“Kinda Stacked” At Inside Linebacker, Says Lavonte David
June 8th, 2025
Lavonte David
Man, the Bucs are loaded at inside linebacker.
That’s the view of Lavonte David speaking this weekend to Peter Blake on The Sports Web.
David hasn’t been participating in spring OTA practices, but he’s been at One Buc Palace and Joe is confident David has peeked at the film of veteran inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis — Todd Bowles’ only named standout in OTAs — and newcomer veteran Anthony Walker, Jr., along with former Pro Bowler Deion Jones and various undrafted rookies at the position.
David didn’t back off taking a little credit for the Bucs’ signing Walker, who played 14 games for the Dolphins last season. The Bucs signed Walker, 29, in the early hours after the free agency dinner bell rang in March.
“My boy A-walk, man. … Kind of like grew up in the same crowd [in Miami],” David said. “I know the Bucs was looking for a linebacker and he was available so I gave them a little nudge. That’s all I did, gave them a little nudge. You know, [Walker is] a guy who can play the game the right way, a guy who can contribute to us defensively, another veteran guy who can help us out tremendously. And he’s one of those guys for sure. Our room is kinda stacked.”
Some Bucs might disagree that the Bucs are “stacked” at inside linebacker. David’s comment likely reveals how much improved David thinks the position is from last year, Joe believes.
The legendary Bucs linebacker talked about the playmaking skills of Dennis and says he likes what he sees from the young newcomers fight for jobs.
Ira Kaufman Talks Revived Belichick-Bucs Chatter, Offensive Line Greatness, Baker Mayfield’s New Comments, And Much More
June 8th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
The question isn’t do we have guys there. The Question Is do we have Quality football players that are Above Average in that position.
The way I see it, we have 2. And Dennis IS the second guy. After that…… it’s hard to see anybody else on down the mountain top. Just 2 that make the cut..
So Smoke and Mirrors in the “Quality Department”
June 8th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Have to listen to the man, he knows a thing or two about the LB position in this league! I am excited to see him and Dennis terrorizing opponents this year!
June 8th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
Hopefully he’s right because they could still use some help there.
June 8th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
this sounds crazy….i can’t believe this…definitely short one solid ilb…
and oh yeah…injuries happen every year
June 8th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
I guess LVD has a lot of confidence in Walker and Jones…. I hope he’s right.
June 8th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
I still think Deion Jones will surprise people!!
He has a massive chip on his shoulder.
June 8th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Lavonte knows more than me. I’m skeptical.
June 8th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Talk is cheap.¹
Prove it.
¹ Ref: CB’s Law of Rhetorical Economics
June 8th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Imagine how good we’d feel if we had Lavonte, Dennis, and 2020 Devin White on this team. Such a shame Devin just kind of fell apart.
June 8th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
How about C.J. Mosley for the Tampa Bay Bucs, strictly as a reserve. This ain’t about the splashy signing, it’s about the depth and hopefully what Mosley can still bring to the table for a few games if necessary.
Now, you look at Mosley’s recent history, it’s a mixed bag. In 2021, 2022, and even 2023, the dude was a tackling machine, racking up over 150 combined tackles each year.
When he’s healthy, he’s even showing some excellent coverage grades, which is crucial in today’s game.
He wasn’t just a two-down run stuffer; he can actually hangs with tight ends and backs.
Historically, played in 3-4 defenses before switching and doing well in a 4-3.
So the fit is there from a conceptual standpoint.
But then you get to 2024, and that’s where the huge concern hits you.
He only played four games. Two concerning injuries: 1. A toe injury, then 2. that herniated disc in his neck.
And at his age, a neck injury for a middle linebacker is a serious red flag.
So, IF (and that is a big if) the Bucs are looking at him, it’s about a low-risk, high-reward proposition. A guy that I would hope that all the announcers are talking about in the playoffs “How did the Bucs get him” “Jason Licht is one of the smartest GMs in the game”
Can he provide depth? Absolutely, but only if healthy. Can he still step in and give you quality snaps if David or someone else goes down? Maybe. Again if healthy.
When healthy, he is more than simple depth. The problem? The biggest concern, the only concern that matters here, is his health.
June 8th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
All the players are at their peak of hype now, some will off the roster soon, and some may play well. In OTAs, the coaches are propping up the players saying they’re doing great. I’m ready for some hitting in camp and Joe’s reports. Camp isn’t as good as games, but I’m still ready for camp and some hitting.
June 8th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
KJ or Russell would be at best 5th on the depth chart. It’s hard to argue that the Bucs aren’t much better on paper at the position this year.
June 8th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
i keep saying it in random threads from time to time…
kyzir white…
then we are good…
very solid and affordable ilb
June 8th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
LVD … ‘You know, [Walker is] a guy who can play the game the right way, a guy who can contribute to us defensively, another veteran guy who can help us out tremendously.’
Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Anthony Walker start at MLB in Game 1. That’s a game the Bucs NEED TO WIN to make a statement at the opening bell of the 2025 season.
SVD surely has the inside track at the moment because he’s been here, in Bowles’ system, for 2 years now and he’s young. But both Anthony Walker and Deion Jones have LOTS of game experience. They’re quite a bit older obviously, but that just might work in their favor early in the season.
June 8th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
LVD, stud.
SVD, stud.
Deion Jones, former stud and potentially still a stud.
Anthony Walker, unknown.
That’s not a terrible ILB room.
I hear what LVD is saying.
