sprinkled in), flying round the field, those guys were primarily drafted by this team. The Falcons, their defense isn’t setting the world on fire but you gotta like that young core, specially Keanu Neal. Build through the draft, but draft talent
November 4th, 2016 at 7:08 am
Because other teams draft for speed. Our linebackers are slow, our dbs and safety’s are small and slow, our d line is under sized and slow, our offense is slow
November 4th, 2016 at 7:09 am
And Joe, Mccoys a punk who loves the other teams qbs more than his own. He epitomizes a soft as tissue team
November 4th, 2016 at 7:28 am
This whole band of Dominik era “stars” needs to be broken up before they pollute the young prospects with their ready acceptance of losing. Unfortunately, it might be too late because Winston and Alexander are already showing symptoms of the infection. I’m looking at you, McCoy, David, Jackson, Martin, Dotson, Smith, and company.
November 4th, 2016 at 7:59 am
Lavonte is a loser.
Too many losers on this team who wilt when the pressure is on.
#purge
#lichtmyballs
#theyf**kingsuck
November 4th, 2016 at 8:00 am
Trade Gmc!
November 4th, 2016 at 8:05 am
Lavonte David really? Yes McCoy was on the team last time we had a winning record but was it because McCoy was in the team that we were winning? Fact check boys McCoy was on injured reserve two years in a row when he came into the league because he reaches for running backs instead of getting in position so he had two torn biceps. Neither one of them are showing up on the stat sheet but atleast David has before. The guy closest to the ball makes no impact. FYI there are 5 offensive lineman plus tight ends on offense and there are 4 defensive lineman. The best players on every defensive front are always doubled teamed
Apparently McCoy is the only day tackle in the NFL that gets doubled how else is it possible guys like Aaron Donald make the problem? What a mystery
November 4th, 2016 at 8:09 am
Dline getting pancake blocked thats the problem.
November 4th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Yep, it must be GMC!
November 4th, 2016 at 8:35 am
@JOE
I have figured you out. You are the one posting under the name Hawaiian huh?…. I knew it! It all adds up now. You are constantly on Aunt Geraldine’s nuts.
November 4th, 2016 at 8:45 am
Why can’t both be to blame Joe? No? Because GMC is just so darn nice to you . He must be one of the four players you guys go to for quotes . They both have accepted losing and are poster boys for this train wreck. Not….. One…..,. Impactful player on this d. Not one guy , where you say, damn he just dominated the whole game. Brees twice will light this d up like a tree . Alex Smith will be like 20-25, Dak Prescott will light them up . We need a hard ass coach here, no nonsense, and you fans and press stay out of his way until he turns it around. You guys in press would rather have a nice guy quotable paler/coach than a a hole winner like Bellecheck
November 4th, 2016 at 8:46 am
Player or coach
November 4th, 2016 at 9:12 am
LVD is a super talented player. He’s obviously being misused, as are a lot of other players on defense. Clearly they are in another scheme that doesn’t suit their talents. If you want someone to hate, start at the top. The owners clearly don’t know what the hell they’re doing when it comes to hiring coaches and setting up a winning environment.
November 4th, 2016 at 9:22 am
You want this team to change? Vote with your walllet. Stop supporting it monetarily until they get it right. Turn off your TVs, stop buying jerseys, stop buying game tickets. Money speaks louder than words these days. They’ll probably fire Dirk after next season and hire some new clueless idiot (Gus Bradley I bet). Send a message loud and clear.
November 4th, 2016 at 9:56 am
why does jason licht gets a pass? his drafting has been suspect. gets too antsy & moves up to get players that were most likely going to fall in his lap to begin with… losing precious draft picks for a team lacking depth across the board… that wasted pick on a kicker could have gotten a solid receiver and a safety
November 4th, 2016 at 10:23 am
It takes time and talent to build a team! Dropping coaches every two years will only succeed at the rate of TMAXCON OR THE REALIST getting struck by lighting! Trading GMC will only mean that this team upper management does not have a clue as to what is going on, PASS RUSHING DEFENSIVE END is what is needed here! Coaching the LOVIE out of them just doesn’t fly anymore, more talent through the draft is what we need not kickers !! 9 games to play with 6 games to win to show improvement over the last REGIME!! GO BUCS, GO COLIN, STEP/UP AMERICA!!
November 4th, 2016 at 10:29 am
@joe
Why does jason litch get a pass????
November 4th, 2016 at 10:40 am
One player don’t make a bad team its like some one is after DAIVD
November 4th, 2016 at 10:45 am
You’re wrong BigHog! It’s all Lovie’s fault and LVDs struggles are GMC’s fault!!!
Do you find yourself cringing every time Aguayo trots out to make a kick? Any kick?
November 4th, 2016 at 10:47 am
Joe I agree with Dubcity and grafikdetail: can anyone ask the Glazers why Licht is getting a pass with all these horrible free agent acquisitions, signings, busted draft picks and complete inepttude in general?????
November 4th, 2016 at 11:44 am
I tweeted about this last night during the game. He seems lost, always behind in pass coverage. seems slow in run fits. maybe he is not understanding the scheme and assignments well. Yes the D-line needs to be better to free him up but he is part of the problem IMO
November 4th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Bc he’s not a B I A T C H
November 4th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Every time (the kicker) takes the field it’s like a kik in the ………LOVIE BALLS! Ha ha ha ha, REGRESSION IS ALL I SEE!
November 4th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
What is this winning that you speak of?
November 4th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
LVD, Jason Licht, GMC and the rest of the players get a free pass, because 99% of the fans were blaming Lovie for their pathetic play last season. And Lovie was getting the blame for Jason Licht dumb personnel decisions. I said a thousand times last season the problem wasn’t the Cover 3 scheme, it was the poor play of the players. Now Lovie is gone, and they smell worse under Mike Smith.
November 4th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
This is how bad things haven’t gotten when you’re trying to attack great players as if they’re the root of the issue. This defense & it’s play calling sux! It really sux & until we get a coordinator who actually presses receivers at the line then we will continue to get throw on for 400-500 yds weekly. Let’s leave the obvious great players alone. If anybody watched that game last nite & think Jameis played bad LOL, he missed some throws of course but so do all QBs, the defense is bad b/c we try to get pressure w/ 4 most of the time & we can’t.
November 4th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Culture of losing and too many systems, the guy may have just checked out at this point and is just showing up to work.
November 4th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
2013 lavonte david was one of the best defenders in the league. but that Lavonte would not recognize this Lavonte. No doubt he is talented and he hasn’t completely stopped making plays, but I’m starting to think Lavonte is more the guy who made the critical mental error in the 2014 opener and had the big mental letdown in the 2015 opener than the guy who went all Junior Seau on the league in his second season
I’m putting my #54 jersey away until the guy starts looking like the highest paid 4-3 OLB in the league again.
November 4th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
…and the foolishness of passing over Luke Kuechly in that draft is once again fair game for discussion
November 4th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Been mediocre since his second year. It’s Barrett Ruud all over again.
November 4th, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Probably bc in today’s NFL linebackers no matter how good are complimentary players unless they are a pass rusher in a 34 scheme. Good lbs with awful front 4 and worse cover in the back can’t impact the game much. Speaking of which bucs should prob run 34 more often