X-Factor: SirVocea Dennis
June 8th, 2025
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis.
There are more than a couple of X-factors for this Bucs season.
One can choose from new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, new defensive line coach Charlie Strong, Emeka Egbuka, Mike Evans, Haason Reddick, Jacob Parrish, Jamel Dean or Antoine Winfield, among others.
But former Football Outsiders scribe and former Stinking Panthers beat writer J.P. Acosta, who appeared on Mina Kimes’ podcast recently, seems to think SirVocea Dennis is the Bucs’ X-factor this fall.
After Dennis got hurt against the Lions, per Acosta, the middle of the defense was downright atrocious the rest of the way.
“I’m gonna go full hipster pick here,” Acosta said. “I’m going to go with SirVocea Dennis. And the reason I’m going with Dennis is because [the Bucs] didn’t add a lot to that off-ball linebacker room during the offseason, they added Anthony Walker Jr, which I thought was surprising.
“[The Bucs] were one of the worst teams in the NFL at defending the middle of the field, especially after SirVocea Dennis got hurt, he missed the rest of the season. They gave up the six-highest DVOA over the middle of the field. They were 28th DVOA against running backs and tight ends.
“And the problem wasn’t the defensive structure, it was their personnel. You have J.J. Russell and K.J. Britt trying to chase down by running backs and tight ends, and that’s just not going to be sustainable at all.”
Acosta added if folks didn’t know the middle of the Bucs defense was its Achilles heel in 2024, they surely found out against the Commandos with a good quarterback and a good offense in the playoffs.
“All [the Commandos] were doing was just hammering the middle of the field because Lavonte David had to blitz all the time. He was the one blitzing.”
With Dennis on the field, Acosta said, David can be free to cover and do all sorts of other things. And, Acosta added, at this stage of David’s career, he may be a faster blitzer than David.
“Having two guys who are capable at blitzing and playing in coverage allows Todd Bowles to get a whole lot more creative with that defense,” Acosta said. “I think Dennis and his ability to play at coverage is going to make a huge difference for this Bucs defense.”
That’s if he stays healthy, and he hasn’t been that guy through two seasons. And it wasn’t just his shoulder..
That’s the only question mark Joe has with Dennis, and it is a big one. Dennis can be the next Derrick Brooks but if he can’t get on the field, it doesn’t matter a hill of black beans and yellow rice how good he is.
Acosta isn’t the only one surprised the Bucs didn’t draft a quality inside linebacker as insurance for Dennis.
Multiple people with the Bucs, from the top down to assistant coaches, have said on and off the record consistently in the wake of the draft, they are not worried about inside linebacker.
With an improved and deeper secondary, if Dennis can stay on the field for, say, 15 games, this defense could be considerably better.
Yes, if.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:09 am
He’ll last 4 games. That’s it.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Im rooting for him obviously
He was a difference maker on the team when on the field, lets pray they fixed it
June 8th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Big year coming up for Voss!
I’m more worried about Lavonte missing games than Dennis this year.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Related: What if David goes down, or plays down due to age?
One off-ball linebacker injury is a huge problem. Two is a disaster.
Murphy better not visit the Bucs . . .
June 8th, 2025 at 8:45 am
I sure hope this Walker guy can play. He is almost certain to get a few games in. They have that Vii guy, but I’m not familiar with him. There was some other UDFA people were lauding, but I never heard of him.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Aside from Walker I don’t think the Bucs wanted to draft any of the so called top shelf ILBs Joe. After looking at them before the draft there was one maybe and he ended up at 31. Not sure why we didnt like him at 19. Glad we got Buka but…
Go Bucs!
June 8th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Garro, Campbell out of Bama went to Philly at 31. Since the draft I read somewhere his recovery from shoulder surgery is going slower than expected.
I was pretty surprised we didn’t select a starting caliber ILB. Could be that guy just wasn’t available when we were on the clock. Still thinking we may pick up an ILB and safety before season starts.
June 8th, 2025 at 9:19 am
What I am reading on Jihaad Campbell (the potential ILB that fans were clamoring for at 19) is that he needs a 2nd shoulder surgery.
So, it turns out the the medical exam(s) showed not only the left shoulder tear but also a right shoulder tear.
Campbell has been present at OTAs, though he’s not participating in team drills.
Vic Fangio said Jihaad Campbell “won’t see the practice field until some time in August.”
It is the Eagles plan to have him play at some point this season but it appears that he seems less likely to be ready to start the season than many other 1st round draft choices.
Then he is to have the 2nd surgery on his right shoulder after the season. I have to guess (I am guessing) that the left shoulder tear was more severe and that is why he had that shoulder done first.
June 8th, 2025 at 9:25 am
I know this is not the point of the story, but the statement “I’m gonna go full hipster pick here”….what does that even mean? Could someone explain? I’m too old I guess.
