Smith Is “Going To Let Us Play Football”
April 20th, 2016
Back to the future for Lavonte David.
Outwardly today at One Buc Palace, while Lavonte David spoke to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, Joe was his usual outwardly-appearing, quiet, professional self.
Inwardly, Joe wanted to jump on his feet and applaud.
It seems from the words of Lavonte David he will be blitzing more this year.
David, who blitzed a fair amount under former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, was asked if new Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith, in an effort to have David make some more splash behind-the-line plays, will blitz him the way Schiano did.
And the Pro Bowl linebacker said, why yes, he will, and so too will other linebackers.
“We have guys in our [linebackers] room that our playmakers and [Smith is] going to let us play football,” David said. “Let us fly around and make plays. [Smith’s defense] is very complex. Not a lot of things you have to think about. Just go out there and line up and play.
“Sometimes [David will be] attacking and sometimes being in coverage. Right now I am very comfortable with where my role is. Every time we go over something, it puts a smile on my face. It’s really what I like to do. It will be a fun year.”
How refreshing is this? Smith is going to let football players be football players. He’s going to let playmakers make plays. What a novel concept.
You know, before the Bucs hired Smith, a defensive player talked to Joe off the record and complained that Coach My Scheme wouldn’t let football players be football players. That’s just about the opposite of what David said Smith wants his defenders to do.
This is all very interesting to Joe.
April 20th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Is it football season yet:)!!!?
April 20th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
[Smith’s defense] is very complex. Not a lot of things you have to think about. Just go out there and line up and play.
Doesn’t make sense to me……but I’m all for it if LVD is….
April 20th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
I’m not sure David knows what the word complex means lol
April 20th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
smith was on the other end of lavonte’s best seasons while HC in atlanta. he knows what to do with him and what made him an all pro
April 20th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Who asked about his mom and what was the point of asking? Jeez Smh
LVD seems nervous speaking in public. He opened by saying good evening so the complex comment was probably just a slip. Sure he meant to say it’s not complex.
April 20th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
I think he means it’s going to be complex for offenses to figure out but easy for them to play.
April 20th, 2016 at 2:46 pm
I expect immediate, huge improvements in the defense.
April 20th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
It will be so refreshing not having coach my scheme holding everyone back!!! The players are just starting to realize that this year they will be put into positions to succeed!!! Wait till we hear how much they love DC Coach Smitty!!! Its exciting time Buc Fans!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
April 20th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Can you imagine what it would be like to enjoy watching a Buccaneer defense take the field? I almost forgot what that is like.
April 20th, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Now that was powerful.. Without saying anyone’s name that was a huge statement man.
April 20th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
That man said everytime we go over this spit “I have a smile on my face”. Wow.
April 20th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
@Nos-Bos
I have been trying to tell you,,,, no need to “wait on it” now that coach clown shoe with family and friends has been thrown out the door!!!
April 20th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
TBBF
Doesn’t make sense to me……but I’m all for it if LVD is….
I had the same reaction initially. But we’ve gone from a defensive coordinator named Smith…to a defensive coordinator named Smith. It’s a bit confusing to keep up. Perhaps LVD meant Lovie Smith not Mike Smith with the complex comment? That is an easy mistake to make…we’ve had two Smith’s in a row we really need to start putting first names with them.I had the same reaction initially.
April 20th, 2016 at 4:10 pm
When he first started his little drumming..that said “I am ready for you all”..Love this guy..
He stated when the schedule came out how the doubters all started..and I kept thinking, what about us that believe in you guys!!???
Dear Lord, please grant me a lil’ patience till the season begins..but this year is the most excited I have been EVER..
April 20th, 2016 at 4:41 pm
This will be a great season to watch the Bucs! When we won the SB we did a lot more strategic blitzing than Lovie’s scheme of pressure with just the front four and no double digit sackers. I look for Licht to deliver a very strong draft too. This would be a doable great draft: 1. Sheldon Rankins DT, 2. Emmanuel Ogbah DE & Germain Irfedi OT (2d pick trade for Glennon), 3. Miles Killebrew SS, 4. Jonathan Jones CB, 5. Cody Core WR, 6. Nick Kwiatkoski MLB & SLB backup and STs, 7. Joel Heath DT backup, and Undrafted Will Ratelle FB.
April 20th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
You’d think the Bucs were already Superbowl bound by the talk here. Not a single game has been played. All..conjecture at this point. WIN some games first.
April 20th, 2016 at 6:00 pm
That’s exactly what I would expect a leader on this team to say.
April 20th, 2016 at 6:15 pm
@mIkejOHnson
THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you don’t love our enthusiasm, catch the f@$k out…
Only BUCS fans need to comment. You sir/ma’am are not! I DON’T care who plays and coaches our beloved team. I cheer for them regardless who’s here. Tighten up
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
April 20th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
To me this is more of an indication of how deep and dank the basement really was for the D players last year.
April 20th, 2016 at 6:40 pm
mcClorasM..Just so You know, last time I checked? Its a free speech country there..Pal! The great thing about Joe is..he does not just want all vanilla responses. He wants to hear other voices also. Necause he to often has a different opinion on subject matter. That’s what makes this country great. Diversity..of opinion…Pal! I’m a Bucs fan. Just not the kind YOU..want me to be.
April 20th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
McClorasMaddenDaddy210 …my hero.
Tune in tomorrow when Mike reminds us all that the season hasn’t started yet and Koetter has a lot to prove.
Tune in Friday when Mike reminds us……
Tune in next week….
Tune next month….
April 20th, 2016 at 6:53 pm
Buc1987: 👍👍👍👍👍
Tired of this amazingly complex individual known as MikeJohnson. Free speech is a fundamental of our great nation, unfortunately we have eternal pessimists that abuse it just to rain on the parade we’re all enjoying. But hey, it’s all conjecture at this point. Has the season started? Does Koetter have something to prove?
Anyway, I’m definitely excited about our moves so far. It will be interesting to see if Licht will try to be a player in the Josh Norman sweepstakes. I bet he could sway him for less than most just to play against the Panthers twice a year. Stay tuned…
April 20th, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Coreyat..Thanks for the..shoutout my man. And..The parade has not yet started. No games have been played. Besides, I’m preparing all of us..for the rain. Let free speech..reign on!
April 20th, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Buc1987..thanks for reading my post. And yes, Mr. Koetter does have a lot to prove. Keep tuning in my brother!..For..alternate views.
April 20th, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Little more than three months ago, LVD said the Bucs were stupid for letting Lovie go.
“This is stupid, we can’t even have a consistent coach, 3 coaches in 5 yrs,” he said in January.
Now, he says everything is country gravy and biscuits.
Fans (and JoeBucsFan by egging it on) fret and gush over these players’ comments way too much.
Let’s wait until we see some action on the field first.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:30 am
LVD and Kwon have so much damn speed they should be blitzing.
April 21st, 2016 at 8:10 am
I have just as much optimism that an offensive minded coach on the sidelines
will be more aggressive at critical times in games.Lovie’s conservative calls on gameday held this offense and team back all too often.