The Rise Of Vita Vea
August 9th, 2020
Star?
Joe saw it in the comments on this here site yesterday. Someone is still bawling the Bucs did not draft the Larry Wilson of our time, this Derwin James character.
James, a Chargers safety, had an incredible rookie season. But last year he was hurt and barely played, taking the field in only five games. Joe’s heard that song before.
And why is it Bucs fans still throw rocks at Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for not drafting this James? About 15 other general managers also passed on him. So half the league’s general managers are clueless frauds, really?
Instead, the Bucs drafted defensive tackle Vita Vea. And as jet-flyin’, kiss–stealin‘, data-analyzin’, Bucs-film-studyin’, limousine-ridin’ Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times, typing for Football Outsiders 2020 Almanac, points out, Vea may be one of the best defensive tackles in the game.
Vita Vea is a star in the making. He was known as a tough, space-eating run defender when he came into the league in 2018, and now he is showing promise as a pass-rusher too. He tied Aaron Donald with 11 quarterback hits, second among interior linemen trailing only Chris Jones.
Man, if your name is included in a discussion with the great Aaron Donald and Chris Jones, you are a friggin’ stud, that’s all there is to it. Color Joe very, very, very happy that Vea is on the roster.
You know, on Thursday, there will be a 30-minute window to watch a Bucs practice. If last week was any indication, it will be similar to the regular season, when media gets to watch dudes warm up and stretch (from 80 yards away) and maybe see six or seven passes thrown around before the watch window is shut.
Joe understands it’s not a normal training camp this year. Different protocols. No gripe here. We currently live in strange times.
If the pads do come on, Joe would actually pay $50 to watch Vea, who is strong as an ox, and weight-lifting freak Tristan Wirfs square off in an Oklahoma drill.
Then Joe remembers, the beautiful Oklahoma drill is banned in NFL warden Roger Goodell’s league. It’s almost like the Judases at Northern Illinois are running the NFL these days.
August 9th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Star in the making, sure. Yeah he tied stats with Aaron Donald and was right behind $100+ million man Chris Jones.
But can he just be a little meaner on the field?
/s
August 9th, 2020 at 8:44 am
I’m a FSU fan, there’s no question Vita was the right pick.
August 9th, 2020 at 8:53 am
Vita Vea is a wonderful specimen, a wrecking ball, an anchor for our defense. He and Suh are two bad MFers. Other RBs don’t want to run at those two. I remember a play last year when McCaffrey took a dive when Vea was closing. Vea commands respect and should rightfully strike fear in opposing offensive lines and coordinators.
I bet Vea is going to get better. I like him for an early extension, just to lock him down before he is the top pad DT.
August 9th, 2020 at 9:02 am
Joe, you just can’t make some people happy. We have Tom Brady, and some people still stand behind Mr.30, 30. Yea is a stud. I watch the game in the game, and he’s rag dolling guys all the time. He was the right pick.
August 9th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Bottom line as I see it, the Bucs got a great player, the Chargers got a great player. No losers in that debate!
August 9th, 2020 at 9:35 am
James was broken in college and has been broken in the NFL. Damn good when healthy, but he has yet to prove that he can stay healthy. Vita is one of my favorite players on the team, but imho will never approach Sapp or Donald as a pass rusher. Different style of defensive tackle that still dominates in what he is asked to do. I’d never pay him what top pass rushers make, but he will still make serious $ when his contract is up.
August 9th, 2020 at 9:38 am
Vita is already one of the most dominant DL in the league, and he will only get better. Dude is a fast cement mixer truck with a bucs uniform on. Remember when Dirk Koetter said “I’ve seen him lift 300 pound men with one arm” Against the Cardinals, Vita knocked back the lineman with one arm and with his other arm tackled Drake the RB. This is a Baaaad man, bubba. Yea nobody wants to deal with Vita on sundays. Vita Vea > Derwin James
August 9th, 2020 at 9:46 am
If the pads do come on, Joe would actually pay $50 to watch Vea, who is strong as an ox, and weight-lifting freak Tristan Wirfs square off in an Oklahoma drill.
I would pay to see that as well that would be fun to watch!
August 9th, 2020 at 10:12 am
@ Joe: LOVE the Larry Wilson nod…very cool.
August 9th, 2020 at 10:25 am
Wow that would be a battle I’d pay to see between Vea and Wirfs hoping everyone stays healthy and i dont just mean From Covid but no injuries please
August 9th, 2020 at 10:41 am
“So Gump has to pay this 2 down Fatboy 15 mill per year because if he doesnt it would mean he was wrong
This 2 down fatboy is worth 3 mil per year to all NFL gms
2 down run stopping tackle in the 1st round?
Lol
No accountability ”
Kobe Faker
August 9th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Vita is the grey jersey for me.
August 9th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
Glad we got him. For people who don’t know you build your team from the trenches out.
August 9th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Happy with the D line pick.
Building the trenches tends to help teams for years.
My hope will be that Vea will have a longer career than James in any case.
There is not just one way to win in the league. Vea helps this Buc’s team become a winner. The best run stopping team last year with Vea and Suh.
Why would we not be in top 3 this year again.
August 9th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
The self styled experts on the draft around here certainly have a thing or two to learn yet. Those who pile-on Jason Licht need to take a break.
Ever heard the saying “Rome was not built in a day.”?
Of course James would have been a fine pick. JL showed great insight in the choice he made. Vea is a beast! We will have him for many years to come barring catastrophe
Go Bucs!
August 9th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Vita Vea is a combo of Vincent Wilfork and WWE’s Rikishi. Lol. If I’m a rb I want no part of that. Lol.
August 9th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
I still like the idea of Vea lining up in the fullback position on some short yardage/goal line plays. I think that would be fun to watch too.
August 9th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
VV and Suh have really allowed Bowles to create a 2-4-5 defense (2DLs, 4LBs, 5DBs). A more apt comparison is probably Haloti Ngata but either way this dude is legit.
And Kobe, thank god you sign your nonsense every post or we’d never know who writes your delusions. Go join a chargers blog.
August 9th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
In your case stpete you thought sickness deaths were 31x higher than they actually are…5mil divided by 162k is roughly 31, just fyi.
August 9th, 2020 at 6:45 pm
It’s almost like the Judases at Northern Illinois are running the NFL these days.
– No wonder there’s a 3 week waiting list on UHauls to get the hell out of Illinois
August 9th, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Vita was the right pick!! I’ll take a stud DT over a Safety anyday… Vita & Suh are huge solid brick walls that anchor our D…
August 9th, 2020 at 8:03 pm
The Bucs FINALLY draft someone for the trenches, and said player is good. Bucs “fans” cry because they wanted an injury-prone Safety. Wasn’t Justin Evans enough? Hahahaha