The Bucs have spoken often about how tight knit of a group this team is heading into the 2024 season. But that doesn’t mean that aren’t going through at least a little bit of a transition on the defensive side. Yes, there are still leaders such as Lavonte David and Vita Vea, but several other big names and personalities have departed with the need for others to step up and fill those shoes.

The Bucs have parted ways with Shaq Barrett, Devin White and Carlton Davis III this offseason. While Tampa Bay doesn’t know exactly how it will shape out at outside linebacker opposite of Yaya Diaby, the team does have some definitive answers at inside linebacker and cornerback with K.J. Britt and Zyon McCollum.

We saw glimpses of Britt’s potential when he took over as a starter at the end of last year, and McCollum wound up playing more snaps than either Davis or the oft-injured Jamel Dean. But this will be the first year where Britt and McCollum are expected to start a full 17 games.

Vita Vea Reacts To New Bucs Additions

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

Tampa Bay also has the benefit of rising star defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who will be lining up next to Vita Vea again this season, and along with Yaya Diaby, last year’s leading sacker, on the outside. They are two key pieces for the Bucs who are expected to take an even bigger step forward in their second year together.

The Bucs have certainly gotten younger as a group, but still have grizzled vets like Vea, Lavonte David and Will Gholston as well as others to keep the group together. There’s no replacing leaders like Shaq Barrett and what he provided to the defense on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean this group can’t adjust and can’t reach the next level.

“Those are definitely good players,” Vita Vea said after practice in reference to losing starters like Barrett, Devin White and Carlton Davis III. “But with our coaches, they always say the great ones adapt. We just see what the coaches have done and the changes they’ve made, the new guys they’ve brought in, I think it’s exciting to see where it’ll take us. We’ll see when the time comes.”

Things Are “Looking Bright” For The Bucs This Season

There’s an old saying “survive and advance” that is typically used for college basketball teams during the March Madness tournament. This could also be applied to Tampa Bay over the past couple of seasons. Last year the Bucs had a team that many outsiders felt would be competing for a Top 10 draft pick when it was all said and done.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs started the season with a first-time play-caller in Dave Canales that had only been with one organization but still had a lot to prove. Even after finding a little success with a surprising 3-1 start, the Bucs lost six of the next seven games but weathered the storm to eventually win the division and a home playoff game, too.

Having won three straight NFC South championships, the Bucs are in a spot to thrive and advance this season. Tampa Bay upgraded its roster in a lot of spots on both offense and defense. The team also has at least one season of playing together, which has led to a much more crisp training camp this season than we’ve seen in recent years.

Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea gave his thoughts about how training camp has been going as well as his outlook for the team’s expectations in 2024.

“There’s obviously nothing you can do to get into football shape,” Vea said. “It takes being in it to get used to it. I think we’ve been having a good camp so far, especially the young guys taking it up to the next level. The guys that came back, they’re showing strides as well, (things are) looking bright.”