Bucs NT Vita Vea splits double teams as disruptive force against San Francisco

The Buccaneers defense runs right through the nose of tackle Vita Vea. The teams all but gave up, leaving Vea face to face with his raw power. He dominates the line of scrimmage and wreaks havoc on offenses, easily crushing linemen in the trenches.

His stats may not be indicative of his presence in Week 6, but Vea led the defensive effort at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday in the NFC clash. Vea had half a sack against San Francisco, tying Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0) for ninth most sacks in franchise history.

For a nose tackle, a position that usually functions as a double-gapper holding the line of scrimmage, this feat is a rarity and a testament to Vea’s athleticism. According to Next Gen Stats, Vea generated five quarterback pressures while facing double teams on 69.7 percent of dropbacks against the Niners. Despite the double teams, Vea still generated two pressures and 0.5 sacks when double-teamed. With Vea on the field, the Bucs allowed just 36 yards on 14 carries between the tackles (2.6 yards per carry).

He sets the tone and intimidates on the verge of attack. Vea has given many offensive linemen their “welcome to the NFL moment” and he possesses a deadly bull run and powerful punch. When he gains momentum early on drives, the opponent has no chance against 50. Vea recorded half a sack but opened up opportunities for his teammates to run home. On one of Yaya Diaby’s sacks, Vea hit Dominick Puni to the ground and on the takedown he shared with Roberts, Vea split the double team and used a bad swim to chase Mac Jones out of the pocket.

“I heard the communication from the O-Line so I knew it was a pass and just looking at the formation and everything, I knew it was a pass,” Vea noted via the Players’ Table Show. “I knew I was going to get double-teamed, but in my head I was thinking, ‘If I get the ball fast enough, maybe I can split it.’ I did and he came in and ducked out. I should have had it all but then E-Rob [Elijah Roberts] came and finished him.”

In his eighth season with the Buccaneers, his understanding of Todd Bowles’ system and how opposing teams will attempt to win the chess match is attributed to his success at the line of scrimmage. Whether it’s penetration, coverage, or a curl over a stunt, Vea sets the standard in Tampa Bay. His elite level of play and feel for blocking assignments and offensive schemes strengthened the defense in Week 6 and fostered a unique bond with head coach Todd Bowles.

“I did something, we were playing Los Angeles against the Rams and I did something where I won via the B-gap and almost got sacked,” Vea said. “We had a blitz that would have worked perfectly if we had just executed it because I knew what the guard was thinking, so I was like, ‘Okay, beat the guard this way.’ The way the blitz is set up, it would have worked perfectly because I blew it and beat him over the edge, and then it was like Bowles and I had telepathy in that moment because he called exactly what I was thinking. I got to the sidelines and said, “That was the perfect decision.” He said, “I saw what you just did. » They only see what they see on the touches and what they see on the jumbotron so we can have a complete analysis of the game, what’s happening and how they’re trying to beat us. You get a feel for the team’s training system and that’s what really helped being in that system because you really know it like the back of your hand now. »