Gene Deckerhoff Says Vita Vea Won’t Play Saturday; Many Starters Will Sit
August 7th, 2024
Buccaneers radio man Gene Deckerhoff.
So last year, the Bucs sat 15 key players in their preseason opener against the Steelers.
Tampa Bay fans at The Licht House paid to watch a watered down version of the Bucs, which got pounded by Pittsburgh, trailing 27-7 after three quarters.
On Saturday, it seems lots of Bucs starters will be rested again. Iconic Bucs radio announcer Gene Deckerhoff visited WDAE radio on Monday and said, without hesitiation, that Vita Vea won’t play against the Bengals on Saturday night. That’s when the Bucs open their preseason at 7 p.m. in Cincinnati. (Where will you watch?)
Joe heard Deckerhoff’s comment and reached out to a couple of confidants. Joe was told Bowles again will sit most key starters and veterans on Saturday.
It makes the game a lot less fun, but Joe is all for it. No need to risk injury for no good reason. And Todd Bowles certainly had the Bucs ready for a hostile opening day road win in Minnesota last season against the quarterback who is supposed revolutionize the Falcons next month.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Starters should play 1 quarter in the first game, 2 quarters in the 2nd game and 3 quarters in the 3rd game. Then they are ready to play week 1.
You don’t want your starters not ready to play week 1.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:10 am
I’m looking forward to seeing the players trying to make the team, especially the UFA’s. Let’s see who shows up and becomes the surprise for the year.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:11 am
Sounds like a repeat of the last 3 preseasons. Our young second-round quarterback getting snaps only with second team and third team players. Tampa Bay: The Quarterback Development Capital of the World1 smh
August 7th, 2024 at 8:12 am
starters need to be protected. They will get situational experience against other teams in joint practices, under controlled situations. why risk top talent to future beer delivery drivers.
Preseason games are for further talent evaluation for backups and player development. the buccaneers are a young team with talent, why risk it to meaningless scrimmages.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Brady played entire halves in pre-season so why is Baker coddled?
August 7th, 2024 at 8:19 am
I’ll never complain about keeping starters healthy.
Best Ability = Availability
August 7th, 2024 at 8:29 am
I can see both sides. I would like to see the entire offense. But that’s not happening. I’ll settle for who ever the Bucs put on the the field. It would be nice to win the game with 2nd and 3rd stringers. That would be a reflection of the all around team depth.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:58 am
The whole purpose of the preseason is to get players ready to play in the regular season. But most of the starters know how to get ready without needing to play in the preseason. Bowles will play those who do need them to get ready. To risk injury to those not needing to play in these games would be foolish.
The preseason games are probably valuable for the rookies who never
played at the NFL before. And it gives those lower on the depth chart an opportunity to show that they belong. And the games are valuable to Kyle Trask and certain other players who may never see the field during the regular season.
August 7th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Todd says the preseason games are valuable and he has his reasons. Not worthless.
But what would he know? He’s merely the head coach who has been playing and coaching the game his whole life.
August 7th, 2024 at 9:55 am
Preseason is VERY important because you’ve got to test the product out before you put it out on the field, it’s not for just this player or this wave of guys it’s for everybody.
It’s a brand new offense, why wouldn’t you want to see how it looks/operates in a real game situation that doesn’t officially count for/against you? You take advantage of preseason, we were 9-8 last the only people who shouldnt play on offense are Mike & Chris. Everybody else need the dang work.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:02 am
Preston isn’t for a starter except Logan hall and JTS plus we’re having joint practices. Preseason is for those fighting for roster spots or more playing time
August 7th, 2024 at 10:16 am
Play the rookies. They need the snaps. Get to opening day healthy. The occult of Trask should have a lot of tape to worship by the end of the preseason.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:18 am
Obviously, part of me would love to see the starters play at least a little. Really, though, preseason is more about testing the new guys and maybe warming up the less experienced players. I never expected to see Via Saturday Night. I don’t expect to see LVD, ME13, or Winfield or Wirfs either. I have my doubts about several others too. Maybe even Mayfield.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:29 am
My guess is, Cinncy fans won’t be seeing Burrow, Chase, and starters either.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:36 am
We Don’t have a Joe Burrow, we have Baker Mayfield and he needs the work.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:38 am
Bucs should sit Gene for this one. No sense risking injury to your iconic starting broadcaster for a worthless preseason game. Time for the backup broadcaster so we can see what we’ve got in him.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:55 am
“I’ll never complain about keeping starters healthy.
