“That’s The No. 1 Thing We’ve Been Working On”
September 7th, 2021
Vita Vea
Bucs fans know very well that Tampa Bay has had the NFL’s best run defense for the past two seasons.
It’s been unprecedented dominance against the run. These Bucs accomplished something their pewter brothers of the glory days never did.
So what’s next for the defensive line?
Vita Vea said yesterday that it’s all about improving as pass rushers. “That’s the No. 1 thing we’ve been working on all training camp is, you know, working moves and trying to rush the passer.”
So what will a summer of extreme focus on pass rush mean for Will Gholston, the team leader in quarterback hits last season, as well as Ndamukong Suh, who is coming off a pass-rush revival season? Suh had six sacks last year. Vea himself is a beast of a pass rusher, but is still a developing player, so Joe is drooling at the thought of him being a more polished rusher.
If the pass rush improves after 48 sacks last season (fourth-most in the NFL), Tom Brady may not have to use all those weapons.
September 7th, 2021 at 4:09 pm
So much front 7 talent and depth!
K Davis is my back up I’ll be rooting for!
September 7th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
Just stay healthy for once, that’s the biggest improvement you can make.
September 7th, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Rod’s not wrong.
September 7th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Sounds so easy Rod. Tell Dak to stay healthy too!
September 7th, 2021 at 4:25 pm
Trying to improve the overall pass rush and here comes JTS to add to the mix. Should be fun to watch.
September 7th, 2021 at 4:40 pm
Most teams will be down 3 touchdowns by the 3rd quarter. No one will be running on us and plenty of chances to rush the passer.
September 7th, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Vea was starting to show signs of upping his game as a pass rusher last year before he got hurt. Would love to see him continue to develop in this area and be a true force all around!
September 7th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
Love Vita but he seems to be carrying too much weight for his wheels. The weight, coupled with his incredible explosiveness, might make/keep him injury prone. There’s a tradeoff between playing lighter and playing better but it seems no one is sure where the optimum point is located until stuff goes kablooie. So far, heavier has equaled short seasons/kablooie which is a clue which direction to head as far as weight piled on frame.
September 7th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Oh Tom’s going to use those weapons Joe no matter how good the defense becomes. I can’t wait.
34-14 Bucs over the Cowboys.
September 7th, 2021 at 6:17 pm
Darin – Sapp said from the day he was drafted, he isn’t going to be able to play in FL at 350lbs, it’s too heavy for him. So yeah, it is easy, drop 20-30 pounds and see if that helps keep him on the field. Even when he isn’t injured he plays less than half the defensive snaps. For all the talk about how great he is, you aren’t great if you’re not on the field.
September 7th, 2021 at 6:27 pm
Brady not use all those weapons??? Forget all of that!!! Total domination is what we want both sides of the ball baby!!!!
September 7th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
Forget Football. This is a HORSE RACE.
On passing downs, who will be first to Dak?
Vea, Gholston, Suh, JPP/Tryon, Shaq, or White
I recall 2002 when opponents would say, we can’t simulate that speed in practice.
September 7th, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Love to see Vea stay healthy for most of the season.
September 7th, 2021 at 9:45 pm
Oh “lose weight.” Original take and an easy task for a 350lb Samoan. Y’all just have it figured out huh?
Since when is overweight a leading indicator when someone else falls on your leg and breaks it?
Change nothing my man. Go get it VV!
September 7th, 2021 at 9:48 pm
I didn’t know Vea was a pass rusher. I thought he just throw people around.
September 7th, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Honest point… LRoy
Since when is overweight a leading indicator when someone else falls on your leg and breaks it?
And if anyone remembers, the Bucs had stopped the Bears, but the refs screwed up and let the Bears keep going and the right away Vita had his leg fallen on. Not cool, the defense should not even have been on the field and a Vita was gone until the NFC Title game.
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 8th, 2021 at 7:36 am
Last year was supposed to be Vita’s break out year. I think he’ll be close to double digit sacks or just over, so 8-12. Just like Allen had the roping celebration Vea needs to keep the lawnmower celebration!! Best celebration in the league!!
September 8th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Weight was a foolish clause in Donald Penn’s contract. What did that accomplish? Penn bolted to the Raiders, returned to score a tuddy against his former team. Stop with analytic BS. Put on you big boy pants and knock the sh!t out the other guy. That’s how football games are won. In the trenches by the big uglies.
LFG Bucs!
September 8th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Vea’s weight had nothing to do with his injury last season.
And did y’all happen to notice how both JPP and Shaq exploded once he came back? It’s not a coincidence. He is a lethal force up the middle that opens things up for the other guys around him.
September 9th, 2021 at 2:23 am
Trask was a dumb pick.
We needed another badass DT to back up Vea and Suh.
But oh well.
Go Bucs!