Brentson Buckner Says Vita Vea Was Frustrated, “Realized He’s A Special Talent”
October 8th, 2018
Joe planned on doing the smart thing today at One Buc Palace. No, not apply for the defensive coordinator position.
Joe asked colorful defensive line coach Brentson Buckner a simple question about Vita Vea’s debut and then shutup to soak what was sure to be a great answer.
Here’s Buckner’s verbatim reply:
“Vita looked just like I thought he would, you know, being his first game since the Rose Bowl,” Buckner said. “He looked exactly like I thought he would. But one thing I will take my hat off, being his first game since January, he played over 30-something snaps and played hard, I was very proud of that. But like anything, he still has technique stuff he’s got to work on, getting caught up with the speed of the game. But I think what he realized is that he’s a special talent. Because even at 25 percent capacity mentally and technique-wise, he still is a hard guy to move.
“I know you all was looking for 10 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss, and then we could get the Warren Sapp comparisons and all that. He’s still a kid. Vita should still be in college if I’m not mistaken and he’s missed all that time. But he’s a kid that’s growing and he’s working hard. And there’s another kid that was frustrated with the way he played because he has pride in his work. He didn’t let, ‘I’ve been injured’ be an excuse. He was like, ‘Coach, I got to get better.’ And [with] that type of attitude with the way he work, you know, sky’s the limit for him.”
Encouraging stuff there from Buckner about the No. 12 overall pick.
Very interesting to Joe that Buckner pegged Vea at “25 percent capacity mentally and technique-wise.” That’s a mountain of room for improvement from a mountain of a man.
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October 8th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
ive loved this pick from day 1. Once he gets the rookie wall pushed out of way, he will be an unstoppable force. Then who do you double team??
October 8th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
BUCKNER FOR DC 2019!!!
WISE, MEAN, WILL NOT TAKE ANY BS FROM HIS DEFENSE.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
I remember when we first got Buckner and Honey Badger tweeted he is going to be DC/HC some day. How’s that for a comment from an all star SECONDARY player.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Vita Vea- ‘Coach, I got to get better.’
Aunt Geraldine- Coach, I just want to have fun.
#getthegatoradewhileyoucan
October 8th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Derwin James has 3 sacks though
October 8th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Encouraging.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Buckner is not ready to be a DC in the NFL…..maybe in the future but, not one other team gave him a job this past year and he had to sign on with the bucs and knowing that smith and koetter are lame ducks and that the entire coaching staff could be fired, and what has the DL shown you through any games that they are improved? JPP makes sacks but the rest are like putting tackling dummies out there
October 8th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Dusthty Rhothdes Says:
October 8th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Derwin James has 3 sacks though
_________________
It is hard to see how incredible of an NFL player Derwin James already is and knowing we passed on him at such an enormous need position. However, hopefully Vita ends up being a great player too.
October 8th, 2018 at 2:19 pm
I hope he shows enough to make someone with common sense realize gmc has been expendable for a long time. All you can count on for years is that gmc wrecks practices but won’t show up in games. I preferred Derwin James and was shocked by the vea pick but still happy because he was the guy I wanted predraft. Time for a new vision at gm to build around vea
October 8th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Vita – “sniff these nuts big ben”
Geraldini – “i’m sorry big ben”
October 8th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
@Dusty Rhodes
That’s a hit take if I ever heard. Big time guesstimation there, he’s not ready to be a coordinator because no one else hired him? You think people go into a job saying their head coach and coordinator will be fired no matter what I do? A coach is a coach is a coach, your either good or your not but I believe everyone looking to be a coordinator is ready some just aren’t good, Buckner has a voice and a message but the question is does he have a scheme ready to role out
October 8th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
good thing is, buckner wont have to coach that loser mentality out of him like he has to do with others along the dline(GMC gholston)
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
within 3 weeks Tinkerbell McCoy will have vita quitting on plays and giving up at the first sign of adversity. the face of the basement years will not stand for effort or hustle. to be a Buccaneer man you must master losing quietly and celebrating being blown out with a new pair of Batman underoos and a new doll.
only hope is mccoy to IR
October 8th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Buc fans never cease to amaze. They probably didn’t even know who Buckner was 6 months ago, know nothing about his defensive philosophy yet they think he should be the DC. They just throw stuff against the wall without giving it any thought. I will go on record to say who knows if he would be a good DC. Anyone on this site that claims they do know the answer to this wrong.
