The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs.

This week’s topic: Who Is The Bucs’ Unsung Hero Through The First Four Games?

Scott Reynolds: ILB Kevin Minter

The obvious hero is Tampa Bay outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who has an NFL-leading nine sacks in four games. But who is the Bucs’ unsung hero – the guy that doesn’t get the praise or publicity, but has done a very good job in the first quarter of the season? Let’s find out.

Tampa Bay parted ways with Kwon Alexander, the team’s four-year starter at middle linebacker, this offseason when he was able to land a lucrative contract worth $13 million per season in free agency. The Bucs replaced Alexander by drafting LSU inside linebacker Devin White with the fifth overall pick and immediately inserted him as the team’s starter. White has even been hyped as a preseason pick for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by some media outlets.

Yet in the first quarter of Tampa Bay’s Week 2 game at Carolina, White suffered a knee sprain that has kept him out ever since. In stepped the veteran Minter, who spent two years with Todd Bowles and four years with Bruce Arians in Arizona, and recorded nine tackles in three quarters in a 20-14 upset of the Panthers. The 28-year old Minter also had an interception of Cam Newton in that game, but it was negated by a penalty. Minter, a noted run stuffer, dropped 10 pounds this offseason to get quicker and more agile in pass coverage, and it shows.

Bucs ILB Kevin Minter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Through the three games, Minter has compiled 19 tackles, which is tied for fourth on the team with defensive backs Jordan Whitehead (19) and M.J. Stewart (19), and behind outside linebacker Shaq Barrett (20), defensive back Carlton Davis (21) and fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David (30) despite playing in five less quarters. Minter also has two passes defensed this season, and a huge hit on Rams QB Jared Goff on fourth down last week that led to Barrett’s interception.

The Bucs’ front seven hasn’t missed a beat with Minter’s veteran presence as he fills in for White. He’s handled the play calls and audibles, and he’s made a huge presence against the run in the middle of Tampa Bay’s defensive front, which has the league’s best run defense, allowing just 59.2 yards per game. The Bucs defense is also ranked ninth on third down defense (35 percent), and Minter has also been an unsung hero in that capacity as well. I got to know Minter doing the PR Bucs Camp Diary this summer and I knew that he was ready to step in like he has.

Mark Cook: RG Alex Cappa

Offensive line play isn’t sexy. O-linemen either do their jobs and are rarely heard from, or they mess up as couple times a game and stick out like a sore thumb. So far in 2019, the name Alex Cappa has rarely been heard – and that’s a good thing.

G Alex Cappa – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Cappa came to the Buccaneers as a rookie from little known Humboldt State in 2018, the comparisons to Ali Marpet were inevitable. Small school guy starring at the Senior Bowl, played tackle in college, going to step right in and be an impact starter. But Marpet’s path and success in the NFL was more of an anomaly than the norm. Expecting Cappa to jump right in and be another Marpet was unfair. Cappa struggled mightily in 2018 as a rookie to the point he couldn’t even beat out Caleb Benenoch, who isn’t even with the team this year, at right guard.

But we saw offensive line coach Joe Gilbert spending extra time nearly every practice this offseason working with Cappa individually, and sources told us Cappa was as improved as anyone on the team. Skepticism abounded, at least with myself. Cappa’s rookie year was bad, but he’s improved to the point of being a quality starter in the NFL this year, and that’s a good thing.

Through four games Cappa hasn’t been perfect. But he also hasn’t been heard from. And as an offensive lineman that means he is doing his job, and doing it pretty well.

Trevor Sikkema: DL William Gholston

I’m not going to lie, I really did think that Gholston’s time in Tampa Bay way running out about two years ago. In previous defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s defense, Gholston just could not find his place to consistently contribute. Now he’s one of the constants on the Buccaneers defensive line.

Bucs DE William Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Now playing in a defensive end role in the Bucs base 3-4 defense with Todd Bowles at the helm, Gholston has been freed up to do what he does best in one-on-one situations. Gholston has already recorded 10 tackles and four quarterback hits, a number that is on pace to double his career high at this point. He also had his first sack of the season on Jared Goff in Tampa Bay’s 55-40 win at Los Angeles last week.

In a defensive line that wasn’t returning much familiarity, this team needed Gholston to step up, and he certainly has. He’s been a key piece of this defensive line rotation, and he seems to be playing at a higher level at age 28 than he was even when he was younger. Gholston said himself earlier this season that playing in this defense is a lot of fun. He looks like he’s having fun out there, and his production is proving it.

Matt Matera: SS Jordan Whitehead

The Bucs had a couple of question marks at the safety position entering the 2019 season with a foot injury to Justin Evans, but Whitehead quickly proved that he is more than capable of being a starter at strong safety for the Bucs. Whitehead has taken major steps forward in his second year holding down his starting position. He looks comfortable and understands the game better each week. He also anticipating the play before it’s fully able to develop.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Getty Images

Whitehead is excellent at making open field tackles, especially when in the box. He’s done a good job of attacking gap assignments and has made an impact when assigned to blitz. He’s been a big part of why the Bucs have a league best 59.2 yards per game in run defense.

In a time when it’s tougher to lay big hits in the NFL, Whitehead still brings the hammer when tackling his opponents. But it’s his pass defense where arguably he’s taken his biggest strides this season. Through four games, Whitehead has a team-high four pass breakups, which included three in the Bucs’ 55-40 upset win over the Los Angeles Rams. He also had his first career interception in that game, taking it back for 11 yards.

Outside of Shaq Barrett and Lavonte David, Whitehead has been one of the best players on the Bucs’ defense this season. While Barrett is getting the headlines, Whitehead has been making a lot of plays and should be considered an unsung hero. This included something as simple as blitz in the fourth quarter of the Rams game where White soared into the air and knocked down the pass from Jared Goff. Had he not jumped, there’s a chance the pass gets completed, but Whitehead made sure it didn’t happen. On the season, Whitehead has 19 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception and a ton of confidence in what he can do. He’ll only improve as the season continues.

Taylor Jenkins: DT Vita Vea

Vea’s numbers through this point in the season won’t jump off of the stat sheet, but the work that he’s done in the trenches for the Bucs has been invaluable throughout the first four games of the season. Vea has nine total tackles, but also has five quarterback hits through four games.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Vea has been tasked with lining up at nose tackle alongside Ndamukong Suh to plug up the interior of the line and create space for blitzing linebackers to attack up the middle, as well as to occupy blockers that allow edge rushers like Shaq Barrett to consistently get one-on-one match-ups, something that has proved to be key with Barrett having nine sacks through Tampa Bay’s first four games.

In addition to his work as a pass rusher, Vea’s play against the run has been elite. Despite running through a gauntlet where the Bucs faced Pro Bowl running backs in Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley over a three-week span, the Buccaneers have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game to their opponents at just 59.2 yards per game, which ranks first in the NFL.

Vea, Tampa Bay’s 2018 first-round pick, has been a disruptive force in both pass rushing and defending the run, easing the minds of many Bucs’ fans following a lackluster and injury-impacted rookie season.