June 8th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Deon Jones and Anthony walker will fill In just fine if need be. Hopefully not needed but I think nucs are happy with the top 4.
June 8th, 2025 at 11:00 am
I understand re-signing Godwin but I think I would’ve done it for just a year for now just to wait & see how everything ends up with him right now instead of a three year deal. They could’ve used that extra $$$$ on the other two years of that contract to go after another LB or some more secondary help. That’s probably part of the reason they decided to draft Egbuka, too!
June 8th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Acosta is right. I always wondered why we didn’t say screw it and put in a safety-type body for Britt. We were stopping the run just fine, and it’s not like Britt was making ten tackles. Need to think outside the box more. No, pun wasn’t intended lol.
June 8th, 2025 at 11:03 am
I hope we address LB depth in FA. Big time Achilles heel.
June 8th, 2025 at 11:34 am
If Winfield can stay healthy that will help the ILB issue as well. The dude is basically a linebacker in a DB’s body. If the DB room is as improved as is being touted… and can stay healthy… I’d expect a lot more Nickel and Dime packages and Winfield blitzing more. It’ll be a fun season to watch for sure.
June 8th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Voss was known as a good blitzer at Pit. Bowles hasn’t had him blitz much at all. With LVD and Voss on the field, you could keep defenses guessing about who will blitz.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Having a HEALTHY Dennis and Winfield Jr on the field is the difference between a 10 win season and a 12 win season.
Both are pro bowl capable players
June 8th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Aqualung … ‘I hope we address LB depth in FA. Big time Achilles heel.’
Agree 100%, and I bet that the Bucs will be keeping a close eye on who becomes available as cutdowns occur. We’ve got almost $30 mil in CAP space to play with, so if the need (and opportunity) arises, JL has us in position to make a play. Personally hoping that the same thing occurs for adding a beastly NT/DT to rotate in with Vita Vea (we need better depth there too).
June 8th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
‘Wasn’t just his shoulder’ is true but kinda misleading. His first year he had a hamstring strain one game and got the flu for a game. 2 games. It was mainly his shoulder. He hasn’t been one of those players that gets injured every game. He should be fine now that he got that shoulder surgery.
June 8th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
I think the Bucs liked Schwesinger and Demetrius Knight but they got scooped up prior to their 2nd round pick. They just liked the guys on the roster better than Mondon or Bassa. I think it’s a sign of growth of this organization. The old Bucs would have panicked and over drafted a ILB just because of the perceived need. Instead they covered themselves case a ILB didn’t drop to them by adding FA Walker jr. and resigning Deon Jones back.
June 8th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
Hey Alanbucfan,
I agree with your optimistic outlook on Dennis. Of Course we could be wrong. But I Don’t think so…
To me, Dennis has looked extra impressive. After I took a good look once we drafted him, He’s a Real “Dark Horse”! I think we may have Stold this guy in the 5th round.
I kept trying to figure out Why he was still available so late in the draft? If you watch his college film, it becomes Clear that he’s a Natural and he Loves to Missile guys But it wasn’t so much that. He was Always around the ball. Tons of tackles, Tons of Instict, and a Leader in the middle.
It turned out the reason was he didn’t look the part. Undersized, and didn’t mind Blowing Himself Up! And it cost him dearly when the draft came around because he Was nicked up by then. I doubt most teams even had him on their boards. BUT WE DID! And for a Very Good Reason…
If he wraps himself in at least 10/15lbs of Muscled Up Armor…. and Avoid so much damage to Himself (because he’s selfless on the field) this year and “finally avoid” so much damage, …. I’m telling you and anybody listening that this guy Dennis, WILL BE a Pro Bowler. I’m telling you….
I think his draft class is about to SHINE EVEN BRIGHTER than it already does.
In fact when Dennis was healthy for the most part in college, playing right behind Kancey, They were a Devastating One Two Punch! Those guys Already know how to work together in tandem because they’ve been working Together For Years…
(Actually “Pretty Cool” that both he and Kancey are now starters on the BEST TEAM in Football)
I have a Strong “Hopeium” feeling that THIS IS Dennis’ year and Jason Licht’s drafting record just sores right up into the rarefied air of “Drafting Genius”
I’m not sure HOW Jason Licht got so good at drafting but with the OUT Of the BLUE Success he’s had in the last 3/4 years, it Looks Like something akin to “Making A DEAL with the Devil”!
Licht Must Have went to the Cross Roads! Because like many have asserted, he just might have been sitting on a “Very Warm Seat” in 2018/ 2019. I’d say that right about now, his seat is Frozen in Ice and pretty much the only thing that could get him fired is sleeping with the Glazer wives… Or, he may get a Bonus 🙂
Just Amazing work by Licht.. Stunning Turn Around!
And Dennis is going to show us “this year” just why we Stold him in the 5th round…