Gut Reaction
July 24th, 2018
Close your eyes and imagine that freakish 6-4, 347-pound rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea actually is the brutal-to-block force the Bucs hope he is.
That would change the Buccaneers defense instantly.
Joe already knows top offensive coordinators gameplan to stop Gerald McCoy, and Jason Pierre-Paul is that feared guy, too, as Redskins coach Jay Gruden eloquently explained to Joe in March.
And suppose the manbeast, raw Tongan strength Vea displayed in college translates to the NFL? Then that trio looks like it could be the best in the business and everything about the Bucs defense transforms from Day 1.
It’s a dream, but the leap to reality doesn’t feel too far off.
CBS Sports NFL insider Prickly Pete Prisco is feeling the same way, too, and he sits down with other NFL analysts to talk Vea and the Bucs’ defensive line via the video below. Prisco, who covered the Jaguars when Mike Smith was a highly successful defensive coordinator, notes how size up the gut is a big key in Smith’s defense.
July 24th, 2018 at 10:57 am
10-6
July 24th, 2018 at 11:02 am
Definitely think/hope vea will be a solid DL in the bucs d for years to come but as stated on here and many other people in the know, NFL rookie DL just dont really get their footing, Ian Beckles had a great podcast explaining this, so hope licht, smith & koetter know this. Licht always seems to be counting on players with the unknown or injuries to contribute and he has struck out in every single case
July 24th, 2018 at 11:05 am
Casey Morgan do you honestly feel Winston will go 10-3 or 9-4 after his return?
July 24th, 2018 at 11:16 am
A great defense with offensive weapons can win games despite who the quarterback is. Signed Jacksonville jags. Once again the big question mark is the secondary
July 24th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Won’t matter. We still have McCoy and David on defense.
The Excuse Twins!!!
July 24th, 2018 at 11:18 am
I see Vea struggling until mid to late season after he gets the hang of it in the NFL style of play
Vea was a man playing against all boys in the college ranks….now he must adapt his game to go against superior athletes every week.
I sure hope comes on early instead of later
..now imagine in Noah Spence lives up to his draft status billing…….wow….you’re looking at a special D Line….
but it all seems like a pipe dream right now
July 24th, 2018 at 11:23 am
size matters
July 24th, 2018 at 11:28 am
Still hard to believe that joe and the sheep wanted a strong safety instead!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Vea definitely has NFL caliber physical ability/strength. I don’t see him struggling with the physicality of the game. However, he is a rookie and may not yet have mastered the reads, techniques, schemes, quickness off the ball, etc. that he will need to be successful. Hopefully he picks it up quickly and shows some flashes early before putting it all together later in the season.
July 24th, 2018 at 11:43 am
Haloti Ngata – drafted 12th overall
Rookie season
31 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int
2nd season
63 tackles, 3 sacks
This will be a fun comparison.
July 24th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Didn’t Prisco predict 6 wins?
July 24th, 2018 at 11:56 am
10 -6
July 24th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
“First our Forrest Gump overpays Beau Allen to play next to Mccoy….understandable
Then he over pays def tackle Mitch Unrein to backup…..ugggghh?
Then Gump in the first round picks another DT in poor man version of Danny Sheldon…..What??”
3 – 2 down DTs? how many snaps for each? are the NFL offenses now going back to run I formation and the cloud of dust playcalling?
where is the uproar against our roster builder Forrest?
all our holes are filled and we want to collect every 2 down DT in football?
“You need 3 Defensive Tackles to replace me”
Chris Baker
July 24th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Joel must be sick on the head to think David is an excuse tower dude has not only bin a model citizen but a great player to. If he was on another team this guy would have bunches of pro bowl nods an all pro team nods
July 24th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Kobe Faker,
on the surface it seems obscene but interior pressure from DT’s doesn’t allow QB’s to step up into the pocket when the DE’s are coming from the outside. Ryan and Brees want to step up into the pocket. I believe that is the Bucs thinking in upgrading the DT position. That and shutting down the inside running game which all 3 teams in our division are good at. As for snaps for each, these bigs guys need breaks to keep fresh. Having more will keep guys fresher to push the pocket back into the QB’s lap. Looking for more sacks and QB pressure this year.
#Get after it!
July 24th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
“poor man version of Danny Sheldon…..What??””
So being 2-3X as athletic as another player = a poor man’s version of that player lol.
10 yard splits/ short area quickness and burst /general side to side movement skills and athletic ability apparently are not valuable skill sets or worthwhile considerations for a DT to Kobe Faker.
it’s pretty simple
Unrein / Allen = 2 down DT / run stuffers primarily
McCOy = pass rushing 3 technique
Vea = 3 down lineman who can provide some pass rush and domiante against the run
Curry = DT/DE that can rush as a DT on passing downs
2-3 players who can play the run well (Vea/Unrein/Allen)
2-3 players who can play DT on pass downs effectively (McCOy/Vea/Curry)
JPP/Curry/Spence/Gholston = adequate DE group.
