Tackle Stealer Lavonte David
July 23rd, 2024
Vita Vea explains.
Vita Vea feels he should have better stats.
That was among Vea’s messages during his sitdown with the Green Light podcast.
Holding Vea back is the sheer greatness of the guy playing behind him. No, not Devin White. It’s iconic Bucs linebacker Lavonte David.
Vea said when the Todd Bowles 3-4 defense arrived in Tampa in 2019, he let David know business would be taken care of in front of him. But that’s cost Vea plays, he said lightheartedly.
“I told him. I was like, ‘I’ll take two, I’ll take the double team as long as you make the play. I was like, ‘I don’t care if you make the play,'” Vea recalled. “I remember countless times I just feel him hitting the gap and I was just like, ‘Damn.’
“It’s kind of like a bittersweet moment because you feel like you have control over the center or the guard, and you’re like, ‘Alright, the ball’s coming, I’m about to make this tackle.’ And I just feel Lavonte just [run] right past me and make the [tackle for loss]. I’m celebrating with him but in the back of my head I’m like, ‘That was my play.'”
Joe can’t feel bad for Vea. Football is the ultimate team game and David was making those same plays in Mike Smith’s hybrid 4-3 defense, Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 with a four-man front, and in the blitz-happy Greg Schiano hybrid defense.
Vea’s paying the price for having a legend at linebacker, and he’s damn happy to do it.
July 23rd, 2024 at 2:16 pm
I think it’s time to add Vea #50 to my jersey arsenal! Love how he makes so many people better… like Kancey this year!
July 23rd, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Friggin awesome! Let’s go D
July 23rd, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Wagner is the real tackle stealer. Check out his assisted tackle stats. LDV has more solo tackles and the real only stat Wagner leads in is asst tackles. Bobby jumps on for that assist all the time.
July 23rd, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Alstott up the gut Says:
July 23rd, 2024 at 2:16 pm
I think it’s time to add Vea #50 to my jersey arsenal! Love how he makes so many people better… like Kancey this year!
##################################################
I hope for your sake they don’t make your 50 as small as his.
July 23rd, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Funny that @Stanglassman mentions that stat by Wagner. I was looking at the Washington game matchups and we should have a storyline comparing LVD to Wagner. In fact LVD leads both Wagner and Fred Warner if you look at solo tackles and other stats – except assists. If you look at LVD’s first 6 years and compare to Warner, he’s better than Warner. As Ira says, LVD didn’t get the ProBowls and recognition so getting into the HOF will be very tough.
July 23rd, 2024 at 4:43 pm
@JimBobBuc Odd that PFF has LVD at 73.3 last year and Wagner at 82.4. The disrespect is real and LVD missed 2+ games
July 23rd, 2024 at 6:39 pm
Let the carnage begin.
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Depending on how this season goes, this year, but hopefully not till next year, will be LVD‘s last.
There really really really needs to be a big push about him for the Hall of Fame. Just look at the numbers he has put up compared to the other linebackers of his era Who are going in?
We always say how pro bowl doesn’t really mean anything… But unfortunately it does when you’re overlooked your entire career and it’s a Hall of Fame career.
July 24th, 2024 at 6:59 am
I remember we had a chance to draft Luke Kekhle or however you spell his name in the 1st. rd. when he went to Carolina and all you heard about was Luke, we drafted LVD in 2nd rd. and he’s still going strong. He’s done it as consistently as one could ask for with various DC’s. Evan’s has done the same with OC’s and QB’s.
July 24th, 2024 at 8:10 pm
David’s not a first ballot HOF player, but firmly believe his day in canton is coming. While he doesn’t get the accolades of others, his stats speak for themselves.
But a top 5 Bucs player of all time for sure, and more deserving than both barber and lynch IMO