Vita Vea Impressed In Debut
October 4th, 2018
Not a bad first game.
You know, it is sad that some Bucs fans hate on young players only because their favorite player with the Seminoles in college wasn’t drafted by the Bucs.
Take Bucs first-round pick Vita Vea. In the hours leading up to the Windy City Wipeout, Joe was getting Twitters from blasting Vea even though he hadn’t taken one snap in a game yet. They came mainly because his name isn’t — you get three guesses and the first two don’t count.Seminoles
Joe had binoculars on Vea most of the time he was in the game and he sure as hell didn’t look like a rookie who missed two months of practice and virtually all of training camp. No, he didn’t get six sacks, but he impacted the game.
Vea did not get turnstiled or manhandled at all but he did ragdoll the Bears center. In fact, Vea was often double-teamed and he still bull-rushed dudes. He basically shoved Mitch Trubisky into the arms of Jason Pierre-Paul for a sack.
Joe noticed the Bears tried to run inside on Vea once, and the running back had to bounce it outside, in part, because Vea threw his blocker to the ground.
The Bears didn’t try to run inside on him again.
Did Vea look like the second coming of Reggie White? No, but Joe was impressed knowing how much practice time the rookie missed but still impacted the game. Many starters on defense, you wouldn’t have missed them if they were standing in street clothes.
For the fans that didn’t get to see much of Vita Vea on Sunday – Here is a Glimpse of him “rag-dolling” grown men at the line of scrimmage. (#50) #GoBucs | #NFL pic.twitter.com/n2GQdVkq7t
— AllThingsBucs (@AllThingsTBbucs) October 2, 2018
October 4th, 2018 at 8:05 am
Holy F*CK that was nasty. I was impressed with him also. I hope gmc doesn’t rub off on him so much. Hopefully he didn’t apologize after that.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:07 am
GMC teach this man everything you know home his craft this guy will be major key for years to come.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:08 am
With his rare combo of size, speed, and strength as soon as he perfects his pass rushing technique Vita is going to be a monster, just you wait.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:10 am
Vea will be fine but it is the typical Buc fan being negative.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:12 am
Joe, you can hate on FSU fans all you want but at the end of the day whether its Alabama or Savannah State, who cares where these players went to college.
The fact of the matter is that Derwin James was the obvious pick and Jason Licht once again missed and came away with a run stuffer.
BTW Derwin James had more sacks and strip fumbles than Vita Vea on sunday. So DJ wouldve made drastic improvements to not only the secondary but as a pass rush threat as well. A MUCH more rare talent than someone who just helps plug the run on 1st down. Hello, Jason Licht, the NFL is a passing league.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:15 am
There was another play where he put the guard flat on his back as well. Unfortunately the RB bounced outside on that one and got about a million yards, but that’s other guys who definitely were not making their nfl debut. The kid looks like he will be fun to watch, which is damn rare for a DT. He did his job on every snap I paid attention to him
October 4th, 2018 at 8:21 am
No excuse me gmc stay the hell away from vea. This is why he is the pick. That play went for a big gain and people blame lvd but look at that idiotic sorry excuse for a probowler gmc getting pushed clear across the field and falling down barely able to see the runner. I’m tired of people pointing out how quick his first step is but ignoring this. I never saw the jersey but how do I know it’s him? People always run at him and the hole is always his gap because he runs out of it. When he stays in his gap he never gets past the lineman. Just looking at the way the guy is falling across the field I know it’s McCoy because it’s also his signature play and it’s happened every game since he was a rookie. It’s time to move on. There’s more than one way to get interior pass rush, fletcher cox doesn’t have McCoy moves but he does have speed and power, they talk about McCoy get off because he lacks power and now he’s slow and sloppy looking
October 4th, 2018 at 8:26 am
Two linebackers right there knowing they have to cover up for McCoy being out of his gap so it was easy to bounce outside. The guy they are calling a leader is the very person who needs to be held accountable and no one will do it. Trade him and watch what happens. It’s not like he’s getting sacks or pressure and he sucks at run stopping anyway.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:34 am
Derwin who??
October 4th, 2018 at 8:38 am
Love it!! he’s only gonna get better.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:39 am
i like how vita pushes the OL back so the QB can’t step up in the pocket!!!
October 4th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Jim,
Derwin “Already has 3 sacks and an INT in 3 games” James
Thats who
October 4th, 2018 at 8:52 am
He’s ours….root for him to succeed…quit the whining about players we didn’t draft or FAs we didn’t pick up…..it’s sickening…
I’ll bet most of you whiners aren’t happy with your spouses either….want someone else’s….
