Vita Vea Practicing For The First Time Since July
September 20th, 2018
He’s back!
Look for your Buccaneers’ rookie manbeast defensive tackle, Vita Vea, to play on Monday night against the Steelers.
What exciting news!
Vea looked like one flexible dude out there in full pads this afternoon with his Bucs teammates on the One Buc Palace fields. (Media is only permitted to watch the first 30 minutes, which primarily stretching and light drills.)
It was Vea’s first practice since July 29, the first day the Bucs were in pads this summer. Just minutes into that session, Vea walked off the practice field with a serious calf injury.
Mike Smith said today that the Bucs can capitalize on Vea availability instantly when he returns to gameday action, noting with a smile that Vea is a “big man.”
Vea, however, is not as big anymore, as Dirk Koetter detailed last week.
Watch TAMPA TWO below with Derrick Brooks!
Enjoy this week’s Q&A episode, a joint effort of JoeBucsFan.com and The Identity Tampa Bay. What’s better than Brooks and Ira Kaufman talking Bucs? Enjoy!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
You just wonder what to expect from him this year.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Who?
September 20th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Hope he plays well because Derwin James has looked spectacular the past two weeks.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Son of a gun….How ’bout them apples
September 20th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Can’t wait to See Vea Play
That DLine should be powerful
September 20th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Gosh i know i need to work on my reading comprehension. But I totally read that as if he walked off TODAY’S practice with a calf injury.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Ahhhhh,
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOM
September 20th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
At LAST!!! I hope he can bring some intensity for however many snaps he plays. Go get’em Vita!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Yes!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Question: If Vea can practice today for the first time in nearly two months to be ready for a Monday Night Game, then how valuable is training camp?
September 20th, 2018 at 1:47 pm
@dnar
LOL, me too. Had fo read it a 3rd time just make sure I read it right… Than I pinched myself to make sure I wasnt dreaming!!!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
well far a i’m concerned he is so far behind the rest of the group, i can’t see him making any significant difference at all, maybe i am wrong and hope so, guess we will see
September 20th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
YAY! Great news. I don’t expect much in this game, but it’ll be nice to see him in action.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
bet he get’s a sack!!!!
This D is running with purpose now that they know they will win as long as they do their job. Think JPP has some influence as well. and them having faith JW, crab leg stealing, sexual predator, FHITP, gun shootin, lyin Jboo won’t be there to turn it over 3 times.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
he gone blow up man!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
You just know Joe is trying to prank us. Nice try, Joe. But, not falling for it. 😎
September 20th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Rookie DT rarely do anything their rookie years – however fat Vita Vea would have been really useful on those 4th and 1 QB sneaks, that’s where you’d hope even as a rookie he could just take up space and not get pushed backward. But as far as pass rush, the guy didn’t have much pass rush production in college so I’m not sure why anyone would think he’d suddenly be a different guy in the NFL. To me he seems like a 2 down NT and a perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, except we play a 4-3, which is why the pick has never made any sense. The future will tell if I’m wrong I’m not, and I’m perfectly fine with being mocked if he’s Sapp 2.0, but I don’t really think there is much chance of that, but would love to be wrong.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
this is great news!!!!!…..
unfortunately, the pressures on rojo to get on the field in some capacity but I don’t think Wilson is giving up his spot…..I think Wilson may take snaps from quizz……
nonetheless, this is great news….hope vita comes in and provides a spark to that pass rush….run defense has been solid imo…..
#TUNNELVISION!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 20th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
D-Rome – Even as late as the 1980s guys would come into training camp from their other year round jobs, completely out of shape, and training camp served a legit purpose, to try to get guys into shape. That’s such a cool idea, guys are just normal working slobs, and then go into camp out of shape with the idea of getting in shape for the regular season, which is probably why they had 6 preseason games as well until 1978.
Now we have guys in shape year round and training camp and 4 preseason games are ridiculous. You still have to get into football shape, and you have to learn the playbook, etc, but yeah, from a fitness standpoint I’m not sure they need 6 weeks to get ready for game one and could cut that to probably 4 weeks, which is what I assume will happen every soon when the NFL cuts the preseason to 2 weeks. Personally I’ve warmed to an 18 game season, and ideally they’ll bring back 2 bye weeks as well because 20 weeks of RedZone is a pretty awesome idea.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
maybe spence has been inactive until vita returns so we can run more 34…..just a thought…..
#TUNNELVISION!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 20th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
What a waste of a pick.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Dude is going to be sucking air midway through the 2nd quarter. Night game or not he will be gassed but I hope he gets a TFL or a sack so people will get off his butt. Who do we inactivate?