October 8th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
notthereyet
I agree…..that’s a big swing and a miss by dusty…..
he got great production out of the ARZ dline…..and he has 2 qualities that are currently lacking from our current DC and HC and that’s leadership being a former player….
not saying every former player is a great coach but it gives you creditability and helps you gain respect from the players…..
im pretty sure if given the chance, buck would do big things….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
That IS a good answer Joe!
Very encouraging and straight forward response to the question.
I love the 25% capacity thing – especially if that’s Buck’s true assessment of Vea’s ceiling.
Can we get him bumped up to 65% within a couple months coach?
Maybe – just maybe this defense will look “stouter” once we get Allen back and possibly Unrein in a few weeks. And if Vea’s play can ascend at a rapid pace (like you hope/expect to see from a #12 overall pick) – maybe ragdoll a few more linemen and help create some PUSH up the middle along the way – perhaps the Buccaneer defense does have a chance to be “relevant” this year after all…
Ouch – there’s that haunting word from the still too recent past slipping in once again…
Not having Unrein or Vea available and losing Allen for the last 2 games as well – has likely caused more problems for this defense than most of us are noticing…
If 280lb Gholston is lining up at NT the majority of snaps in any game – then you know you are seeing some DT names on that injury/out list.
October 8th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Vea needs to keep losing weight, shaping up and getting his fat A$$ in gear. No time for BS with a secondary this bad. The D line has to outperform every unit in the league. Trade GMC while you can.
October 8th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
My biggest worry is by the time is can really impact this team McCoy will be useless. Oh wait that happened 9 years ago.
October 8th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Dusthty Rhothdes Says
“Derwin James has 3 sacks though”
Vea was only in for a half of football so far. Let’s give him a little more time than that, dummy.
October 8th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Pickgrin Says
“I love the 25% capacity thing – especially if that’s Buck’s true assessment of Vea’s ceiling. ”
Yeah, I caught that too. If he was operating at 25%, 100% is gonna be remarkable.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
For those of you who continue to covet other players (players we didn’t draft) FAs we didn’t sign…..I feel for you…..you will forever be malcontent….I just hope you don’t feel that way about your spouse…..you are in the line for a long life of hell.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
So I guess Vea has to match Derwin in sacks and interceptions to be satisfied with the pick, morons.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Vita Vea grade at PFF was 57.5 (average)
But I guess (average) is considered as great in Tampa
October 8th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Vita Vea will develop into a major force in the NFL.
I went back and watched the coaches film vs. the Bears, and he was a serious load to move around. Joe posted some of the rag dolls, but didn’t post the numerous plays where held his gap while double-teamed. And not only in his first NFL game ever but without being even close to football shape.
I look forward to seeing how he plays when he “gets it.”
He is no Warren Sapp, and that is not his game. He is more like a fast, athletic Vince Woolfork.
It was pleasant, for a change, to see a Buc DL not get blown out of running gaps, even doubled.
It’s clear many fans here do not understand line play.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
@Reality-is-a-Beotch … “only hope is mccoy to IR.”
I’m still shaking my head that any supposed Bucs’ fan would even type something like that.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
You “fans” can’t go one thread without trashing someone. Pitiful. Sad. Go Bucs!
October 8th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Dude had a visual impact and presence when I keyed on him.
He definitely got rag dolled on some plays; but then was throwing men around like it was nothing on other plays; and pushed the pocket pretty well to create pressure on passing downs.
I actually saw him push the pocket better than I can remember from any Bucs DT in recent memory; in terms of shoving an OG 2-4 yards backwards on a passing down like he was his b1tch. McCoy has never played that way since he wins with finesse/speed. And the DT’s next to him have never had that ability imo. At best they would hold the line but they weren’t pushing that line backwards.
