Several Tampa Bay Buccaneers players are experiencing firsthand the real strength of defensive tackle Vita Vea, with some offering humorous comparisons.
Vea has been a dominant force throughout the Bucs training camp as the team works to strengthen its defensive interior. The 6-foot-4, 347-pound nose tackle consistently overpowers blockers in one-on-one drills.
After Saturday’s training, Bucs reporter Brianna Dix shared DE Logan Hall’s remarks on Vea’s strength.
Dix wrote:
“When asked about his powerful teammate going against second-year center Graham Barton in one-on-one pass rush drills, Logan Hall laughed and likened Vea to one of the most famously huge and powerful touchstones in popular culture.”
Here’s what Hall said:
“I mean this is no knock on Graham but Vita is just different. You cannot stop him if he doesn’t want you to. Two-on-on, one-on-one, if he puts his hat down and he just goes, it is like trying to stop the Titanic. No knock on Graham, Graham is a hell of a player, but Vita is just Vita.”
The Titanic comparison might sound unusual, but it reflects how players feel when they see Vea in practice.
This isn’t the first time Bucs fans have heard players praise Vea’s sheer power.
In February, Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs said that when Vea’s “momentum gets going” in a 1-on-1, “you cannot stop it.”
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, Vea has been a key pillar of Tampa Bay’s rush defense. In 2024, Vea posted a career-high 7.0 sacks and generated 47 pressures, ranking seventh among all defensive tackles.
