SirVocea Dennis Is Not A Starter (Yet?)
September 18th, 2024
Linebacker SirVocea Dennis.
One huge takeaway Joe had from the dominant defensive performance against Detroit was the play of second-year linebacker SirVocea Dennis.
The guy came off the bench and was everywhere. And man, did he hit! Dennis had 10 tackles. Only Bucs safety Justin Whitehead had more.
Joe thought the Dennis performance was very, very impressive. So much so, Joe noted during the game on Twitter that if Dennis isn’t careful, he could become a starter.
Well, that won’t happen. Yet.
Not Sunday when the Bucs host the Broncos at 1 p.m. Joe asked Bowles about Dennis potentially starting and Bowles believes it is best for K.J. Britt to start and Dennis at to relieve him.
“SirVocea will come in and we’ll use him as we use him, cause we need both of them,” Bowles said of Britt and Dennis rotating.
Dennis, who had 101 snaps on defense last year (Joe was surprised it was that high), responded to Joe’s starting question in the locker room. He seems content with at least getting on the field.
“Whatever Coach Bowles has in store for me this season, I will be ready for whatever he says,” said Dennis, who looks more like an assistant accounting professor at a suburban junior college than an NFL player. “The way I am playing now is a good fit for me.
“I’m starting on special teams and still doing things on defense.”
So why the jump in quality of play and snaps? The biggest reason for Joe seems to be health. Last year, Dennis always seemed hurt. And he was dinged up in training camp/preseason this summer.
Now healthy, it was easy to see on Sunday how Dennis was making a true impact.
Dennis thinks he’s improved just being around the Bucs. He quickly cited being more comfortable in Bowles’ defense this year as to why he’s making boatloads of plays.
“Everything [Bowles] has for me and has in store for me, I will be ready,” Dennis said. “For now, I’m good with that.”
And Bucs fans are good with the results.
September 18th, 2024 at 4:36 pm
Bowles is using Dennis primary on passing situations.
September 18th, 2024 at 4:36 pm
He looks better the more he plays. Very fast, way more athletic than Britt(and even Lavonte at this point). And he lays the lumber as well. He was a great blitzer in college so i’d still like to see that translate. But Bowles is right, we’re going to need all of these guys. Maybe even pull a true 3-man rotation for the 2 ILB spots to give Lavonte’s old body more longevity.
September 18th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Seems like he is giving Whitehead a run for his money in bone crushing hit. Might even be leading the way.
Dennis is the real deal, with him staying healthy and being used correctly, (ala DW45) all he needs to do is keep his head down and follow LVDs footsteps.
Same for Britt, Todd needs to figure out how to use him correctly cause Britt is a monster!!!
September 18th, 2024 at 5:09 pm
yes send him in to say hello to bo nix…
more than once
September 18th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
This is also a face saver for Britt, who was talked about as a natural leader, and talked about himself as much improved — and then laid an egg against the Redskins. SVD will get more snaps.
September 18th, 2024 at 5:34 pm
I like how Bowles is blitzing lvd more
September 18th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
There’s a bunch of players on the team they should be using more of. Dennis, Watts, Ramirez, Johnson (Kameron) & Williams (DJ) I’d say for sure. Williams could be the type of RB they could use like Alstott. Johnson can be used in different ways. Dennis seems like the more they use him he’ll just get better & that’s probably the same with Watts & Ramirez. If they use them more they’ll just get better. Tryon shouldn’t even be on that team anymore.
September 18th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Dennis was everywhere Sunday making plays. He’s definitely earned playing time and is going to be a surprising (at least to me) contributer this year if he stays healthy
To my eyes Izien looked great at safety also… Whitehead was a monster.
Don’t remember seeing Britt much.
September 18th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Kids a missle out there hitting everything! He’ll be starting soon as will bucky
September 18th, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Another hit for Licht. He’s shaping up to be the best GM in the NFL with his track record.
September 18th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
You don’t to tell Bucs fans that Bowles is big on waiting too long to do what makes sense. Britt is the vocal leader I get him starting but he’ll still lose the snap count battle every week
September 18th, 2024 at 9:30 pm
Betting he is in line to take over for Lavonte when he calls it quits. Wouldn’t surprise me if Britt is in the long term plans at his current position. They’re both still young and Bowles loves continuity
September 18th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
@OR Buc I think you’re spot on.
September 18th, 2024 at 11:03 pm
I dont think the Bucs win the game without the clutch SirVocea Dennis tackle late on that screen play cause Lavonte was blocked and slow Greg Gaines wasnt gonna be able to catch the RB……well done keep it up.
September 19th, 2024 at 2:03 am
I’m not too surprised, just by precident. How long did it take Britt to unseat White last year? Britt will have more than enough chances to be The Guy especially in a contract year. That being said he better step up, cuz Dennis is coming in hot.
September 19th, 2024 at 6:48 am
Sirvocea has been awesome. He’s going to be a star very soon.
September 19th, 2024 at 8:16 am
The media obsession with starter vs non-starter is boring. Who gives a flip that Voss comes in on the 2nd play of the game instead of the 1st? A coach that is worrying about changing the rotation to “reward” a player for a couple of good games is not focused on the right things. If the dude keeps outplaying his counterparts week after week, the coach will naturally adjust the rotation without the media’s help.
September 19th, 2024 at 9:03 am
4TH QUARTER VS DETROIT
SirVocea, Izhein, and Zyon won the game in the 4th. SirVocea made every play around the LOS. If Bowles wants to save SirVocea for the 4th, I’m good with it.
SirVocea = The Closer
BTW: Two games into the season haven’t looked good for LVD. He’s getting washed by OL. Never seen that before. This is his last season.
September 19th, 2024 at 10:24 am
This D needs both of them, and it might even help LVD extend his career into next year if they can go to a more even three-man rotation.
September 19th, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Bitts’ a turtle watching the play go by. SVD will probably take over from LVD but Bitt is not the future. Good leader but middling player. Speed kills.