Since 2019, the Bucks have had one of the NFL’s premier linebacker tandems in Labonte David and Devin White. But when David was set to take free agency this offseason, they were suddenly faced with a surprising real-life possibility: the two will remain unscathed heading into 2023. Mr. Steady, but White was the more erratic playmaker. So moving on without David and having to find a new running mate for White would have been a challenging proposition.
Devin White and Lavonte David of Bucs ILB – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Thanks to Tampa Bay and its fans, David re-signed with the team And with his return for another year, the Bucks will have another season out of the dynamic duo.
david he said at Thursday’s press conference Continuing to create something special with his teammates over the past four years has been a big part of his staying with the team.
“Yeah, that’s obviously important. We, myself and Devin always feel that we run the team,” said David. “I feel like everyone is preying on us. It’s a great opportunity to grow with him and become great, and for me to see him continue to grow and become a great leader and a great footballer.”
Lavonte David and Devin White give Bucs defense good foundation
Bucs LB Lavonte David and Devin White – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The importance of the Bucks having Labonte David and Devin White at the heart of their defense cannot be overemphasized.
At 33, David is still one of the league’s most underrated off-ball linebackers.He’s a solid tackler, and while his playmaking abilities aren’t what they were in the early days of his career, he still maintains strong coverage. Tampa Bay’s finest player For some reason last year.
When it comes to White, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, there’s something special about the speed and athleticism he brings to partnerships. He’s had his ups and downs in recent years and has received his fair share of criticism, but he’s a playmaking machine when he’s at his best. Bucs saw it from the middle of the 2020 season all the way up to the start of the Super Bowl, but now he should see it more regularly.
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles told the NFL Scouting Combine, “Devin gets into a few things. Everybody judges a tackle that goes wrong. But he’s the best linebacker has seen in 30 years.” I make a tackle like no other,” he said. “He can play for us. He is still one of the two best players on defense. “His development has been remarkable and it’s not an easy system. I think it’s a man’s world. I think he’s a great ball player and maybe this season will be one of the better for him.”
No matter how hot White gets, it will be hard to find many teams in the league that trade the inside linebacking duo for the Bucks. And it’s certainly nice to have two fixtures in the middle of the defense, White and White.
In baseball, it is said that mid-level teams, such as catchers, middle fielders, and center fielders, have a solid foundation. Applying that ideology to football, and more specifically to the Bucks, Bowles has a solid foundation to build his defense into 2023. The presence in the middle and Antoine Winfield Jr. is at the top. Added Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean – An excellent duo in its own right – and see where this defense is headed.
