Buccaneers that could play some reps out of position in 2020
By Rob Leeds
Vita Vea– Fullback
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The Buccaneers do not have a fullback listed on their roster, which is interesting considering their usage of 22 and 23 personnel sets in the red zone. For the majority of 2019, Dare Ogunbowale would line up as the fullback with Peyton Barber as the tailback, but this was boring compared to the other trick that the Bucs had up their sleeve.
Tampa Bay impressed (and shocked) everyone when they lined most tackle Vita Vea up at fullback for the first time. Vea dwarfed Barber and Jameis Winston in the backfield, and the entire fanbase was screaming for him to get a shot to rush the ball.
When Vea finally did score an offensive touchdown, on a reception no less, the thought of Vea actually getting some reps in that role became a little less taboo.
Is Vea going to be able to play ten snaps a game at fullback while also retaining the starting nose tackle spot? Absolutely not, but there is a chance that he could see an uptick in red zone opportunities in 2020 based on his success last season.
Vea is clearly a better nose tackle than he is a full back, but there are very few arguments against using him in some heavy sets that completely shut the idea down.