Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Predicting team awards for 2019 season
By Cory Kinnan
Defensive Player of the Year: LB Lavonte David
The Defensive Player of the Year is a hard one to choose due to the inexperience and overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. With that being said, we will defer to the longest tenured Buc on defense in linebacker Lavonte David.
For one thing, David is really, really good and somehow continues to be overlooked around the league. Secondly, in new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme, David will move to middle linebacker and should be able to rack up the tackles. The two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro is now the leader of the defense after the departure of Gerald McCoy, and he should have a massive season in the pewter and red.
While his play has taken a slight decline, he is still highly productive. Now free from the chains of Mike Smith’s defense, David should once again be able to light up the field in 2019. In 2018, David had his most solo tackles since 2014 while forcing a fumble, tallying three and a half sacks, and 13 tackles for loss.
The move to inside backer will be a great move for 54, who is entering his eighth season in the league, all in Tampa Bay. As the quarterback of the defense in the second level, expect David to flash for the Buccaneers as he vies for his third Pro Bowl.