Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea has already taken measures to have his best season to date in 2024. He slimmed down this offseason, looking noticeably trimmer at mandatory mini-camp after switching up his workout routine and relying on his old pal Ndamukong Suh for help.

So, what kind of Vita Vea can we expect this season? At least a player who is trying to make an even bigger impact than what he already makes on the team. Having the help of fellow defensive tackle Calijah Kancey should provide assistance, but he also wants to take matters into his own hands.

Vita Vea Sets A Very High Goal For 2024

Vea recently went on the Green Light Podcast and did an interview with former Bucs teammate Beau Allen, who was in Tampa Bay with Vea for 2018 (Vea’s rookie season) and 2019. The podcast is hosted by former NFL edge rusher Chris Long, but Allen is a frequent contributor on the show and hosted this conversation. When they get on the topic of the upcoming season, Vea said he is looking to be even better in a spot where he’s excelled previously.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Titans QB Will Levis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“My biggest goal, I think I’ve had the same couple years is to try to reach double digits in sacks,” Vea told Allen. “I think that’s my biggest goal. I think it’s attainable for me, I think I just got to lock it in a little bit more, especially just watching film, like ‘Dang, (I’m) missing this play.’

“There’s a couple sacks, a couple freebies that you miss, like if I didn’t miss that sack or if I was just there a second quicker, just trying to hone in on my pass rushing, watching film and stuff like that. Studying the playbook to make sure I could be able to achieve that. I think it’s right there, just got to take the next couple steps to get there.”

Vita Vea has put in a lot of work to get his sack numbers to improve over the years. The real turn began in 2021 when he doubled his sacks from two to four, making his first Pro Bowl. The next year, he led the Bucs defense with 6.5 sacks, which was his career best. He followed that up with 5.5 sacks in 2023, putting him third on the team behind just Antoine Winfield Jr. at six and Yaya Diaby at 7.5.

Can Vita Vea Reach 10 Sacks This Season?

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

The way Vita Vea has improved physically and fundamentally to increase his sack production can leave one to believe that he can reach at least 10 sacks this season. If Vea were to reach it this season, he would be only the third Bucs defensive tackle to have double-digit sacks in a year, joining Warren Sapp, who did it twice with 12.5 in 1999 and 16.5 in 2000, and Santana Dotson, who recorded 10 in 1992.

Former Bucs defensive tackles Gerald McCoy, David Logan and Brad Culpepper all came very close as McCoy and Logan each produced 9.5 in a season and Culpepper had nine.

Any reason that Vea may not reach his goal this season might even be out of his hands. The Bucs are expected to have an improved defensive front this year as fellow defensive tackle Calijah Kancey can hopefully begin his second NFL year healthy while Diaby will get a full season as a starter instead of halfway through. The other outside linebacker is also expected to have better production, whether it’s Chris Braswell, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts or another.

Vea was the sack leader in 2022 because he needed to be, but it’s not the only thing he’s asked to do. The Bucs have several ways to get to the quarterback, as evidenced by Todd Bowles blitzes that constantly send the likes of Winfield at safety and the middle linebackers, so Vea doesn’t necessarily have to carry the bulk of the responsibility in order for Tamp Bay to be successful getting to the quarterback this season.

Check out the entire episode with Vita Vea speaking with Allen on the Green Light Podcast below. It has a lot of great moments that include Vea reminiscing with Allen about their time as teammates, what Baker Mayfield has meant for the current team, a hilarious Super Bowl story and much more.