The Pewter Plank
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Lavonte David a Silent Superstar

By Derek Quesenberry

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Since Lavonte David has entered the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 he has quietly become one of the best linebackers in the league. I may be biased because I am a fan of the team, but there aren’t many linebackers I would pick ahead of him.

Compared to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers captain, I can’t deny Luke Kuechly is probably the best linebacker in the NFL. Besides Kuechly the only linebacker I can think of is Bobby Wagner.

I know the two players I just mentioned play a different position than David, but I think this speaks to just how valuable he is. David doesn’t get the Pro Bowl accolades, or the national spotlight as other players do, but not many players have as much of an impact on a game as he does.

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Gerald Mcoy is the player fans commonly say hasn’t gotten the help he deserves from the defensive line, but the same could be said for David.

For years, the only players opposing offenses needed to account for on the Bucs defense were McCoy and David. Slowly this has started to change.

In 2015, David got a running partner when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Kwon Alexander, who seems to be a star in the making. After this off-season and all of the defensive line acquisitions, this could be the season where it may finally pay off big time.

The defensive line has such a big impact on the game and having a good defensive line can make other players’ jobs so much easier. After acquiring Jason Pierre Paul, Vinny Curry, Beau Allen, and especially Vita Vea, there are going to be so many more one-on-one situations.

Along with the favorable matchups on the defensive line, there will be so much more room for the linebackers to run and hit.

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One of David’s best skills is being able to dodge and juke an incoming blocker and still make the tackle. Now that the Bucs’ defensive line has multiple talents who will demand a double-team to be accounted for, David will no longer need to jump out of harms way while trying to make the play.

Now, David should be able to simply read the play, pick his gap, and make the tackle. Imagine, he may finally have some room to work. He has never had that in his career, imagine what he could do now.

If revamped defensive line pans out the way I think, and hope, they can their defense may finally be relevant again.

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I expect the whole team to be better this year, and finally get some positive recognition.

Lavonte David may be in for his best season yet, which is quite impressive if you look at his stats.

Personally, I don’t really care if my favorite player gets the national spotlight daily. But this may be the year where the media may have no choice but to catapult this Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.

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