October 4th, 2018 at 8:54 am
i heard at halftime the bucs were playing musical chairs in the locker room during the chicago game…that’s why jpp was so visibly upset on the sidelines…he was telling them to “cut that crap out and get serious”…mccoy was having a ball and smitty came down from his cushy upstairs digs to play too…these type shenannies often occur in geraldini’s batcave too
October 4th, 2018 at 8:56 am
we need more nasty and less softy
October 4th, 2018 at 8:59 am
Jasaon Licht pass over “Elite” players during the early rounds of the draft. Then draft some mediocre players in rounds 3-7. Then these fans beat their chest…hollering……another Licht gem.
How can any Buc player on defense be impressive, when they gave up 48 points (38 points at the half)?
Derwin James and CB Donte Jackson should have been the Bucs first two picks
Not only were they were the BPA, they were players of need
October 4th, 2018 at 9:01 am
well joe that is darn good to know…if vea had a crap game the score would have been 69-10…lucky for us bucs fans…
#VeaKeptTheBearsAtBay #SavedUs21points #VitaminVeaToTheRescue
October 4th, 2018 at 9:01 am
Same ole Bucs fans. We’ll win this year…bet you still won’t stop crying. Get a hold of yourselves! Sad. Go Bucs!
October 4th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Joe, I’m impressed … with Vea and with the fact that you admitted watching him through binoculars all game (we used to call that ‘stalking’ … but I digress). It really is great to see some ‘beef’ back on our DLine (280 lb lightweights like Will Gholston belong outside, not inside).
Vita creating havoc in their OLine and putting pressure on the QB is what I want to see. Create lanes for our blitzers (and yes Smitty, we need MORE of that). Hopefully Beau Allen also makes it back so that this DLine can finally do what it was advertised to do (and what we paid such a high price for). Maybe better DLine play will create a lot more opportunities for our LBs to play better (MUCH better I hope). And if Smitty starts the younger guys in the back, maybe more DLine pressure will give them better opportunities to create turnovers (MAYBE).
October 4th, 2018 at 9:04 am
I hated the picks after the draft, and I still hate the picks
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2018/04/pressure-m-j-stewart/
October 4th, 2018 at 9:06 am
I am excited about him. I always think building through the lines is a better way to build a team. It isn’t sexy but it is definitely effective. I am up in NJ and saw both Giant super bowl runs. It was all DLLLLLL. There LB’s have been notoriously awful and the DB’s not great but man that DL with Strahan, Osi, JPP just to name a few.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:11 am
joe i just tried posting a “gif” of smitty picking a winner…you might wanna take an ole glimpsy pal…it’s quite wicked brofessor
October 4th, 2018 at 9:12 am
DT is a much more valuable position than safety. As long as he stays healthy and continues to develop I’m fine with the pick. Good safeties become available almost every season in free agency because teams aren’t willing to overpay for that position.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:13 am
Dline are becoming a premium in the Draft. Top three picks are usually reserved for QBs. After this maybe a freak athletic LT, DB, RB or WR, but majority of the next 10-20 picks will be Defensive linemen. Same for future contracts, QB are getting premium money, followed by DL. Good Safeties can be found in the later rounds. Bucs were smart to pick Vita with their 1st round draft.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:13 am
Derwin James stats
20 tackles, 15 solo tackles
1 Int
3 sacks
6 PD
5 QB hits
Did anyone see the game Sunday between the Chargers and Niners?
