Did The Bucs Find Lavonte David’s Successor?
May 15th, 2023
Bucs rookie ILB SirVocea Dennis.
It warmed Joe’s heart when franchise icon Lavonte David was brought back this spring, his 12th in the NFL, all with the Bucs.
It would not surprise Joe one bit if 2023, for 33-year-old David, is his final NFL season. There just aren’t many 34-year old linebackers.
So the fact the Bucs drafted rookie SirVocea Dennis from Pitt in the fourth round sort of raised Joe’s eyebrow. Could Dennis, a ballhawk, be being groomed to replace David?
(Yes, Joe is sure there are readers screaming out loud that Dennis ought to replace disgruntled Devin White, who doesn’t want to be here. Joe won’t go there, but duly noted.)
First, Dennis has to make the team. Rookie minicamp ended Saturday. However, Dennis has a couple of things going for him, per Bucs coach Todd Bowles speaking on Friday.
“SirVocea played a lot of what we play here, he played in college,” Bowles said. “He’s very bright, he can play multiple spots, he can cover, he can blitz, he can scrape, he can do a lot of things and he’s a very heady football player.
“You don’t usually get that later on in the draft, so we felt good about that when we took him.”
It was what Bowles minutes later that got Joe’s attention. During the first rookie minicamp practice, which kicked off underwear football season, Dennis got a pick-six and his mitts on the ball on another play.
For Bowles, that’s big.
“Those [defensive] guys are new, too, so they’re learning the system as well,” Bowles began, discussing forcing turnovers in rookie minicamp. “You put stock in turnovers all the time – it’s always good to see them on one hand. …
“It’s the first day, I don’t put too much stock in it. Everybody is learning, trying to do the right thing, trying to do what the coaches tell you. Once they settle in and understand the entire system, I think then you start counting them that way.”
Well, the next time Dennis hits the practice field at One Buc Palace, a week from tomorrow, he’ll be facing Kyler Traskfield.
If Dennis can continue to get his hands on the ball, that will be a great sign for the rookie.
May 15th, 2023 at 12:32 am
LVD is everything you want in a player. Dennis has a great opportunity to learn from one of the best. Pay attention kid and watch lvd to see how it’s done
May 15th, 2023 at 1:32 am
I will add …I hope he has the good sense to stay far far away from the bad influences of certain other LBs at One Buc.
May 15th, 2023 at 1:33 am
If you find a HOF player in the 5th round, you just won the draft.
It’s much more likely he’s just another guy, if he even makes the team (which he almost certainly will do since the Bucs cap demands cheap players).
I asked the AI to give me a list of all the LB’s that Licht has drafted (keeping in mind this only goes through 2021)… The AI responded with the following…
“Jason Licht is the current General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is a list of all the linebackers he has drafted during his time with the Buccaneers:
Kwon Alexander – 4th round, 2015
Kendell Beckwith – 3rd round, 2017
Jack Cichy – 6th round, 2018
Devin White – 1st round, 2019
Chapelle Russell – 7th round, 2020
K.J. Britt – 5th round, 2021
It’s worth noting that Licht also signed linebacker Shaquil Barrett as an unrestricted free agent in 2019. While he was not drafted by the Buccaneers, he has become a key member of the team’s defense.”
May 15th, 2023 at 1:38 am
Looking more into the draft, I asked the AI some more information on Beckwith…
“Q: what is Kendell Beckwith RAS score?
A: Kendell Beckwith’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was 5.28 out of 10. Beckwith’s RAS was impacted by his 40-yard dash time, which was 4.81 seconds, and his vertical jump, which was 32 inches. His other scores were as follows:
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 243 lbs
Bench Press: 20 reps
Broad Jump: 111 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.28 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.64 seconds
RAS is a metric that uses a player’s measurements and athletic testing scores to create a composite score. The higher the score, the better the player’s athleticism in relation to others at their position. A RAS score of 5.28 indicates that Beckwith’s athleticism was below average compared to other linebackers in his draft class.
Q: was Kendell Beckwith hurt when he ran his 40?
A: Yes, Kendell Beckwith was recovering from a torn ACL injury when he ran his 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, which likely impacted his performance. Beckwith suffered the injury during his final season at LSU and underwent surgery in November 2016.
Despite the injury, Beckwith decided to participate in the combine drills, including the 40-yard dash, which he completed in 4.81 seconds. This time was below average for a linebacker, but it is worth noting that Beckwith was still recovering from his injury at the time and may not have been fully healthy or able to train at his maximum capacity.
Despite his slower-than-desired 40-yard dash time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Beckwith in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he went on to play in 16 games for the team as a rookie, recording 73 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. However, Beckwith suffered a serious ankle injury in a car accident after the 2017 season, which ultimately ended his NFL career.”
Now, I remember, vaguely, that Beckwith ran a slow 40,and also, vaguely, remembered that he was hurt. Amazing that rather than trying to look up that info, I just ask the AI and it knows everything — well, except when it just makes stuff up, and inserts those made up facts into real stuff, seamlessly.
May 15th, 2023 at 1:48 am
Speculation season! I get it tho.
May 15th, 2023 at 6:02 am
Well if he is to be the Lavonte David successor I hope he gets the same advice from Lavonte got from Derrick Brooks. “Don’t be Derrick Brooks!…be Lavonte David!” So to don’t try to be Lavonte David be SirVocea Dennis!
May 15th, 2023 at 6:04 am
He seems to have Cody Grimm’s football IQ. Grimm was extremely smart but not athletic at all, but cause of his high football IQ he was never out of place.
May 15th, 2023 at 7:04 am
Good Pick
May 15th, 2023 at 7:20 am
Their height, weight & speed are somewhat similar…….is it possible? Yes.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:36 am
Devin White still whining about $…
Upset that he’ll only make 11 mill this year 🙄…
What an unnecessary distraction; that’s more money than 98% of Americans will see in their lifetime smh…
Un f***king believable…
May 15th, 2023 at 8:41 am
@Rod,
Quit messing with that AI, bro, before it decimates humanity as it claims it will do.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:23 am
Ok first off SirVocea Dennis was a 5th round pick. Also who the heck is Kyler Traskfield? Doesn’t anyone edit or make sure you aren’t making multiple errors when you write something up? I feel like it just looks bad when you have incorrect information.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Why, don’t you know? He’s the Bucs quarterback this fall!
May 15th, 2023 at 11:36 am
For Traskfield’s sake I hope Dennis and David don’t get their hands on many passes at all. It’s always a dilemma I guess.
Hey Rod, thanks for the AI. Licht has drafted some damn good linebackers.
Tell the AI that New Orleans, Atlanta, and Charlotte all hate AI computers and want them all destroyed.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:47 am
@Damian, Traskfield is just the Joes’ way of saying Trask and Mayfield. Us JBFers kinda have our own lingo. And yeah, Dennis was a fifth rounder. So what?
May 15th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Joe, maybe you should consult @rods AI?
May 15th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Screw AI. We’re talking flesh and blood football players, not frigging robots. I wish Dennis the best of luck. He is trying to replace a future HOFamer, and one of my 3 fave players. LVD will retire as a Buc, and I am thrilled over it! Plus, he has his much-deserved SB ring.