SirVocea Dennis Needs To Start Playing Smarter
September 28th, 2025
Sad plays in first half.
SirVocea Dennis may look like a grad assistant biology professor at USF, but he played the first half against the Eagles like a dropout from Manatee High School.
Remember back in the good ol’ days this summer when Bucs types repeatedly tried to tell anyone who would listen they were good at inside linebacker beside Lavonte David? Fun times!
Well, instead, Anthony Walker was released on an injury settlement (due to a non-football injury) and now the Bucs are relying on Dennis.
Boy, his head was anywhere but at The Licht House in the first half today. Twice Dallas Goedert took a shovel pass from Jalen Hurts on short-yardage and both times ran right past Dennis for touchdowns.
Then there was the horrific play where Dennis was chasing Saquon Barkley when Jalen Hurts damn near ran up Dennis’ backside with a 29-yard run. If Dennis had a lick of awareness he may have gotten Hurts tackled without getting a first down. Instead, it looked like Hurts was chasing Dennis down the right sideline.
Embarrassing! Appalling!
Damn near every week either Dennis is getting fried by passes in the middle of the field or he has made some silly play where his head was firmly implanted in his poop chute.
Once Dennis settles down in games, he plays fine. Almost always in the first half of games this year, Dennis has cost the Bucs points.
Joe hopes Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s staff is closely monitoring college inside linebackers for next spring’s draft.
September 28th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
He’s a problem. Where’s the guy that looked like an all pro vs Detroit last season?
Any 0-4 teams out there looking to trade an LB? Possibly more if any of the injuries today were serious.
September 28th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
put bullock in!!! svd liability
September 28th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Maybe have him start the game on the sideline.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Talk about the punt team–thats the worst problem
September 28th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Yeah, I underestimated how bad he really is
September 28th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
SVD is not the answer to any question the Bucs have.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Start looking for a punter . Twice in two games cost us . He is to slow !
September 28th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Who?
September 28th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
The starting job was handled to Dennis
He was beat out by Nick Jackson ( Who was cut)
It’s going to get worse, going forward
September 28th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
So far this year he’s playing like a fast version of KJ Britt.
Just kidding, he’s not that awful. But he’s getting there. I was OK giving him some slack coming back from injury but he needs to figure it out, and do so quickly. But it wasn’t the defense that cost the Bucs this game, so I’m not going to pretend as he made any difference today, good or bad.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
# 8 and #27( after getting paid) are both liabilities for the bucs!!
September 28th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
The whole special team unit needs first aide. IMO, that blocked punt was on the o-line. What about the first kick off of the game. It wasn’t fielded, went into to end zone and brought out to the 20 yard line. Bad play by special teams.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
You aren’t that far off.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Yeah, KJ Britt was a disaster. Dennis was the savior
September 28th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
The punter does not block, some of your criticisms are miss placed.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
This is the problem with the Joe(s) then you have “fans” who do not know football that feed off of it. On the referenced play of Dennis leaves the RB then Hurts just drops it over his head. No one knows what the coaches are telling Dennis to do, maybe he’s thinking to not get beat by the RB…duhhhhh
September 28th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Anyhony Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
The punter does not block, some of your criticisms are miss placed.
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Correct. I had the volume down and only saw one replay, but it sure looked like Otton blew the block. Not sure if Otton is always out there on the interior, or if he’s only out there because Ko got injured.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Dennis needs to get to the point where he stops missing plays like that. If he can do that – keyword “if” – then he’ll be fine in the middle. He just needs to hurry up and get there, because it’s a bit embarrassing to see him continue to have a few plays every game like that, while playing solid the rest of the time.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
He’s a 5th round pick, most don’t pan out. He was handed the job. For some reason Bowles loves him. Nothing will change. Dennis isn’t the fire starter you want in a MLB. He’s weak.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Aside from SVD, LVD’s play has unfortunately fallen off a cliff. Forget ‘difference maker’, he doesn’t even look like an average LB this season.
September 28th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Joe I couldn’t disagree more about the plays you’re talking about. Both those shovel plays were GREAT calls & designs. Other Bucs defenders were completely fooled on both of those.
The Hurts scramble you’re talking about was a man coverage call. You’re too do your job as a defender & cover your man. That’s what he did b/c if he didn’t then he’s throwing to Barkley for even more yds. Again just a good play by the offense on a running QB knowing what to do against man.
I think in the 1st half they beat the scheme more than players being the issue. We need a new special teams coach. Yea enough is enough!
September 28th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
He is who he is
We drafted EE over Jihad which wasn’t a bad move but now we don’t have anyone on the middle.
We don’t have a good backer.
54 is shell of his former self
September 28th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
It was this site and all Joe’s followers that hyped Dennis up without have enough of a sample size to make a good judgement call its still early but at least we have enough tape to finally get a good read on how bad he really is
September 28th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Biggest liability on defense and it’s not even close.
Probably the only bigger weak spot on our team is the atrocious blocking by our special teams Every. Single. Week.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
@Rod – yes Cade Patton completely whiffed on his block on that punt. It was horrendous.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
@lakelandbuc
Exactly.
He was handed the starting job because he was a draft pick.
Deion Jones should be on the field.
He has better chemistry with Lavonte. They move in unison. They see the same things.
And they are both Pro Bowlers.
Deion Jones should be starting.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
I have been beating a drum for Deion Jones to be a starter since the end of last season. In the offseason when everybody was talking about the linebacker core and nobody was mentioning him I kept saying he should be our number two. He can cover the past he has previous Pro bowl history and he’s not that old.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
He’s being actively targeted and will continue to be by opposing offenses. Seems like a good enough guy, but he’s not an NFL caliber starter.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
unbelievable Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
@Rod – yes Cade Patton completely whiffed on his block on that punt. It was horrendous.
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OK, I thought that’s what I saw. Any idea if Otton is normally blocking in those situations? I’ve never noticed him before, which could be a good thing if he has always been there.
September 28th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Who taught you guys football. He was one of the best players on field today 8 tackles 1tfl. Lb kept salmon limited all day. He saved the TD if he left his man it would have been walking for saquon
September 28th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Everybody is living up to what they need to do on defense except him. They need to start the game playing the tight coverage they played in the second half today. They do that, lookout.
But SirV unfortunately has been an issue. I thought with his speed and the way he looked briefly last year, he was going to be fantastic. He still might be, but Joe is right, he looks hesitant and loss for the first quarter if not more of each game
September 28th, 2025 at 10:07 pm
I’ve been saying if SVD ain’t who we need him 2 be by week 4 then we need 2 start Devin Jones. Our punter is a problem. Sucks 4 him because his job is 2 prevent points and any field position advantages rather than score. Which means it’s easier 2 see his faults.
September 29th, 2025 at 2:55 am
he is mediocre…nothing more to say…
and yes last years detroit game was def his coming out party
September 29th, 2025 at 8:11 am
It’s very simple, Todd. Play the right guy. Deion Jones.
September 29th, 2025 at 8:26 am
“drafted EE over Jihad which wasn’t a bad move but now we don’t have anyone on the middle.”
Jihaad was burned by Bucky on the long TD. I believe he had a 15 yard penalty at knee point as well. His INT was more the result of the tip than great coverage. Bucs fans would probably be complaining about his performance today if the role was reversed.
September 29th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
[How about you be better? You have zero clue what a headline should be. That headline perfectly encapsulates the story. Maybe try reading the story? Or, take some journalism and copy editing classes then come back to Joe. — Joe]