Derwin hit Gabbert late in the game causing him throw an INT
The Chargers ran out the clock and won the game
That was impressive and it came, when the game was on the line
October 4th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Derwin James is more than a Safety
He can play all over the defense, he’s a PLAYMAKER
October 4th, 2018 at 9:17 am
You can’t find a PLAYMAKER in the rounds
They don’t come around often, they are rare
October 4th, 2018 at 9:18 am
*late rounds
October 4th, 2018 at 9:23 am
Our “favorite player” looked like an All-Pro from day one and now has 3 sacks (should be 4) and an int. So yes, we are still mad that he was not drafted when we needed secondary help, not a run stuffer.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:24 am
I’m sure theres a large contingent of Seminole fans that simply wanted “their guy.” But not all, i’m an insufferable Notre Dame fan. I really like Vita Vea a lot, but it is true that Derwin James is straight lighting – it – up and is grading out as the best rookie thus far. Fitzpatrick is playing great as well. I think that is what’s causing some angst, fans want their gd first round pick to make an impact. To your point however that you make in other posts – would our coaches put him in a position to be as successful here as in San Diego? Meh prob not
October 4th, 2018 at 9:30 am
“Yes Alex, I’ll take Lakeland all on Derwin’s D for $1000”
“He is infatuated with Derwin to the point where he constantly fantasizing about him”
“Who is Lakeland”
October 4th, 2018 at 9:32 am
good thing we don’t have to hear about drafting a nole this year…..lol….none of them are worthy of a pick……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 4th, 2018 at 9:34 am
in my mind, the chargers went from drink blenders to contenders…
the bucs went pretenders to condom lenders
——-> (because playing like this won’t get you laid)
October 4th, 2018 at 9:37 am
I made and error Derwin has 26 tackles, 20 solo tackles
October 4th, 2018 at 9:39 am
I am tired of the ” we should have drafted so-and-so”. Let’s worry about the guys who ARE on this team. Every day we have arm chair GM’s bitching and complaining about who would have been drafted. One day it’s James, the other day some dude was bitching about Luke Keukly, hell Let me bitch about Aaron Rodgers, Cam Jordan, Melvin Ingram, Dennis Byrd, Jerry Rice, Junior Seau, Emmitt Smith, Tom Brady, and Rod Woodson. Let it go people. I have BAD news, Derwin James would be as useful as peeing in the ocean with Mike Smith still at the helm.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Nothing to do with Seminole fans, derwin is just a better player and fit a poitsion of need. Derwin has as many sacks as jpp. Hes a stud and our gm picked a run stuffer. Derwin will be an all pro and vita will just be taking up blocks getting 2 tackles a game. One highlight if him throwing down a center changes nothing.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Lakeland, you’re forgetting one thing with Derwin James. Good ole Smitty doesn’t know how to use safeties in blitz packages. Chargers have a much better defensive scheme to take advantage of DJ’s skill-set.
DJ would be lifeless on this train-wreck of a scheme here in Tampa.
Moral of the story- good schemes can bring out the best in your players talent. The fall of Lavonte David over the years should tell you that as well. He KILLED IT when Schiano was HC and then disappeared during the Lovie years. He’s a shell of himself now. Sad to see.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Just another poor draft by the Bucs pathetic GM, and these fans are lining up to make excuses for him…………..as they usually do
October 4th, 2018 at 9:47 am
Stop with the Derwin James talk. If we had drafted him he would simply been a part of the blowout. Mike Smith is trash and you could give home 11 pro bowl players and this defense would still be trash. It ain’t the players it’s the scheme and the guy coaching it
October 4th, 2018 at 9:53 am
Say the Bucs did draft Derwin James, are we sure that he would be making the same impact with the Bucs like he’s doing for the Chargers? Some how i doubt that. With Mike Smith as the Bucs DC i doubt he would’ve come up with creative ways to use Derwin. To get the most out of a player like Derwin you would have to move him around the defensive alignment.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:20 am
I’m hopeful VV will become a monster on the line. Would have loved to gotten Derwin too, but the pick was VV. Does ANYONE think ultra conservative old school non-creative Mike Smith would have used Derwin as effectively as the Charges are? I highly doubt it.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:38 am
I was so pre-occupied watching Chicago score that I didn’t even notice that he played!
October 4th, 2018 at 10:51 am
I guess when the ship is sinking due to multiple holes filling one doesn’t really mean much.
Still taking on way too much water.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:57 am
@Lakeland – “You can’t find a PLAYMAKER in the [late] rounds . They don’t come around often, they are rare”
It happens all the time, especially at Safety.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:59 am
Vea did push the pocket and, aside from JPP, was one of very few bright spots Sunday. Hopefully a preview of more to come.
LakeLand- I get your frustration. Licht has seemingly missed on quite a few picks of late. We’ll have to get behind this mountain of a DT and hope he does well.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Assuming that Derwin James could be nearly this effective in the current defense is a huge stretch. Playmakers like he and Fitzpatrick require imaginative coaches who can put them in spots to use their abilities. Not how Koetter or Smith operates
October 4th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Gotta luv this big guy, after being out for so long more than held his own against the bears, a three down defensive tackle who throws offensive linemen around like ragdolls, bet the birds will have two guys on him every play !!!!
Great draft choice.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:12 am
“Is that our new middle linebacker?…
because fatboy is slowwwww
worst getoff and cant use his legs to get to the tackler
the only stops he will get if they run straight to him
this skillset you can get on any 3rd/4th round
Darone payne is a much better player because he can disrupt the QB and stop the run. He explodes and runs to the QB/runner
October 4th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Even if the Bucs did draft DJ, M Smith would have messed him up. By the way I think the Bucs should have given Schiano more of a chance. But I guess he was to much of a disciplinarian for the soft Bucs so he was run out of town with the help of the media.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:31 am
I love how the haters only make themselves look stupid. If the offends you…guess what? You are a hater!
