Ndamukong Suh On Vita Vea: “I Would Be Very, Very, Scared Of Him.”
June 20th, 2021
Three-time All-Pro Ndamukong Suh (where does he rank in the history of Bucs defensive tackles?) has issued a public warning.
It’s rather simple.
Suh told Buccaneers.com that if the guy next to him, Vita Vea, stays healthy this season, the NFL should be extremely afraid.
“Vita’s growth is really due to his own [work] and really just being able to not be afraid from a standpoint of understanding he doesn’t know everything,” Suh said. “And then being able to ask questions, and being somewhat vulnerable in the aspect of saying, ‘Alright, I want to get better. I want to be able to do [things]. I want to be able to play at a consistent high level all the time because I obviously know I’m very gifted why I got drafted where I was.’
“The exciting piece is that he’s only barely touching that iceberg that he’s got. And it’s a massive iceberg based on his size and his ability. So I would be very, very scared of him coming back to this season fully healthy as he’s preparing very well for that.”
Yes, Vea is one of the great X-factors of the Bucs’ upcoming season. Suppose he does stay healthy and progress?
Joe was so damn impressed by Vea grinding out a comeback after a horrific broken ankle in Week 5. The drive and dedication displayed cannot be overstated. And then look how well Vea played upon returning deep in the playoffs.
Vea is a very special talent and player. Now he has to figure out lasting health, something that’s eluded too many talented and special players since the NFL began 100+ years ago.
Enjoy the Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
June 20th, 2021 at 8:55 am
Suh is second only to Sapp as far as defensive tackles that we’ve had. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Vea can stay healthy, but I have my doubts. Fantastic when he’s healthy though.
June 20th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Another great draft pick by Licht. It is a shame we did not take Derwin James instead {sarcasm}
June 20th, 2021 at 9:21 am
Prediction: Vita will be voted All Pro this year!!!!!
June 20th, 2021 at 10:04 am
Vita Vea had a lot to do with the defensive improvement, particularly QB sacks, hits and pressures increasing after he came back from injury.
He’s like running into a brick wall too.
June 20th, 2021 at 10:06 am
Sapp was poor against the run. Any team that had an Alstott-type running back had their way with us up the middle
June 20th, 2021 at 10:17 am
When the Glazer Kids hire me as head scout, I’ll find Sumo Wrestlers & turn them into Nose Tackles like Vita or Right Guards
June 20th, 2021 at 10:30 am
If we stay healthy, i think we could see a defense that suffocates the life out of opposing offenses. There’s enough talent and egos on the defense to challenge themselves to be the best defense all time for the Bucs. Has to be a nightmare for Prescott as the season opener.
June 20th, 2021 at 10:38 am
Suh is a gentleman. Sapp was not. Suh helps younger players. Sapp was clannish. Suh is clearly well educated and well spoken. Sapp spent his free time trying to be clever.
Suh is a great teammate. Sapp was a cancer.
But the biggest reason Suh is better is he’s been to the Super Bowl twice. Sapp went once, on Derrick Brooks coattails.
June 20th, 2021 at 11:02 am
I flipped sh!t when I saw “Vea to be activated” at lambeau on JBF.
June 20th, 2021 at 11:14 am
Mr. Suh should take a bow for his significant help and mentorship of Vita’s development and helping him thru his injury last season.
June 20th, 2021 at 11:46 am
You may not like Sapp’s attitude, but he was hardly a cancer. Not sure what team you were watching.
June 20th, 2021 at 11:52 am
Thank the lord, for the day We signed Ndamukong Suh.
Plays Hard. Is a stone pillar against the run, and capable of being fearsom passrusher.
But above all- brings the predator attitude, that has ignited this Defense!
Yet another incredible job by our GM!
June 20th, 2021 at 11:55 am
D.R. must be orgasmic right now. Our D is beginning to look truly formidable.
So just look at the Bucs D up the middle…perhaps the best MG in the game…perhaps the best MLB in the game and what a safety tandem in Winfield and Whitehead.
Hard to think of another defense stronger up the middle than the Bucs!
June 20th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
I hope he turns out great. I spent a lot of money on his jersey.
June 20th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
There are two idiots so far on this thread talking uneducated alternative facts when it comes to sapp. Its like these two clowns just make crap up as fact but i should not be suprise. There is a segment of society that believes in space lasers causing fires etc. No sapp was not a cancer and he was definitely not poor against the run. Wtf????? He is however all decade for the 90’s and 00’s, a defensive player of year, super bowl champion and FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAMER!!!!!
June 20th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Happy Father’s day to all the fathers !!! Go bucs !!
June 20th, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Soo glad we drafted him. I hope he’s in suhs ear 24/7 on not just how to be dominant but also how to stay healthy. It’s crazy that suh plays the most physical position and he doesn’t miss games due to injury
June 20th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
StPete you got me LMAO. I LOVE great defensive football, but orgasmic?
Actually I’m still not sure just how good this defense can be. I’m convinced that our current Front-7 is better than the 2002 Front-7 overall, although not by a huge margin. But I’d still give the edge to the 2002 Secondary.
Folks forget that 2002 team got 31 INTs in the regular season, of which the Secondary contributed 20 of those (led by Brian Kelly with 8 INTs). Our 2 starting CBs on that team had a total of 41 PDs (Kelly had 21 while Ronde had 20 that season). Add in 8 PDs for Dwight Smith, 9 PDs for Lynch & another 6 PDs for Dexter Jackson and the Secondary had a total of 64 PDs all by itself (it also had a total of 20 INTs that season all by itself). Those are incredible numbers IMO.
