Double-Teams Don’t Stop Vita Vea
June 23rd, 2026
Pressure!
Oh, boy. Joe is just jiggly all over learning this.
A sect of NFL fans believe quarterback pressures are a thing. Joe is of the mind quarterback pressures don’t faze good quarterbacks.
And if you have real plans to make a Super Bowl run, odds are you’ll face a good quarterback in the playoffs.
Sacks? Now we’re talking.
The pressures crowd will be happy to know Vita Vea gets pressures. The Bucs’ defensive tackle monster can’t even be slowed by double-teams, as documented by NextGen Stats with their GPS data lifted from sensors in player equipment.
It seems only two defenders in the NFL were able to get pressure on a quarterback when double-teamed more than Vea.
As we all know, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles is a huge believer in quarterback pressures.
Only once since Bowles took over the Bucs defense in 2019 has the Bucs’ pass defense not been ranked in the 20s (ninth in 2022). So, yeah, those quarterback pressures are a real killer.
June 23rd, 2026 at 3:53 am
He is certainly going to use that stat, over Jeffery Simmons, during his contract negotiations
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:28 am
Atlbuc, exactly what I wanted to say.
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:40 am
Vita is the anchor of our front run & pass. Pressures on pass reps are good, but when he bulldozes an OG/C into the lap of a RB and stands them both of 4 yards behind the LOS, you pay him for that too.
Vita himself is an anamoly of a player, his personal stats may not fully reflect that but cut the tape on and you see the difference he makes. Even if it’s just stonewalling linemen.
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:53 am
I’m going to advocate for Vita every chance I get. He is a MONSTER! What he does for our defense goes beyond the stat sheet. He is one of the most dominant and physically imposing players that the league has ever seen. What he does in the run game, the way he collapses the pocket in the pass game, and the fact that he gets sacks as well. He is a severely underrated player. I believe he has at least 3 years of dominance left. Pay the man!! Vita is a player that we will miss dearly when he is gone.
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:55 am
Warren, I 100% agree. Vita is a nightmare matchup for every Center/OG
June 23rd, 2026 at 5:00 am
And I’ll make one more point for those that have issues with where our pass defense ranks “statistically”under Todd. Vita is partly responsible for that, as many teams view it as pointless in planning to run at him and instead, have a heavier passing game plan. He literally skews the numbers.
June 23rd, 2026 at 5:30 am
Our Bucs’ 2002 team ranked #5 in Rushing Yards Allowed (97.1 YPG), #1 in Passing Yards Allowed (155.6 YPG), and #1 overall (252.7 YPG). They won the Super Bowl.
Our Bucs’ 2020 team ranked #1 in Rushing Yards Allowed (80.5 YPG), #21 in Passing Yards Allowed (246.6 YPG), and #6 overall (327.1 YPG). They also won the Super Bowl.
Both were Top-10 defenses, but were also very different defenses. But so were our 2 offenses for 2002 & 2020. The 2002 Bucs’ defense was predominant (our offense that year ranked #18, compiled 5002 yards & scored 345 points). However, our 2020 Bucs’ offense was predominant (it ranked #3, compiled 6145 yards & scored 492 points).
Many paths can lead to the same goal. Back in 2002 our money was in our defense, and it paid off since they led the charge. In 2020 our money was in offense, and that also paid off.
The bigger issue IMO has always been ‘How can our offense & defense best complement each other?’ In a ‘big picture’ sense, I believe that to be competitive in the playoffs, our offense & defense BOTH need to be ‘better than good’ (as in Top-10 better-than-good). We missed by a bunch last year on BOTH accounts (#18 & #20 in Points Scored & Allowed). HOPEFULLY our changes this off-season will pay big dividends on both offense AND defense.
June 23rd, 2026 at 6:50 am
He won’t have Gaines and Hall next to him THIS year
June 23rd, 2026 at 6:53 am
Defense Rules said – “Our Bucs’ 2002 team ranked #5 in Rushing Yards Allowed (97.1 YPG), #1 in Passing Yards Allowed (155.6 YPG), and #1 overall (252.7 YPG). They won the Super Bowl.”
No way, dude. Haven’t you heard? I see it repeated over and over again by people here. Quarterbacks win Superbowls. Brad Johnson, therefore, is why the Bucs were champs in 2002, not the defense.
Keep in mind that a #6 defense in 2020 isn’t too shabby, either.
June 23rd, 2026 at 7:40 am
VV can also stop Eagles Tush Push play and nobody else can.
June 23rd, 2026 at 8:02 am
He’s still one of the best NTs. Like to see him get another contract.
June 23rd, 2026 at 8:57 am
Vita is the anchor of our Defense, arguably the best player on defense. He seems to have matured and kept his weight down which will increase his longevity at his position. While his shelf life is limited due to his size and position he doesn’t have a lot of miles since he was a part time player for a few years. Snaps have increased and his production may not see the stat sheet all the time. He’s truly one of our only forces who is also consistent. Imagine where we would be without him playing against the Lions, Eagles, run heavy teams.
He’s a must keep but we will truly know where we stand by week 4, easing into the trade deadline window with our record.
June 23rd, 2026 at 9:05 am
Pay VITA!!!!!
GO BUCS
June 23rd, 2026 at 9:58 am
Fans just don’t understand the Genis that the Bucs’ Twocoach brings to the table. Worst pass defense in the NFL over the last four years in a passing league. Look for Vita to drop deep a lot more if he doesn’t demand a trade, which I believe he will.
Mike knew.
Vita knows.
June 23rd, 2026 at 10:20 am
I’m all for paying VV and drafting another DT R1 lol trenches babay
June 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 am
Still can’t get the image out of my head of Vea dropping into coverage. Way to put your players in a position to succeed Todd.
June 23rd, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Hodad, I think people forget sometimes that Vita dropping into coverage was a vital part of us getting to the Super Bowl. In the packers playoff game, he dropped back and essentially forced the fumble (I believe it was Aaron jones) inside the 10 yard line. We likely do not win that game without that turnover.
June 23rd, 2026 at 1:28 pm
“In the packers playoff game, he dropped back and essentially forced the fumble (I believe it was Aaron jones) inside the 10 yard line.”
Correct and correct, also Vita has like 54 coverage snaps since 2019.
In that span, he’s been targeted 11 times, 7 catches for 66 yards and 1 TD
Vea Island
June 23rd, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Big sexy needs a new contract. He’s a beast of a man and deserves to be paid again.
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:08 pm
WBL but but but how dare a Dlineman drop into coverage. So many people cry about this. I use that same packers game as why it’s not a bad plan. It’s a wrinkle that throws offenses off. JPP and Shaq both have gotten ints from dropping back into coverage and vea makes a huge play in tbe NFC champ game from you guessed it dropping back into coverage looking at you JOE.
June 23rd, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Pay the man.