Vita Vea No. 83
January 19th, 2025
Anchor.
Todd Bowles was right.
Last spring and summer, it seemed from the urging of Bowles, Bucs monster defensive tackle Vita Vea dropped weight. Vea, always a quiet guy, wasn’t seen around these parts in the offseason and rarely was a photo of him found on social media.
That changed when Vita showed up for the University of Washington’s spring game. He looked like he lost a grade school softball player.
The weight loss didn’t prevent Vea from playing really good ball this past season. So much so that Seth Walder of BSPN, a man who never met a number he didn’t like, selected Vea as his No. 83 most valuable player in the NFL.
Was Vea’s weight loss a key to his success? Well, one could argue Vea gained the weight back as the season progressed. However, for the first time since 2021, Vea played in 16 games. And he logged the most snaps in his career (705) since 2019.
The Bucs finished the regular season fourth in rushing yards allowed, once again a stingy defense to run against. A big reason for that is Vea, who also had a career-high seven sacks.
January 19th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
I think VV gained weight as the season went on. In the early games he played OK but finished the season strong. Joe, did he gain weight over the season?
January 19th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Maybe next year. That is now the bottom line. This year is no longer important at all.
January 19th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Please bring in an edge rusher
January 19th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
All of our DLINE needs the Suh academy over the summer should be mandatory
January 19th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
It is such a hoot watching him pull down QB’s & RB’s with no effort. Dude has the strength of a wooly mammoth.
January 19th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Stay healthy Vita 🙏🏼
January 19th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Weight loss definitely made him more dominate in pass coverage. Can’t imagine a defense with the highest blitz rate in the nfl having a poorly ranked run defense
January 19th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
JimBobBuc Says:
January 19th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
I think VV gained weight as the season went on. In the early games he played OK but finished the season strong. Joe, did he gain weight over the season?
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You literally got that completely backwards. He started off the year really strong, was on pace for a 10-sack season after the KC game, then sort of disappeared in the 2nd half of the season.
Seeing him on TV, he looked heavier – and I assume the Joe’s seeing him in person probably could tell a lot better than on TV.
He was still good – but in the first half of the season he looked like an ALL-PRO player.
January 19th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
If he had zero time dropping into coverage he probably would have had more sacks.
January 19th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
@ GoneGator
“Stay healthy”
Exactly right…
Injuries and fatigue are the only things that can stop Vita Vea.
January 19th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Emmanwori
Revel
Kennard
Skattebo
Debo williams
January 19th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
and Big V shouldve been used as a runner in that play…so stupid! He wouldve blown right through!!!
January 19th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Imagine if he had someone like Jared Verse next to him rushing the passer too…
Oh wait, Todd would just have him dropping into coverage against the other team’s #1 WR…
January 19th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
May not have the change of direction or stamina of Haloti Nagta but Vita is a more powerful version of him. That’s a huge compliment and our D has a foundation piece in Vita. It wouldn’t hurt to add another younger bigger body behind him since he will in his 30’s. Need to keep this man hungry and motivated as long as possible
January 19th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Matt Stafford Fumbled, He is A ChOkE artist!!! Fire the Coach!!! Blahhhhhaaaahhh……….. See how stupid you all look?
January 19th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Stafford didn’t fumble – the WR ran the wrong route and Stafford had to hold onto the ball. It’s not his fault, it’s the defense’s fault for not holding the Eagles scoreless this game.
January 19th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Rod, just stfu, you know what point I was getting at smh jack donkey. Anyway, do a wellness check on any NY Giant fans you know lol
January 19th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Bowles is the same guy that agreed to put Vea in as a receiver.
And had him drop back in pass coverage during the season.
Joe takes every opportunity to praise Bowles as a genius.
Then Joe can’t believe it every time our pass defense implodes like a wet paper bag.
28-27
January 19th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Mike C, Stafford fumbling in the snow isn’t the same as Baker, for the 2nd playoff game in a row, having the ball in his hands with the game on the line and turning it over.
Also, if Rams fans are mad at the fumble, they have every right to be mad.
Moron.
January 19th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
IIRC, Sapp used to come into camp svelte and be huge by the end of the season. I do not remember whether either weight affected his play.
January 19th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
BallHawk75 – Defense gives up 16 points in the most important game of the season. Sounds pretty clutch to me, unlike the Bucs QB.
January 19th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Hawk Says:
January 19th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
IIRC, Sapp used to come into camp svelte and be huge by the end of the season. I do not remember whether either weight affected his play.
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Well Sapp is a generational talent who changed the game, a 1st ballot HOF. Vita is none of that, just a very good run stuffer and sometimes pass rusher.
But also keep in mind the quoted 350lb weight for Vita is ridiculous. That was his college workout weight. At points of his pro-career there’s no way he hasn’t been up over 400lbs. At the beginning of this year he was the thinnest I’ve seen him since his rookie year, and perhaps he got close to 350, but guessing I’d say he was probably 380 or so by the end of the season. Not that it’s totally bad or anything – but I’ve always thought he Vita could get down to a Suh sized 330lbs, he’d be a much better pass rusher, and would play a lot more snaps, and I doubt he’s going to suddenly stink at stopping the run. No idea why he’s not asked to lose weight other than Bowles thinks stopping the run is more important than stopping the pass.
January 19th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Rod, you are a tool and the biggest moron on this site, everyone can clearly see it.
January 19th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
That’s too bad. I’d have loved to see the piece of garbage Eagles fans all choking on cheesesteaks tonight as they cried and cried and cried.
But then again I hate the SCAMS and for stealing the 1999-00 NFC Championship game, and always enjoy when they lose.
