Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE

Once again the Buccaneers defense looked pretty incredible. When they didn’t look impressive (like that last drive of the game) it wasn’t due to a lack of talent it was due to a lack of gas. By the end of the game, the offense’s utter inability to get anything going downfield had the defense running on fumes.

There were hiccups to be had, and this was the first game that saw the run defense savagely breakdown at times, but overall it’s hard to get on this defense for only allowing 24 points to one of the most explosive and dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL. Yes, RGIII statistically had his best game of his young career, but that’s only if you look at the box score.

And if you want to call upon the box score and say yes, Griffin had his best statisical game of the year then consider this: the Buccaneers almost beat RGIII at his best.

Sunday was the first time all season long that Griffin was held out of the endzone in terms of passing and it was just the second time he was held under 50 yards rushing. Griffin, who is known for his cannon of an arm, threw the most passes he has all year long but even with 35 attempts, he couldn’t find the endzone through the air.

There is really no excuse for the breakdown in the running game, but the defense was able to disrupt the Redskins offense early on and had the Buccaneers gotten something going offensively, it’s hard to believe that a regularly rested defense would have been able to harass RGIII better.

But when the Bucs got shots at RGIII, they took them. Mark Barron had two missile-like shots on RGIII, one that was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty. On the 15-yarder, the referees ruled that Barron didn’t have to drop Griffin the way that he did and called a pile driving penalty for the roughness. Many believed that the hit was clean, but Billy Cundiff’s missed field goal sort of helped heal wounds.

If there is a bright spot on this Bucs team it’s the defense. In three of the first four weeks the Buccaneers have held their opponents under 25 points and had they not allowed Eli Manning to blow them up in Week 2, Tampa would have one of the best points allowed defenses in the NFL.

There is obviously still a lot of growing to be done on defense, as the Bucs aren’t fully there as a unit. Penalties killed the Bucs on a few scoring drives and really didn’t help them get off the field — the main adversary to this unit. But if there’s a symbol of the growth this team needs to accomplish the defense epitomizes that.

And if there’s one thing that Tampa knows, it’s great defense.

Lavonte David shoed off his playmaking ability last night in a 20-7 win, and shoed flashes of what could be a great rookie season. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

Last night was the debut of the new look Buccaneers and one of the guys Greg Schiano and company are hoping will be an impact is second round draft pick Lavonte David.

In his first NFL game, David was making tackles, looked aware and even grabbed an interception — hardly the production of most rookies in their first game.

His interception came off of starter Matt Moore and came after defensive tackle Frank Okam tipped the ball. All David had to do was display his sideline-to-sideline quickness he showed at Nebraska and get to the ball.

And get to the ball he did.

“I want to thank the D-line for the tip,” David said. “The ball was in the air for a long time. It was right there, and I just had to get to it.”

It wasn’t just his production, it was how comfortable David looked in the defense. He fit right in without any pains and started going to work. Given the Buccaneers defensive woes from last season, it’s comforting to know that David, a guy they traded up to get in this past April’s draft, isn’t wide eyed in the secondary.

“It was definitely faster,” David said of his first NFL game. “But I kind of got used to it. As the game went on, I just adjusted.”

Adjusted. That’s exactly what the Buccaneers and everyone watching wanted to hear. It’s rare that a rookie adjusts so easily and so quickly in his NFL career. Granted this was just one preseason game and it’s hardly something to pin a career on, but the Bucs need some serious help at linebacker and the fact that this whole David thing is going this smoothly is great.

“He’s done a real good job since he started,” coach Greg Schiano said. “And I think he continued to do it [Friday]. … He flew around out there, and he looked comfortable. I was happy for him to do it in his hometown, too.”

If David can keep up this playmaking ability, the Bucs may be in for a markedly improved season at linebacker.

May 15, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) works out during organized team activities at One Buc. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The WLB recorded 152 tackles, six sacks, and 12.5 tackles for loss as a junior in the 2012 season back when Nebraska was a Big 12 powerhouse. He led the Big 12 in tackles and was third in the nation in that statistic. David was seventh in the conference in tackles for loss, and he was also ninth in sacks.

Last season, David had 133 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and forced three fumbles in the team’s first season in the Big Ten. Prior to the 2o11 season, David had not played a direct role in a turnover.

The top coverage LB was third in the Big Ten in tackles, and the conference is known for its hard-nosed runners. The decrease in production is misleading, because it was more difficult for Lavonte David to record tackles. In any case, he was still great and was ninth in the Big Ten in sacks and in the top five in fumbles forced.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

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