The Pewter Plank
FanSided

4 Buccaneers doing the dirty work and getting no credit

By Cory Kinnan

Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, missed 2021 Pro Bowl(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, missed 2021 Pro Bowl(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: Vita Vea of Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks out prior to the NFL match between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: Vita Vea of Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks out prior to the NFL match between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /

DT Vita Vea

Last and certainly not least is defensive tackle Vita Vea. Somehow, the biggest, strongest man on the Buccaneers’ roster continues to get no credit while performing as one of the best players on the entire defensive side of the ball. Yet, if those watching can take their eyes off of the football and watch the big man in the middle of the defense, they will see him moving bodies.

Casually taking on double teams, which allows all of the other defensive linemen and edge rushers to take on single blocks (and keeps the offensive linemen off the linebackers), Vea is playing a high level for the pewter and red. Slimmed down and healthy from a year ago, Vea played over 80 percent of the snaps against the Seahawks last Sunday as well.

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Laying a massive seven hits on the quarterback, Vea has managed a half of a sack, and a tackle behind the line of scrimmage for the Bucs as well. While eating double teams to help his teammates out is his main prerogative, Vea has still been wreaking havoc in the backfield and moving offensive linemen backwards.

Second to maybe Lavonte David, Vea is one of the best players on this Buccaneers defense and is justifying the team’s belief that he deserved to be a top 15 pick in the draft.

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