The Bucs’ defensive line has been battling hard with the offensive line during the team’s training camp.

In the process, it is making everyone better.

The adage goes that “iron sharpens iron,” and this expression has been on full display.

Looking at what it means this season, nose tackle Vita Vea and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey will be the biggest pieces in making sure the defense brings it – while also bringing the offensive line up to speed. So far, both sides seem pleased with the progress that’s been made.

Vita Vea And Calijah Kancey Helping Bucs’ O-Line Get Better

Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Both Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have been giving the offensive line fits – but they don’t seem to mind. Instead, the offensive line sees the battles they have every day as a way to get better and prepare for what they’ll face in the regular season.

They will be engaging in a heavyweight match as soon as Week 1 when the Bucs play against the Commanders. Washington possesses quite a formidable defensive front led by Pro Bowl defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne as well as rookie second-round pick Johnny Newton.

“They’re two very good players and they bring different aspects to the pass rush,” left guard Ben Bredeson said last week on practicing against Kancey and Vea. “With Calijah, we were just talking afterward, it was a great battle today going back and forth. It’s great that we can have that camaraderie. We can talk about, ‘This is what I did on this set, how did you read it?’ And kind of work off each other.

“Everybody’s getting better. They’re great defensive linemen and great pass-rushers. Vita’s play speaks for itself; I don’t really need to go in on that one too much, but obviously a great player to have in the middle, and Calijah’s having a great camp. It’s a battle every day out there.”

Rookie offensive guard Elijah Klein added that facing them is difficult, but it helps.

“Obviously, it’s difficult because they’re super great players,” Klein said. “It helps a lot being able to have that really tough competition day-in-and-day-out because if not, you wouldn’t be climbing.”

During Wednesday’s practice, Vea tested another rookie – first-round pick Graham Barton. In one-on-ones, he got the better of him.

While some might be concerned by what they see, Todd Bowles is not.

Bucs C Graham Barton and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think Graham is coming along great,” Bowles said after practice. “He’s getting a lot of work from Vita, he’s getting a lot of work from Kancey. He’s getting quick guys, he’s getting strong guys right now. Just understanding the blocking scheme and how people are going to attack him is great experience for him.”

Barton spoke last week and thinks that losing reps will help him learn, and as he starts to win them, it will only build him up. In his case, learning from the best and adjusting now will only aid in him becoming a better player in the long run.

“It’s fun – it’s awesome to go against guys like that now, because they’re some of the best in the league, and around the league, that I’ll see all year,” Barton said. “Being able to go against guys like that, it’s sort of the sink-or-swim mentality. You either lose a rep and you learn from it against those guys or you win a rep and you build a little bit of confidence.

“I think building on that and being able to go against those guys over and over will make me a better player. I’m super grateful for guys like Vita and Calijah and all those guys in that room – we’ve got a super talented D-line. It’s really awesome to get to see that every day.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles, NT Vita Vea Bullish On Calijah Kancey’s Impact

Ben Bredeson put it best last week when discussing Vita Vea in that his play “speaks for itself.” The big nose tackle has wreaked havoc up the middle since entering the NFL in 2018. While Vea has slimmed down and looks primed for a big year, so is his younger counterpart on the defensive line.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

For Calijah Kancey, it’s his turn to give opposing offenses a hard time. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles spoke this week about how the second-year defensive lineman has been faring in training camp in the first couple of weeks.

“Calijah has been playing great,” Bowles said. “He understands everything, he’s playing faster. We’ve got to pull him off a lot, but he’s doing a lot of things for us the right way.”

Not only is the already explosive defensive tackle playing faster, but he is also developing further chemistry playing next to Vea.

“I think they’re figuring out each other’s game and they know how to help each other and set up offensive linemen a lot better than they did in the past when they were rookies,” Bowles added. “Both have missed some time here and there, but right now, they’re on the same page and it’s going well.”

The team was high enough on Kancey’s talent to make him the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a promising rookie year, the belief inside the building is that he could be special. Good things take time, but Vea is excited to see just how good he is with a year under his belt.

“Calijah, he’s always had the talent, ever since he got here,” Vea said. “I think the biggest step for him is his knowledge in the game [and] how much quicker everything is coming for him. I think the game is slowing down for him. I think we’ll see how good he’ll be this year.”