Many coaches, especially the former ones on television, use hyperbole as a second language. Whatever player they’re talking about at that moment is the best player ever in the history of ever.
But new Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith is more understated, but dropped a heavy comparison on one of his new players.
Via Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, Smith compared linebacker Lavonte David to Derrick Brooks, a guy he coached as a Buccaneers assistant in the 1990s.
“There’s not a lot of players like Derrick Brooks,” Smith said. “It’s not even fair to compare some guys in that way. But, Lavonte David, he has a chance. He’s that younger version coming up. I hear he’s a great guy.”
Smith hears correctly. After he was somehow overlooked in Pro Bowl voting, David was correctly named All-Pro after his second season, a six-sack, five-interception performance.
But invoking a guy who could be heading to Canton one day is also a burden of responsibility.
Smith’s smart to latch onto David as soon as he walks in the door, because he’s clearly one of the key parts on defense he can build around, as he tries to get the Bucs back to an era where their defense carried them.