Oldie but a goodie.
Joe cannot tell you how wonderful the weekend was in the wake of news that Lavonte David is coming back for another season.
The only way Joe’s weekend would have been better (Joe even went 5-0 in college basketball wagering!) was if Joe awakened from a nap/dream to learn Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht broke down and signed a proven edge rusher.
Now, last year there were times when it appeared David may have lost a step, that Father Time might have been nudging him. David was still a strong linebacker but he didn’t appear to be his usual Hall-of-Fame-level player. Just a hair below.
Well, not only does NextGen Stats suggest that analysis is nonsense, but NextGen Stats believes David [was as quick](https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-free-agency-biggest-needs-for-each-nfc-team) as any off-the-ball linebacker in the game.
> Last season, David played a team-high 96.6 percent of defensive snaps in the blitz-heavy scheme and recorded 23 quick pressures to lead all off-ball linebackers.
So what are “quick pressures,” you ask? A quick pressure is when a guy rushes the quarterback and is able to put pressure on him in less than 2.5 seconds.
Per NextGen Stats’ GPS readings of chips in players’ equipment, no off-the-ball linebacker was quicker getting after the quarterback.
Oh, and he’s now 35.
Father Time has a battle on his hands with ol’ No. 54.