Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano has singled out the importance of linebacker Lavonte David to his side for next season.
David was the Buccaneers' leading tackler last season, making 139 despite it being his first year in the NFL.
The 23-year-old has already established himself as the franchise's defensive leader, and Schiano believes that such an impressive rookie season will help David go from strength to strength during the next campaign.
"I think [having a year's experience] helps a lot. At this time last year, he was still learning the calls. He's the communicator. He makes the defensive calls," Schiano told reporters.
"Now, that's like second nature to him. Now, he understands the defence and he makes the adjustments.
"Lavonte is a very, very cerebral football player as well as being fast and tough and all those other things. He gets the whole game and he's only going to get better as he spends more and more time in the system. He's an impressive player."
Schiano led Tampa Bay to fourth in the NFC South last season, finishing his debut year as an NFL coach with a 7-9 record.
Barney Corkhill
