Ndamukong Suh Calls Out Vita Vea (Sort Of)
January 15th, 2024
“Where you been, Vita?”
Ndamukong Suh is looking for Vita Vea. He’s not the only one.
The beastly Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been pretty much MIA since the Bucs returned from San Francisco in mid-November. Aside from the loss to the slimy Saints, Vea has pretty much vanished.
If Joe didn’t know any better, Vea is hurt. How else to explain how Vea has gone all Casper the Friendly Ghost on us?
Since the loss to the 49ers, Vea has played in five games and in that span has zero tackles for loss, zero sacks, zero fumble recoveries, zero quarterback hits and zero forced fumbles.
Is Logan Hall (who?) rubbing off on Vea?
(FYI, Hall has started 13 games this season, has two tackles for loss, zero sacks since Week 2 against the toothless Bears, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hit. That’s damn close to an empty uniform.)
And you know who is tired of Vea not being Vea? That would be his former Super Bowl teammate, monster Ndamukong Suh.
Recently, Suh did a breakdown of each playoff game this weekend and when it came to discussing the Eagles-Bucs game tonight, Suh had pointed words for his former defensive linemate.
“Vita Vea, can you get me two sacks already?” Suh barked. “I keep trying to show you love. Give me two sacks already!”
Suh isn’t wrong. If the Bucs get two sacks from Vea tonight, it’s probably a good bet the Bucs are hounding Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and his hurt hand.
Yeah, Joe will take his chances on Hurts trying to throw with a messed up hand while running from Bucs pass rushers.
A pass rush in the playoffs is not just critical, but required. Can Vea snap out of his snooze?
Ndamukong Suh challenges Vita Vea. pic.twitter.com/pB8EsbINoC
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) January 14, 2024
January 15th, 2024 at 3:53 am
VV is hurt, has to be. He’s got too much talent to playing like a phantom lately.
January 15th, 2024 at 4:13 am
Vita would say “I got you BIG GIRL, 2 sacks baby on the way” lol Vita is still big enough to be calling Suh big girl, like he did when Suh was on the Bucs. lol
January 15th, 2024 at 4:29 am
Just another area where bowles is a failure – injury reporting. I’m honestly shocked we haven’t been fined by the league yet. I have to think Vea & Wirfs are both hurt as neither is playing up to their own high standards or our expectations of them. But hard to tell with bowles the zombie bite hider at the podium. They could just be underperforming under his “leadership” like so many others on the team. I wonder if we might live to regret Vita’s early extension. That’s a lot of money for a literal part time player and he hasn’t been the game wrecker he used to be in a while. Feels like he gets a pass sometimes cause he’s such a nice guy. I know the talent around him (excluding the rooks) isn’t what it used to be, but man he drew so much attention during that SB playoff run. Maybe if he wasn’t called on to drop into coverage (🙄) in bowles’ silly schemes, he would have enough energy to play more than half the D’s snaps.
January 15th, 2024 at 4:43 am
I hated the Hall pick and looks like he is going to be a Bust, his attitude appears way to lackadaisical.
Lets all hope Hall hasn’t rubbed off on Vea who is playing like a shell of his former self. If he is not injured then his play is so bad they should put another player in there and bench em.
January 15th, 2024 at 5:18 am
Fansince76 … I didn’t like the Hall pick either, but if Licht gets all the credit for drafting guys like Wirfs & Winfield, shouldn’t he also get the ‘blame’ for drafting guys like Hall & JTS?
I’m still wondering if Hall was a bad pick OR if he’s just being asked to do things in THIS defense that don’t fit his talents. Can’t help but wonder how he’d do as a DE in a 4-3 defense. Bucs site still lists him as 6’6″ & 283 lbs, but he’s supposedly put on ‘muscle’ since getting here (played at 260 lbs in college). Maybe he’s just not stout enough to be an interior DLineman?
January 15th, 2024 at 5:34 am
@ D Rules, interesting take. Coming out of college, Hall was supposed to be the quick guy in the middle that could get to the QB. Don’t see that at all. He’s settled in to being a Gholston clone with lower production. Didn’t think he had the tools and speed to get to the QB as a DE. Solid rotational guy.
January 15th, 2024 at 5:35 am
I remember 21 … ‘Just another area where bowles is a failure – injury reporting.’
I belieie that’s what they call ‘jumping to conclusions based on CONJECTURE’. Your whole analysis is based on the ASSUMPTION that ‘I have to think Vea & Wirfs are both hurt as neither is playing up to their own high standards or our expectations of them.’ And so they got a pass & Bowles got the blame.
Guys like Suh, JPP & Jensen excelled as not just players, but as LEADERS. They set the example on the field; when a big play needed to be made, they made it. Vea always played better IMO when Suh was out there. Now it’s time for the Vea’s & Wirfs & Winfield’s to step up to be LEADERS & set the example.
Chances are pretty good that after 17 regular season games, our beasts in the trenches … like Vea & Wirfs … are all hurting in various places. Some injuries you can suck it up; others you just have to sit out & let them heal. They’re both sucking it up I’m convinced (like Mayfield?) and trying to do that as best they can right now.
January 15th, 2024 at 5:40 am
FrontFour … ‘Didn’t think he had the tools and speed to get to the QB as a DE.’
I admittedly question that too, but it’s looking like his performance in the middle isn’t any better. I agree about him being a ‘Gholston clone’ (size-wise) except that Big Will has always been great against the run at least. Doesn’t look like folks will be saying the same about Hall. Can’t see him getting a 5th year with us (same with JTS). He’ll play for someone (as will JTS), but like you said probably as a rotational guy’.
January 15th, 2024 at 6:37 am
Agreed, is Vita hurt or has he been under the weather with an illness. Hope to see Vita snap out of it tonight. We can win this.
