“Motivated” Vita Vea
January 7th, 2025
Joe’s antennae always come alive when a player talks about another player’s motivation.
The “E” word, effort, can be a dangerous subject.
Effort is not a question or concern on the Buccaneers, if you ask Todd Bowles. He’s been saying that for months.
Fans have seen the Bucs defense look awful in the first halves of games. Retired Bucs tight end Cameron Brate (2014-2022) thinks that’s more a function of playcallling, he told the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday.
“The past few games, first half, we seemed a little bit conservative with our defensive playcalling,” Brate said, adding that offenses are often heavily scripted earlier in games, which can play a role. “Gotta find a way to [play more effective defense] in the first half.”
Then Brate, without being asked, lauded Vita Vea for his performance Sunday against the slimy Saints.
“Vita was truly unblockable the entire game. And when he’s healthy, motivated, you know, and playing well, like it’s a totally different defense,” Brate said. “I would say the back half the season we’ve really seen that and the impact it’s had on the defense.”
The “motivated” line really stuck with Joe. “Motivated?” Would Brate use that word talking about other Bucs captains like Lavonte David or Mike Evans.
Interesting choice.
Joe’s not blasting Vea, but that comment was hard to ignore.
Pro Bowler Vea finished this season with a career high seven sacks, and career highs in tackles for loss (10) and quarterback hits (13). Tom Brady was raving about his constant push in the trenches on Sunday.
Joe’s desperate for Vea to have a big game Sunday night against the Commanders. Joe believes the Bucs’ best shot to win is for their defensive stars to make a few standout plays each.
If that happens, it should provide just enough room for the Bucs offense to win the game.
Ira Kaufman Grades Todd Bowles, Talks Mike Evans, Locker Room Chatter, Saints Win, Inconsistency And More
January 7th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Tom Brady also said VV weighed 380-he does not.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:22 am
I hope VV got some bonus money too – a very good year so far. We really need him to play well against Daniels – keeping him in the pocket and preventing runs.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:22 am
I’m pretty sure the entire team was motivated to win that last game. I’m sure Mike was motivated to get 85 yards. Being motivated or goal-driven is not a bad thing. Vita mostly plays hard, but he’s large and always double sometimes triple teamed, so he doesn’t get the snap count that most of us would really like. But, I think it’s better to limit his snap count where he’s more effective than keeping him on the field gassed. I have come to accept it.
He could be very motivated to get to the playoffs and eat. He’s been injured before leading up to the playoffs, so this is the healthiest he’s been at this point in the season in a while. With the other injuries on the defense, our studs have to step up their game for the playoff push. Vita can change the dynamic of our defense, so that’s what I’m looking to see.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:32 am
I do not question ANYBODY’s motivation.
The past few years I’ve had months where I would get up at 5AM do exercise, meditate and get to the pool at 7AM to swim an hour. I say this not to boast but just the opposite.
There were many mornings I thought I’d never get up yet found myself driving to Northshore. Was that “movitation”? Or IMHO just sheer luck. I know why I do this I honestly do not know how and take zero credit. I simply wear tshirts that say Gratitude is My Attitude.
Yet there are other times when I get up go down for a cup of coffee and a morning “bowl”. WTF was my “motivation” then? It’s like being schizophrenic.
How does this relate to VV or other players. They are ALL motivated but don’t always find that internal fire to achieve what they really want. It can be physical, mental, emotional and a lot of other things that effect the RESULTS of our motivation.
Aside from motivation and health how much credit goes to Kancey and Diaby for giving VV a little support?
January 7th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Coen better have an answer for the bucs’ previously deadly screen game being shut down. It took a minute last game and, to me, that was the difference.
Write about it, Joe?
January 7th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Samoans are generally laid back dudes.. Hakuna Matata.
Have you ever seen Vita pissed? Me either.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:45 am
No way can Vea not be gassed at times. If that comes across as a lack of motivation, that’s understandable. Let’s also remember, the Bucs asked him to shed some weight so that he can be in the game for more plays. Did he fully accomplish that goal? If not then again, one could question his motivation. That said, a great player and a great season. I saw him in pass protection and saw a great deal of effort in his play. He is a manbeast that has come back earlier than anticipated from injuries multiple times. No question that he wants to play. Could he be better? Maybe but that mass that he hauls around may be part of why he’s so great.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Vea is why center Tyler Biadasz (ankle) is critical piece for Commanders. On their team pages posters destroyed the backup center and basically blamed him for most of the OL problems. Vea might be facing a gimpy starter, a poor backup, or a temporarily superhuman starter who isn’t feeling pain – if you catch my drift
January 7th, 2025 at 10:22 am
It’s getting silly again. People trying to interpret words in a sentence and find hidden meaning.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Big sexy unleashed on Sunday night! Cant wait, hoping the cooler weather allows the behemoth to play more snaps and collapse the ever loving hell out of the pocket. I appreciate he and the OLine play this year, bully ball baby!
Also, Vita is the pirate ship, Kancey is the cannonball, hoping they can work together this weekend and mess stuff up. Logan Hall, would be great to see him benefit from the extra attention vita commands.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Kancey 7.5 sacks, Vea 7 sacks
Is there a better IDL combo?
January 7th, 2025 at 10:40 am
The defense relies on him with the push up the middle. We need another Suh, that would greatly help.
