Playmaker Suh, Invisible Vea
December 15th, 2019
Big play today
Ten seasons into his likely Hall of Fame career, Ndamukong Suh appears to be on a hearty new-contract push, while the second-year player alongside him is fading.
Suh had a game-changing sack today against Detroit when the Bucs really needed it. The Lions were driving with 6:03 remaining at the Bucs’ 32 yard line and trailing 31-17. It was a huge play on first down that appeared to rattle Detroit QB David Blough, who through the game-sealing pick-6 on the very next play.
Suh finished with three tackles, a batted pass, the sack and 2 quarterback hits. He is a free agent after the season and turns 33 next month.
Vita Vea didn’t make the box score today in the thrilling win against the Lions, a team with a battered offensive line. Vea did show up in the stats last week with one quarterback hit but nothing else.
Vea looked a little gassed today, Joe thought. It could be why he’s been a part-time player for much of the season. Today the Bucs were down Beau Allen and Vea seemed to get a greater percentage of snaps.
Joe hopes Vea finishes strong. He certainly should, as a second-year player and a guy drafted No. 12 overall last season.
As for Suh, well, he will be a very intriguing decision for the Bucs in the offseason. They can’t pay everyone. And if Vea keeps tailing off, that could push the Bucs towards a Suh return.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:10 pm
In some situations I’d like to see someone like nacho or beau to come in and play nose so we can see vea line up over the guard in a 3tech like suh.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
I watched Vea pushing the pocket on several plays during this game.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Is there a balance between how much Vita weighs and how many snaps he can take? He could probably increase his stamina, but how much would that affect his mass and power? How many snaps per game did Vincent Wilfork or Cortez Kennedy get?
December 15th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Vita is what Vita is, a 3-4 run stuffing NT. Most run stuffers come out on passing downs.
Sure, an all-pro safety would really be helpful right now, but we can’t refight draft night. Vita really does help in the running game – so be thankful for what we have I guess. It’s not like he’s a bust or anything, the question is if he was worth taking that high when there was no reason to think he’d become a pass rusher at the NFL level.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Vea was a reach when Bucs got him at 12. He’s ok but not a game changer. He’s GMC 2.0 on a part time basis and that ain’t saying much. Another questionable pick by our questionable GM.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Seems like Joe is being a bias hater against Vea because everyone knows he contributes more then what the stat sheet says
December 15th, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Weren’t y’all just calling out Suh a couple weeks ago for lack of stats, while praising Vea?
#clickbait.
You’re just sand-bagging bad content here. That’s foolish stuff, man. –Joe
December 15th, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Vea is a top 10 defensive tackle, what’s the point of writing this?
December 15th, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Those of you bashing Vea do realize that we’re the number one defense against the run.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Vea is a perplexing player…
December 15th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Joe let me see you take on what vita does. Then tell me how you feel after 15 games.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:24 pm
So…. That sack he had didn’t count?
December 15th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
Vea was flat out bad today.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
@ Pelsbuc61
Vea is “GMC 2.0”? really?
You must really know football.
GTFO.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Saw him on the ground way too much today. His athleticism is over rated not his strength but his agility and speed.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
I remember last year everyone here was calling Vita a bust, calling him Velcro Vita, then he had a nice game against the 49ers 4th string QB and backup offensive line, and everyone said he was an all-pro.
Vita was drafted that high based on his combine numbers – not on his actual college production. The guy averaged 3 sacks a year in college, getting 3.5 his senior year. That isn’t what you you expect from a guy you think will get to the QB at the NFL level. The pick really didn’t make any sense since the Bucs didn’t play a 3-4, and Vita is a classic 3-4 NT. Also while his combine was great “for his size”, he still ran a slower 40 than most NTs, even if most of them are 40 lbs lighter. The point is he isn’t getting to the QB faster because he’s quick “for his size”.
But, again, Vita is a good run stuffer. That does account for something.
Just not as much as an all-pro safety would have.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:29 pm
I agree joe….
VV looked sluggish
Gholston played great today
GO BUCS
December 15th, 2019 at 5:30 pm
If Vea keeps eating up blockers then he is doing his job. Allowing others to make plays.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
I’m done with this article.
Everyone is either a “N** Hugger” or a “Hater”…
There’s no in between and that’s why people talk smack about Tampa fans.
It’s crazy.
Most of y’all need help.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
^^^^ Agree on the Gholston front. Dude was very on point this game.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Stats didn’t tell the story. Vea was around the QB a fair bit and spent most of the day on the other side of the line of scrimmage
December 15th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
@Robert “Vea is a top 10 DT” WHAT???