By way of comparison, our 2020 Bucs Secondary actually did reasonably well with a total of 43 PDs (roughly the same as Kelly & Barber had together), plus they had 12 INTs as a Secondary. Those are excellent numbers IMO, but still well short of what the 2002 Secondary produced on the season.
I’ll tell you though my favorite position group (?) on this current defense has been the coaching staff (OK StPete, I know they’re not a position group). I am so impressed with the body of work that Todd Bowles & his assistant coaches have put together in bringing these young guys along. They’ll just keep on getting better & better I’m convinced. I just hope that we can keep this defense intact when it comes time to re-sign folks.
June 20th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
The disrespect to McCoy is real with Bucs fans. He definitely has his flaws and I’m certainly not one of his biggest fans, but he was a good player on some terrible teams with nowhere near the talent around him that Suh, Vea, or Sapp had.
1. Sapp
2. McCoy
3. Suh
4. Vea (hopefully ends up at least #2)
June 20th, 2021 at 1:36 pm
Oh Error-ick
No way McCoy was a better Buc than Suh. And Suh still has gas in the tank…
June 20th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Staying healthy is an issue.
Whe an athlete gets alot of soft tissue injurys you can say they are injury prone.
Two of Veas injurys where frezk acciddnts where frzctures are involved and for him to come back and play at the level he did from a broken ankle was impressive.
June 20th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Suh’s two years for the Bucs so far do not surpass what McCoy did in 9 years no matter what you want to tell yourself. No doubt, Suh has been the better player throughout his whole career and as you stated will actually be playing this year. But just because you are starting DT on loaded Super Bowl winning D, doesn’t automatically make you greatest DT. In that case, I guess Chartres Darby should be in discussion.
June 20th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
*Chartric Darby
McCoy will go in the Ring of Honor, Suh will not. Simple as that.
June 20th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Suh has made more memorable plays in those two years than McCoy did in 9. We can agree to disagree…you can be Robin to McCoy’s Batman ( doll ). Not so sure McCoy is a Ring of Honor sure thing…he’s already forgotten and was run out on a rail when a legit coach showed up.
June 20th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Derwin James, who?
June 20th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Ahh throwing out insults. First sign that a person doesn’t know how to debate. Enjoy your weekend, kid.
June 20th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Vea is key to our defense being a shut down defense. No inside runs with him and Suh in the middle. Leaves White and David free to roam outside.
June 20th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
the thing about this defense is that the overall numbers would have been much better if we didn;t go through that stretch of games where we wee just playing that soft zone.. the games that we pressed we generally suffocated teams.
June 20th, 2021 at 3:42 pm
I was torn between he and Derwin James in the draft. I thought they were both special players and it turned out to be true. Unfortunately both of them have had trouble staying healthy. Yes James has had the greater problem. James also when healthy looks like one of the best DBs in the NFL. Who knows if either one of these guys would have had any of their injuries if they played on another team. Acting like you foresaw all the unfortunate injuries pre draft and crowing that you were right is just silly I suppose is my point.
June 20th, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Where are all the You-should’ve-drafted-Derwin-James people? Hmmm. remember?
June 20th, 2021 at 7:56 pm
Vea is the best in the game already. Keep getting better tho, it’s gona be fun to watch!
June 20th, 2021 at 7:58 pm
Sapp wasn’t a cancer, Webster? Ask Chidi Ahanatou. Ask Keyshawn. Ask the referee he bumped that cost him $50k. Ask Chad Clifton. He refused to acknowledge his hit was unnecessary and ruined the man’s career. How about the infidelity and children out of wedlock? Great for the team morale, right Webster? Yeah, his selfish, surly, “me first” attitude was cancerous.
And his weakness WAS stopping the run. Brooks propped him up.
June 20th, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Ah Vea has only been to 1 super bowl. Sapp is a hall of famer. I agree Sapp was a [Take it easy. — Joe] but still a damn good generational talent.
June 20th, 2021 at 8:54 pm
When VV went down last year, I was bummin…said: if he comes back for the playoffs, the Bucs win. Of course, that implied TB12 would have the offense cranking. Yup!
June 20th, 2021 at 9:09 pm
Modhanky you are an idiot. Ask chidi? Chidy got his a$$ whipped for being lazy and sapp was not having it just like hardy didnt have it when he was fighting in the locker room. Where do you think he learned that from? Ask keyshawn? The same keyshawn who spoke glowingly about sapp when he was interviewing sapp recently? The same keyshawn who sapp had a problem with for not showing up to OTA’s like the rest of the team that showed up. Knuckle heads like you constantly get on these players today for not showing up for ota’s yet now sapp is the bad guy for wanting the same? The hit on clifton was clean you moron and thats why there were no flags or fines idiot. Last i checked the hit on clifton was the super bowl year. Yea some cancer that hit was. And since when does having kids out of wed lock mean you are a cancer? You know how many people on this earth is a cancer? Hey dumb a$$, brady’s 1st born was had out of wedlock. I guess he is a cancer too. Jordan had infedelity issues too. I guess he was a cancer. You are about as sharp as a soup spoon. Gtfooh
June 20th, 2021 at 9:20 pm
@ Mod Hair with all due respect Keyshawn? How many players have been kicked off a team for insubordination? Keyshawn did some very nice things for the Bucs but to be used as a reference? UUUgghhh!
June 20th, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Vea is a force but he has to stay healthy. He is such a big guy guy his own body has had a hard time with the weight.
June 20th, 2021 at 11:59 pm
Sapp,suh,vita,booger then McCoy.