Lavonte David: Best All-Around

November 8th, 2014

lavonte david 0213

Joe gets a chuckle out of the revisionist historians that whine about how former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik passed on middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and, instead, drafted safety Mark Barron. Yeah, Barron was/is a bust.

However, in the next round, Dominik traded up to get his linebacker. That man’s name is Lavonte David, who Joe pimped the Bucs to draft in December prior to his selection.

Quite frankly, David may be the most dominant run-stopper of his era. Here are a few numbers to chew on: David led the NFL last year in solo tackles with 63 … in his first two NFL seasons has 283 tackles … and this season leads the NFL in run-stops for outside linebackers with 53.

Who talks about his pass coverage (besides Sean Payton)? Well, that would be Dominik. In a piece for BSPN.com, Dominik broke down the players with the best traits in the NFL. For linebackers in pass coverage, Dominik selected David.

Coverage: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I loved what I saw on David’s college tape, and he’s been an outstanding player since I selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft. He is an every-down football player because he has the lateral quickness, good feet and ball awareness to hold up well in coverage. I would always watch a player’s foot quickness and speed when evaluating them for this trait.

One could make an argument David is on par and perhaps better than Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks at this point in his career, though Joe understands that is blasphemous. Joe just wishes David would get more pick-sixes, but damnit, that’s nitpicking.

And for those who like to twist history, if Dominik picked Kuechly, it is very doubtful he would have traded up to get David. This is like arguing who you would pick to bed, Jessica Alba or Kaley Cuoco?

22 Responses to “Lavonte David: Best All-Around”

  1. Matt B Says:

    Jessica Alba for sure

  2. Arealbucsfan Says:

    ^ what he said

  3. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    David & Kuechly

    ….Still would be nice to have both of them…..Jessica & Kaley that is…..

  4. BoJim Says:

    TBBF will be here soon to disagree.

  5. BoJim Says:

    Doh!! Beat me to the keyboard.

  6. bucrightoff Says:

    Wouldn’t have gotten Kuechly and David both. Draft goes differently if the Bucs take Kuechly. Theoretically, Carolina might then take Lavonte in the 2nd round, or the Bucs don’t trade up to get him. Frankly I’d much rather have Lavonte, Kuechly is a nice player but not Lavonte nice.

  7. Ray Rice Says:

    Lavonte is definitely a stud. Just wish Lovie blitzed him more like Schino did last season…… I really don’t care who I get as long as I’m getting some. We’re all black when the lights go out. Pu$$y is Pu$$y.

  8. INDYbucsfan Says:

    Pssshhhh. Alba allll day everyday.

  9. bucs4lyfe Says:

    even though our offense is just as horrible as the defense, we’re gonna find out how idiotic lovie really is. I think he’s clinging on to the past sooo much and is soo serious about running on 1st and 2nd down that he’s gonna go out and try to draft a lavonte david type player at middle linebacker and try to put glennon back in at quarterback next year…..im more afraid of lovie’s decision making skills than I am Mcclown and Glennon

  10. WalkdaPlank Says:

    Jessica Alba……and it’s not even close, Joe. Lol

  11. RastaMon Says:

    On a losing team….damn…feel for his warrior spirit

  12. RCH Says:

    Kaley Cuoco all day!

  13. richardtyson Says:

    Joe, you sir are obtuse. It was evident that Mark had his head up his own arse the second Roger Goodell named Barron as the Bucs pick. Why wouldn’t he take Luke and David? He took Benn and Williams, AC and Bowers, Gmc and Price… I’ll let this article slide, shame on you Joe.

  14. bigpoppabuc Says:

    If they repicked the 2012 draft the Bucs would have to use 7 on LVD.

  15. Jamie Says:

    Nice hate, Jamie. Joe’s got archives here for all to enjoy. Joe doesn’t make stuff up. –Joe

  16. Patrickbucs Says:

    Jessica Alba in a landslide, other girl meh.

    Lavonte is awesome; I thought he blew out his knee last week and I literally felt sick.

  17. DB55 Says:

    Our MVP LVD only gets 15 comments and half are for alba? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Let’s just hope that hit LVD took last week on the blitz doesn’t slow him down too much this week. If so who’s gonna make tackles GMC? Psst, lol that’s a joke. Major wright? Lmao.

    Who’s your favorite player? Mr.#54

  18. BUC4LIFE79 Says:

    OR??? Peh…BOTH.

  19. OB Says:

    Joe

    LVD will get his just do on both his contact renewal and in peer recognition. He deserves it all and has earned it.

  20. ForgotAboutDre Says:

    David is an OLB and Kuechly is a MLB so you could have both. Give me a threesome with Alba and Cuoco please.

  21. ddneast Says:

    You make an excellent point RichardTyson. Don’t forget he also picked Roy Gibson and Kyle Moore in the same draft. Just two more wasted picks by Dummynick. With his drafting history the only GM position the Dummy might ever get would be at a Kia car dealership if he’s lucky.

  22. Brandon Says:

    revisionist historians?

    A revisionist historian is one that merely looks back on history and states that something else should’ve been done. I was screaming that I wanted Keuchly from the roof tops and I was right. True or false, Keuchly is better than Barron as a player (heck, maybe he’d be a better safety too)? That’s what it is… and besides that…there’s still a gaping hole at MLB that has been there since Shelton Quarles vacated the spot years ago. This year, I thought of CJ Mosely as a dark horse candidate to be our #1 pick, turns out he’s pretty damn good too. Evans has panned out so far so I can’t complain.