Bad Shoulders Plagued Lavonte David In 2017
May 4th, 2018
Man, where does the time go? Lavonte David is entering his seventh season as a Buccaneer.
Hard to believe.
The sacks disappeared last year, despite loads of blitzes, and it was the first season David was without an interception since 2014, David made a stunningly fast and effective recovery from a Week 3 ankle injury — only missed three games — but he revealed yesterday that his shoulders were a problem all year.
David said they were a big focus of his past four months.
“Just getting stronger. Throughout the year, my shoulders weren’t where I wanted them to be so that’s the main thing I’ve focused on this offseason. Just getting my shoulders back together where I can take a lot of banging or whatever,” David said. “Right now I’m feeling awesome, I’m feeling great and I’m just looking forward to taking it one day at a time and getting better.”
Asked to clarify the shoulder problem, David sounded exasperated and like a man who was battling hard to stay on the field.
“It was all of the above [a strength, pain, stability issue]. I took it for what it was,” David said. “I just couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it as but it just didn’t feel normal to me. So I just tried to get it back to where I wanted it to be.”
Ninety-one NFL starts as a three-down linebacker has a way of breaking your body. Not everyone is Mr. Derrick Brooks, who never missed a game in 14 seasons.
Joe felt badly for David yesterday, though his bank account is healthy.
David will earn a base salary of $8.75 million this season and $9.75 million in 2019.
May 4th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Hopefully his job will be a lot easier with out revamped D line. Him and Kwon should have monster year tackle wise.
May 4th, 2018 at 11:59 am
Sad….realization…feel for him….
May 4th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Yes, This is a game of attrition. Just look at Hall of Famer middle linebacker Dick Butkus hobble around. Said he never has s*x on top anymore. Very sad !
May 4th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
This makes sense. He looked like he played a bit hesitant all year.
May 4th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
All NFl players got injuries. And most of them last..a Lifetime after football. Sometimes though, I wonder if its all worth it…the beatings they take to their bodies. When they age, there is quite a bit of pain everywhere in their bodies. yes, they are compensated well. But that ain’t everything when it comes to Living.
I even question the 2 yrs of college ball I played before injuries took me out. Tough Hustle. But great for the fans.
May 4th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
I wonder if kwon had shoulder problems too cause the both of them missed and whiffed on a ton of tackles…..
wonder if the lack of contact in TC led to some of his(their) issues…..
I hope dirk has been taking notes…..soft TC=soft team….
they should only be allowed to practice indoor if its raining!!!!!…..get out there and go hard during the hottest part of the day…..that’s how you build a tough team mentally and physically…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 4th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Even more under appreciated then McCoy, LVD54 is a beast. Excited to get him and Kwon together again and hopefully we can stay healthy there
May 4th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Sounds like he had some ‘stinger’ issues. Hopefully he gets those traps and shoulders ready to withstand the beatings he’s going to be laying out this season.
May 4th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Weak TC is bad for strength and pain-tolerance.
Soory, but they need to be more physical in Training Camp.
Schiano was too hard. Lovie was too orthodox. And Dirk is too loyal and lenient.
Dirk needs to find a better balance between being task-master and fiend to the players.
May 4th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
LVD and Kwon should both have big years in 2018.
Here’s hoping they stay healthy. Injuries really hurt their productivity last year.
May 4th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
He didn’t get no sacks but he still made splash plays for us. Keep it up LVD!!
May 4th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Harder practices ?…..has it occurred to you that maybe the injuries were already there….thus less contact in the rest of the practices….I don’t know …but usually football coaches don’t go easy out of trying to be nice guys…SMH
May 4th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
He had a lot of runners break tackles last year, this makes sense.
May 4th, 2018 at 2:19 pm
813 and Teacherman just spouting some nonsense. So the multiple car crashes they endure each week over the course of a 16 game season wouldn’t be an issue if they were able to endure dozens extra car crashes during training camp too??? Do you guys even think before you start spewing ridiculous statements like that?
May 4th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
some people harp on Gerald McCoy and claim he doesn’t produce. Lavonte David hardly ever has.
I’m guessing that’s the real reason the drafted another linebacker, not to replace Beckwith.
May 4th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
This team consistently had more shoulder injuries than any other team. I looked this up and compared it week to week with other teams. This truly makes me wonder about the trainers. Anomolies happen and let’s hope that’s what it was but tibia something that I hope was at least explored.
May 4th, 2018 at 3:31 pm
alter & touch
plenty of teams practice hard during TC…..lol…..its football….this is nothing new…..
how’d that soft TC work out for us?……how’d those hard practices work out for the rams?….eagles?….jags?…..yeah I know, it gave them a bunch of boo boo’s at lead to only 5wins….lol…..
judging by yall comments I can tell yall have never played organized football at any level…..yall sound more like 7 on 7 guys…..soft as a pillow…SMDH….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
May 4th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Bonzai
What the he11 are you talking about? The man only played 13 games last year and still had over 100 tkls and led the league in forced fumbles 5 and fumble recoveries. Lvd david has been the best 4-3 outside line backer since he has been in the league. The problem is the 3-4 outside linebackers get all the love because they rush the passer 85% of the time and get higher sack numbers.
