A Consensus Top-2 Defensive Line
July 17th, 2021
The Buccaneers with their hands in the dirt are finally getting big-time respect.
Bucs fans know history may reveal that the pass-rushing mix of Vita Vea, Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh is the greatest ever to team up in the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl.
Think about it.
And think about the accolades those guys might rack up in the course of their careers.
Suh is a sure bet for the Hall of Fame after his body of work over the past 11 seasons (5 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro honors, All-Decade team, two trips to the Super Bowl). And if JPP can continue his stellar play, he’ll be looking at very special career numbers, as well as multiple rings and Pro Bowls.
Shaq already has the most sacks in the NFL over the last two seasons, and Joe wouldn’t bet against the guy extending that to three. Vita Vea? He’s one of the most talented in history at his nose tackle position, and his career is just getting started.
Throw in the Bucs having the best run defense in each of the past two seasons — and two very special linebackers — and you’ll understand why Joe is constantly smiling.
Joe brings this all up today because NFL Network ran a feature this week on the best defensive lines in football.
Former Pro Bowl fullback Michael Robinson and Pro Bowl linebacker Lorenzo Alexander had no problem labeling the Bucs as having the best D-line in football — behind the Washington D-line that couldn’t penetrate the Bucs offensive line in the playoffs.
What a great time to be alive!
July 17th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
Hey Joe, everyone ok? Haven’t seen a new podcast in over 2 weeks … starting to worry something happened š
July 17th, 2021 at 3:19 pm
I believe that keeping vea healthy should be priority #1 to keeping a dominant defense
Give him the joey galloway treatment
Watch and limit his snaps
Who cares about his sack total. He literally pushes 1-2 guys directly into the qb face on every play
And this is the key. Not allowing qb to step up in pocket. Brady even said as much coming here to tampa. Wanted solid interior cause he gets ball out so quick , that the guys on outside might not even get the sack (if they beat offense tackle) cause the ball is out in 2.2 seconds. Up the gut is quickest way to qb. Vea makes that happen time and time again. And the dude is young. Just needs to stay healthy . Make it a whole year. If they clinch playoff spot – rest him for playoffs
And when an opposing qb sees that push up the gut. He tries to run left or right. Right into a surging jpp or shaq. Quiet simple actually
July 17th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
Quite^^^
July 17th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
No one can underestimate the importance of keeping Vita Vea healthy.
We are so much better with him in the lineup.
July 17th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Everyone one thinks that Vita Vea is injury prone. Soft tissue injury’s are injury prone. Breaking bones (IE) is not injury prone. He had a calf strain to start his rookie year (2018) and missed the first three games of the regular season. 2019 played the hole season. 2020 A broken ankle in the 5th game of the season and he comes back to play in the playoffs and super bowl!! This man is a beast!!! And the NFL better watch out because I have a feeling he is going to explode onto the seen in a BIG way!!!
July 17th, 2021 at 4:10 pm
I’m not a stat geek, just a casual observer. So, could someone please tell me why our front seven fell to # 2 behind the WTF crew?
July 17th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Our run defense has been good since Schiano was here. We just didn’t have the coaching on the back end to make it matter
July 17th, 2021 at 4:51 pm
I agree Joe. Sounds like the best to me.
July 17th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
For the life of me, I do not understand the ridiculous love for the Washington defensive line.
July 17th, 2021 at 5:50 pm
WFT/WTF played Dallas, NYG & Philly twice each last year…..Bengals, Lions & Panthers…..there’s 9 tough games……
They are very good….but not as good as our Bucs.
July 17th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
Dripping with sarcasm there TBBF.
July 17th, 2021 at 6:05 pm
I recommend to everybody go back and watch Vita in that Chicago game last year prior to his injury. He was dominating the game. I suspect thatās the player weāre going to get this year. He played well when he returned but he wasnāt near 100%.
July 17th, 2021 at 6:44 pm
On Davidās comment above that breaking bones is not injury prone. Well, sometimes it is. Sometimes you need to know where your limit is and not go beyond that. It takes huge situational awareness and feel. You have to know when to hold them and when to fold them. Gronk in his prime is a good example – he would drag three defenders just to get a couple of more yards even though he got the first down. Worth messed up back? Probably not. The greatness of a Brady is, in part, knowing the situation and doing the right thing. Impossible to teach and coach. You either have it or you donāt.
July 17th, 2021 at 7:16 pm
I just want to make sure this point is understood and where the story came from. Arians is the one who told every1 abt knee surgery not Brady right after superbowl. Clyde Christensen in June said Brady wasnt right all year and is expecting big year from him because his knee is repaired. Bucs coaches leaked the story not Brady. Bucs are a mickey mouse organization. I know Brady is not happy with this. Now Brady name is being run through the mud thanks to these 2 clowns
July 17th, 2021 at 9:26 pm
This defense was All World in the Super Bowl. Am stoked to see them pummel opponents this year.
July 17th, 2021 at 9:33 pm
I think that the media is over hyping the wft in order to make up for all of the horrible publicity that the wft ownership has received over the last year. Our defensive line is clearly better than theirs at every single position. Chase Young is the most over hyped rookie that I can remember seeing in a long time. Being solid against the run and getting 7.5 sacks is a nice season, but hardly screams superstar. Sad a$$ northeast media.
July 18th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
“What a great time to be alive!”
It’s truly historic times in Champa Bay.
Can you imagine the sh!t we’ll take if we win the SB this year?
One city with back to back Stanley Cups and Lombardi trophies?
We have the GOAT at QB and it’s waaay to premature to crown Vasy yet he clearly is the most talented goalie of his age in a long long time. If his career continues as it’s started he could be in the conversation for GOAT at goalie.
We live in a city with one of the best players at his position…the most important in football and another player who IS the best player at the most important position in hockey.
We’re seeing it all. Great teams and great individual athletes!
July 18th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
The Vita slobbering I just don’t get. I have watched him, and I don’t see much. Yes, I’m aware of what his job is, but go to the Super Bowl, 4th quarter, 4th down (I believe), Mahomes runs out to his left, Vita is chasing and then just literally stops, he gives Mahomes literally an extra 4-5 seconds without even putting up an effort. He didn’t even play that many snaps in the SB, which is one of his biggest issues. Getting injured and even when healthy being only a part time player. He’s a good run stuffing 2-down NT, no doubt, but that’s all he is. Sure, he might get a few sacks because the Bucs get so much pressure from the edge and push the QB up in the pocket, but that doesn’t make you one of the best NT of all-time. Come on.
July 19th, 2021 at 10:20 am
I have no idea what Mr munch is seeing but I know great talent when I see it. When Vita is in the lineup it’s like rushing Five Guys. You always have to have two guys on him. He makes the whole defense better. The young man has a Hall of Fame career in front of him.
July 19th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
Situational awareness would not have matteredā¦ Devin White fell on Vitaās leg and thatās how it broke.
But I agree he isnt āinjury proneā. The broken ankle was a freak thingā¦
July 20th, 2021 at 6:20 pm
yea agree with vea comments guys awesome
July 20th, 2021 at 6:29 pm
depth on defense does concern me a little such as cb safety and dl
July 24th, 2021 at 7:22 am
I was really looking forward to the Lenny won’t take the needle article.
I can only imagine the controversy.Lol
Letting u know here. since I can’t in the articles comments,they were turned off for some reason,Cant imagine why.