Aaron Donald, Sheldon Rankins, Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones, Akiem Hicks, Ed Oliver, Grady Jarrett, Kawann Short, Geno Atkins, DeForest Buckner, Jarran Reed, Corey Peters, Marcel Dareus, Quinnen Williams, Jurrell Casey, Ndamukong Suh…
I think that is sixteen off the top of my head who are in an entirely different class of player than the just-above-mediocre Vea
December 15th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
@Robert “Vea is a top 10 DT” WHAT???
Aaron Donald, Sheldon Rankins, Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones, Akiem Hicks, Ed Oliver, Grady Jarrett, Kawann Short, Geno Atkins, DeForest Buckner, Jarran Reed, Corey Peters, Marcel Dareus, Quinnen Williams, Jurrell Casey, Ndamukong Suh…
I think that is sixteen off the top of my head who are in an entirely different class of player than the just-above-mediocre Vea
December 15th, 2019 at 5:40 pm
This is a terrible clickbait article, bashing vea one of our best draft picks in the past 5 years
Terrible take. Talk about spin. Article praises Suh rising up while the guy alongside him is struggling a bit. That’s called reality. It’s a high bar for Vea as a No. 15 overall pick. Look up who Vea was facing today.–Joe
December 15th, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Vea is an asset that needs to work on his cardio. I think he’ll be fine and 3-4 nose tackles have never blown up the stat sheet.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:46 pm
3-4 NT is the most physically demanding position to play. Calm down
December 15th, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Joe why so much hate on Vea? He is a stud go look somewhere else
December 15th, 2019 at 5:55 pm
H.O.F.er no way.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Lions had 45 yds rushing on 18 carries
Earlier in year, Joe was saying Suh production was down.
Bucs need to re-sign entire DLine next year. – #1 priority
December 15th, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Vea has had two meh games, no big deal.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Yes I didn’t notice Vita V like I normally do. But I mostly thought it was because Suh was absolutely flashing and stealing my eyeballs all day. That dude was on a warpath today. He was basically unstoppable all day.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Vea name not mentioned on the broadcast. Watching also missed him on the field. Maybe he is a bit overrated
December 15th, 2019 at 6:26 pm
Talk about a reach for a meaningless article. Look, Joe’s not going to pretend the Bucs are getting what they should be out of a No. 15 overall pick late in his second season. The bar is high. The Bucs have a great run defense. It’s not a one-man Vita show. They had the same-caliber run defenses in 2012 and 2015, too. Feel free to look it up. The Bucs’ pass rush is very average, and part of that is not enough push up the gut. —-Joe Vita was pushing the pocket making the QB step up into the pocket, or leave his mark, Det rushed for 45 yards… and if his load was increased all of a sudden yeah there would be some adjustment on his part. But to say that he was invisible (on twitter) is just crazy. I need to know what game Joe was watching
December 15th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
I love how literally everything has to do with what pick a player was picked out around here
A rookie playing through injury wasn’t good enough for the number 5 overall pick (til he was cause he is a rookie)
A second year NOSE TACKLE isn’t showing up on the stat sheet (meanwhile I am seeing him pressure the QB and make an impact on most plays) BUT THAT ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE NUMBER 15 OVERALL PICK (also joe he was number 12)
I guess we just need an article to fill the websites post game quota even though there is a a lot more going on that would be better to write about Joe II
December 15th, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Sounds like the take of someone who didnt watch the game and is relying on the box score to make an assessment of a player. Not at all. And Joe has never written that Vea is not a solid player doing well against the run. But he’s not looking like the same player he was, or the player the team hopes he’ll be. –Joe
Vea pushed the pocket all game. A had a sack slip right through his hands. Plus, he’s a Nose Tackle. Not exactly a position notorious for stuffing the stat sheet. Pushing the pocket and missing a sack. How many nose tackles around the league can you say that about?–Joe
December 15th, 2019 at 6:52 pm
So Joe is going to create articles that are negative during the midst of one of the best Bucs wins this season? You want Joe to be a fraud and not write about diverse happenings in a game, then find another site. –Joe
I’ll take a #15 pick that does his job at NT, and does it well, in his second year. Especially considering VHMe was #11 and the extra trade down pick was wasted on Aguayo.
Just because Vea has the athleticism to rush the passer doesn’t mean that’s his role. Perhaps some dirty work opens up things for others (Barrett has 16.5 sacks – no big deal, I’m sure he wouldn’t credit his line mates). Vea hustles his a** off and dominates his gap/gaps 90% of the time. What about the NT position do you not understand?
