George Kittle On Blocking Vita Vea: “It’s Fun”*
November 8th, 2024
George Kittle is not OK with blocking Vita Vea.
Props to 49ers tight end George Kittle for his biting sarcasm concerning a Bucs heavy hitter on defense.
So this week in the 49ers’ locker room, Kittle was asked if he ever had to square up against beastly Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea.
Kittle immediately deadpanned, “I have before, it’s fun.” The video was captured by KNBR-AM 680 in San Francisco.
Then after the bait was fully swallowed, Kittle quickly got serious and admitted he wants no part of the Pro Bowl defender.
“It’s not [fun],” Kittle said. “He’s really good at football. He’s a massive human. Really strong. Very fast. He’s quick and agile for his size.
“He brings energy to the whole defense. Yes, I have ran into him before. I bounced off. It was great.”
Kittle said fundamentals tell him to go low if trying to block Vea, but he doubts that will help him if the two cross paths on Sunday.
“Maybe I will get my pad level down,” Kittle said. “I don’t know if that will help at all.”
If Joe was Todd Bowles and he heard Kittle say this, Joe would try to devise a defense to match up Vea on Kittle.
* — Kittle was being very sarcastic in his initial reaction to locking horns with Vea.
George Kittle matched up with Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea once, and it's not pleasant 😅
"It's not [fun]… I have ran into him before, I bounced off, it was great. Maybe get my pad level down, I don't know if that would help at all though." pic.twitter.com/r6EJcxPltg
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 7, 2024
November 8th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Oh, it definitely has to be a match up with Vea on Kittle!
November 8th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Vea couldn’t do any worse than any of the other defenders that will be matched up with Kittle. Then you got Debo on crossing routes and CMC on wheel routes forcing a Safety to make a choice. Then when you top it off with one of the legit Pro Bowl QB’s from ’23. It could be a long day for the Bucs defense.
November 8th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
If he got his pad level down Vea would probably just push him down and run over him.
November 8th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Lovie2 will make sure that Vita is matched up against Kittle in some soft zone pass defense. Brilliant.
November 8th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
What a compliment!
November 8th, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Bojim “If he got his pad level down Vea would probably just push him down and run over him” and put him in concussion protocol. GO BUCS!
November 8th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Kittle is the type of player you want on your team. Talented and fearless. We just don’t have enough of those type guys yet. Go Bucs!
November 8th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
I hope Kittle trys to go low on VV. He’ll get a knee or thigh to the head and be on concussion protocol for the season.
November 8th, 2024 at 8:22 pm
How is Purdy a legit probowl? All the merits go to the coach. Without him they are less than middle of the pack players
November 8th, 2024 at 11:32 pm
Lovie2 is great. Proud to create the game’s best 350 pound DB.
November 9th, 2024 at 10:39 am
Vea hasn’t taken one snap at OLB all season.
It’s so annoying.
He has done it a few times and collapses the pocket every time!
There isn’t 1 OT who can block Vea 1 on 1.
Their stance is too tall. Their center of gravity too high.
Vea crushes OT’s 1 on 1.
But coach won’t call it. I don’t know why.
Vea needs 1 on 1 chances. And they will on my come from the edge!
November 9th, 2024 at 8:17 pm
Don’t show Bowles this, or he’ll have Vea dropping into coverage on Kittle.