Vita Vea — Big Man, Big Heart
January 24th, 2021
After 3 1/2 months on the shelf with a broken ankle and not one practice in pads, Vita Vea stomped into Lambeau Field today and made a difference.
Joe has to show the manbeast nose tackle some love.
Vea was not his best, which was totally understandable. But he had far more stamina than Joe expected, and his pass rush was a difference-maker.
Vea’s performance is such a great sign that he can make a full-strength return in two weeks against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Remember, Kansas City didn’t have to deal with him when they beat the Bucs by three points on November 29. And trust Joe, offensive coordinators panic when they prepare against Vea.
Bucs officials have to be loving the commitment Vea displayed to get back on the field. You draft a guy that early in the first round because you believe he loves the game enough to be completely dedicated. And Vea walked the walk.
Vea could have slacked on his rehab when it became obvious that he’d miss the regular season, but the Bucs’ biggest man showed how large his heart is, too.
January 24th, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Imagine having Favre and Rodgers as your QBs the last 30 years and the Bucs are about to have the same amount of rings as you in that time.
January 24th, 2021 at 9:29 pm
Can’t say enough about how well he played and how the whole defense played. The pass rush, White and David were all over the place, Whitehead was giving tackling lessons. Can go and on about the D and the first half offensive performance! The second half was led by the D! Total team effort! Still crying tears of joy!! Thank you all for the hard work on this site! See you in two weeks!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:33 pm
Get healthier and in shape over the next two weeks Vita. then go crush Patty mchomes
January 24th, 2021 at 9:35 pm
The first 2 times Vea was on the field tonight JPP and Shaq both got a sack each. He wasn’t dominate, but you can’t say he didn’t help the line get to Rodgers. Hell, he almost got himself a sack as well. He’s been missed and with Vea taking blockers it helps the rest of the line. I don’t think Vita will be 100% football ready by the Super Bowl, but he will make a huge difference for us by taking double teams all game long!!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:35 pm
He was the difference in the pass rush IMO. Rodgers couldn’t step up allowing our ends to get to him.
January 24th, 2021 at 9:38 pm
How many snaps did he play? It seems like he was out there the whole game
January 24th, 2021 at 9:39 pm
THE BEST PLAYER ON THE DEFENSE! WE DO NOT WIN THIS GAME WITHOUT HIM!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:42 pm
Is it a coincidence that Shaq and JPP decided to come out of hiding the very game that Vea returns?
I think not.
Yet another home run draft pick by JASON LICHT!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:42 pm
This could be quite the swing; Bucs get VV back, and Chiefs lost their LT Fischer tonight!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:44 pm
Hoping our secondary heals up, CD too…
January 24th, 2021 at 9:45 pm
welcome back BIG MAN!!!
welcome back.
What a comeback … what a game!
Vita, Vita Vita …
January 24th, 2021 at 9:46 pm
Welcome back Vita. Great game to make your feet wet before the big one in 2 weeks!
January 24th, 2021 at 9:52 pm
You have no choice but to double him in the interior. 1-1 on the edge and we have a chance. He was the diffence maker today.
January 24th, 2021 at 9:52 pm
He made our pass rush go off. He collapses the pocket. Love big Vita!
He’s like Polamallu and Wilfork had a baby.
January 24th, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Joe says: “the manbeast nose tackle some love”. Some? Only some?
January 24th, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Yes Joe, this guy is a true warrior. This reflects well on the chemistry in the locker room, the coaching staff and the trainers who must’ve worked with Vea to get him ready! Amazing how this team has taken a 180 in such a short time!
January 24th, 2021 at 10:00 pm
Huge difference maker
GO BUCS
January 24th, 2021 at 10:02 pm
Vita had SO much push! Freed up JPP and Shaq. BIG TIME contribution! Thank you Vita!
January 24th, 2021 at 10:06 pm
Classic SteveK!
January 24th, 2021 at 10:09 pm
He pushed the pocket and he kept the pass rushers on one one match ups
He almost got a sack he was a huge difference
This guy is special
January 24th, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Most definitely you could see what he brought to the defense. No one would have thought twice if Vea said see you in August. Love that he will be full bore come Super Bowl time. Another good pick from Licht, say it….
January 24th, 2021 at 10:18 pm
What about OJ returning?
January 24th, 2021 at 10:19 pm
I hope he mows over Mahomes and straight up flattens him into a pancake. Go Bucs!
January 24th, 2021 at 10:26 pm
vita had to play like 35-40 snaps…
and lambeau field had to have like 15k noisy fans in there
January 24th, 2021 at 10:29 pm
Rod Munch’s expert analysis says Vita Vea is just a fat body taking up space.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:32 pm
Munch apparently knows as much about football as some of the other idiots on here like Ndog or Bucrealist.
LoL
Ignorance runs rampant on these posts.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:34 pm
You are the best interior defensive lineman in the league. I can’t wait to see you at 100%. Thank you Vita!
January 24th, 2021 at 10:40 pm
Unbelievable play and push by the big man today!
January 24th, 2021 at 11:08 pm
The surprise reappearance this week of Vita Vea this week put a wrench into the offense’s plans of the Packers this week. My name sake did me so proud. Go Bucs!!!
January 24th, 2021 at 11:13 pm
now he gets 2 weeks rest. Nice!!
January 24th, 2021 at 11:17 pm
Love your remark, Snooks!
Go Bucs!
