By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Staff 
Leading up to the Eagles playing the New England Patriots on February 4, Sports Talk Philly will be taking a look at the underdogs on the Eagles roster that have made their run to become the underdogs in Super Bowl LII possible.
In this edition, we will focus on Big V, offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
College Career
Vaitai was recruited by Texas Christian University (TCU) out of college. He was a 3-star prospect going into his freshman campaign and played in five games as a backup. It was during his sophomore year that he truly impressed, playing in 12 games (starting seven) while swapping between right and left tackle.
The versatility he showed proved valuable. Vaitai started all 13 games of his entire Junior year at right tackle. In his senior year, he saw 10 starts at left tackle and played in 12 games. He was selected as second-team All-Big 12 in both of those seasons.
Despite the fact that he played well and showed this versatility, it should be noted that he only played in every game in one of his four seasons at TCU which hurt his draft stock. NFL.com told the world that Vaitai was not going to be a capable starter for any team. His draft analysis on the site reads rather negatively.
“Vaitai has been a full-time starter over the last two seasons for a successful TCU squad, but doesn’t have the plus athleticism to play left tackle or the hand strength and core power to start on the right side. Despite decent technique and football intelligence, may be too lacking in physical qualities to make the NFL leap.”
2016-17 Philadelphia Eagles Campaign
When the Eagles selected Vaitai in the 5th round, the team thought he could develop and provide depth. Playing behind Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and the newly signed Brandon Brooks, Vaitai could sit the season out and develop as a better tackle.
Things did not go as planned. Lane Johnson was hit with a 10-game suspension and Vaitai became the team’s starting right tackle. In his first game against the Washington Redskins, Big V faced off against Ryan Kerrigan. It probably could not have gone much worse for the rookie as he allowed two sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles. Vaitai was labelled a bust and was all but crucified by the fans and media for his performance.
In the seven games Vaitai played, Eagles quarterbacks were sacked 16 times and the team averaged 210.28 passing yards and 117.57 rushing yards per game. Compared to the 17 sacks allowed in the other nine games and the average of 234.77 passing yards and 110 rushing yards per game, and Vaitai was not the only issue for the Eagles. His starts could have been better, but he improved over time. His performance was improving until he suffered an injury that he did not return from until week 16.
2017-18 Philadelphia Eagles Campaign
For many players, especially those that weigh as much as lineman, a lower body injury is difficult to come back from. Big V did not let that stop him, however. He stayed in shape and looked good in training camp. There isn’t much room to start at tackle when your team has Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, though, so Vaitai began the season as the backup tackle for the Eagles.
Vaitai’s versatility came into play once again this season, as the Eagles lost Jason Peters to a season ending injury in week 7. The Eagles sent Vaitai into the game and haven’t looked back since. In the six games prior to Peter’s injury, the line had allowed Wentz to be sacked 16 times. In the six games that Vaitai started with Wentz, Wentz was sacked only nine times. Nick Foles has only been sacked six times behind the line with Vaitai protecting his blind side.
Vaitai has not played up to the level of Peters, but that can simply not be expected. Jason Peters is a hall of fame left tackle, perhaps even a first ballot hall of famer. It would be wrong to expect anyone to play up to that level. Lane Johnson said it best when he told the media, “Nobody’s going to be able to replace Jason Peters. That guy’s potentially the best ever but I think Big V is going to turn into a great player. I’m happy with how he did.”
On a team that has three tight ends, including blocking ace Brent Celek, there has been help available, but it is important to note that Big V isn’t helped on every play. Head coach Doug Pederson talked to the media about Big V after the NFC Championship Game, saying he performed, “Extremely well. We did help him from time to time, but there were also times when he had to be on an island and block a tremendous defensive end who has had a heck of a year. I had a lot of confidence in V, and obviously, there are things we’ve seen in him, his maturity, his growth as a left tackle, and he played extremely well last night.”
In the first edition of the Underdogs of the Eagles, I mentioned that Mills played man to man against Julio Jones in the Divisional Round on the play that sealed the Eagles victory. It would be a massive oversight not to mention that Vaitai did something similar, except throughout the NFC championship game. The Vikings defense is a good unit anchored by Everson Griffith. Griffith lined up against Vaitai for much of the night and, although Griffith finished fourth in the NFL in sacks, he had none against Vaitai. In fact, Griffith only had two tackles and two quarterback hits. Even more impressive is that only one of those quarterback hits came against Vaitai. If you want to dress that up even further, Griffith was so well blocked, it didn’t even phase Foles that he was hit. See for yourself below.
Foles to @TheWorldof_AJ. Six points.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NPIlrQc4pl
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 22, 2018
You can see Griffith make contact with Foles on the replay, but he is so well blocked by Vaitai that Foles needed only take a half step away and he was free in the pocket again for the big touchdown to Alshon Jeffery.
From being a backup lineman for two years at TCU to a versatile tackle his final two years, Vaitai earned a chance at playing in the NFL. Despite the fact that his play in his first few games was sub-par, Big V took on the big task of replacing Jason Peters and went so far as to shut down one of the best defensive ends in the league throughout the NFC Championship game. On Sunday, he will start at left tackle in Super Bowl LII and he has most definitely earned it.
