Vita Vea is the unsung hero of Buccaneers defensive front

While Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh are getting all of the credit for the Buccaneers, it is Vita Vea who is the unsung hero along the defensive front.

It has been a hotly contested few days of mania on Twitter for the followers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and those who cover the team. However, all of this talk is obsolete as it is not Ndamukong Suh who has been a significant contributor to the Buccaneers this season, but rather his running mate Vita Vea.

Suh had by far his best game of the season on Sunday, capped off by a touchdown that sealed the victory over the Rams. Other than the matchup against his former team, Suh’s play has been just average and that as you would expect from a 32 year old, ten year veteran.

Coming into Sunday’s matchup, Suh was graded out by Pro Football Focus at a measly 58 (subscription required), but after Sunday’s performance it jumped to 64.9. However, Vea, the unsung hero who has been eating double teams and freeing up Shaquil Barrett to record nine sacks on this season and wreak havoc, is grading out at an excellent 84.4 on the season.

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Coming into the season, Vea was listed on PFF’s watch list, and he has not fallen short; Barrett owes Vea dinner for allowing him to feast on single coverage off the edge all season. On the season, Vea has also got after opposing quarterbacks, talliing five hits on the quarterbacks as well.

Someone has to do the dirty work for the Buccaneers, and Vea is doing it with pride this season. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is not the only one who is certainly giving Vea praise for being the rockstar that he has been this season, but PFF has recognized him as well.

Vea could get to his first Pro Bowl if he keeps up the hard work and eats up double teams for the Buccaneers. While he may be a rather large man, Vea can go unnoticed on a Sunday because he is not making the splash plays, but the second year pro out of Washing deserves a heavy load of the credit for the success along the defensive front for the Buccaneers.

While it is Suh getting the love for scoring a touchdown on Sunday, the credit along the defensive front is going to the wrong man, in fact, it is even hard to find a picture of him to use for the article. Vea has been a monster this season in the middle of the Bucs’ defense, and do not expect that to change as long as he stays healthy.