Let’s speak about Lavonte David, lets?
The extra thrilling intervals of the Bucs offseason are over with, as pre-draft scouting, free company, the NFL Draft, OTAs and mini-camps are effectively prior to now. What’s thrilling, although, is that this Bucs Storylines collection started when coaching camp was nonetheless weeks and weeks away, and now we’re underneath one week from Tampa Bay reporting again to the AdventHealth Coaching Middle to start out camp and start preparations for the 2024 season.
There’s nonetheless loads of time to speak storylines for the upcoming season, although, because the common season doesn’t kick off for one more month-plus. So, with that in thoughts, this collection rolls on as we slender in on among the Bucs’ greatest stars and go player-by-player to dive into the massive storylines which might be in retailer for the 2024 season.
After having a look at six gamers on offense (quarterback Baker Mayfield, vast receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, working again Rachaad White, tight finish Cade Otton and left deal with Tristan Wirfs), we flipped over to the protection with nostril deal with Vita Vea, defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and out of doors linebacker Yaya Diaby. In the present day, we proceed with legendary inside linebacker Lavonte David.
Bucs Storylines: Lavonte David
Listed below are three massive storylines surrounding Bucs inside linebacker Lavonte David in 2024:
Does Father Time Have Any Likelihood In opposition to Lavonte David?
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Yr after yr, it appears like David is getting the perfect of Father Time. At age 34, the Buccaneer legend is about to enter his thirteenth NFL season. And he’s coming off an age-33 season in 2023 that didn’t characteristic any indicators of him slowing down. He performed 1,086 snaps and led the Bucs with 134 tackles (86 solo) whereas posting 4.5 sacks (his most since ending with 5 in 2016) and 17 tackles for loss (his most since tallying 17 in 2016).
David graded out exceptionally effectively final yr, too, based on Professional Soccer Focus. He completed with a 72.3 total grade, with marks of 75.0 in run protection, 74.8 in tackling, 70.9 in move rush and 68.6 in protection. He and All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. have been the perfect and most constant gamers on Tampa Bay’s protection all yr lengthy.
An completely ridiculous Lavonte David sport on Sunday. Dude is actually ageless. pic.twitter.com/vBZFJnFzjq
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 17, 2023
There was all the time speak about seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Tom Brady’s battles with Father Time, and the Bucs bought to see firsthand how that went. Brady received a Tremendous Bowl and two division titles throughout his three-year stint in Tampa Bay from ages 43-45. He additionally threw for 4,500-plus yards in every of these three years and had a low of 25 passing touchdowns throughout that span (2022).
Now, everybody’s consideration must be shifting towards the battle of Lavonte David vs. Father Time. Not to remove from Brady’s longevity — the man performed for 23 seasons and into his mid-40s at a excessive degree, in spite of everything — however the truth that David remains to be taking part in at such a excessive degree at linebacker is praise-worthy in its personal proper. It defies logic that he’s nonetheless a top-10 (and borderline top-five) off-ball linebacker on the age of 34 (any checklist that claims in any other case is trash).
So, does Father Time have an opportunity to meet up with the long run Bucs Ring of Honor member in 2024? You received’t discover many who’re keen to wager that such would be the case. David has been the mannequin of consistency over the course of his profession and has continued to be a central chief of the protection from 2012 all through to now. So so far as Father Time lastly getting one over on No. 54? As was the case with Brady, everybody ought to comfortably sit in “I’ll consider it after I see it” mode.
Can Lavonte David Lastly Make His Lengthy-Awaited Return To The Professional Bowl?
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
For the entire phenomenal play that Lavonte David has put on the market on a constant, year-to-year foundation all through the period of his now 13-year profession, the truth that he nonetheless has only one Professional Bowl choice (2015) is an absolute travesty.
He’s fallen sufferer to the Professional Bowl choice system and the way in which it treats off-ball linebackers, plus it hasn’t helped that he has been relegated to all the time being “one of the crucial underrated gamers” within the league. Sooner or later, the “most underrated” participant yr after yr ought to simply be thought-about among the best there’s, proper?
That’s with out even approaching the visibility concern he confronted attributable to taking part in for a foul Bucs staff. Tom Brady’s arrival in 2020 helped change that to an extent, nevertheless it clearly didn’t have sufficient of a long-lasting impression, as he’s nonetheless ignored by lots nationally. For him to solely be an honorable point out on a current top-10 checklist of off-ball linebackers put collectively by NFL executives, coaches and scouts? Ridiculous.
So sure, David lastly making it again to the Professional Bowl in 2024 could be an uphill battle. However his play very effectively might warrant such an honor. There’s an argument to be made that he was a snub final yr, as his numbers stacked up fairly effectively with the NFC representatives within the Professional Bowl Video games:
Fred Warner: 132 tackles (82 solo), 2.5 sacks, 6 TFL, 5 QB hits, 4 INT, 4 FF, 11 PDDemario Davis: 121 tackles (84 solo), 6.5 sacks, 12 TFL, 11 QB hits, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 6 PDBobby Wagner: 183 tackles (96 solo), 3.5 sacks, 11 TFL, 6 QB hits, 0 INT, 0 FF, 1 FR, 3 PDLavonte David: 134 tackles (86 solo), 4.5 sacks, 17 TFL, 5 QB hits, 0 INT, 1 FF, 0 FR, 5 PD
David solely trailed Davis in sacks and led all Professional Bowl linebackers with 17 tackles for loss. The place he falls quick is within the splash play classes, and that could possibly be what limits his possibilities for recognition as soon as once more in 2024. Nonetheless, with Devin White gone, there could also be extra alternatives for David to be the playmaking linebacker. A number of extra splash performs and that patented regular play could possibly be simply sufficient to get him a second Professional Bowl nod, albeit 9 years after his first and much too late to make up for a way ignored he’s been.
Will 2024 Be Lavonte David’s Remaining Season?
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: USA In the present day
As ageless as he appears and as a lot as it would really feel like Lavonte David might play eternally, actuality clearly dictates in any other case. And actually, this query has been requested for the final couple of years. As exhausting as it’s to consider, we’re getting nearer and nearer to Lavonte David’s swan music within the NFL.
The longtime Buccaneer stated again in September of 2022 that he was on the level of taking issues yr to yr, and the contracts he’s signed within the final couple of offseasons have confirmed as a lot. He signed a one-year deal to return for Yr 12 in 2023, and this previous March, he signed one other one-year pact for Yr 13. And it wasn’t all the time clear to everybody that No. 54 could be again this yr.
However by the top of February, David made it clear he was nonetheless able to swimsuit up for one more season.
“Man, I’m able to play,” David stated on the time. “I nonetheless really feel like I’ve bought so much left in me. Nonetheless going to provide it a shot. I’m going to let my physique inform me when it’s time to surrender and when it’s time to let it go. However proper now, I really feel fairly good. I’ve bought a whole lot of confidence.”
It actually does really feel like David might nonetheless play a pair extra seasons, however there’s all the time that lingering likelihood that anyone of those seasons could possibly be the final one in every of his profession. His physique might inform him by the top of 2024 that it’s time to hold all of it up. Or possibly he has yet one more incredible season on the age of 34 and appears like he’s content material with going out whereas he’s nonetheless bought it. Solely time will inform, however Buccaneer followers ought to make certain to understand each time they see the longtime Tampa Bay captain on the sector in 2024.