January 15th, 2024 at 6:56 am
Fansince76,
I hate the Hall pick also. He’s another JTS. In the game earlier against the eagles, with Hurts dropping back in the pocket n scanning the field for a receiver, VV was being blocked by 3 OL leaving Logan Hall free, Hall paused as in dumbfound on what to do n waited too late late to run after Hurts as he rolled out to pick up the first down. Hall had no one blocking him.
Hall, JTS,n yeah JDean, lacks aggressiveness, hustle,n football intelligence.
Winners from this week playoff games all played aggressive on defense, n they hustled, the basic of playing football.
January 15th, 2024 at 7:58 am
Love Mr. House of Spears!
Great point. I hope Vita is feeling well and can wreak havoc tonight. I would take so much joy in watching him look like King Kong amongst a bunch of little green men. Go Bucs, and hopefully Vita is healthy and able to send Kelce out of the post season to focus on podcasting.
January 15th, 2024 at 8:41 am
I don’t think anyone else could say that to Vea and not get blasted for it.
Suh played with the man and knows what kind of beast he can be.
Having said that I think I remember seeing him on the injury report earlier this year. It’s possible he has been battling through an injury.
Go Bucs!
January 15th, 2024 at 8:43 am
Five of our seven last top picks were defensive front 7 picks.
White, Vea, JTS, Hall & Kancey
We don’t appear to be getting our money’s worth with several of them.
January 15th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Vea has an injured foot. Been reported repeatedly on other sites. Our defensive line is not designed for Hall to make tackles.
January 15th, 2024 at 9:35 am
Logan Hall’x greatest impact on the Bucs was blowing out Pro Bowl Center Ryan Jensen’s and one of my all time favorite Buc’s knee in underwear football where everyone was wearing zero pads and only helmets.
Logan Hall is Captain Underpants and is an All Pro 1st Team Non Contact Practice Team Warrior!!!
Logan Hall’s 2023 Stats:
Sacks
0.5
Solo Tackles
11
Assisted Tackles
11
Tackles For Loss
2
QB Hits
1
Logan Hall’s 2023 Stats Average
Sacks
0.029 sacks per game
Solo Tackles
0.65 per game
Assisted Tackles
0.65 per game
Tackles For Loss
0.12 per game
QB Hits
0.059
That’s the kind of production you expect from a 2nd round draft pick, right!
January 15th, 2024 at 9:39 am
Hall took out our O line. Unless he shows up soon, he will be gone.
January 15th, 2024 at 10:06 am
We should have kept roach’s who used to spell vita and was not much of a drop off .but the buc’s ? Yea bad choices .
January 15th, 2024 at 10:10 am
Don’t care who’s hurt if your on the field then play till you drop. It’s the playoffs win or go home.
January 15th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Sapp has called Vita out many times since he was drafted…..saying Vita won’t last….whatever that means????
Vita carried alota weight and maybe all that size is hindering him and getting him more hurt?????
I dunno what it could be…but yeah, we’ve basically seen ZERO production from the inside DTs…..it’s all be edgerushers getting to the QB this season…..that must be driving Todd Bowles crazy!!!!!
January 15th, 2024 at 10:31 am
I remember 21…
Bowles has failed reporting injuries? Dumbest statement of the day. All reporting injuries does is give intelligence to opponents. His job is not to report to fans like you.
Some of you so-called Bucs fans just need to STFU already. You’re the same football savants that said we wouldn’t win four games, said Mayfield couldn’t QB, and Bowles can’t coach but here we are… formerly $80 million over the cap, worst interior line in football, giving more snaps to rookies and undrafted free agents than anybody, and being led by a rookie offensive coordinator who is in over his head more than not … and we’re hosting a playoff game. So either Mayfield can play and Bowles can coach or low football IQ folks were wrong and continue to be wrong. Take the L, bro. You don’t know 💩
January 15th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Shocker! Vita’s hurt. Our part time DT is no stranger to sick leave. We truly need that 1 guy on the DL to step up, show some pride, and be a leader. Something we have not seen since the departures of JPP & Suh
January 15th, 2024 at 11:02 am
This bunch of complainers will have to come up with some new lines when the Bucs win tonight. Bowles was one of the coaches who helped both Suh and VV sport SB rings. D will be ready. It’s Canales who is the ? mark.
January 15th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Sign Suh today, get him a uniform and get him out there against the Eagles lol. Lets Go Bucs!!
January 15th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
You guys are all going to be surprised about how this Defense plays tonight I guess.
Handling injuries and rotating guys to keep them fresh and ready for the playoffs is the name of the game in n the regular season.
These guys are ready to roll.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
@Brandon
Loved your post. No decent coach would reveal anymore than forced to reveal by league rules. I’m not expert but I though the league wanted injuries that would prevent a player from competing to get reported, not a total rundown of each player’s physical condition. I would wager that there is literally NOT one Buc player who isn’t playing injured to some degree at this point of the season.
And prop for your courage for using Brandon on a right leaning sports blog. All you had to do is put “Dark” in front of your name to unleash the hounds. LMAO
January 15th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Vea is the main guy getting a pass on defense because no one has mentioned his name. Vea was my favorite player but I’m glad I chose Diaby jersey over Vea right now
January 15th, 2024 at 3:26 pm
Vea isn’t a game changer, never has been.
He fades down the stretch.
January 15th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Suh was getting double teams which helped Vea get home. Right now nobody on our D Line requires a double team, besides Vea sadly
January 15th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
I’ve often wondered about VV, that’s not a good thing. Seems overhyped each year. Has he played a full season?? Give me Chidi, Booger and maybe Culpepper. If we win it’s because VV had a big game. Has to because Philly has a good OL.