Not A Lot Of Vita Vea With The Game On The Line
November 16th, 2021
So exactly what went wrong on Washington’s 19-play drive to end the game and crush the Bucs on Sunday?
Joe’s not sure, but Joe can say that Vita Vea only played 10 of those snaps.
Some believe Vea is among the greatest interior defensive lineman in the game. It’s hard for Joe to go there because Vea doesn’t play that much compared to many of his peers.
Against Washington, Vea was watching from the sidelines on 2nd-and-goal and 3rd-and-goal on Washington’s final drive. He jumped in on 4th-and-goal and that’s when he injured his knee.
The big 3rd-and-4 play earlier on that drive? Vea was a spectator.
Overall, that drive was nothing unique for Vea, who played 53 percent of the snaps (39 total) against Washington. That’s a very typical game for him, though Vea did play 61 snaps against the Saints on Halloween.
Joe’s hands are thrown in the air in frustration. There’s obviously a reason Vea’s snaps are limited, but that doesn’t cut the angst.
“I thought Vita played good,” Bucco Bruce Arians said on WDAE radio today.
“Our front seven just didn’t play gap-control defense like we’re supposed to.”
For perspective on snaps, Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne, a 6-3, 325-pound best drafted just after Vea in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft, has played more than 75 percent of his team’s snaps since he entered the league.
Enjoy today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast
November 16th, 2021 at 5:37 pm
I think the thought process is a risk vs reward thing . They’d rather have Vita Vea for half of the snaps, and give him half of the Vance to get injured . As opposed to having him in there for more snaps , thus giving him more potential to get injured . At this point , can you blame them ?
November 16th, 2021 at 5:44 pm
GOAT GHOST
November 16th, 2021 at 5:50 pm
I wish Vita Vea played 9 snaps.
The gap management has been poor, but I thought some of that was understandable as the Bucs blitz or at least maximize backfield penetration. When you commit like that, it comes at an expense of gap control.
November 16th, 2021 at 5:51 pm
What happened to Suh’s personal chef.
Heck if he dropped 10-15 crap un-needed lbs weight. Maybe he could have better conditioning and get more snaps. and who knows maybe less injuries ?
We need him out there as much as possible
November 16th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Off subject…..but, Brady simply isn’t the same without his partner Gronk……I think hie plays better with Gronk in the game regardless if Gronk gets targeted or not……perhaps a psychological thing… just my opinion.
As for Vea’s snap counts, I haven’t a clue….this I do know……any team can beat any team this year and we should be very aware of that now…..
November 16th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Ron Rivera’s philosophy worked like a dream.
He runs up the middle all game long. If it works the 2 yards gains in the first quarter become 4 yard gains, and then 8 yard gains as the defenders break down.
Add in poor play and you get ten minute drives.
Why can’t the Bucs plan something for the whole game. Save Vea for the second half, run RoJo up the middle for the first half and Lenny for the second half.
Anything would have to be better than what we just saw, something we can never un see because it was that bad.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:40 pm
My question was why was Vita not playing on goal line defense before he got hurt. Seems like a complete waste of one of our best players on defense.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
We had Nacho in his spot most of the last season, and although he didn’t get to the QB too much, he certainly helped us have the best run defense in the league
November 16th, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Coaches decide who plays which snaps. To me this is on the coaches. if they feel the need to limit his snaps then limit the fist half snaps. Most games come down to the last quarter or even that last five minutes of the game!
November 16th, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Joe, there was a lot of stuff going on in that game with our defense that had me scratching my head.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:54 pm
VV wasn’t in there on many of the short yardage snaps, I was wondering was he hurt prior to actually getting hurt.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:06 pm
On another topic… just finished watching “Money Ball” for the first time… Billy Bean is such a loser🤪 TAKE THE MONEY $$$$$$$$$
Draft Day much better flick…
Oh, BTW Brady will add another ring🖕🏻
November 16th, 2021 at 8:21 pm
Has it been confirmed if VV is on a pitch count? Which at face value I’m fine with. But what I’m not fine with is withholding him from critical situations just bc it isn’t his turn in the rotation. Fix the rotation so that he’s in there when it matters!
November 16th, 2021 at 9:52 pm
He’s playing limited snaps because he’s too fat to play all the downs. Lose some weight and he gets injured less and plays more plays.
November 16th, 2021 at 9:54 pm
Buckaroo Boozie Says:
Draft Day much better flick…
—————
Is that just a dig at Money Ball, that it’s that bad, or did you actually like Draft Day? Because the trailer for Draft Day literally gives me the d-chills, it’s so insanely bad looking. I might watch it as a goof one day, but I couldn’t imagine actually wanting to see that movie.
November 17th, 2021 at 12:09 am
Draft Day was one of the worst football movies I’ve ever seen. Complete crapola. Moneyball was actually a good movie. So I think it’s just a matter of taste. Or lack thereof.
November 17th, 2021 at 12:13 am
He’s sooooo fat that he’s gonna continue to break down more frequently as he gets older. DO NOT pay this man a long term contract. He’s the fattest player in the NFL
November 17th, 2021 at 12:36 am
I thoroughly enjoy almost all of Michael Lewis’ work: Liar’s Poker, Money Ball, The Blind Side, and his most important book, The Big Short.
The evolution of professional sports, both on and off the field is best understood in financial and economic reasoning. The Big Short explains the agency problems we’ve introduced into the financial services sector, and that our capital markets have become a casino, with most participants armed with than a facile understanding of what they’re doing.
November 17th, 2021 at 12:55 am
I really liked Draft Day.
Never seen Moneyball.
November 17th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
We need Gronk and AB out there and we’ll be fine. Would also help to get healthy in the secondary. Still 8 games to go ….lots of time to right the ship in tme for the playoffs. Rams and Cards need to keep losing so we can get some home games in the playoffs.