Lavonte David Wreaks “Havoc”
July 15th, 2025
Still a premiere baller.
This is just wild to Joe knowing Bucs linebacker Lavonte David pulled this off when he was a mere 34-years old.
The gang at the Mike Tannenbaum-run, cash-strapped football thinktank The 33rd Team must have been bored this summer. Because the pocket protector crowd over there decided to invent a stat.
But the stat is pretty cool. It’s called a “havoc” stat. Basically, havoc plays by a defender separates the wheat from the chaff, and maybe the ball from the ball carrier, too.
A havoc play is nothing more than an impact play. A havoc stat, defined by The 33rd Team, is either a sack, a tackle for loss, a pick, a forced fumble or a pass breakup.
David, at 34 in 2024, averaged over one havoc play in every game. David finished with 21. So David made an impact in every game.
Sounds like a Hall of Famer to Joe.
That right there tells Joe that David didn’t drop off much.
Let’s cross our fingers that David holds up at age 35 this fall. Joe fears the Bucs are going to need David to stay on the field more than team officials care to publicly admit.
July 15th, 2025 at 12:39 am
Wreaks havoc for 14 years and counting -> still can’t sniff an all-pro or pro bowl regardless
July 15th, 2025 at 2:29 am
I love the idea of this stat. They should add to it tho. A tackle for gain should be a havok stat. And a 3rd down tackle before the line should be a havok stat.
July 15th, 2025 at 5:41 am
When you compare Wagner, Kuechly and David the stat that really separates them all is David’s forced fumbles. LVD has 28 compared to Wagner’s 7 and Luke’s 6. Unlike tackles those are game changers. LVD should not only be in the HOF he should be a first ballot HOF’r.
July 15th, 2025 at 7:32 am
Watching Lavonte I know he’s really, really good and makes outstanding tackles.
But, when I see his stats like this one ands the TFL stats, where his only peers are edge rushers and not off the ball linebackers, I think “holy cow, he’s a first ballot hall of famer and the closest thing we will ever see to Derrick Brooks”. I never thought we’d see another defensive player like Brooks, but Davis for his own right reminds me of a blend of Brooks- talent, and Barber- longevity, smarts, attitude.
July 15th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Hate on Schiano all you want, but he selecting David in the 2nd round and unleashing him as a rookie was great to see.
July 15th, 2025 at 7:48 am
The only stand up LB in the all-time top 10(9th w/169) in TFLs > Cam Jordan AND Jared Allen.
Lavonte David is the Phantom Menace.
July 15th, 2025 at 8:52 am
London Fletcher was THIRTY EIGHT years old when he played in his last Pro Bowl!
Yes he was exceptional, but LVD has already shown he is exceptional as well.
I think as long as he keeps the fire in his belly and is comfortable postponing his next career in the Ministry LVD will produce.
July 15th, 2025 at 9:07 am
LD54 will be moving up the all time career TFL list quickly this year….
David has 169 TFLs for his career – currently 9th place all time
Just 8 more Tackles for Loss leapfrogs Lavonte past DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Jared Allen, Julius Peppers and Aaron Donald for 4th most all time – although Miller’s 171 might be a moving target if he plays this year…. as is Calais Campbell who currently sits at 3rd all time with 187…
LD54 also needs just 25 solo tackles to surpass Donnie Edwards for 4th most solo tackles in a career….
July 15th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Pickgrin
Great point for both LVD and ME. These guys now have bigger fish to fry than the size of their next contract. They are searching for NFL immortality.
July 15th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Hopefully he can keep up with that kind of play. Perhaps this year someone from the Secondary can step up and add to that with some interceptions that weigh more in the formula. Same production from David with someone in the defensive Backfield creating Havoc like Branch/Lions and Taylor/Saints and the Bucs D will absolutely be better in 2025.
What is really Impressive is Pittsburgh’s 55 from Watt’s 29 and Heyward’s 26 from their defensive front alone.
What the Team does with these plays is what really matters.
David was able to avoid getting called for a hold and broke up a 4th down pass vs. the Commanders and the Offense gave the ball right back a few plays later.
David intercepted a pass, the offense turned what would have been a 45 yards Field Goal on 1st down into a Punt on 4th, and giving the ball to the Falcons and them only needing a field goal to tie at their own 30.
Both ended up a loss.
July 15th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
New award needs to be most pro bowl snubs for the most talented player on a defense …