Choice words for his defense.
Apparently, Lavonte David had a talking-to with his teammates after the game. And the message was specifically directed at his defensive teammates.
Joe spoke with David after Sunday’s dreadful game in Lipstick City. David wore a cap that was emblazoned with “Legacy” on the front. Joe asked him what he needs to do to keep up the legacy he has built with the Bucs — and for the team to live up to the legacy of Bucs’ teams past.
Apparently, David’s chat with his teammates was not pleasant.
“I’m going to tell you the good version,” David told Joe. “I told them that we were embarrassed tonight. It was an embarrassing performance all around. We have to look ourselves in the mirror. It’s not about what type of team we want to be, but individually.
“Personally, what type of player do you want to be? We have a lot to play for. The name on the front of the jersey and the name on the back of the jersey. You’ve got to have purpose.
“[Sunday], we didn’t play with no purpose.”
And remember, that was what David referred to as the “good version” of what he told his teammates.
Joe is wondering if there is a locker room issue or at least, a defensive issue. Have players thrown in the towel? Are they just playing for themselves?
Think about it: Baker Mayfield hollered at his team a couple of weeks ago for not having a killer instinct. The offense got better, the defense got torn up by Josh Allen and couldn’t make a play to stop a drive.
Then last night, the Bucs looked like they were sleepwalking on defense and played with little heart (other than Baker Mayfield and Tez Johnson and Chris Godwin) on offense.
Did the Bucs look like a remotely good team to you last night? At all?
For both David and Mayfield to tear into this team, that tells Joe that something is not getting through. Or perhaps guys on defense just don’t give a s(p)it.
Something doesn’t seem right in that locker room. At least the offense has excuses. They’ve been ravaged by injuries. What’s the defense’s excuse?