Does this “Joe” ever take the time to watch real film? All the time. –Joe
Please for the love of god, let’s get a charity event going where we can donate money to get on a podcast panel (without edits) and debate you “Joe”.
Let’s do it! I’ll open my check book!
I’m about to start losing respect for the Sage if he’s not calling you out on this garbage.
Look, you don’t get to make up things about Joe. You don’t have to like what’s here. –Joe
December 15th, 2019 at 7:01 pm
@AwShbucs
Well said, much more to the point than what I tried to express.
Cheers!
December 15th, 2019 at 7:07 pm
The reason this is an article is because the Bucs took Vita, when everyone said and thought they’d take Derwin James. No, the reason this is an article is because this is what Joe is observing on the field. –Joe James become a rookie all-pro, which is nearly unheard of. The Bucs need a safety.
Meanwhile Vita is a solid, if unspectacular, player. Vita is the kind of guy who will play for a long long time as an anchor against the run. But which would you rather have, an all-pro safety or a good run stuffing NT?
December 15th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Vea almost had that sack. Blough was able to sidestep him and run. The big man couldn’t adjust his forward momentum and whiffed. But he moved him off the spot.
December 15th, 2019 at 7:09 pm
I just wanted to point out that Joe is telling people how bad the teams pass rush is because Vita isn’t pushing the pocket up the middle but the team is tied for 13th in sacks, ((Joe never wrote that, but before today’s games, the Bucs were tied for 15th in sacks. When this week is finished, they probably will be at 17th)) –Joe where as last year they were tied for 19th. its a team effort that the team is stuffing the run, but not a team effort that they “suck” (even though they’re up 6 spots) at passing rushing, that’s Vita’s fault cause he’s invisible.
December 15th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Vea made an impact on several plays today, even if his name wasn’t on Dick Stockton’s … calls as often. Far from invisible
December 15th, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Don’t think suh is a hall of famer.
December 15th, 2019 at 7:54 pm
The Lions averaged two yards a rush. It started up front. The boys up front did their jobs, including Vea.
December 15th, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Nothing I’ve seen from Vea really surprises me given his college tape. A fat guy who can’t play with leverage, lacks elite explosiveness and instincts.
What did surprise me to the point of tears was when the Bucs drafted him 15th overall. That is the kind of draft picking that SHOULD get a GM fired, and with the Hargreaves & Aguayo fiascos to boot (among others) I still have no idea what Licht is doing here?
December 15th, 2019 at 9:40 pm
Omg for the last time he was picked 12th guys…sheesh get your damn facts straight. And everyone bashing him for not having stats are freaking blind. Dude man handles two guys almost every play. Do y’all really think Shaq would have 16.5 sacks with out Vea and Suh? This fan base is f***ing pathetic when it comes to actually watching games.
December 15th, 2019 at 9:41 pm
Omg for the last time he was picked 12th guys…sheesh get your damn facts straight. And everyone bashing him for not having stats are freaking blind. Dude man handles two guys almost every play. Do y’all really think Shaq would have 16.5 sacks with out Vea and Suh? This fan base is pathetic when it comes to actually watching games.
December 15th, 2019 at 9:45 pm
Joe please stop trying to evaluate D line talent. You honestly have no idea what you are talking about. Vea at his position won’t always have glamorous stats but that doesn’t mean he isn’t doing his job.
December 15th, 2019 at 10:29 pm
Haha, dogging on Big V in a meaningless game to him…*LIGHTS, ACTION, HE’LL BE HERE NEXT YEAR*
Big Suh surprised me a little….he’s liking his mates and wants to come back next year.
December 15th, 2019 at 11:54 pm
The Bucs’ pass rush is very average, and part of that is not enough push up the gut. —-Joe
You didn’t say this??.
Where is the JPP article he recorded 1 tackle all game….
December 16th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Joe, I understand Generating interest by writing controversy, but writing what you did about Vea is just wrong. He is a 2nd year player and while he is double teamed every game, he still collapses the pocket and prevents many yards rushing through his position. The reason Barrett is leading in sacks is because of Vea, Suh, JPP. and one more important guy Carl Nassib, that usually collapses the other side so Shaq can get through. If you watch the game you will see Barrett & Nassib always sitting together on the bench plotting. Nassib is a young guy that the Bucs need to keep too. The bo0ttom line is all of our d-line is doing their job. And our rooky dbacks are getting better every game too.