P.S. Who was that guy again … the guy who the Bucs should have drafted instead of Vea? 😄😋😛
January 24th, 2021 at 11:19 pm
ATTENTION: ROD MUNCH
Time to eat crow.
You were told your “He’s just a 2-down run stuffer” comments earlier in the week were way off base and you didn’t know what you were talking about. Well, this game proved it. They started by putting Vea in the game on 3RD DOWNS and he was arguably responsible for us producing at least two sacks out of our DEs.
January 24th, 2021 at 11:21 pm
Vita was a major factor today. Two weeks more should be great for him, and us.
January 25th, 2021 at 1:09 am
Thank you big V! I love you brother and was always here before anyone pushing for us to draft you, and when we did BOOM!
January 25th, 2021 at 2:41 am
On one play he stonewalled the center, and literally pancaked the right guard flat on his back. I had to rewind it immediately to show it to my wife. I had told her that this was what the Defense had been missing since Chicago. No disrespect to the guys who have tried to fill in for him, but they just can’t. I’m not sure we win that game without VV.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:18 am
Where is Ndog? Where is NDog? no one knowssss. No one cares…..
Lala la la laaaa laaaa
SU—-PER BOWLLLL
SU—-PER BOWLLLL
January 25th, 2021 at 5:31 am
Thank you bucs! 20 plus year fan no band wagon jumping for me unlike alot of fans are! I cannot wait for this rematch. Thank you brady for helping get us to the superbowl!!!!!
January 25th, 2021 at 7:15 am
Calling rod munch who commented on vea not being anything special and worth talking about.
😂
Dude is not in shape and still pushed the middle of their oline into rodgers on several pass plays. Got a few doubles too
Interesting how our defensive ends went off as a result?
January 25th, 2021 at 7:20 am
Where’s Kobe Faker with his fat Vita Vea nonsense prediction?
January 25th, 2021 at 7:28 am
I have said it repeatedly on here all year. He is the key to the Bowles scheme. The Joe’s downplayed it here and on podcast as Vea was not that important as he was just 1 player.
Vea played 33 snaps or 44% of defensive snaps. He is an absolute beast! Munch said last week he was a 2 down run stuffer, what an idiot.
Any coincidence that they had 5 sacks in the game all from Shaq & JPP who have pretty well been AWOL for the last 6 weeks.
….and hey Munch, guess what, Vea was part of pass rush that was in on 4 of the 5 sacks. If you don’t know what you are talking about, it is better to remain silent. Shhhhhhhhhh
January 25th, 2021 at 7:57 am
Hey Munch….before Vea got hurt, he had 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 3 QB hits, very good numbers for a NT. He was on a Pro-Bowl trajectory. However those are not the telling numbers.
According to Next Gen stats, the Bucs D allow 2.7 yards per carry (ypc) with Vea on the field, and 3.9 ypc with him off the field. Also, the Bucs pass rush had a 33.9% pressure rate with Vea in the game, but dropped to 26.6% without him.
Munch…are you now able to see now how important Vea is to the pass rush!?
January 25th, 2021 at 8:06 am
V-DRIVE is the supercharger of the Bucs Defense
He makes everyone around him Better
Remember that Guy that Joe use to fall all over who played the DLine Ummm
Well This is what a REAL GAME CHANGE PLAYER LOOKS LIKE
January 25th, 2021 at 8:08 am
I agree with you PoundTheRock. Was Munch even watching Vita Vea?
He called him a two down player. Jeez!
January 25th, 2021 at 8:58 am
When he was drafted, I turned to my buddies watching the draft and told them this was the best draft pick Licht ever made. I’ll stick with that until it’s proven wrong. VV controls the line of scrimmage. That’s all you need to know. He’s the best in the business.
January 25th, 2021 at 9:01 am
Losing Vea was huge.
He really is the keystone to our defense.
He may never get alot of sacks- but he chases QBs into Shaq and JPP.
He returns, so does our pass rush.
QBs HATE pressure up the middle-
And Vea collapses the pocket more often than not
I would think, other than Cappa, all of our guys should be a go.
Hope our hard hitting safety is Ok
January 25th, 2021 at 11:19 am
it was the 3rd qtr i think, Vea took on a double team steam rolled both and almost got a sack, but rodgers rolled out to complete a pass to the tight end near the side line. Joe if you can find that play, it’s a H@ly Shi!t moment. BEAST
January 25th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Where are all the loud mouths that condemed the Bucs for drafting Vea & the same ones that complained when they drafted Wirfs. GO BUCS!
January 25th, 2021 at 11:37 am
It takes two to slow Vea down rushing the passer, and prevents the QB from stepping UP into the pocket, allowing the edge to get even more pressure. One of them is one-on-one.
Vea is huge for the pass rush.
It’s nice to see the Joes finally seeing how the pass rush pieces work together, and not just focus on the edge.
January 25th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Vita is such a force. Unreal.
We’ve missed you, young man. Welcome back!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 25th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
VV put on a collapsing-the-pocket clinic for dummies like me. I had Bucs Radio and the boob tube (sound off) on, and watched for the giant in the center of the dline with the black hair peeking out of his helmet. It was awesome watching him collapse the pocket. VV has 2 weeks off to rest. Mahomes better be ready. Co Mighty Bucs!!
January 25th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Where is Kobe Faker? I didn’t see Vea getting pushed 10 yards downfield. Did you, Kobe Faker?
January 25th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Mickens and Vea were both WA Huskies. Go Bucs, from the opposite corner of the country!
January 25th, 2021 at 10:00 pm
He made all the difference in that pass rush from the front 4