The Hidden Value Of Vita Vea
May 15th, 2018
Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Yeah, Vita Vea may have been the No. 12 overall pick in the draft. But shockingly, his biggest impact, at least as a rookie, may not be in pressuring the quarterback.
Rookies, for the most part, are not known for being stud pass rushers. But Vea is so big and so strong, he may be able to eat up two offensive linemen on any given snap.
It is this potential that has BSPN’s Tedy Bruschi fired up for the Bucs as he explained in a recent airing of NFL Live.
Suzy Kolber: What other young defensive players are you anxious [to watch]?
Tedy Bruschi: Let’s start on the defensive line with Vita Vea who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I am excited to see him because this defense was terrible at times last year. They needed to get a presence inside to pair up with Gerald McCoy. Anybody that is going to help the linebackers — whether I am Kwon Alexander or I am Lavonte David — to have this type of presence in front of me it is going to improve the defense because I’m going to be a better linebacker. Hopefully [Vea] can be that stalwart in the middle.
Joe cannot remember where he heard the following but it was a national NFL analyst that suggested Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s hands are all over the pick of Vea. Why?
When Smith was the defensive line coach of the Crows, he was known to have two monsters at defensive tackle, Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams, and he knew just how to use both of those 330-pounds-plus beasts up front.
Not just that, but those two Sherman tanks enabled linebackers Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper and Peter Boulware to run free and terrorize opponents.
Want video evidence of how rotten the Bucs were in allowing their linebackers to get jumped on last year? In this video, not even a strong safety was spared getting taken out of a play by a left tackle.
As good as th linebackers are, if Vea can keep the heat off them, well, this thought brings a smile to Joe’s face.
May 15th, 2018 at 12:48 am
Good story Joe. Msmith always wanted/needed a guy like him. Stevie T and Siliga?
May 15th, 2018 at 12:50 am
Joe
its always the trenches that count
May 15th, 2018 at 12:59 am
Vea will never be a big sack guy.
Hes not supposed to be
Hes a nose tackle. If he does his job- he will tie up two offensive linemene- freeing McCoy, Paul, and Curry to do their thing.
Its football 101. Clog the middle, stuff the run.
It gets easy after that
May 15th, 2018 at 2:28 am
Every great defense has had a fireplug (350lb) in the middle. Teams that come to mind are Chicago’s William Perry, Green Bay’s Gilbert Brown, Baltimore’s Brandon Williams. These defenses were anchored by these run stuffing 350lb behemoths that could occupy double blocks most of the time while still disrupting the line of scrimmage. Vea will take the pressure off of just not the LB’s but McCoy as well.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:43 am
The Depth of Both Interior Units (Past/Present)
(Past) Baltimore
LDT Sam Adams | Larry Webster
RDT Tony Siragusa | Lional Dalton | Kelly Gregg
(Present) Tampa’s
LDT Gerald McCoy | Mitch Unrein
RDT Beau Allen | Vita Vea | Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
Note: I wouldn’t be shocked if William Gholston’s, kicked inside to backup McCoy.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:54 am
Vita, has the potential to be “Ted Washington” type of nose tackle.
He just need to put the time to perfect his craft.
IMO Big Ted was the best nose tackle that I’ve ever seen.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:56 am
I wouldnt be surprised if Gholsten is kicked of the team
Just a useless DE. Cant rush the passer
Mediocre against the run.
He could be replaced by a tackling dummy
May 15th, 2018 at 3:17 am
Capt Tim, something had to be going on with Will Gholston last year. No idea what, but he just didn’t look like the same player from the 4 yrs he’d been here before that. So many NFL players seem to peter out once they get that big contract with guaranteed money in yr 5. Hope that wasn’t the case with Will, but we’ll see this yr.
And LUVMYBUCS, just can’t see the Bucs keeping 5 DTs on the roster, especially not 3 wide-bodies like Vea (347 lbs), Allen (327 lbs) & Stevie T (320 lbs … not that I believe he only weighs 320).
May 15th, 2018 at 3:49 am
William Ghoston’s got $6.5M guaranteed reasons why – he won’t be kicked-off the team this year.
2019? Different Story.
May 15th, 2018 at 4:06 am
Harken back to coach smith days at Jacksonville with Marcus stroud and Big John Hendrickson who played at 335…those 2 created serious havoc as a twosome.
May 15th, 2018 at 4:10 am
Defense Rules
#Top 9
Right End
97 Vinny Curry 6-3 279
57 Noah Spence 6-2 251
Left End
90 Jason Pierre-Paul 6-5 275
92 William Gholston 6-6 281
94 Will Clarke 6-6 275
Nose Tackle
91 Beau Allen 6-3 327
50 Vita Vea 6-4 347
Defense Tackle
93 Gerald McCoy 6-4 300
98 Mitch Unrein 6-4 301
Key Reserves | Practice Squad
96 Stevie Tu’ikolovatu 6-1 320
95 Channing Ward 6-4 279
75 DaVonte Lambert 6-2 282
79 Patrick O’Connor 6-4 270
Note: One or two of the reserves/practice squad guys will get at 70-100 snaps.
