Joe can’t remember the last time former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger of NFL Network didn’t include highlights of a Bucs defender for his Twitter breakdowns of Tampa Bay games.
And that defender is Vita Vea. The Bucs’ nose tackle was dominant Sunday against the Eagles.
Want to know why Logan Hall had his first full-sack since 2022? Want to know why YaYa Diaby had his first sack on Sunday? Look no further than Vea.
The Eagles couldn’t handle him. On at least one play at the point of the snap, the Eagles triple-teamed (!) Vea. He was a complete mismatch.
And of course, if you double or triple Vea, with the constant blitzing by Todd Bowles, there aren’t enough bodies to take out Vea and Lavonte David or Tykee Smith and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Diaby and Hall.
No wonder Jalen Hurts was rattled.
Joe loves that this defense is waiting on Calijah Kancey and Antoine Winfield to return. Just when the Bucs are hitting the toughest part of their schedule, this team might actually improve.
There is a reason why Baldinger coined the phrase “Polynesian Power” a few years ago when describing Vea.
