Linebackers > Pass Rushers
June 10th, 2018
Building a defense for LBs.
The Bucs sure beefed up on the defensive line in the offseason grabbing potentially three starting-caliber linemen in free agency, trading for a proven defensive end and drafting a tackle No. 12 overall.
Yeah, sure, the Bucs wanted to improve on quarterback pressure, which was dreadful last season. You may have heard the Bucs were last in the NFL in sacks.
Yeah, the Bucs also touted the run-stopping capabilities of the new linemen. OK. Sounds really good.
However, in a piece last week where BSPN’s Mike Sando spoke with unnamed NFL suits about each team’s offseason, one secretive NFL executive said the Bucs had a hidden agenda into pouring so much cash into new defensive linemen. And that was to set their linebackers free to hunt.
“All they are saying is, ‘We want to keep our linebackers clean’ because they have two really, really good linebackers,” one of these execs said. “I respect that, but I just wasn’t a fan of Vita Vea that early.”
Look, it seems the folks whining about Vea being picked too high expect him to be a double-digit sack guy. People expecting tackles to muster 10 or more sacks a season are living in the dark ages.
If Vea turns into a stud, not one person other than a mock draft nerd will ever complain where he was drafted.
June 10th, 2018 at 8:04 am
When you have one of the weakest D lines in the NFL you get the biggest defender in the draft D.T. Vita Vea. It’s really that simple.
June 10th, 2018 at 8:18 am
Unnamed NFL suits!!!!!!! NFL executive talking about the Bucs hidden agenda for the D-line???????? Or did they just follow The Buc Realist!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is right, time for another, much requested “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!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 10th, 2018 at 8:19 am
We needed DL help badly.
Licht signed 3 of the best available in Curry, Allen and Unrien – then traded for THE best “available” in JPP.
As far as young talent goes – the DE class this year was weaksauce.
DT however was strength of this draft and we got Vita Vea – the best of the bunch.
Jason Licht literally could not have done a better job than he did this offseason of bolstering the team’s weakest unit – the defensive line…
June 10th, 2018 at 8:25 am
I wasn’t a fan of the pick at the time but I think he will work out well for us here. I really think they were caught off guard with Miami taking Fitzpatrick right in front of them. I think they really liked him, which btw he’s tearing it up in Miami so far, but very is a nice consolation prize considering what they were trying to achieve this off-season.
June 10th, 2018 at 8:41 am
Licht did just fine.
June 10th, 2018 at 8:45 am
I just hope JPP wants to play here… really sucks he didn’t come to OTAs.
June 10th, 2018 at 9:03 am
The idea behind the pick (Vea) makes sense. I just hope it works out that way. I’d love to see a dominant defense again!
June 10th, 2018 at 9:51 am
Vea was not drafted to make sacks. Sheesh…
Yes, the pass rush was worse than weak. But that was not the biggest defensive problem. The #1 D issue was the inability to stop the run. A pass rush is a non-issue if teams can run on you at will. THAT is why Vea and Allen were brought in.
June 10th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Initially I was really down on the Vea pick. But I’ll tell you what…it’s really really grown on me. I wanted Derwin, but …I’m really happy w Vea. Probably more happy than I would have been with Derwin.
June 10th, 2018 at 10:44 am
I think one of the main purposes of beefing up your D-line is to free up your LB’s, especially when you have two of the leagues premier LB’s. I don’t expect Vita to get many sacks, but I can see him along with our other off season acquisitions giving LD, QA, and hopefully Beckwith increased ability to make plays.