September 20th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Bet his first sack will draw a flag….for whatever to can’t do to QB’s when you sack them….
September 20th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
It’s my understanding that he’s McCoy’s backup. I doubt we will see that much of him in his first game in the NFL.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Dewey
I think there’s a reason he makes his debut in a night game, then a trip to cooler Chicago, then a bye….
September 20th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
This is great to hear!!!!! Now someone go to CVS and get that man a BOX FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 20th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
I would be shocked if he plays Monday night after just getting back today. Maybe by the Bears game. I figured week 4 was the earliest when we heard about his injury.
Hopefully I’m wrong and the big man starts to contribute! But I don’t expect much from him, especially at the beginning of his rookie season.
Patience fans… this kid will be a beast for us one day, just give him time.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
So for once I want to be like all the other idiots who post on here and other sites…. So, if VV does play on Monday and doesn’t get at least 48.5 sacks against Big Ben, then he is a complete bust. Because, obviously Derwain James would have been a better pick because he is tied 61st in the league in tackles with 9 and he has 0 passes defended. So VV better come out swinging. LMAO
September 20th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Well the really special ones dont need a lot of practice. Just look at Kahlil Mack.
If he is that good, we will see it Monday
Hope Rojo plays too
September 20th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
I take it back Derwin does have 3 PD… so maybe VV needs 49.5 sacks against Big Ben
September 20th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
great news but guessing he will take a while to get going
September 20th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Not so sure he is going to make a difference, maybe against the run.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Well, at least he will be rested. It will take him a long time to get in football shape.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Let’s see what he can do
I really have no idea what to expect
He is clearly big/strong and has nimble feet
The thing I worry about is his leverage.
Seems like he is on the ground a lot
Let’s hope he is a badass
September 20th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
It amazes me how people doubt him because of a minor injury. He’s a beast. The weight loss will help him be faster and healthier, and will help him handle Florida heat better.
He’s still the stud he always was.
That said, he’s starting off as a backup, so don’t expect too big an impact from him just yet. Maybe he’ll explode out of the gate and force Koetter/Smith to start him, maybe not. But if he doesn’t, it’s not a big deal.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
Godeep66 Says
“Well, at least he will be rested. It will take him a long time to get in football shape.”
No, it won’t. He’s actually been working out and practicing in private, behind the scenes. A game or so and he’ll be fine.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
It amazes me how people doubt him because of a minor injury.
Out all of training camp, and the first two weeks…
How is that a minor injury?
September 20th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
You never know for sure with rookies. But he is a no. 1 pick. I suspect he’ll do just fine. Need him.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
if Nassib can be on the field so much im sure Vea will play more than him i also predict rojo will play monday night too
September 20th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Oh
Another Bigfoot sighting?
September 20th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Big Ben is going to pass the ball close to 50 times
Vea probably going to take away the limited snaps from a better player
“Derwin James would have surely looked great back there and being the Stud defensive leader for the next 12 years”
Kobe Faker
September 20th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Vea is going to be just fine, it’s really disappointing hearing how many so called fans are such doubters. Go Bucs!
September 20th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
What netter place then here what better time then NOW!!!! cue music
September 20th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Finally some great news. Thanks Joe!
September 20th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
This is good news. Along with Grimes getting back to work.
If he does have an impact I hope its in a positive way and not a negative way.
Missing that much time could result in him missing an assignment.
With a limited role I think he will be helpful for Bucs in a rotational basis.
@Joe
Is this the first time you called this a “serious calf injury”
Glad to see someone step up and call it what it is and not “minor” 😉
Go Bucs 3-0
September 20th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
2 more contributors get heathy – can’t wait to get Beckwith and Unrien back too – hard to judge the DC harsh this year with the amount of injuries the D has suffered thru this far
September 20th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
^
All hell can’t stop us now!
September 20th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
it aint that hard yall. all he has to do is go after the football!!!
September 20th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Unleash the beast. Even if he is not 100%, the Steelers will have to try and block him, maybe even double team him. Guess what that frees up? That’s right. JPP yeah you know me! Maybe the other d lineman can capitalize and get some too. If we don’t get after Big Ben, the Steelers could put up 40 plus on the vaunted Mike Smith defense. Let’s go 3-0. Go Bucs!
September 20th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Nole fans!!! Neither Dalvin Cook nor Derwin James are Buc players. We could give a rat’s behind about how either of them play good or bad. I can understand why you don’t want to talk about your team this year but could we stop with the unrequieted love for EVERY FSU player who shows up in the NFL.