June 8th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
as long as he can cover a tight end or leakout
June 8th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Every single level of the Defense has improved talent wise. Reddick will help Diaby a ton, teams won’t be able to slide protections his way anymore. Dennis will be great in the middle,if Jones has to play he played great in the Playoff game vs WAS ,guy can still cover well . Winfield healthy,moving Smith to Safety now have Parrish and Morrison to add to Dean and McCollum, Season looks Very Bright!!!!!
June 8th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
Walker and Jones both have massive experience in a spot where we had absolutely zero
June 8th, 2025 at 7:52 pm
There is plenty of film to support Walker being excellent in coverage.
He gets the right depth.
This group is heads and tails better than last year.
The quality of depth at other positions includes younger guys.
4 veterans at ILB can’t hurt.
SVD has all the tools to explode this year with 150+ tackles.
You watch.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
You’re right Teacherman!
Deion Jones will surprise many because I believe he has a serious chip on his shoulder. He almost had an int in the playoffs against the Commanders. He will do what we all hoped Devin White would do, ball out in pass defense, n be a team player.
June 8th, 2025 at 11:01 pm
admittedly I was hopeful we would take campbell for his versatility, but looking at it now, we really are stacked. jones was legit even though he played for the dixie chicks and walker’s stats and grades are solid. and those are our backups.
even if david or dennis do go out for a few games (hopefully not) we’re still much better off than we were with britt or a handful of untested practice squad guys.
and it seems like the 2026 draft will be deeper at inside linebacker than this year was.
gotta say my trust in bowles and licht is 📈
June 8th, 2025 at 11:03 pm
billybucco 100% agree.. even only slightly healthier than last year we are legit contenders.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:30 am
Look, David isn’t going to say anything different.
Also, not having slow Britt on the field a massive improvement.
But really it all comes down to Dennis, if he’s healthy, and David stays healthy, they’ll be fine. If either has an injury, oh lordy lord, we are in trouble.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:35 am
I kind of feel sorry for LVD. He was forced to play next to some pretty crap LBs for the last few years. Hope Dennis can help him and visa versa. If the others need to play I doubt they can be much worse than what we have had in there recently.
Go Bucs!
June 9th, 2025 at 4:28 am
yuu guys sound naive……and like confused homers…
after LVD and SVD we’ve only got walker, and no one was knocking down the door for that guy…
the cupboard is baron after that…get realistic…
and there will be injuries…
LVD is old, SVD injury prone…
no team would rely on walker and jones……..no team
in fact, jones was on the street before we got desperate at the position and picked him up…
no disrespect to jones, but he might be washed out…
and yes for a moment in the commandos loss he looked okay…
you guys are def gazing thru rose colored glasses or something…
our ILB room is almost empty man…if you consider that lavonte could wash out in a split second…i saw the all mighty derrick brooks play one season too long and it was sometimes a hard watch…
SVD has yet to even really play…think about that…the dude has yet to really grind out a season…or even a few games as a starter…and technically half the GMs in the league might say both walker and jones are washed or semi-washed…
so y’all are buggin’ the F out…our LB room ain’t deep…it’s in deep doo…
sorry to sound neagtive………but…….someone has to be realistic in here…i’ve seen people say we are even gonna win 14-15 games this year…wtf is up with that too…!
some of these newjacks on JBF are smokin’ too much of that bucs zooty
June 9th, 2025 at 6:07 am
We’ll see on Sunday’s.
June 9th, 2025 at 7:30 am
When you think about it, it is kinda stacked. Our 2nd unit has experience and D. Jones was a pain in our buttocks when he was with atlanta.
June 9th, 2025 at 8:30 am
the hype machine is running full tilt in the glazer smile and dial call center… stacked lol.
“our draft picks done been ready for the gold jackets yo SB here we come”!!!
June 9th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Man, Adam in NY couldn’t have found a better phrase for our defensive REALITY.
I’ve decided to title this back and forth and it’s called…..
“Smokey Mirrors and Rose Colored Glasses”
O boy…. “Rose Colored Glasses Gang” and the Anual “Hopeium Smoke Off” is in Full Burn.
Look, the ONLY good news IS that the back ups are Vets. Washed out or not, they “might” actually be able to Blow Past the Bowles “Sand Script Tablets”, And just PLAY BALL! They maybe darn near washed but at least one of them and perhaps both were trained by STUD COACHES!
As PATHETIC as THAT IS, I’m gonna take it as a win! “Smokey Mirrors and Rose Colored Glasses”
Adam in NY IS RIGHT.. We ARE in DEEP DOO! And I’m GOING TO POINT OUT SOMETHING AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THAT COST US TOM BRADY IN 2022
That WOULD BE (and keep in mind I LOVE this Guy!) The Negligence of Jason Licht and him NOT FIXING THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM! Licht BLEW IT THEN (2022) with the Crap Crewed Up O Line that IS SUPPOSED TO BE his “Specialty” Then……
AND HERE WE GO AGAIN NOW! Except this time, THERE IS NO CAP EXCUSE TO RUN TO HIDE BEHIND FOR DOING A LOUSY JOB OF SUPPLYING THIS FOOTBALL TEAM WITH THE MOST OBVIOUS NEED POSSIBLE!
I would THINK that after watching OUR TOTAL DEFENSIVE DESTRUCTION in the MIDDLE of our Defense ALL OF LAST YEAR, that my GM Hero WOULD BE ALL OVER THIS!!!!!!
TICK TOCK JASON!