June 10th, 2018 at 10:54 am
We still don’t have enough pass rusher imo. We have some BIG guys to stop the run but we couldnt stop the pass. Yes we did draft Vita for a pass rush. We didn’t draft Vita to be a 2 player like he is same as in we drafted man covers to play off the receiver
And linebackers should roam free every once in a while IF GMC was doubled every play like the what ppl say. Obviously he is not. Just a myth
June 10th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Hey Realist. I really enjoy your takes, but people are right. You really should cut down on the !!!s
June 10th, 2018 at 11:28 am
Of course I’m bias, but I believe we have 2 of the best, if not the best LB tandem in the league…Vea was not my personal preference at 12 but I’m not disappointed we took him, and I understand why! we took him…
Beefing up the D-line killed 2 birds with 1 stone. 1. It helps us put pressure on the QB and 2. It helps us stop the run. Besides, why wouldn’t you want to free up Alexander and David. These 2 are like lions chasing a zebras on the plains of Africa…once they get a beat on you, you’re done…
There seems to be a sense of urgency with this team I like; this hasn’t been the case in Tampa for a long time…Personally, I like this coaching staff and I want to see them succeed…with the exception of 4 or 5 guys, this is a really young team; if we can turn the corner and get in the playoffs I really feel like we can make some noise for a long time. As for Jameis, he’s always shown flashes of greatness; what we need most from him now is better decision making and consistency.
June 10th, 2018 at 11:38 am
@ Cobraboy – Vea was not drafted to make sacks. Sheesh…
Vea was definitely brought in to make sacks, whether it was to collapse the pocket for others to get sacks or for him to get them.
Most good run stopping tackles in the draft can be picked up in the 3-5 round but a NT to rush the passer will be gone past the 2nd round and Vea was the best.
June 10th, 2018 at 11:40 am
@ Realist
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See how it feels?
June 10th, 2018 at 11:52 am
Leave it to the continual whiners to complain about our draft pick being too high for the player…..
Sure, maybe we could have ended up with Nelson or chosen James….but if anyone would have told you that we would have:
Vea, Jones, Stewart, Davis & trade up capital to snag Cappa…
Or Nelson & Jones….
I think given the situation, we did just fine.
June 10th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
I think Vea will be a bust I trust was HOF Sapp says more than anyone else.
June 10th, 2018 at 12:40 pm
OneBuc55 Says:
June 10th, 2018 at 11:28 am
Of course I’m bias, but I believe we have 2 of the best, if not the best LB tandem in the league…
^^^The epitome of how retarded most bucs fans are.
June 10th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
As many times in the past we whiffed on selecting defensive players with our first round pick that taking a defensive tackle first will pan out. Seems when we take a corner, safety, or DE they never play up to expectations, i.e. Gaines Adams, Adrian Clayborn, Mark Barron, Vernon Hargreaves etc… Every time we select a DT they stay past their rookie contract. So going off history, Vita Vea was our smart pick.
June 10th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
I can’t wait for the season to start. Summers are boring.
June 10th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
@dbagskarma
With all due respect, Win, lose, or draw I love my Bucs…I’ll take Kwon and LaVonte over any other tandem in the league…Beefing up the D-line this off-season really frees these 2 up to make even more plays than they already make…
That’s why the Vita pick just made since to me…this defense needed an anchor and Vea fits the bill; he doesn’t need to be the next Sapp; but if he could be the next Hiloti Nota or Vince Wilfok, his addition really benifits the defense in so many way… Many of which may not always show up on a stat sheet…
June 10th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
What Bleed and Hodad said
June 10th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Nose tackle is the most important position in today’s NFL…followed by, yes, safety. getting pressure up the middle is the fastest and most effective way to disrupt a qb.
June 11th, 2018 at 8:42 am
dbagskarma
“I think Vea will be a bust I trust was HOF Sapp says more than anyone else.”
Wrong. Might not be a sack leader but he’ll be busting runners in the backfield.
June 11th, 2018 at 11:13 pm
First off playing the Falcons, Saints and Panthers each twice a year you better be able to keep their running games in check. The Vea pick is to shut down the running lanes and take up a guard and center when rushing the passer allowing the other 3 DL men to work one on one. I wasn’t sure about this pick when the Bucs made it but I’ve come along to liking it a lot. I think Vea was an excellent pick at #12. I like what the Bucs are doing in the trenches.