David was tied for second in forced fumbles. –Joe
May 4th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
So if I’ve got this right, Lavonte played hurt last year. Kwon played hurt last year. Grimes played hurt last year. VHIII played hurt last year. GMC played hurt last year. Ayers played hurt last year. Defense ended up #32 in passing yardage allowed and #22 in Points allowed. Bucs went 5-11, and lost SEVEN games by less than 1 TD per game.
I know it’s a different season, BUT … looking at the defensive starters we’ve added (potentially 5 new starters on defense), PLUS the improved depth on defense, PLUS the improvements on offense (RB, C, OG probably), there’s no reason Bucs shouldn’t at least break even this year. Much better talent & more experience among our younger players. No excuses. Go Bucs !!!
(And oh, BTW, in our 5 wins the Bucs put up an average of 26 PPG and gave up less than 17 PPG. In our 11 losses, Bucs put up an average of less than 17 PPG and gave up an average of over 29 PPG. Hadn’t noticed it before, but we had TWO 5-game losing streaks last year. Bummer.)
May 4th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
7th season dang, he’s already old now.
May 4th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Regardless of the stat sheet watchers, it was clear David was the best player on the Bucs defense last year. I don’t dislike Kwon and think he’s a very good player, but for him to get a pro-bowl nod over David was ridiculous.
May 4th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
This is an excellent read on David…
Sorry, Joe doesn’t believe in sharing large percentages of other’s work like that without permission. –Joe
May 4th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
DR
that’s right….with all the additions and added pieces this team shouldn’t miss a beat when injuries occur……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 4th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
So this explains why he won’t hit anyone anymore. I haven’t seen this guy fight off a block in 2 years. It’s this coaching staff that keeps trotting his hurt a$$ out every game. We should have sat him down and started Beckwith at mike and had Kwon at the will.
Hey, but what do i know…
May 4th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
David also had a defensive td
May 4th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Joe- can I link to an article in that case? I agree with not posting too much and I pretty much never do it, but I thought during the draft posts I saw links were not allowed anymore.
May 4th, 2018 at 6:54 pm
Levonte David being the 28 year old aging warrior that he is, was one of the main reasons I would have been more than happy had we selected Shaquem Griffin in the 4th round.
Here’s hoping that Whitehead will become an invaluable starter for us at Safety.
May 4th, 2018 at 7:24 pm
*Lavonte*
May 4th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
As a professional firefighter when we live fire train and it’s made to bring us to extreme exhaustion so if we fail its on the training ground, not in a fire when seconds count. Heat training preparation is key to being able to fight when your body says no more! Train like your life depends on it! Go Bucs!
May 4th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Perhaps his shoulders hurt because he was having to take on 300lb O lineman after they consistently blew through our soft a$$ D line.
I’d be a little sore too!
Bring that weak a$$ crap this year bros!
May 4th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
If only Schiano could’ve stayed as our D coordinator this whole time…
May 5th, 2018 at 8:06 am
If training in the intense Fla was the key to success the Bucs would’ve never built that indoor facility. You can practice harder, longer, and actually concentrate on what is being taught when you’re not needing an I.V. after only an hours practice. Would you all rather mow your lawn when the heat index is 110? I didn’t think so. I’d have them only practice once a week outside because they’ll only being playing a game that way during the season. Otherwise they can practice harder, and smarter indoors the rest of the time.
May 5th, 2018 at 8:06 am
If training in the intense Fla was the key to success the Bucs would’ve never built that indoor facility. You can practice harder, longer, and actually concentrate on what is being taught when you’re not needing an I.V. after only an hours practice. Would you all rather mow your lawn when the heat index is 110? I didn’t think so. I’d have them only practice once a week outside because they’ll only being playing a game that way during the season. Otherwise they can practice harder, and smarter indoors the rest of the time.
May 5th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
I said all season long that LVD did not look like he was playing the same. Now we know why.
But Bonzai you’re absolutely nuts saying he’s hardly produced in his career. What games are you watching man?
May 5th, 2018 at 4:20 pm
He has produced but Joe wonders why he escapes the wrath of Bucs fans who pile on GMC? The Bucs actually have a worse winning percentage with Lavonte David than with GMC yet fans lose their minds that GMC is the reason the Bucs have sucked for so long. Why is David so special not to catch any hell like GMC?
(Just so you know, Joe thinks David is a special, special player and singled him out for the Bucs to target four months before he was drafted.)