If Vita is on this Sunday. Watch out.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:44 am
@Jeffrey::That’s all fine and dandy with their center being out but that being said do we really want to flush Daniels out of the pocket?? Just wish we had viable edge rushers to keep him contained.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Effort? It’s not effort! It’s the @#$& steaming Florida HEAT!!!
Conditioning, hydration, diet, nutrition, all of the players have team guys in their ear and on their ass about those things.
But, in Vita Vea’s case, all of those folks are telling him things to make him and keep him monstrously oversized and overpowered. That’s what he brings to the game It’s the whole point of having him on the team!
So, for him, thermo-regulation is a hard stop limiting factor! IV’s, cooling tents ice jackets, all of that stuff – he blows past the limits of the available technology! It would be irresponsible not to monitor his core temperature and rotate him off the field for core temperature management. As he approaches his core temperature limit, performance takes a nosedive; it has to!
But, when the back half of the season brings some cooler temperature, when the playoffs bring the Cold, it’s time to say:
Get the motor running
‘cause I’m built to be wild!!!
January 7th, 2025 at 10:56 am
VV50 has had a very good year! Now, how about an unbelievable post season! Go get ’em VV50!
January 7th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Man, I wish SVD, AWJ, etc. were healthy and playing. They were/are a big help for the DL beasts like Big VV. He’s motivated, and he’s bringing it Sunday Nite. So’s the rest of the team. You hear me, Coen??!! Better call up your best Offensive gameplan. Bucs will need all hands on deck. DC is for real, and Daniels….I had him pegged as a star when Bucs beat DC at the start of the season. GOOOOOO BUCS!!
January 7th, 2025 at 11:20 am
Noticed that as well, but I’m guessing the Saints, who know us well, just scouted our tendencies. Coen will have to come up with some different schemes, as the Commanders will definitely be looking at that tape.
I also hope we take a few shots downfield to free up some of the underneath stuff.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Jags interviewing Coen. Ughhh. It begins!
January 7th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Those mentioning the screen game… Coen is perfectly set up now for that play he used vs the Lions week 2. Unfortunately, no more Godwin to help execute but fake the screen and hit the wheel!
Saints were dialled in on the short stuff. Bucs scheme was fine Sunday but Saints were hungry, their whole team was playing with their hair on fire in first half. It was how the Bucs didn’t quite look ready to match that intensity that stood out, minus a handful of guys.
Need another big effort outta Vea and hopefully Kancey rebounds, he is just as important with his speed vs. Daniels this week.
January 7th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
This guy comes to play every down. We need Kancey and Diaby to start making more plays at critical junctures in the game. The also need to give Braswell more reps to keep people fresh.
Am I the only one noticing how the D has locked teams down in 5he second half when we need it most. Without their 4 and out Evans never breaks 1000 yards.
January 7th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Nice piece Joe as always brother. I think think the comments have been to the point as well. The way the season started out I hoped not to be in the situation we were in right at the end again. I’ve stressed it F the other teams record cause if each of the gut punches you took throughout the season was an old fashioned Mike Tyson bust in the jaw, we would have been TKO’d a long time ago now. You Guys Are Awesome and now is the time and all the glory is only a few games away. Play your game, everybody else’s won’t get there. Love The Heart You’ve been putting out there !!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
January 7th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
I know we need articles, but we’ll just make it about VV and not worry about the word motivation. we also don’t need that one comment you’re telling us about his morning workouts and his morning routine.
VV is great, but we still need an edge rusher. The team is doing their best, but quarterbacks have been way too comfortable and easily finding our soft spot in the secondary. Bowles Has learned to adjust in the second half, but still we
Are not able to stop the medium passing game without a viable edge rushers…. Is there nobody available that can start immediately.??
January 7th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
I know we need articles, but we’ll just make it about VV and not worry about the word motivation. we also don’t need that one commenter telling us about his morning workouts and his morning routine.
VV is great, but we still need an edge rusher. The team is doing their best, but quarterbacks have been way too comfortable and easily finding our soft spot in the secondary. Bowles Has learned to adjust in the second half, but still we
Are not able to stop the medium passing game without a viable edge rushers…. Is there nobody available that can start immediately.??
January 7th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Bucs-N-Bucks
No sweat I realize I am not everybody’s cup of tea. For some reason I’d perhaps mistakenly assumed that people know how to use the scroll wheel(finger on a tablet) to simply move to the following post.
I suspect that JJOE feels pretty much the same way about his material. They have been fabulously successful, have made their bones and are generally nice about pointing out YOU DON’T HAVE TO READ WHAT YOU DON’T WISH TO READ!
BTW this is in response to BNB but it’s meant to address everybody. I’ve been here since the Jameis draft debate. All the regulars who do not like me and I’m certain there are many, know how to simply scroll by me. Some like Rod even know how to insult me with old fart comments and I enjoy those…seriously.
I enjoy reading longer well though out posts like D.R. and others. Many just enjoy one line insults about Coach Dangerfield and that’s fine. Different strokes for different strokes.
January 7th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Here’s hoping big fella brings back the lawn mower for the playoffs!
January 7th, 2025 at 7:48 pm
I’d love to see double V carry the rock on the goal line or on 4th and 1. Refrigerator style!
January 8th, 2025 at 2:32 am
Sometimes those sportscasters just kind of babble a bit. I have no doubt at all Via is ready to play ” motivated”. If Green Bay knows off Phillie we will have a second nice warm home game against the Rams. Geez I hope the Rams don’t have to deal with those terrible fires. Nobody deserves that. Well, maybe the Saints.