Did Taunting Enforcement Hurt The Bucs Defense?
February 10th, 2026
Joe is always chasing answers.
The Bucs defense has gotten progressively worse over the past two years.
Serious Bucs fans know the various issues. But should taunting enforcement be added to the list?
Consider what Lavonte David recently told the Why Is Draymond Green Talking About Football? podcast.
“The taunting thing for me, I played with Devin White,” David began. And we was some big talkers out there on the field. And when the taunting [rules enforcement] came about, and I remember he got flagged a couple of times, and it kind of like had us ease up a little bit. I feel like that’s just taking fun out of the game, man, trash taking and stuff like that. That’s a part of the game. It’s competition, just friendly competition.
“And we had a situation this year. We was playing Detroit and we were out there having fun, just trash talking and stuff like that, and the refs stepping in [and warning us]. I’m like, ‘C’mon man, just let us play the game. Let us be us.'”
Joe supposes it’s possible David and White couldn’t find the same level of on-field motivation if referees were telling them to shut up. David often talks about his mental state while playing, so perhaps them having to be quiet became a thing over time?
David referenced the Detroit game of the 2025 season. Those who actually watched the game know the Bucs defense did a lot of good things, including holding high-octane Detroit to a combined 4-of-15 conversion rate on third and fourth downs.
Joe feels confident saying the Bucs need a couple of new established starters on defense, guys who tackle like animals and can block out any noise.
February 10th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Use that energy to motivate your own defensive players. The Bucs need a Hardy Nickerson or a Ray Lewis leading on the field. We’ve got plenty of leaders on Offense, now go out and get a few for defense. They thought they had one in white, but turned out he was only worried about himself.
February 10th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Lol oh boy I can tell it’s the off-season with these articles you coming out with Joe.
February 10th, 2026 at 10:33 am
The whole thing of dancing after TD’s and “posing” for fake group pictures in the end zone after an interception is stupid and unoriginal. Great players like Jim Brown and Paul Warfield would just hand the ball to the nearest referee after a TD. Doing the Watusi or bugaloo doesn’t belong on football fields. Hard to believe that the NFL has allowed it to expand. There are enough commercial delays in football. It looks like these guys spend more time coreographing their dancing than they do practicing tackling.
February 10th, 2026 at 10:35 am
This team is mentally weak they lack heart
February 10th, 2026 at 10:56 am
I’m gonna say that the man who leads and designs the defense is the #1 factor and yet he still has a job
February 10th, 2026 at 10:57 am
We all know that our defense changed dramatically the moment we swapped Gerald McCoy for Suh. Mentally and physically. We desperately need a similar infusion again!
February 10th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Our #1 issue remains, still, again, our D line. Our draft and FA talk should start and stop there imo.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:24 am
This is an interesting article.
I played in a Bowl game against Simeon Rice fighting Illinois team.
I was talking so much trash “ where’s Ohio State, where’s Michigan 🤣🤣
The ref said “21 you say one more word you are out of this game” didn’t want to get kicked out the game Family & Friends. I didn’t stop playing with that same intensity.🤙🏾
February 10th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Sometimes the “rules” are kind of tough. As long as they’re applied evenly and fairly that shouldn’t be a problem. When the refs get a hard on for certain players or teams that’s another story. When you throw in the Vegas influence you’ve got WWF.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Didnt stop seattle. I dont want to freaking hear it
February 10th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Talking does NOTHING. Your play is what shuts people up. The scoreboard shuts people up. Hitting talkers square in the mouth shuts people up and sends a message. I’m not against celebrating but a lot of this is plain un-sportsman like. Everybody saw the play you made. And stop with the 1st down signal, that idiot TE for Seattle can’t stand up with out genuflecting. I remember the great Alan Page, who should have been in the top ten of the top 30 greatest NFL players that was posted earlier, got peeved at a ref in the game cause the offensive line was blatantly holding him and wasn’t getting called and the ref basically told him too bad. It may have even had some racial overtones, but Page said to the ref, ok, alright, and proceeded to absolutely take over and WRECK that offense practically one man. Celebrate the sack and TD but like someone else said, this isn’t a recidal, and now the young ones are doing what they see the pros do, SMDH.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
answers?…or excuses?…lol…
GO BUCS!!!