Spence being healthy is the biggest X factor by far. If that happens the DE group is much more than just adequate; and the DT group as well.
July 24th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
The whole roster has been improved…. VV will be just fine
July 24th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
NFL offensive coordinators are not stupid
the ball is coming out fast before the defensive is anywhere near the QB
Peeps here forget the 70%short passing clinics given by journeyman QBs against the Bucs def
Old man 8 games played Grimes better play closer to the line because the short passing attack is going to easily destroy this defense, than….
they will run it AFTER the pass defense of Kwonie and Kwonie JR Justin Evans is gashed
@LC
Nowhere Spence? You kidding right?
July 24th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Buco40– No I honestly think Fitz will start the year 3-1 and Winston won’t see the field…
July 24th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Kobe Faker did you not see the article joe wrote earlier in the year that Beau Allen turned down more money from another team to come to the bucs. So how did we overpay. When he turned down more money. But keep up your negativity based on lies. If you had some actual facts that would be great.
July 24th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
DL is key to entire season- if run defense is effective and pass rush is good, DB’s can be more physical and go for picks- goodbye soft coverage!
July 24th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Dear Jameis haters,
Just want to point out that the guy won a National Championship and Heisman Trophy with good players around him…
July 24th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Best in the business?
Get a grip Joe.
Non – embarrassing should be accomplished first, mediocrity is our goal.
We are the bucs.
July 24th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Alanbucs
Not to mention a 27 game unbeaten streak
July 24th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
As I already predicted, 11-5 this season.
I have never made a prediction like that, so I am clearly convinced this team is near enough to being ready for a superbowl push
July 24th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Vita Vea has a LOT going for him & he’ll do just fine this year, right from the git-go. I seriously doubt, however, that Vea was our preferred pick even though he was our 1st pick. When Licht signed Allen & Unrein especially to pair with GMC, he probably felt that was mission-accomplished. But the way that the draft unfolded was almost surely unexpected & it provided an incredible opportunity to potentially solve several deficiencies simultaneously AND provide great flexibility moving forward.
Vea IS that flexibility. If the Bucs choose to move to a 3-4 in the future, he’s a great ‘block’ to build around (along with 26-yr-old Beau Allen). If they decide they need to pare salaries moving into 2019, Vea provides them the flexibility to save $13 mil by cutting GMC (we have THAT MUCH DEPTH on the DLine right now). Vea also gives us the flexibility to keep our guys in the trenches fresh during games, and to not have to roll over & play dead when our DLine suffers injuries. LOTS of flexibility, and at an incredibly cheap price (for the first few years at least).
July 24th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Bonzai, I’m predicting 10-6 … but I hope you’re right.
July 24th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
@ Casey
Jameis would have to break his back to not see the field.
They have to know what he is gonna do after the suspension and they aren’t gonna just trade or cut him without playing him.
They picked up his option already knowing about the issue.
No way Fitz is 3-1 because he will only play 3 games.
Jameis starts game 4 regardless of what happens.
July 24th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
I’m excited to see this Vea kid!
Kobe- DC Smitty better be on his ‘A’ game this year. This defense is going to be tested early and often. If I’m the opposing OC and the Bucs DBs are playing off, I throw slants and quick-strike stuff all day. If they’re playing up, I test them deep. Again, the d-line is going to play a large role either way.
July 24th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Bucko40 do you really think the bucs will start 0-3 1-2?? 2-1 at worse!! Go bucs
July 24th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
Vea looked like a big load on that sled, gut and butt power.
July 24th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
No one better to find out on than The Drew Brees. I think the Bucs’ D line is going to feast in New Orleans.
July 24th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Kobe Faker has to be the dumbest poster on this site. He just spouts off nonsense constantly.
July 24th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
The DLine is deep, versatile, and basically is 2 starters thick at each position
Can GMC, JPP, and VV free up LVD and QA to feast on opposing ball carriers and give the secondary confidence to play 4 yards off and attack the ball in air?
If they do, we are going to win a lot of games
If they don’t, it’s going to be spring cleaning in January at OneBuc
This might be the most intriguing season in a decade
July 24th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
That dude is imposing as hell. Can’t wait to see him ballin.
Shado 31, out.
July 26th, 2018 at 11:34 am
Casey Morgan said “10-6”
Wow, for a minute I thought I entered the wrong site.
An actual Bucs fan with a positive outlook on the season.
Refreshing.
July 26th, 2018 at 11:36 am
“Winston won’t see the field…”
Oops, spoke to soon, Casey. Hahahahaha.