Lovie Challenges Lavonte David
August 9th, 2015
Lovie Smith demands more from Lavonte David.
No one will ever accuse Bucs coach Lovie Smith with Chucky. For one, Lovie doesn’t have a ring.
For another, Lovie is a defensive guy; Chucky is all offense.
And the two have personalities as wide as the Gulf of Mexico. Lovie is quiet as a church mouse. Chucky is loud and brash. Lovie disdains curse words. Chucky revels in colorful vocabulary.
Well, Lovie took a page from Chucky today and threw down a challenge at Lavonte David. The Bucs linebacker has been able to get his hands on a couple of passes in the past two training camp practices, but that’s not good enough. So Lovie stated today what he expects from one of the game’s best linebackers.
“One drop is too many but a receiver and an offensive guy will normally get another opportunity,” Lovie said. “You don’t know when another opportunity comes on the defensive side. That’s a bad thing. Especially for Lavonte [David]. I mean, Lavonte David is as good as there is, believe me. He should be a five-plus interception linebacker every year. And he will be because he has excellent hands.”
It is sort of like when Chucky, upon his arrival in Tampa Bay, challenged the defense of the Bucs to score nine touchdowns. The Bucs finished that Super Bowl season with 10 defensive touchdowns, including four interception returns for touchdowns in the postseason.
So in a way, Lovie is like Chucky. Demanding results from the best of the best. This time it is David. And if David does get five picks this season, he just might finally get that elusive honor of eating pineapple.
August 9th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Passive my a$$..
August 9th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Nole- agreed. I dont think Lovie is Passive. Just quiet. And all Chuckies yelling eventually turned players off.
I know Lovie’s defenses arent passive!! Playing urlacher and the Bears was like a fistfight, when Lovie was coaching them.
For years- I’ve always been in near panic mode every spring- looking at gaping holes in the Team, that werent being Addressed.
This year- there is no sensevof Panic. You can see that a well thought out plan is in place- and we are drafting well, and signing the right guys.
I am confident we will address our DE issues next draft. Along with other Defensive needs.
But i believe we will be much improved this year.
Just so great to feel that way- after si many bad years.
Lavonte David will soon be a household name- and key to a revived Fearsome Tampa Defense.
Thank you, Mr. Licht and Coach Smith
August 9th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Nice to see a little optimism….the Realist must be at his NA meeting….
August 9th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Wise words Cap. As for Realist!! I think deep down he knows we are on the brink with this team.
August 9th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Like Banks, coach Smith wants David to turn it up a notch. David had 146 tackles last season, combine that with 4int’s(2 of them being pick 6’s) and 1 sack and David is a pro bowler every season. And Luke would not be the best LB anymore a lot of players are not playing up to their full potential on this Buc’s team. Lovie is trying to bring that out of them every player he has let go are mediocre to good enough on other teams. No top 100/pro bowlers/HOF’s
August 9th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Now Lovie, unleash David so he can make some splash plays. If your front 4 can’t get pressure blitz David, a proven blitzer under a coach who got more wins in his first Bucs season than you. I know you are good at adjusting your scheme to fit good players example cutting Revis, but Lovie lets get Lavonte rolling to protect those 4th quarter leads.
Go Bucs!!!
August 9th, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Meant are not good at adjusting your scheme
August 9th, 2015 at 11:52 pm
I dont care what Lavonte does, as long as he does it well. What happened when Jimmy Graham’s route crossed Lavonte’s zone?