Damn good argument for why Lavonte David deserves DPOY

bucs449 · 2013-12-10T21:55:56Z

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lavonte David Deserves to Win NFL Defensive Player of the YearDespite Tampa Bay’s Mediocre Record, the Young Linebacker Has Made a Strong Case to Win the Prestigious Award By James LoPresti1 hour ago COMMENTARY | Reggie White, Cortez Kennedy, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor -- since the NFL began handing out a defensive player of the year award in 1971, five players have won while playing for a losing team. Lavonte David deserves to be the sixth.The second-year player out of Nebraska is excelling on the field, and is one of the few highlights for a Tampa Bay team that sits with a 4-9 record -- though winners of four of their last five.After finishing ninth in the NFL in tackles as a rookie, David is putting on an encore performance sure to capture the attention of the league. Against the Buffalo Bills Week 14, he compiled a game-high nine tackles, and recorded one sack, two interceptions and two tackles for loss - giving him 17 tackles for loss on the season, tied for the most in football. Last season, he recorded 20 tackles for loss, which was the second-most on record for a rookie since the NFL began tracking the statistic in 2000.Setting a New StandardDavid isn't just a tackler; he rushes the quarterback, and plays coverage too. His all-around effort is paying dividends. He is the first linebacker in the history of the NFL to record at least six sacks and five interceptions in a single season. The last player to record at least five sacks and five interceptions in a season was Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher in 2007.According to Pro Football Focus, David also leads the league with 66 total stops -- nine more than the next closest player in the NFL. Stops constitute a loss on 3rd down, or prevention of a first down for the offense. Among outside linebackers, David leads with 41 run stops , and a 13.8 percent tackles-to-stops average.Drawing Praise From Former and Current PlayersDavid's strong play and athleticism has caught the eye of several players recently. Former Bucs safety John Lynch spoke about David saying that he (David) is playing as well as any linebacker in football. Lynch went further to explain that if the young linebacker played baseball, he'd be referred to as a five-tool player because of the all-around skills he possesses.Bucs cornerback Darrelle Revis said that he doesn't want to disrespect San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, but that David is everywhere on the field and that he's the best linebacker in the league. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy seconded Revis after Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, saying, "he's everywhere." McCoy praised David's ability to transition from one spot on the field to another and make tackles out of nowhere.Comparisons to a Former Great LinebackerWhen most fans think about a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive player, future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks is usually the first name brought up.And though he's still got a ways to go before he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Brooks, David is handily outperforming the 11-time Pro-Bowler through their first two seasons.Derrick Brooks' first two seasons:212 total tackles, one sack, one interception, three forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups.Lavonte David's first 29 games (three games left in season):265 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, eight sacks, six interceptions, one safety, 14 pass breakups.David has drawn comparison to the former Buccaneer for good reason. He is undersized compared to Brooks, but makes up for it with speed, awareness, and ball instincts. He's a young player, but well on his way to becoming one of the top defensive players in Buccaneers franchise history.Team Record Shouldn't MatterSome might say that because David plays for a team with a poor record, that he shouldn't be considered to win the award. He isn't a household name, but record-breaking statistics shouldn't be pushed aside. From a numbers standpoint, David is clearly a step above perennial candidates such as Patrick Willis, J.J. Watt, DeMarcus Ware, and Terrell Suggs.In 2006, Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor won the award on a 6-10 team by posting 13.5 sacks, two interceptions -- both returned for touchdowns -- and nine forced fumbles. In 1987, Reggie White won despite playing for a Philadelphia Eagles team that ranked 23rd in total defense. In 1992, the honor was given to defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, who recorded 92 tackles and 14 sacks with a dreadful 2-14 Seattle Seahawks squad.It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the best defensive player in the league does play for a mediocre team. And that shouldn't be counted against them. This year, the best defensive player in football plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Maybe Biggs, but throwing to Vernon Davis when he is covered one on one by a linebacker is something Kap does a lot of.

I'm with JD on this - this wasn't a crazy shot, it was pretty much 49ers football.

Posted : Dec. 18, 2013 5:08 pm

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Damn good argument for why Lavonte David deserves DPOY

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