Velcro No More
November 25th, 2018
Best game.
Fans can thank former Bucs guard and popular local radio personality Ian Beckles for glossing Bucs rookie Vita Vea.
Because Vea had such a slow start to his NFL career — Joe is convinced it was because he missed all of training camp and preseason with an injured calf — Vea caught the wrath of Bucs fans for being so invisible in his rookie season.
Vea has been such a disappointment that Beckles glossed Vea “Velcro” for his inability to shed blocks. The nickname stuck like, well, velcro, as even former Bucs great Warren Sapp has tagged Vea with the nickname and Derrick Brooks talked about, too.
Well, Velcro was more like “Crisco” today. Why? Because Vea made plays and may have been a force.
Vea had four solo tackles and a sack. Only two other Bucs had more tackles than Vea while the defense held San Francisco to nine points.
Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking, Ozark-watching, yams-eating coach Dirk Koetter hinted the man who drafted Vea gave the rookie some inspiration today.
“I think [Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager] Jason Licht had a secret talk with him,” Koetter said. “You can ask Jason exactly what he said.”
Vea had a fine game. Guard Alex Cappa, who broke a sweat for the first Sunday of his rookie season, wasn’t awful. Safety Jordan Whitehead played damn good ball.
Licht’s rookie draft class all of a sudden isn’t looking as terrible as it did just a day ago.
November 25th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Break out game?????????????
November 25th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
I think Alex Cappa will be monster if he gets more reps
November 25th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
I am still trying to figure out why the keep rotating RG’s? Let Cappa play, good ol’ #77 is NOT good, HELLO!!!! Vita did very well today against some damn good O Linemen, good to see him tear it up today.
November 25th, 2018 at 6:54 pm
NEVER LET CALEB BENENOCH PLAY another down on the bucs team again……………….he’s absolutely putrid!!!!!!!!
November 25th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Vita needed a game like this to build his confidence going forward…..so did the Bucs..
Those hoping for a loss probably are the types that hope their child will fail in school so they will compete better against younger kids the next year
November 25th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Jeeebuz there’s no playoffs for the Bucs this year PLEASE KOETTER LET CAPPA START and get some experience.
November 25th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Give all draft picks the same time to develop as you do Jamies
November 25th, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Vea looked like All Man out there today, pushing doubles backwards like they were on roller skates, rag-dolling numerous OL, and even making plays downfield. He was stuffing holes and throwing grown men around. And the 9ers OL is respectable.
If the switch went on, Buc fans will enjoy watching the guy in the future.
November 25th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
I saw two Cappas: one getting schooled, and one mauling large humans.
Let the boy play.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
So, the Bucs officially cannot win the division…but if they win out (not likely) and go 9-7, will they make the playoffs?
If that happens, it;s gonna be hard to fire Koetter. Duff might even get another year…because it would mean the defense turned things around.
hehe…I can dream. The reactions around here. All off season I would get to rag on the haters lol.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Derwin James
7 Tackles, 5 Solo Tackles
2 PD
1 INT
November 25th, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Vea was incredibly impressive today, like Cobraboy said.
He shed a block, then grabbed the 49ers running back, and threw him to the ground, hard.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Yes, definitely. We should lock him up now while he is cheap. You know Jason Licht’s normal MO of totally taking away the advantage of a rookie contract and overpaying players for no reason. Is this website starting that crusade already? Is this why we are against the cap and in last place?
November 25th, 2018 at 7:13 pm
@LakeLand
Who cares? We won and finally our team showed some promise.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Chris that was such a violent play. Such beautiful football.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:13 pm
How many four tackle games has the All Pro D Tackle had in the Pat 30 games
November 25th, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Past
November 25th, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Bonzai….why are you dreaming of Dirk? Go back one article…..Guy is not a good HC.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Vea made another tackle downfield but the play was cancelled out by a penalty on them…..
November 25th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
McCoy played OK today but we need a new captain on defense.
It’s undeniable.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Koetter was 9-7 his first season, so that’s not saying much.