October 4th, 2018 at 11:31 am
Hey Lake….
You state B&W total stats of DJ so far this year and the sheep claim the stats will suddenly magically disappear if he is playing football at tampa Bay Florida
*DJ played football on a field at northern florida
“How can that be?”
Kobe Faker
October 4th, 2018 at 11:48 am
Vita was a necessity to replace McCoy, hopefully next year. People aren’t mad at him , but we did pass up people’s favorite Seminole twice. That favorite Seminole might already be a top 5 safety in the league. A position in which we we running out Chris Conte, who apparently along with Mike Smith, has a lifetime job.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:56 am
“Top 5 safety?”
Chargers S Derwin James has 3.0 sacks in four games. That’s more than any safety had during the entire 2017 season. Playmaker.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
What about the play when his fat ass got booted out and Trubisky turned it up for a 15yd gain though? First round pick??!!! Derwin James is a pro bowler, Vita looks like a professional bowler. No comparison. Bucs whiffed on a pick again,lol.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Just for comparisons sake there was another rookie NT in the game named Nichols from Delaware who was drafted in the 5 round who had 4 tackles and a .5 sack.
If you draft an NT in the first he should produce in the same manner imo. But I guess throwing guys around and slowly and I mean slowly chasing the play from behind is also a win I guess.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Vita played one game….and to DUMB Bucs fans… his whole career is a bust.
This is somewhat why I come here….posters make me feel like Einstein they’re some dumb.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
All those thinking Schiano was such a great Defensive Mind need to look at exactly why we had to pay out huge money to lure the best DB here. Our Defense under Schiano the year before was pathetic. He had to have a superstar DB just to have a reasonable defense his next year. Remember also that Schiano was under the delusion that Glennon was a great QB. Schiano was a fool and deserved to be fired. He never came close to making the playoffs either. Tennessee was going to hire him but smartly backed out of the deal. He couldn’t even get hired as a College Coach again. He also gave his Buddy, Bill Belicheat, some of our talented players including Lagarret Blount.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
so*…uh did I say “they’re” dumb…..
October 4th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Everything will be ok if we all just lower our expectations! The Buc management has consistently delivered mediocre results for years. They’ve given us no indications that things will change going forward. The Buccaneers coaching staff seems to apply the theory “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. smh
October 4th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
I’m not saying that Vita will be a bust. I’m only stating the facts, the Bucs needed secondary help more than another DT. And Derwin James was the obvious pick at the time. Vita maybe a stud DT in a few years…….but do Licht, Koetter, Smith has a few years?
October 4th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Maybe, just maybe Vita will be the player for the next regime, like gmc was for Schiano. Because this regime will be long gone.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
If my job is on the line
I’m drafting Derwin James and Donte Jackson with my first 2 picks
I’m also bringing in veteran corners
Maybe Licht knows something that we don’t
He drafted and signed free agents like he has a 10 year guaranteed contract
October 4th, 2018 at 1:15 pm
never hated on Vea but question the selection when you had just added a couple of DT’s in FA and your secondary sucks out loud. Joe, do you think the Bears were worried about their lack of running game?
October 4th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
JabooBuc
The Bucs D-Line salary is at $50 million
The secondary salary is less than $15 million
These are facts
You get what you pay for
October 4th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Brent Grimes makes more money than the rest of the secondary combined
October 4th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Waitwaitwait…so Joe is talking smack about Nole fans after we’ve lived through 3 years of Gator fans talking smack about Jameis?
Gimme a break.
Only time will tell, but we’ve definitely seen more demonstrable results from Derwin than we have from Vea during this limited sample size..
And the Bucs defensive backfield is still a complete and utter disgrace. Perhaps that’s why folks are upset, Joe.
It’s called common sense. SMDH
October 4th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Kobe Faker
I don’t understand the logic of Licht going with a bunch of slow rookies, a 35 year old injury prone CB, special team players in the secondary
I think Licht, Smith, Koetter want to leave Tampa
It’s obvious that they don’t have any interest in winning football games
October 4th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Why would they try running inside when they were throwing for 30 yrds a clip?! We didn’t run inside much either and had nothing to do with their lineman, the best of which who was tossed by the refs.
October 4th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
LOL Joe that first sentence nailed it!
