Todd Bowles Trying To Keep Vita Vea “Fresh”
December 2nd, 2025
Vita Vea battles Arizona tackle Kelvin Beachum Sunday.
No, Joe doesn’t think Bucs coach Todd Bowles is hoping Vita Vea changes his deodorant.
In all but the win over the slimy Saints, Bucs Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea’s snap count has been largely in the 70 percent range of the Bucs’ total defensive snaps. That’s a bit higher than in some years when Joe grumbled regularly about Vea’s lack of playing time.
Sunday, however, it was different. Vea had the fewest snaps of the season, 36. He had 37 snaps in New Orleans but Vea’s percentage of total defensive snaps in that New Orleans game was lower.
So why, in a close game with perhaps playoff hopes on the line (if the Bucs lose do they overcome Carolina to win the division?) did Bowles have Vea standing on the sidelines with him?
Was Vea hurt? Was he gassed? What was the deal?
Bowles is looking to the future. Speaking yesterday in his day-after presser, Bowles knows how important this stretch run is. Bowles said he wants to make sure Vea has gas in the tank to close out the regular season.
“It’s trying to keep him fresher,” Bowles said when he was asked what the deal with Vea is. “Trying to keep him fresher.
“Knowing [Arizona was] going to throw the ball a lot, we needed the bodies.”
Bowles must have been confident the Bucs were going to pull out that win.
On one hand Bowles said yesterday the Bucs missed too many opportunities to put Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the ground. Then, Bowles said they needed to rest Vea.
Can’t have both.
To be fair to Bowles, a few weeks ago Vea landed on the injury report with a bum back. For a big ol’ nose tackle like Vea, that could be troublesome. Vea also seemed to tweak something in his foot or leg very early in the game against the Rams last week.
Again, Joe gets what Bowles is doing here. But Joe doesn’t know how many games the Bucs can roll the dice on not using Vea more in second halves.
The margin for error is thin.
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:00 am
If we could get Sonny Styles or CJ Allen first, then go after Amauri Washington to help spell V in the middle, that would be an awesome beginning to the draft! No he’s not a 350lb nose, but his get off is crazy fast and he’s strong.
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:17 am
Sounds like they need more conditioning!
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:22 am
Elijah Simmons was inactive against the Cardinals
I wonder why.
I thought he was a good addition.
He’s HUGE and strong.
I’m not sure why he was left off the active roster.
Brewer got all of his snaps against the Cardinals
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:46 am
The more the Bucs run the ball and burn clock time, the fewer plays the defense is on the field for.
Running the ball is the best way to keep gas in the tank for all of the defenders.
Against the Rams 4th ranked run defense the Bucs averaged 4.2 yards per carry, ran only 46% of plays, and lost because they passed on most plays with just a 50% completion rate and an awful 1.8 yards per pass attempt.
The Panthers beat the Rams by running on 67% of plays while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. On the 33% of plays when the Panthers passed, they averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt because they set up the pass with the run and possessed the ball for over 35 minutes; 35 minutes that Stafford and the offense were riding the bench.
Anytime the Bucs face a situation where a run has a reasonable chance of keeping the drive alive, the Bucs should run!
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:49 am
Ohhh, found another one, Nose Kayden Mcdonald, 6’3 325 ohio st. and they are def doing something right.
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:52 am
Vea shouldn’t really need more rest, he needs more help on the line. If the Bucs had real starters on the D line, then Vea could be in rotation w/o such a slip in D line performance. As it is now, Vea is all the Bucs have………
December 2nd, 2025 at 4:54 am
Joe … ‘So why, in a close game with perhaps playoff hopes on the line (if the Bucs lose do they ever overcome Carolina to win the division?) did Bowles have Vea standing on the sidelines with him?’
Great question Joe, and I think the answer is that Bowles the DC isn’t being asked ‘What the he11 are you doing?’ by our HC. THAT’S the major problem with dual-hatting any coordinator as the Head Coach … the ‘other hat’ rarely asks the tough questions.
Sunday was a VERY hot day, and there were several players cramping up. If Vea was hurt or cramping, then sit him for sure. But our defense right now is circumspect right now WITH VEA out on the field. Without him, we’re even worse for sure.