Big Vitale Learning Curve On Pass Blocking
August 26th, 2016
If you want to play in an NFL backfield, then you better be able to pass block.
Bucs rookie sixth-round pick Danny Vitale has struggled with that.
Joe saw it on the game film against Jacksonville, and Vitale knows where he needs to improve.
“The No. 1 thing, I’d say, is closing the distance between me and a linebacker. Getting my hands on him and striking him, not catching,” Vitale told Joe this week.
“You know, in college you can get away with just catching a guy and kind of dropping your butt and not letting him move you. But at this point, here, they’re going to bull rush you, they’re going to move you back. So you got to get up and strike them. That’s what I’m trying to adjust to.”
Vitale added that a “no bull rushing” rule at practice has made his learning curve steeper, and he said he must improve on giving pass rushers a more square “pop” and not get caught leaning.
Joe realizes many fans thought Vitale would be a hidden gem of a tight end/fullback when he was drafted. But Joe thinks Vitale is much more of a project. Ten catches and flashes of strong blocking and consistent special teams play would be a great season for the rookie.
August 26th, 2016 at 8:18 am
He may not make the team!
August 26th, 2016 at 8:32 am
Joe says:
“Ten catches and flashes of strong blocking and consistent special teams play would be a great season.”
You just described Luke Stocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 26th, 2016 at 8:35 am
@BigHog:
Having read your stuff, you are obnoxious.
You also are mostly right.
Just sayin’.
August 26th, 2016 at 8:46 am
“…You just described Luke Stocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Not true. There was no mention of being on the IR!!! lol
August 26th, 2016 at 9:04 am
10 catches? Thats it? I think he will Snatch a couple more then that coming out of the backfield.
August 26th, 2016 at 9:21 am
I can’t understand why there are people out there who mentioned Dan Vitale in the same sentence as another Buccaneer legend. I will not type that name in this sentence or comment because Vitale’s name doesn’t deserve to be in the same sentence as that Buccaneer great.
August 26th, 2016 at 9:41 am
Like BigHog said, I don’t even know if he makes the team. I’m sure they will try to put him on the practice squad, but we won’t keep 5 TE’s on the roster (ASJ, Brate, Stocker, Myers), unless we end up trading someone. He definitely needs to make a play in the next two games.
He makes the team regardless since there is no “fullback” on the roster, and he’s a live body on special teams. –Joe
August 26th, 2016 at 9:58 am
I hope Vitale makes the team. It’s not like he doesn’t deserve a Kenny Bell type hang aroung waiting to produce opportunity.
August 26th, 2016 at 9:59 am
Allen Cross has been our best blocking back, he should make the squad as a FB.
August 26th, 2016 at 10:12 am
Vitale WILL make the team.
August 26th, 2016 at 10:13 am
Plus, he wouldn’t make it o the practice squad.
August 26th, 2016 at 10:22 am
D-Rome Says
“I can’t understand why there are people out there who mentioned Dan Vitale in the same sentence as another Buccaneer legend.”
Nothing wrong with comparing the two playing styles, but anyone claiming he is like Alstott clearly doesn’t know what Alstott was like.
I hate it when people say a players “is the next (insert name)”.
Dan Vitale is not Mike Alstott. He is Dan Vitalle. And while I do believe completely in “props when props are earned”, I think it is unfair to say Vitalle is as good, or worse than Alstott. Why?
Because people are using Alstott’s entire career in comparison to a player who hasn’t even played an regulation NFL game yet. It’s an unbalanced comparison.
Dan Vitale isn’t a Mike Alstott…but…for all we know, he could be better over his entire career. Or worse.
As to his blocking and making the team, in the Jacksonville game he showed he needed work at pass blocking, but his run blocking was pretty darn good, so pass blocking will get better.
And he has to make the team…unless we are okay with seeing him excel on another team. If the Bucs cut him with the intent of adding him to the practice squad, I guaranty you another team will snatch him off waivers.
August 26th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Bonzai, I think he’ll make the team too. Tend to believe that GMs see the team roster in a somewhat different light than fans and media do. We tend to look at the ‘here and now’ … is Player X better than Player Y right now. I would expect that GMs especially would take a slightly longer view, knowing that some rookies take longer to develop than others, and also that some veterans probably won’t be on the team next year (due to age, contract, whatever). In Vitale’s situation for instance, even though he may not be as good as say Brandon Myers right now, it may be more beneficial in the ‘bigger picture’ for the Bucs to keep him on the roster instead of Myers. It’ll be interesting to see what Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter decide on the final 53-man roster.
August 26th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
I think it is more about missing #40 than comparing anyone too #40.
August 26th, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Well lot’s of people were making the comparison, but it really had no merit.
Now could he become a weapon like that? Maybe. I hope so. He’s definitely versatile. But i agree with Joe, I don’t see him becoming a weapon until next season at least…