Commanders mu st outnumber and out-think Vita Vea to secure playoff success

The Commanders can't let rookie Jayden Daniels see Vea bearing down on him this way. Protecting the signal-caller, not to mention Washington's running backs, means the blocking schemes must be designed to double him at the point of attack. That'll require putting two bodies on the space-hogger immediately off the ball.

There's no need to get cute and have one guy block Vea early, only to pass him off to a second blocker. The beefy veteran is too clever with his hands and varied with his short-area quickness to fall for what is essentially a one-on-one matchup in two parts.

It's better to engulf Vea early and deny him daylight by putting a blocker on each shoulder. This play by the Kansas City Chiefs from 2022, highlighted by former Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, is a good example of how it's done.

Chiefs center Creed Humphrey hit Vea head-on, while left guard Joe Thuney smacked into No. 50 from the side. The double contact shifted him off his spot and out of the running lane.

Swap Humphrey and Thuney for Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti, and this is how the Commanders can approach attacking Vea. Biadasz is back ahead of playing a vital role on the road, but he'll need regular help from both Allegretti and right guard Sam Cosmi.

Vea demands two bouncers to keep him out of the backfield, but he's still good enough to make his plays. The Commanders must keep the 29-year-old chasing shadows. They can do it in a couple of ways.

Jayden Daniels needs quick release to beat the bull rush

Logging seven sacks represents a career-high mark for Vea, but there's nothing sophisticated about how he rushes the passer. He usually wins one way, via the bull rush.

Vea's ability to push offensive linemen back into the laps of opposing quarterbacks means Daniels can't waste time in the pocket. If he holds the ball, the transformative first-year signal-caller will suffer a similar fate to the one New Orleans Saints rookie Spencer Rattler fell victim to in Week 18.

The best way to beat the bull rush from Vea is to use a quick release. Daniels needs short, immediate throws into the middle of the Buccaneers defense.

As luck would have it, that's just where Tampa's coverage is most vulnerable, according to ESPN's Matt Bowen:

The Buccaneers have the most zone-heavy defense in the NFL, playing it on 71.7% of opponent dropbacks. They really lean on Cover 3, specifically, using it 34.7% of the time. In these spots, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can set up quarterback Jayden Daniels with leveled high-to-low reads to hammer the middle of the field, getting the ball out with speed. Daniels has completed 72.3% of his passes on middle-of-the-field throws under 15 air yards. These quick-hitters -- with Daniels reading the second level -- work.Matt Bowen, ESPN

With Bowen also pointing out that the Buccaneers have "allowed 8.5 yards per attempt on throws inside the numbers," this is a game for Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey, or Jamison Crowder (if healthy) to thrive.

Keeping Vea gassed in the pass-rush will be important. It'll also be necessary to have a plan for No. 50 in the running game.

Commanders need to move and hit in the run game

Those side-on hits Vea should take from guards can be matched by wham blocks by tight ends as part of the Commanders' ground schemes. Incumbent John Bates is one of the best blockers on the team and he should spend a lot of time at fullback in this one.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can motion Bates to get a running start and slam into the middle of the Buccaneers' defensive line post-snap. His block, in combination with either the center or a guard, will keep Vea doubled via the added benefit of some confusing window dressing.

Another way to keep Vea off balance would be to risk trapping the monster 0-technique. Perhaps by having Biadasz turn away and let a guard slant into him from the blindside, while Bates hits the other as an offset fullback.

Having people flash across Vea's face and contact him from multiple angles can create the creases inside the Commanders will need to exploit to get their running game going and protect Daniels with some game-winning balance.