Best Ability = Availability”
Fact.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:56 am
I’m sure Jesse the Body would be glad to fill in for Gene and resurrect his skills from the 80s when he did color commentary for buc games.
August 7th, 2024 at 10:57 am
I don’t need to see starters play not worth the risk. I am perfectly fine seeing what kind of backups we have and depth on the team.
August 7th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Joe, the league has changed and you need to get a new mindset. Three things to consider: (1) All teams now carry 90 players all the way until the cutdown to 53, (2) Most teams now have at least one (and many have 2 or 3) interteam scrimmages during training camp, and (3) the regular season is now 17 games long (and likely to be 18 in the near future) . So, preseason is now strictly for determining who your 2nd/3rd stringers and practice squad players are going to be. Interteam scrimmages are for getting the 1st/2nd team players some live reps. Starters may play a quarter in the 3rd preseason game, just as a tuneup. It’s a long regular season and you don’t need your starters playing games that don’t count. But those games are not worthless. Lot of good young talent trying to make the team.
August 7th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Yes it’s around the corner. Toe gets to meet leather baby!
Time to see the rookies show us who they are. Welcome to the NFL!
Score are worthless in preseason. LFG!!!!!
August 7th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
As a fan pick your poison. Who should play and who should not. There is always risk of injury. The league is always changing. I will watch whatever is available. Just about anything Buccaneer.
August 7th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
I am very much looking forward to when GD retires; I’ll be able to listen to the radio broadcast again!
August 7th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Hey Dude. Maybe since Burrow sat on his injured ass last year while Mayfield was a few snaps from an NFC Championship game ….would indicate Burrow needs the reps?
August 7th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Dude we don’t have Joe Burrow. We have Baker Mayfield. Last year Mayfield was that close to an NFC championship game. Sadly Burrow sat out most of the season injured. Looks to me like Burrow needs the reps.
August 7th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Not surprising.
Your top stars really just need a couple drives in preseason at most to get a few hits and go at game speed against an actual opponent, not our own offense / defense. Just enough for their bodies to remember what real contact feels like and get them mentally ready for the real season.
August 7th, 2024 at 11:05 pm
“We have Baker Mayfield. Last year Mayfield was that close to an NFC championship game. Sadly Burrow sat out most of the season injured. Looks to me like Burrow needs the reps.“
Plz quit it with this, we don’t get to the playoffs to begin with without our defense, it was our defense that held the Eagles to 9 points and our defense that had to go back on the field prematurely because ya boy squandered the divisional game. Wasn’t “this close” to sh*t and for all the bulletin board material, Gardner-Johnson called Mayfield out and proved the loudmouth safety right at least for one game.
Joe Burrow > Baker Mayfield, plz cut it out with these fantasy projections about our limited starting QB with a career avg 61% completion rating and no real physical gift to fall back on other than being sassy.
August 8th, 2024 at 1:46 am
Most sane wannabe GMs would pick Joe Burrow over Baker. But he wasn’t available when Brady decided to go looking for Ms Horseface the sequel .
Licht got the guy with the best available resume’ for a song and still has him at half price.
This guy is a bargain and gives the Bucs the best chance to win over any available alternative, including Mike Glennon’s poofball throwing cousin. Don’t believe that, ask Todd.
August 8th, 2024 at 5:17 am
Dude. You’re using the word sassy? It’s been said that Mayfield plays with a certain “moxie”. But to use the word sassy is truly a low blow. I may heartily disagree with many on this site-say Rod Munch. But at least he makes me laugh and he damn sure doesn’t bandy about words like sassy during football season. Shame on you!