Akiem Hicks Loved Vita Vea’s “Beautiful” Play
November 7th, 2022
Explains why defensive line dominated.
Joe already wrote about the awesome night Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea had against the Rams.
Last week after the Baltimore loss, legendary NFL defensive coordinator Wade Phillips broke down Bucs film and said you can’t kill Devin White for getting blown out of so many plays because Vea’s failure to take out Baltimore rookie center Tyler Linderbaum give him too many free shots at White.
Phillips explained how that’s a mismatch White will never win.
There were no such issues last night for Vea. Veteran Bucs defensive tackle Akiem Hicks said the way Vea was taking on double-teams and beating single-teams was havoc for the Rams.
“That’s what’s going to be needed, we are going to need somebody, you know as far as the defensive line production standpoint, we are going to need somebody to take those doubles, we are going to need somebody to win their singles,” Hicks said. “That’s what you ask for as a defensive line coach, and I think that’s what we got today.
“Watching Vita get his singles, and dominate them, not just win, win in a way that it gets the quarterback and sets the drive for us. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
It was a beautiful thing to watch. And oh yeah, White wasn’t getting owned by a big ugly every player, either.
When guys succeed in their assignments, it’s cool how everything works so much better.
November 7th, 2022 at 4:32 am
Linebackers can’t expect to stay clean every play Joe. What was troubling about Whites film last week was his inability to fight off blocks, or simply beat them with speed. White is a fast, strong man, he shouldn’t get owned as much as he does. Yesterday he showed he can stiff arm an O lineman, and keep himself clean. He showed the fight, and hustle we expect. That’s all we all ask of him. Show some fight. Finally he did.
November 7th, 2022 at 6:49 am
We’re gona need somebody to play with minor knicks n bruises too big fella. Gona need better play calling also.
November 7th, 2022 at 7:30 am
Vea played his best game of the season! The defense as a whole, did thier part. Special teams played well too! Especially Camarda’s booming punts!
What drove me nuts during this game was the dropped passes at key times (ME,SM), the penalties that killed drives, and the penalties that kept the Ram’s drives alive.
Clean up most of that, play action more on first down, and this team could get back on track!!
November 7th, 2022 at 7:40 am
Did hicks play?
November 7th, 2022 at 7:59 am
This defense missed Akiem Hicks, figured after signing him that expecting a full season would be too high an expectation, but hopefully having already missed a handful of games he’s back for good and can keep catching bodies in the defensive front.
November 7th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Healthier defense showed improvement against a struggling offense. Next week will be an important test against a team with momentum. Bucs have to be ready. It”s on Coach Bowles to nail this next game. Bucs desperately need a 2 win streak before the BYE week. Bucs can get it done. Will they?
November 7th, 2022 at 8:25 am
Hicks?
November 7th, 2022 at 8:44 am
Maybe White getting called out for lackluster effort struck a chord with Vea. His effort has been inconsistent as well this season. Or at least it looks that way to me.
November 7th, 2022 at 8:57 am
If antwoine Winfield was playing instead of slow arse Edwards and Neal then that long touchdown by the rams would not happen. Can’t wait to get him back
November 7th, 2022 at 9:12 am
I’m just wondering how many games Hicks will play before he takes another injury vacation. Stay tuned.
November 7th, 2022 at 9:27 am
The Rams still have a strong D line. Donald is a one man wrecking crew. Donovan Smith got beat badly several times but he stopped a lot more than he let through. Yes our uglys had too many holding penalties but in all fairness, some were ticky tack calls and we see our opponents commit way worse every week. Point is there’s no consistency in officiating from one crew to the next, especially in regards to holding calls. On the bright side, one bad beat against our O linemen could end Brady’s career, he’s that fragile. I understand why they’ll do anything at times to protect the goat, even if it’s 10 yards. At least we get the down over and it can be the lesser of two evils. One Donovan hold tackles clearly saved Brady last night. The stupid ones though need to be cleaned up.
November 7th, 2022 at 9:41 am
And yet with vea playing so well did White do much yesterday? I think his effort looked a bit better but did think he loafed on one play I caught
November 7th, 2022 at 10:36 am
JOE! This articles are kool, however, one is needed. The new LG. How many times did we hear his name? How many times did he get beat? ZERO! HIS IS THE MVP OF THE TEAM, right now. He and Hicks. Thank God the old LG isn’t in. Or another note. Why is perriman on the team? Why is Rudolph on the team? Those positions should be occupied by a young up and comer. Nassib and Nelson too. Out of here! Did you see Avery got more playing time? There is a reason. Nelson is gholston without the weight. Big stiffness! Neither can or seldomly disengage and make a play.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
^^
Think that Nelson and Nassib have played fine this year. They are not the reason we have 5 losses.
I agree with you that Nick Leverett deserves praise and good with moving on from Kyle Rudolph and Perriman.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Vita is fun as hell to watch again.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
I watched the whole game. But too be honest I watched only the defensive line at the snap maybe a dozen plays or so. Nearly each time at the snap, I saw Hicks being double teamed, thus freeing up Vita for singles. I believe Hicks is being humble and not taking the credit for freeing up Vita to play against a singles. Sounds like a “team” player. I hope Hicks continues to stay healthy. If he does, I see good things coming from this defense. One thing our defense does need to work on is getting turnovers!
November 7th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
You can see from the 1st qrt to the end of the game the defense played their assignments mostly. During pursues ppl took right angles & played their gaps!
November 7th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
So Vita gets double teamed all game and Hicks had how many splash plays or sacks?