Lavonte David Season Award
August 24th, 2020
Postseason award candidate.
Pick your favorite Bucs player and you likely have heard NFL Network or BSPN or FS1 talking heads say, “(Insert player’s name) will be a household name this year since the Bucs will play so often on national TV.”
For one SI.com scribe, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David won’t just become a household name. He has a real shot at being named “Defensive Player of the Year.”
Why? Because, he will be showcased on prime time so much this year, types Connor Orr of SI.com.
Lavonte David is also worth looking into. The Buccaneers are going to have a larger audience than they’ve enjoyed since the early 2000s, which means that Todd Bowles’s genius has a chance to shine. David had a strong 2019, was a lockdown coverage linebacker who faced more passing situations than all but one other linebacker in football and was also a stout run defender.
The fly in this ointment? If the Bucs cannot win.
Joe senses from some that with all the hype and all attention and all the nationally televised games scheduled, the Bucs will be the Bucs and crumble (again) from the weight of the hype. For a jaded Bucs fan, that is so easy to swallow. But Joe thinks there are enough savvy winners on the roster that this won’t distract them much.
Park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski, Ndamukong Suh, Shaq Barrett, Shady McCoy and Jason Pierre-Paul are all experienced playing in big markets under the klieglights of attention.
Hype won’t mess with these guys.
Hype won’t mess with their focus.
August 24th, 2020 at 8:08 am
Nice usage of Klieg lights.
August 24th, 2020 at 8:09 am
I bet every Bucs player on the roster has given a foot rub or two, but the newbie gets the nickname.
August 24th, 2020 at 9:45 am
8:09 am and Steven is already nitpicking something to cry about… what a life!
August 24th, 2020 at 10:14 am
45, who’s crying? Not crying, just pointing out the obvious.
August 24th, 2020 at 10:57 am
I think that David has a chance to get DPOY, but I think that JPP is going to go insane and be in the race too with all of the attention offenses will give Shaq.
August 24th, 2020 at 10:57 am
We all know that Joe’s adjectives are tiresome. Beyond tiresome actually.m
None of us are leaving the site tho.
Joe is like that girlfriend that cooks Really well but has ugly feet.
Just make her wear socks!
August 24th, 2020 at 10:59 am
Guys!!! Imagine how much better our D will be JUST by not having to be out on the field for two or three extra possessions in bad field position.
August 24th, 2020 at 11:10 am
SB, something very much like that. The difference being the girlfriend can’t do much about her feet…
August 24th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Sorry Lavonte but here are the defensive players who are likely to get noticed in Prime Time:
1. Shaq Barrett. Sacks, sacks, and sacks.
2. Devin White. Splash play LB. Huge personality.
3. Vita Vea. TV analysts always feature the bigs.
4. Antoine Winfield. Picks + Dad + Rookie. Good TV.
August 24th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Pablo agreed with Skypirate
August 24th, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Why haven’t we been hearing Devin White’s name? Has he become the forgotten man on this defense?