Buccaneers rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea had a breakout game in Sunday’s 27-9 win over the visiting San Francisco 49ers – the kind of game that general manager Jason Licht expected him to have when he made last year’s the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year Tampa Bay’s first-round pick back in April.

Vea had three tackles for loss and a sack – his second of the season – and looked like he was playing loose, playing physical and having fun on Sunday, especially when he flexed after making one of his season-high four tackles against the 49ers. That’s exactly what Licht wanted to see, which is why he had a one-on-one discussion with Vea last week to talk about shedding blocks to make more plays, being more aggressive and not worrying about making mistakes. Licht wanted to see Vea wreak havoc and have fun.

And that’s exactly what happened.

“It felt really good going out there,” Vea said. “I wasn’t thinking much – going out there and just playing.

“It’s mainly just going out there and not thinking as much. Try not to go out there, and just play. I’m not trying to think too much. Trust my ability, trust coaching and stuff like that.”

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

Vea had one of four sacks on Sunday by Tampa Bay, which now has 29 sacks on the season and is on pace to have 42, which would be the first time the Bucs have eclipsed 40 sacks since notching 44 during the 2004 campaign. After the game, Vea’s teammates were excited for his success.

“Vita played much more confidently,” said Bucs defensive end Carl Nassib, who had one of Tampa Bay’s sacks and now has 5.5 on the year. “He did a great job and I’m really proud of him.”

Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, a former first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2010, can relate to Vea’s situation when it comes to dealing with high expectations during a rookie season. Vea has come under fire from some fans who have called the rookie a “bust” and favored the Bucs drafting Florida State safety Derwin James, who has had a great rookie season in San Diego, instead.

“It feels good because we’ve all been in that situation as a rookie, trying to prove to everybody that ‘I’m the No. 1 pick – I can do it,’” Pierre-Paul said. “I think he did a great job today. He’s been doing a great job all year. Me, as a rookie when I was young, I didn’t know. I had guys teach me, but I learned as it went on. That’s why Gerald [McCoy], myself, and the vets are trying to give him that extra boost by saying, ‘Listen to us. This is what is going to work.’”

Pierre-Paul remembered Vea’s sack of 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens in the fourth quarter and helped encourage the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder to go get the quarterback right before the snap.

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

“That play was very special,” Pierre-Paul said. “I told him to ‘Just go!’ The coaches always preach to Vita – they say, ‘Go!’ He just went full force and you can see what happens when he just goes. He was making all the collar plays in the backfield today. That’s the Vita I’m looking for.”

After the game, Bucs defensive line coach Brentson Buckner was proud to see Vea turn a corner.

“He’s a nose guard and he made his plays, and that’s what it’s all about,” Buckner said. “We tell him to make the plays he’s capable of making. You don’t have to do anything spectacular. He didn’t take a magic pill to where his arms got longer and he is throwing guys away. He’s just in his gap and using his God-given ability to make plays.”

Vea didn’t share any details about his conversation with Licht, other than his production on the field.

“No comment,” Vea said. “He did, though. He helped me a lot.”

Vea, who missed virtually all of training camp, the entire preseason and the first three games of the year with a calf injury, came into Sunday with three tackles and one sack in his first seven games and doubled his production in just one game after speaking with Licht and listening to his veteran teammates like Pierre-Paul.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter laughed when asked what made Sunday’s game different for Vea, whom he had said needs to shed blocks better and make more plays.

“I think Jason Licht had a secret talk with him,” Koetter said with a smile. “You can ask Jason exactly what he said. I told Jason I would give him a complete list of guys to talk to next week.”