Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lavonte David excited to team up with JPP again

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ linebacker Lavonte David is excited to be teaming up again with former college teammate Jason Pierre-Paul.

There’s some excitement beginning to buzz around One Buc Place. Whether it’s from players or fans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken a different approach to the off-season and draft and it has some fans believing that maybe this season the Bucs will live up to the hype.

After last season, where many believed the postseason was going to be a slam dunk only to have the rug ripped out from under them, the Buccaneers have placed a strong emphasis on building strength and nastiness in the trenches. This included a trade for former USF and New York Giants star Jason Pierre-Paul.

One player on the Bucs who is very familiar with JPP is his former college teammate Lavonte David. Both David and JPP played together in junior college before JPP moved on to USF and David headed to Nebraska. Now, they’re reunited on the same defense and David is excited about the possibilities;

"“I played with Jason in junior college so I know what he’s bringing to the table back then and from what I see, nothing changed. I still kept up with him when he went to South Florida and then when he went to the Giants. So, nothing’s changed. Those long arms are going to help out tremendously for us too. His attitude comes in, wants to work, and his mindset, he always wants to dominate. So I know what I’m going to get out of him. As soon as it happened, he sent a text to me right away and told me, ‘I’m coming to join you, bro, and we’re back together.’ So, it was amazing to see that.”"

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to have playmakers and game changers at every level of the defense now and the impact the JPP will have on a defensive line that will include Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry, Beau Allen, and first round pick Vita Vea is undoubtedly exciting to think about. How they are all used will be an interesting rotation to see unfold, but the talent is there from all angles.

There’s no more excuses, no more hoping McCoy finally has some help. There are established players on this line mixed with raw talent and upside. There’s no doubt it’s the most talented line – on paper – that we’ve seen in Tampa in over a decade.

Next: The Relentless Jack Cichy

It’s simply a matter of seeing them do their jobs and get after the quarterback.