October 4th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
I probably am in the minority of FSU fans who actually could care less if the Bucs draft someone from FSU or UF or Alabama or WHEREVER. Just as long as they can have an impact. For those expounding the San Diego stats of one Derwin James, what based on the first 4 weeks of the season, makes you think that Mike Smith (and our DB’s coaches) could maximize the abilities of Mr. James? Would we ( I use the term “we” loosely ) blitz our obviously talented rookie safety the way San Diego has? I Seriously doubt it! Most of the EXPERTS believe the the Buccaneers have talent on the defensive side of the ball. What we DON’T have is an aggressive innovative scheme that UTILIZES the talent on hand to the best of their abilities. What we have is a passive antiquated ( unadjustable ) scheme that will give up the most points in NFL history at this rate. Something’s gotta give!
October 4th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Joe, I seem to recall you saying before the draft that you thought Derwin was overrated. Beginning to really question your evaluation of talent as i seem to recall your admiration for Johnny Football.
Derwin was can’t miss and that was after a knee injury.
October 4th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
NEWSFLASH: Mark Barron was a higher rated safety prospect than Derwin James coming out of college. We all know how that turned out.
*15* teams passed on Derwin James in the draft. He was a major RISK.
The Bucs already had some promising safety prospects (Evans, etc.) on the team and weren’t willing to give up on them yet.
Our D-Line has been our biggest weakness. Fewest sacks in the NFL, in a passing league and a tough division. We haven’t had a great DT to pair with McCoy in McCoy’s entire career. The Bucs drafted the top rated DT in the draft.
You “after the fact” Derwin James homers are hilarious. Half of you were also crying that we didn’t draft Guice, and the Bucs passed on him due to his knee and attitude concerns. I don’t see quote Guice’s stats through the first 4 games.
October 4th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
BucsBandit
Barron was NOT a higher rated safety prospect than Derwin, the Bucs simply reached for him at 7. Barron was not a playmaker, he was a hard hitting strong safety with no ball skills. As for Guice, I would still rather have him than Rojo, knee injury and all. And how is it “after the fact” when we wanted him before the draft.
October 4th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
BucBandit: You are off your rocker. For one, Derwin and Evans would play together not in place of one another. So then you would have two play making athletic safety’s that can help defend the backside of this defense.
Again, in my mind, this has nothing to do with Vea. I hope he turns out to be a great player. It’s more about allocation of resources. As Lakeland said, we have over 3 x’s the amount of money invested on the DLine than we do in the secondary. Seems to me you would want that money spread a little more equally.
I get that it all starts up front and I support that philosophy but we are now seeing what happens when you are completely depleted of depth on one area of the field. In the NFL, they will find your weakness and exploit it.
October 4th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
A run stuffing 3-4 NT, just what the Bucs needed.
October 4th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
I’ will proudly own up to me screaming Derwinnn during draft night, and was a little down when we drafted Vea. I understood the pick and why we went there, but I still know/feel Derwin would be a better overall defensive player than Vea. He could have helped this secondary tremendously. I really do hope Vea can become the second coming of Sapp and prove me wrong.
October 4th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Boom. Exactly what they wanted him for. There’s a ton of great DTs that are projected to go in the first round next year. Get a nasty one and send Charmin Ultra Soft rollin.
October 4th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Derwin James is a CB. Who the hell knows what he would look like in our most passing yards allowed in history defensive scheme would look like right now.
October 4th, 2018 at 7:26 pm
Chill Will – Vita Vea had 9.5 sacks in college, over 3 years, so he average 3.5 sacks a season. He’s no Warren Sapp, not even remotely the same type of player. He’s a classic 3-4 nose tackle – which is why the pick made no sense. Perhaps he can somehow, out of nowhere, become a pass rusher, but he’s never done it and expecting him to be that in the NFL when he couldn’t do it in college, it seems like a strech. Good run stuffing NT’s are valuable, but on a team that going into the draft had Chris Conte and Ryan Smith as starters…
October 4th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Guys was moving the pile man
I do worry about his short arms
But he is strong
October 4th, 2018 at 11:00 pm
Can anybody agree with me??? Rex ryan for dc any i guarantee he will have this defense the most aggressive in the nfl??anybody agree
October 5th, 2018 at 10:30 am
In this clip I see #75 ride #93 across the formation and completly out of the play, #70 also rode his player the same way. #50 looked to be standing up the guy in front of him, he did not get moved. He chucked that lineman to the side like nothing and got after the ball carrier on their side of the line of scrimmage. With most every other Dlinemen looking back at the play. And 2 out of 3 blocked away from the play. This was our best 2nd and 1 play? Great play by # 50 and whoever it was that flashed in from the backend.