How Can Lavonte David Improve?
July 26th, 2013
Lavonte David didn’t make the Pro Bowl after last season, but he still was an All-World linebacker, calling the Bucs’ defensive plays and racking up 112 solo tackles, second most in the NFL.
Derrick Brooks even says David is ahead of the pace he set en route to a Hall of Fame career.
So what the hell must David do to improve in his second season? New Bucs linebackers coach Robb Smith told Joe it’s all about David studying intensely to sharpen his reactions.
“Lavonte’s a very instinctive football player. And if he were to make a mistake, he’s usually able to make it one time. That’s a credit to him. That’s kind of why people see him the way they do,” Smith said. “As he sees things new that he hasn’t seen before, it may stumble him at first it might not, but usually the second time around he’s got it down and is moved on to the next task.”
Smith says David is a quick learner, and Smith believes David’s film work and second year in the New Schiano Order will lead to him “making more plays within our scheme.”
Joe asked David how he can make a leap in year 2, and David says it’s all about accumulating knowledge.
“Knowing what everybody’s supposed to do and my responsibility first and foremost, to make my job easier and everybody else’s job easier,” David said. “Understand what I’m watching on film. Not just my job but watching everybody else’s job around me and making it easier for me.”
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine David improving, though Joe, of course is rooting for just that. If David can improve, then the Bucs really could be looking at the next Derrick Brooks.
July 26th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Lavonte might be our answer to punt & kickoff returns…..Hell…he can do everything else….give him a shot at QB or maybe he can play both sides and become a third reciever.
Lavonte is about as good as he can be. If he stayed exactly the same for the next 15 years, I’d be happy with that!!!
July 26th, 2013 at 5:13 pm
All these studs drafted by the rock star. Say thank you realist.
July 26th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Steady guy, glad he’s on our team. I hope he gets that coverage knack like DB had, that’s what will raise LD to epic golden awesome super WIL status.
July 26th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
He needs to improve his coverage. I don’t think the problem is talent, just experience and knowledge. I expect him to be even better this year.
July 26th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Lavonte david is going to get better with just experience. For being a rookie, the only lapses he had was in coverage at times. There is no way Luke Keuchly deserved DROY over David. It baffles me how that pile jumper made the top 100 and got the award when David was 10X Better.
July 26th, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Buc1987, You hit the nail on the head bro !!!!!!!
July 28th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
chris, youre exacty right. the majority of kuechlys tackles were him jumping on the pile at the end of the play. Lavonte is a pure ball magnet. Im a Nebraska fan and I knew this guy was special, I couldn’t believe he fell to the second round but happy for Tampa Bay landing him. Im a Vikes fan but the youth movement going on down there in Tampa is gonna pay off big.