Buccaneers: Vita Vea on the verge of an All-Pro season in 2021
By Rob Leeds
Vita Vea is going to be unstoppable for the Buccaneers in 2021.
The Buccaneers took a lot of heat in the 2018 NFL Draft when they drafted Vita Vea and not Derwin James. James looked like an obvious fit with the struggling defense in Tampa, and while the decision to go a different direction was hated at the moment, we know how it turned out.
Up until this point, Vita Vea has been a much better NFL player than Derwin James. James is an excellent safety with plenty of talent, but the best ability is availability. Even with his recent injury, Vea has been available far more than James.
Vea experienced a decent start to his career in the Buccaneer defense, but the transition to Todd Bowles and his 3-4 defense played a massive role in Vea’s transformation into one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
Vita Vea is a force of nature
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As a nose guard and as a tackle in four-man fronts, Vea has been a monster against the run and the pass. At nearly 350 pounds and with plenty of speed, Vea necessitates a double team on every play. Even then, Vea has a way of getting to the quarterback regardless.
Everyone expected a massive season from Vea during his second year with Bowles, but an injury derailed a promising season. Fortunately for Vea, the Buccaneers’ success was enough to create a few extra games for Vea to showcase his talent.
Vea was a monster in the playoffs. Every offensive line that went against Tampa Bay struggled greatly, and Vea was one of the biggest causes for this success.
Looking ahead to next season, the entire defense has the chance to come back and build upon their success in 2020. Vea will hopefully be healthy for the entire season, and a full season of games like the past few is more than enough to put Vea in contention for an All-Pro spot.
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The Buccaneers have proven that they don’t care about individual awards and accolades. Still, Vita Vea earning one of the highest honors for a defensive lineman would go a long way for improving the standing of the team.
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