So it’s a wash, I guess.
January 19th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Mike C Says:
January 19th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Rod, you are a tool and the biggest moron on this site, everyone can clearly see it.
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Why are you so boring? Can’t you come up with anything interesting or clever to say, any sort of good insult? Apparently not since you revert back to responses stolen from 7-year olds. What a dullard. Do better next time.
January 19th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Birds win.
Another playoff game won by dudes who make plays on defense when it matters most.
Vea is great but where are the impact plays?
January 19th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
@Rod Munch
Forcing zero punts to a rookie in his first playoff game in your home stadium is the opposite of clutch.
And the defense gave up all 23 points.
Including the last drive of over 4 minutes for the game losing FG.
Participation trophies do not count.
January 19th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Im hungry….these food trucks need to up their game…tired of the same old taco this taco that….chitlins and pig feet and some good old corn bread..if you know you know
January 19th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
That weight loss enabled him to play more and stay healthier. It was definitely the right thing to do. When he’s in there with Yaya and Kancey and a suddenly potent Logan Hall, they were wreaking havoc.
Now they need an ILB, a CB, hopefully another edge and they can be dominant.
Aside from adding a few players, the number one thing they must do is create more turnovers!
January 19th, 2025 at 8:26 pm
BallHawk75 Says:
January 19th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
@Rod Munch
Forcing zero punts to a rookie in his first playoff game in your home stadium is the opposite of clutch.
And the defense gave up all 23 points.
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16 points.
Bum Baker gave up the other 7, while only scoring 20 – or a net of 13 points.
January 19th, 2025 at 8:30 pm
ElioT Says:
Vea is great but where are the impact plays?
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It’s not an unfair question – and I like Vita but even this year there were too many times he was off the field in key situations – or he was on the field on 3rd and short and didn’t make a play.
I stand by my above statements, I think if Vita got down to 330 or so, he’d be a much more impactful player. He’s shown the ability to be a doubt digit sack guy when he’s in good shape – or at least better shape. It does come at some cost as he’d be less of a run stuffer, but when is the last time he made a huge big time stop on 3rd or 4th and short? I’m sure there’s some I’m not thinking about, but the fact they’re not something I can immediately think of, and others say the same thing, that’s part of the problem.
The other issue with Vita and his weight is that he turns 30 in a couple of weeks. I don’t think with his play style there will be any decline yet, but losing weight wouldn’t hurt.
January 19th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Imagine his stats if he wasn’t frequently dropping into soft shell zone to cover nobody.
January 19th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
MunchNuts has his own brand of math.
He’s probably another James lover like the Joes.
They just love mediocre QBs and HCs.
January 19th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
Wow, Mark Andrews pulling two Mayfields to blow this game. Sad.
January 19th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
I thought the NFC Central was the premier division in the NFL. They were 0-3 in the playoffs. None of the games were close. So over hyped. Another quick exit for the Lions but their fans still love their coach. If ever was a team unprepared to play it was the Detroit. 500 yards of offense and they lost by two touchdowns.
January 19th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Turnovers have been the difference in this playoff series. I don’t think there is a single team that has won while losing the turnover battle. Lions were the better team, 5 turnovers, tonight the Ravens were the better team on the field, the turnovers are the difference. Andrew’s fumbling, and of course dropping a routine catchable pass on the two point conversion.
Turnovers are a death sentence, have to protect the football to win football games.
Mayfield has been a stud for us here in Tampa, two years in a row he’s had untimely turnovers that have knocked us out of the playoff picture. The interception down 8 against the Lions, seemed he threw it straight in the arms of a defender. This year against the commanders, he did not time his cadence on a snap to get the ball in McMillons hands on the jet sweep, a play they used successfully all year. That was the turning point of the game.
January 19th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
Just reminiscing to the day when we had JPP, Shaq,Suh and Vita. They were an awesome 4some that could get heat on the passer without a blitz. I thought we might get that with Bita Kancey Yaya and Nellie. But Coach insisted on playing JTS over Nellie yet Nellie saved our season. Regardless, better pass rush up front combined with a scheme that calls for pass rushers to rush the passer are hopes. Then there is the desert of depth at LB. With some luck on health and a FA pick up or two, and a modified pass defense scheme, we might be ok.
As others have said, defense almost the entire draft.
January 20th, 2025 at 12:03 am
Rod “I know everything” the arrogant price? Is that better? 🤔
January 20th, 2025 at 12:04 am
Prick*
January 20th, 2025 at 12:06 am
Vea at his ceiling is unstoppable. Unfortunately he only reaches that ceiling periodically.
January 20th, 2025 at 12:10 am
Lotta blame goes around for the playoff loss:
– o-line penalties
– Barton botched snap count
– Baker fumble
– refusing to utilize Rachaad white
– no targeting of Evans in the final 10 minutes when he was red hot
– defense unable to get off the field, force a punt or stop a 4th down
Trying to say it’s all on one person or play is moronic when the entire team contributed with dumb mistakes
January 20th, 2025 at 12:16 am
Vita is an animal. He doesn’t need to be a double digit sack guy, he’s already the double teamed guy. There’s a reason our run defense is always good. Duh.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:26 am
Every time I focused on Vea he was throwing 300 pound offensive linemen around like they were the lightweights Joe. He kicked it into another gear this year from what I saw. All Pro writers agreed.
Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2025 at 6:46 am
How good would VV be if Bucs had an edge rush???
January 20th, 2025 at 11:29 am
The Bucs have draft capital and cap space to pick up a top OLB. I hope they go for another ring this off season. We’re in the window.