“So Uptight All The Time”
October 19th, 2019
Vita Vea is one guy making the sophomore-season leap so common among great NFL players. He’s not in DeForest Buckner’s league, and maybe not Sheldon Rankins’, but he’s been a more well-rounded player this season.
Why?
Vea opened up on the subject to Buccaneers.com, as seen in the video below.
If he had the opportunity to time travel, Vea said he would tell his rookie self to relax and not take everything so darn seriously. He claims he was “so uptight all the time” as a rookie that it affected his play. Now, per Vea, he’s back to being a “playful big guy” and he’s more focused on consistency than ever.
Bucs fans paying attention to the trenches have seen Vea’s maturity and growth. Joe would like to see Vea get more snaps. He’s gotten two-thirds or less of the defensive snaps in each of the last four games. That’s not a big number for a first-round pick. But perhaps the Bucs’ sports science team has determined Vea is most successful in that snap range.
Regardless, the Bucs got a good one in Vea, and it’s damn encouraging how well he came back from his training camp knee injury.
October 19th, 2019 at 8:45 am
He one of my favorite Bucs !!!!
October 19th, 2019 at 8:55 am
Truly a force in the middle. This guy doesn’t get enough credit for what he does.
October 19th, 2019 at 8:55 am
Sure would be nice to pair him up with the DT @ Auburn…that guy has Sapp “like” quickness
October 19th, 2019 at 9:00 am
Vea has rapidly become one of my favorite players. Gut feeling that Ndamukong Suh has had a good influence on him; the two seem to work well when they’re on the field together.
Your comment about his snap range got me curious. Vea was down to 53.9% of the snaps in the Rams game (he’s been in on 65.0% of the defensive snaps average this season). Suh was ALSO down (to 65%) in the Rams game (he’s been in on 76.9% of the defensive snaps average this season). THAT game saw BOTH of them used quite a bit less than they have been in other games. Of course, the Rams only rushed 11 times, so maybe that was what drove it. And despite the reduced snaps, Vea & Suh EACH had 2 QB Hits on Goff. Not that shabby.
October 19th, 2019 at 9:04 am
The Bucs “sports science team …”
Now that’s funny.
Who’s the lead scientist — Dr. Evil?”
October 19th, 2019 at 9:21 am
He’s the guy I watch most on defense. He’s usually up to something good on the snap. Love this guy.
October 19th, 2019 at 9:29 am
How to sum up Vita Vea:
He doesn’t always come on the stat sheet, but he always impacts the stat sheet.
October 19th, 2019 at 9:45 am
Love our Polynesian beast!
October 19th, 2019 at 10:26 am
But but but Derwin James??
For as much as you guys cry about not having any talent on the DLine, you guys sure hated the Vea pick…
October 19th, 2019 at 10:30 am
Exactly^ so many people cried about Derwin James but they forget that Vea is an anchor on that D line. As much as I hate gump this is one pick he didn’t whiff on.
October 19th, 2019 at 10:33 am
I can’t wait for Licht to get the hell out of Tampa, but he picked a good one here.
October 19th, 2019 at 10:47 am
Vita and Raekwon Davis from Alabama would be dominant
October 19th, 2019 at 11:07 am
Been saying it all year that Vea is a game wrecker. The thing is, the Bucs need to stay with a 3-4 base defense as long as he is here. He’s better served as a NT.
October 19th, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Hmmm where is T M A X I P A D at with his horrific comments on how every single player drafted by this team is a bust. That dude is a I D I O T. It’s hilarious how S T U P I D that guy is
October 19th, 2019 at 12:25 pm
Vea is a unique talent. Hard to find a guy that big, strong, and athletic.
October 19th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
I loved the pick.
October 19th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
Bucs “sport science guys”? I just got a great script idea for Despicable Me 3….
October 19th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
The Bucs have a sports science team? That’s the biggest news of the whole article.
October 19th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Weird theory…being “led” by mr. laid-back McCoy made Vea stiffen up? While Mr. stern Suh allowed Vea to just be himself? Either way, I’m ok with the snaps because that calf injury is still fresh in my mind, and he IS wearing a knee brace from earlier this year.
October 19th, 2019 at 6:45 pm
Don’t talk about T Max …they will block you…like a Sunday Home Game not sold out!!
October 20th, 2019 at 1:13 am
You guys haven’t figured it out yet ? I know who Tmax is.
October 20th, 2019 at 2:01 am
Don’t worry I’m not going to tell the Joes Secret.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:30 am
Cmon spill it- who’s the tmax clown?