BTW…we’re not nearly as desperate at safety as we are in the DL. James would make far less impact that a good DL. Now if you wish to trash Vea for missing some of these early games that must mean you believe Dalvin really sucks since he missed the ENTIRE season last year.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Rod Munch Says:
You are 100% correct.
That aspect of the game has changed. Back in The Day football didn’t pay enough to not work in the offseason, well, except for a small handful of guys.
The first two weeks of training camp were brutal physically just getting back into shape. I can remember taking 10+ days for the soreness to go away.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Awesome!. Grimes and vita practicing again. Needed. Pittsburgh offense is right up there with the Buccaneers as far as yards and points.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Excited to see our 1st rounder get onto the field! Now where is our 2nd round RB these days?
September 20th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
I heard through the grape vine Vea’s going to wearing HE HATE ME for his name on the back of his jersey this year.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I heard through the grape vine Vea’s going to have HE HATE ME for his name on the back of his football jersey this year.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Why is Derwin James being brought up? He get traded to the Bucs?!
September 20th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
With Grimes coming back and Vea we will need to make 2 people inactive for them this week
September 20th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
I know this is a simplification but there’s not much to playing DT. Know where to lineup and any stunts called. Know if you are responsible for pushing your man back or occupying a gap. If he’s in shape, let him play. There’s no way he’s so out of shape he can’t handle 20 snaps.
September 20th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
So glad to stop hearing these unfaithful dumb asses saying “vita who?” He’s our first round 330 lb DT that was added to the worst dline in football last year. Don’t you look stupid him returning game three.
September 20th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Gholston is looking damn fine at DT. Not gonna start Vea with 60% of the snaps coming in to his first NFL game.
September 20th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Watch Justin Evans our Free Safety for the next 3 or 4 years. He may not become a superstar All Pro, but I see Pro Bowl potential. Derwin James is an emerging star, no doubt. I would have loved to see him in a Buc’s uniform.
Oganizations through their GMs have to make trade offs when making their draft decisions. The Buccaneers decided to go with Evans and look to the future for our DL needs and drafted Vita Vea instead of Derwin James.
I don’t expect Vea to have a spectacular rookie season. I do expect that he will show us something to be happy about by the end of the season. I see All Pro potential in Vea and he has not even played one down in the NFL. Perhaps, I am deluded, only time will tell.
Just as one game a season does not make, so one player a team does not make.
___________
Go Bucss!!!! Wreak Havoc!
September 20th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
XpfcWintergreen2
“I don’t expect Vea to have a spectacular rookie season.”
I don’t know what you mean by spectacular. He’s not a 10+ sack player. He takes up the middle of the dline and can hook shot a mountain top. If this is a “spectacular” Dline this year, you’ll know he had something to do with it just cus of his push and taking away double teams on GMC and JPP. I’m gonna be looking at the rush up the middle when he returns. He’s probably faster now at 330 lbs than he was 350 lbs. And 330 lbs is still MASSIVE! Just excited to see him return.
Keep the faith
September 20th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
Its about GD time! Vita will get a few snaps come Monday night. He’s probably not in game shape at all. Just want to see him eased into the lineup.
September 20th, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Cobraboy – You played pro?
September 21st, 2018 at 5:30 am
Rod,
Solid take that rookie linemen usually are not very good. The fans who believe that vv comes in and dominates one on one matches and takes double teams
freeing up …????. Hold on and be realistic. VV is a rookie . He’s a rookie who has missed 100’s of practice reps, has zero padded practices. He’s a rookie linemen without much technique and limited tools. Big, fast and a freak…yes yes and yes.
But He will be handled easy by veterans and he won’t be double teamed.
I’m Not down on the player or the pick..just not expecting much this year except improving. You guys who believe he is going be a difference maker….just be patient. He’s got the ability and talent, he doesn’t have the polish and techniques yet. He didn’t need them in college. He’s got to have it in the pros.
Ron…cobraboy was a kicker in the usfl (if I m not mistaken) .
September 21st, 2018 at 10:05 am
G Says:
September 20th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Hope he plays well because Derwin James has looked spectacular the past two weeks.
———————-
OMG, STFU already! And our safeties have been great. Whitehead will be a player in the league. We’re 2-0 and the Chargers are 1-1. What is your point?
September 21st, 2018 at 10:53 am
I believe one day he can be good enough to be the future wwe intercontinental champion