October 8th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Vita Vea will develop into a major force in the NFL.
I went back and watched the coaches film vs. the Bears, and he was a serious load to move around. Joe posted some of the rag dolls, but didn’t post the numerous plays where held his gap while double-teamed. And not only in his first NFL game ever but without being even close to football shape.
I look forward to seeing how he plays when he “gets it.”
He is no Warren Sapp, and that is not his game. He is more like a fast, athletic Vince Woolfork.
It was pleasant, for a change, to see a Buc DL not get blown out of running gaps, even doubled.
It’s clear many fans here do not understand line play.
October 8th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Since we’re all revisionist here. Luke Koechly.
October 8th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Anyone comparing Vita to Sapp is just lazy, they’re not in the least comparable players. Sapp had in his junior year in college more sacks and way more TFL than Vita had in his entire career, in fact Vita only average 3.5 sacks per season. Vita profiles as a run stuffing 3-4 tackle, which makes his fit in a 4-3 very questionable in my opinion.
I’ll be more than happy to look dumb if Vea turns into a productive pass rusher, I’m certainly not writing the kid off by any means, but it’s just nonsense to think he’s a Sapp like player when he’s nothing like Sapp.
October 8th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Had some strong strong moments
The only thing I worry about are his short arms
October 8th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Someone said, only hope is #93 to IR.. I hate to say this but you are right. One way or another, it does not matter if McCoy goes or not. Jpp is good and will be good with or without McCoy next to him because all I see is McCoy jumping offside with his ill-timed fast get off and I see him not making any impact during a game in a critical situation. The bucs can do that without him.
October 8th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Sapp and Vea did not play the same position in either college or the NFL. Apples and oranges.
His immediate impact, once he gets into game shape and has a couple of games at game speed, will be two-fold:
1) Drawing doubles almost every snap and clogging a running lane on rushing downs, and
2) Pushing the pocked back from the middle, preventing the QB from stepping UP into the pocket, jacking up effective outside pressure. This will also make blitzes more effective, especially delayed blitzes once two OL commit to a double.
Mark my word: Vita Vea will become a fan favorite after a few games of consistently ragdolling OL. He’s a Vince Woolfork with athleticism and speed.
October 8th, 2018 at 8:13 pm
Other teams draft a player and he starts to play from game 1. Our draft pics are always a work in progress and hope they get better. Vita Vea and Jones are a work in progress and may never reach their potential. Jones seems lost and Vea seems to be outta shape. GO BUCS.
October 8th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
exactly cobra
October 8th, 2018 at 11:05 pm
Gerald McCoy is not going to be a Pro-Bowl caliber DT 3 years from now… we didn’t need to draft a PROJECT, we needed to draft a guy who can contribute right away, at least within the first 2 years.
I stand by my original prediction, the same as what I said about Aguayo, RJ3… this is a BUST.
October 8th, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Pump the brakes on the DC Coordinator destiny for Buckner. This is his first year with the team. I like everything he says and his attitude but it’s not like suddenly the Buccaneers D Line is being compared to the Steel Curtain. A lot of calls for Duffner too. Our LB’s have been boo boo all year. LVD and Kwon have gotten pushed around and are usually seen on the ground while opposing RB’s style past them. Not that I wouldn’t take either of Mike Smith. That’s not saying much though. I would happily take Martin Gramatica as D Coordinator right about now.
October 8th, 2018 at 11:39 pm
…either over Mike Smith….
October 9th, 2018 at 10:50 am
Reality-is-a-Beotch says … “only hope is mccoy to IR.”
Defense Rules says….. “I’m still shaking my head that any supposed Bucs’ fan would even type something like that.”
Well said, @Defense Rules. — No true Bucs fan WOULD say something like that. In fact, no true fan of ANY NFL team would say that. Pure Garbage.
October 9th, 2018 at 11:06 am
I did see vea throwing some lineman around like a rag doll. Hopefully, he throws them at the Qb and running backs.