Aaron Schatz Goes Off On Experts Ignoring Lavonte David
June 20th, 2025
Has a prominent defender.
This was chicken soup for a Bucs fan’s soul.
There may not be a bigger booster of Lavonte David in #NFLMedia than the founder of Football Outsiders (RIP), Aaron Schatz.
Whenever Schatz, the inventor of DVOA, gets a chance, the hardcore David believer argues that if folks would just look at the David advanced stats and not just tackles and sacks, they would see just how great of an NFL defender David has been throughout his career.
In particular, Schatz often points out how David’s “defeat” stat, which includes turnovers, tackles for loss and plays that prevent third and fourth down conversions, ranks David with elites of the game: J.J. Watt, Derrick Brooks and Ray Lewis.
In Schatz’s writeup of David for the BSPN All-21st-Century Team, First-25 Years, Schatz justifiably took a couple of swings at those uneducated about David.
No linebacker over the past 25 years has dominated with splash plays quite like David. His 415 defeats rank third among all players since 1991 (behind Lewis and Junior Seau), while his 31.9 defeats per season rank first. David also has 330 pass tackle stops (tackles after pass receptions that prevent the offense from having a successful play). Derrick Brooks (275) is the only other player since 1991 with more than 240. It’s ridiculous that David has only two total Pro Bowl (2015) or first-team All-Pro (2013) selections, but we’re not letting that keep him off our team.
With the exception of Luke Kuechly and J.J. Watt, there is no higher profile person working within the NFL fighting the good fight for David quite like Schatz.
Fight the power, Aaron!
Was playing around with some old defensive numbers and thought I would share this list of the most defeats in a season since 1994. @JJWatt was the king.
Defeats add together TOs, TFLs, and plays to prevent conversion on 3rd/4th down. pic.twitter.com/lRsoAuwLOh
— Aaron Schatz đ (@ASchatzNFL) April 7, 2025
June 20th, 2025 at 8:11 am
And to think he’s only missed 13 games over that same amount of years speaks volumes about his toughness. Disrespect or not, he’ll get the last laugh when he wears a gold jacket every fall.
June 20th, 2025 at 8:15 am
2 of the top 6 seasons. The disrespect is criminal at this point.
June 20th, 2025 at 9:02 am
At last a non-moron.
June 20th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Schatz is the smartest advanced stats guy in the game barring none. He had the Buccaneers offense rated 8th last year and the defense 14th.
June 20th, 2025 at 9:56 am
5th all-time in solo total tackles(1,111) only needs 24 tackles to be 4th behind Derrick Brooks all-time.
8th all-time in combined tackles(1,602), behind Derrick Brooks(1,713).
9th all time for TFLs(169), ahead of that bum Cam Jordan(160).
And easily one of the best football players I’ve watched in my life.
June 20th, 2025 at 10:26 am
LD is the true definition of a âBuccaneer Manâ, as Schiano defined. Easily one of my fav Bucs of all time. Itâs been a pleasure to watch this man play the game! One of the most consistent football players of all time!
June 20th, 2025 at 10:42 am
If everything was fair and just, LVD should have at least 10+ Probowls and 10+ 1st Team All-Pro’s right now and everyone around the league should be in awe of his continued greatness every time the mention or hear his name. đŻ
June 20th, 2025 at 11:13 am
I consider Lavonte an elite LB. One might argue who has been the true MVP of the Bucs team the last 10 years or so, David or Evans…but I vote for David.
Evans is also elite but he doesn’t have to shed blocks from 330 pound linemen…
June 20th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Definitely one of my favorite Bucs, all time. He’s right in there with the great TB defensive players: Selmon, Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Barber, JPP (I’m probably leaving someone out). On offense, Evans if probably in a category all by himself!
June 20th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
As blasphemous as it may sound, I have privately wondered if LVD was better than Derek Brooks, when comparing entire careers. It turns out, he might be. He is definitely close. What a great guy and football player! Rodney Dangerfield treatment, indeed.
June 20th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
If the pro bowl was more than a popularity contest, I would care.
He should be a first ballet HoFer though.