Bring in a coach who can keep the lights on consistently.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Did Vita play in the first Carolina game? It will be fun to see what he does when he facing the same guy he already battled.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Vita was an absolute force today. He looks to be in better shape and played with some passion. Licht has probably had a “private chat” with all of his rookies because he knows their performance through the rest of the season may determine his job status. Whitehead is going to be a good player and Carlton Davis has played with a lot of heart this season, but needs a lot of coaching. Licht probably knows Koetter is gone and he’s on the hot seat himself. Cappa looked aweful and serviceable today. M.J. Stewart is a bust as far as I’m concerned and losing Hargreaves for the year doesn’t help Licht’s case much either. I’m kind of torn on Whether Jason should stay or go. He hits big and misses big but so is life as a GM on the NFL.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the Bucs today
A lot of offensive yards
4 offensive turnovers
A loss
November 25th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
He looked great today. Nice for me cus I was telling all the JBF bandwagonders (there’s plenty) just last night this kid is going to develop more down the line. They were saying he’s a total bust before he played just his 9th game coming off serious injury. Folks were saying how he should be gone before his rookie contract is up. What idiots. Quennin Williams or Ed Oliver in the first round to replace ice cream could be an extremly nice addition to the dline.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
Funny the GMC haters are the same ones who want Vea to bomb. McCoy is gone if Vea keeps improving. Drafted him to replace. And I’m not thanking Beckles for anything other than wearing that beautiful orange jersey back in the good ole days.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Looked like a 1st round pick today! Man handled a couple of guys today and looked like he may of found his NFL legs.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Gosh. Waaaay too many idiots calling these early round rookies busts. Have to wait at least three years before you can call them out as a total bust. And unless they’re totally busted, they’ll likely make good depth.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Play I remember today was when niners were pushing for the TD on the one inch line. He got off so fast and was using the boulder throwing strength to keep them from getting in. Of course they found the end zone inside the Bucs 10. It’s us.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
^^Not on that play^^
November 25th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
IF DK WILL PUT TOGETHER THE RIGHT OFFENSIVE GAMEPLAN for this team, winning the final games will be a piece of cake! It’s a good thing I’m an old wrinkle Bucs fan with low BP. This offense is that talented!! Jesus Christ on a friggin’ cross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 25th, 2018 at 7:56 pm
GJ Big V! I still believe in this pick…he’ll show he was worth #12 overall. Hopefully we’ll get our 3 tech to replace GMC in the next draft (Christian Wilkins)
November 25th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
Lakeland….Who the efff cares about what’s his name..uh Derwin?
Why you FSU types of course since you have nothing left to cheer for in Tallahassee after yesterday…and I’m not even a Gator fan but I swear sometimes you Nole faithful push me. If you want to root for Derwin and Jalen go to their blogs…you’re boring the beejesus out of us on a TAMPA BUCS blog.
TBBF. That was perfect. “Those hoping for a loss probably are the types that hope their child will fail in school so they will compete better against younger kids the next year”
I watched Vea a lot today and he still had his Velcro moments…one time he couldn’t “shed” the block so he just carried the OL into the backfield with him and crushed the Niners runner. I hate to imagine how badly “Velcro” would have used and abused Beckles.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
We can hope for sure, but they performed decent against a 2 win junk team with a marginal backup QB. Hopefully it’s a sign of future play from the rookies but I won’t hold my breath just yet.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Benenoch might be the worst RG in the History of the NFL.
Keep Cappa in there… (Hopefully he’s been hitting the weight room HARD)
VEA will be dominant consistently, eventually…
November 25th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
So what does this article tell us ? Well what we have been saying all along, nobody is motivating these guys, Dirk sure isn’t getting 100% of this team…. Just wish Jason Licht would have whispered to GMC a long time ago.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Licht drafted a NT at 11 for a 4-3 team. Good game but not the best fit.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
I hope the Tampa fans don’t get fooled by one game by Vea like they did with McCoy. At least have them earn the respect this time.
November 25th, 2018 at 11:37 pm
He played in a manner where you couldn’t miss him….Saw some solid hustle plays, a sack, being very disruptive at times. Good outing for Vea.
November 26th, 2018 at 12:47 am
so licht secretly slapped the sh!t out of his first round pick dubbed him “sumo boi”
November 26th, 2018 at 1:09 am
Nice game Vita!
Now do it again next week….
November 26th, 2018 at 8:27 am
Licht having to motivate him isn’t a good sign
November 26th, 2018 at 11:19 am
If we’re talking Vea and JPP and GMC and Nassib and mention how bad the Niners are…yeah but not their offensive line which is generally rated in the top half of the league.
Our DL had an impressive performance against a decent OL.
November 26th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
VITA VEA
Very proud of ya, kid, and knew ya had it in you. Just RAG Dollin’ folks, and making plays. Great to see, and keep it going!
November 26th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Congrats VITA! Nice game!
November 26th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
What many of you don’t realize is a great D tackle is as important as a great Qb. Vea is a beast. We will all learn to love this guy. Light looks good now, doesn’t he? I’ve never seen such impatience from a fan base in my life.