May 15th, 2018 at 4:16 am
Depends on snap, and injuries.
Gholston, Clarke, and Unrein can supplement McCoy
Stevie would be the next call-up, if Vea or Allen goes down or gets banged-up
May 15th, 2018 at 5:26 am
’In this Video’ link says it all, Balldinger and his crooked fingers are right on point.
May 15th, 2018 at 5:38 am
Agree on Gholston, Defense rules.
Not comparing the talent level , but JJ Watt had so many injuries that after his fifth year he was no longer playing at the same level. Sad to see a great player decline so much.
I know Gholston played through some injuries,but hope he can come back and play at a high level.
May 15th, 2018 at 5:56 am
Also not sure of Bucs plans for Stevie T. Bucs have a habit of hiding late round picks on IR like Robert Herron and Kenny Bell, and releasing them the next year.
Does anybody know Stevie T’s injury status?
May 15th, 2018 at 6:01 am
Hard to believe that the sheep and so-called fans can watch that video and wanted a SS drafted in the first round?????? To watch that front 7 get manhandled and say “man, if only the SS was upgraded”!!!!!!!!!!!
The sad part is that they could have known the truth months ago!!!!!!! And joe better pay attention too!!!!! Because the “real” hidden value will be the batted ball by Mount Vea!!!!!!! This big cat has an instinct for it!!!!!! drew brees will find this out Sept 9th!!!!!!!!!!
@joe, I like the article, but I liked it more when it was said months ago!!!!!! OMG Its another “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
January 20th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Please free up the LB’s by selecting Mount Vea!!!!!!! trade down and/or pick up a “Man among boys” Vita Vea!!!!!!!! switch to a 3-4 for a point of difference in the division!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 6:52 am
Good article,
Hopefully the linebackers will play disciplined and not be suckered into moving out of position
May 15th, 2018 at 7:37 am
The Bucs realist hit the nail right on the head. Fix the trenches an put an end to the drought!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 7:41 am
“The Tongan tree stump ”
Impossible to remove!
Boom. Nickname
May 15th, 2018 at 8:06 am
I dare any team to try and run on us, especially up the middle.
May 15th, 2018 at 8:20 am
It’s a great move. Can’t wait to see Vea #50 lined up for real.
May 15th, 2018 at 9:21 am
No one seems to be talking about Spence & what he’s done to get healthy, he’s staying out of trouble and off social media. If I were a owner, GM or HC would not allow my players on social media unless it is business related just no NFL talk positive or negative…JUST STAY OFF IT’S A CANCER NOTHING IS GOOD ABOUT SM.
What he did with that injured shoulder, as a rookie, was impressive with our line play getting 5 and 1/2 sacks was impressive along with many QB pressures breaking down the pocket! This new line is stacked on paper!!! Love it!!! Might be the deepest in the NFL?
He doesn’t have to do much to get double digit sacks in 18′-19′ just stay healthy and he’ll easily get 12 to 14 if everyone else does what they were brought in to do.
Ronald Darby, as well as a handful of safeties including Collins from Dallas, will be available via trade with a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year. If we are at or around .500 we need to make a move for a great young CB that won’t cost us too much with all the FAs we have coming up that will be getting paid, like they deserve. If those rookie DBs and HargreavesIII can get better because of this line we will be in the playoffs!
May 15th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Pretty sure the NFLPA would have a s(p)itfit about that.
May 15th, 2018 at 9:46 am
Sorry but I still don’t get it. Bucs has a strong need at safety and basically never addressed it yet with the draft nor free agency. Do was already considered taken care of before vita pick. I just see a safety having more of an immediate impact than dl. Sapp in his first year basically did not have much impact.
May 15th, 2018 at 9:59 am
@Tc
If you think DT was “considered taken care of”, then you need to go back and rethink that!!!!!!!
And since you and the Tampa2 mafia can only use examples from 20 years ago, how many years before j lynch had an impact??????
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 10:28 am
I got to be honest, but realist and NFL but are two of the smartest posters on here.
Props guys.
May 15th, 2018 at 10:29 am
Nut*
May 15th, 2018 at 11:07 am
I still think we whiffed by not drafting Davenport. Tho I’m over it I had to take a peak at Saints rookie camp and Davenport is killing it. Just a natural. He is already their starting right DE
May 15th, 2018 at 11:27 am
Nice to see folks coming to realize football is won at the LOS, period.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:41 am
We’ll see, I am not getting excited about this pick till I see him on the field. 15 tackles for a loss in three years of college is HORRIBLE. And I don’t want to hear the double team stuff. This guy was drafted on a fantastic combine as his numbers were average at best in college. I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m very reserved on this pick.