“Back To His College Pass Rush Days”
October 29th, 2025
Todd Bowles sees another dangerous blitzer on his defense.
Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis has a sack in each of his last two games. On each one, he artfully shook a running back trying to block him. Down went Jared Goff and Spencer Rattler.
“Voss has really settled in and taken over the defense for us,” Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday. “He got through clean [on his sack in New Orleans]. He really got through clean. He beat the running back right there and got through clean and got himself a sack. He’s really starting to get back to his college pass rush days. And he’s really getting comfortable back there and you could see it.”
Dennis had 15 sacks as a blitzing linebacker during his college days at the University of Pittsburgh, including 7 as a senior.
That’s the guy the Bucs hoped they were getting when Dennis was picked in Round 5 of the 2023 draft at 6-0, 225 pounds.
It was later revealed Dennis had a shoulder issue in college that came with him to Tampa. Dennis had it surgically repaired this offseason and has played nearly every snap through Week 8.
Yes, Dennis is still a little shaky in coverage but he’s improving, despite Alvin Kamara shaking him easily for a 15-yard reception on Sunday.
Joe has high hopes that Dennis can blitz as effectively as Devin White did during his early glory days with the Bucs.
October 29th, 2025 at 9:51 am
He’s our best blitzer, one of the best I’ve ever seen. Sir Velocity Dennis.
October 29th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Okay. So he can’t cover well right now. He’s an athlete. He can be taught technique.
But right now, his blitz ability is clear. Play to that. Put an extra S in for covering backs.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:00 am
We have some great young players on this defense…..looking forward to seeing what David Walker can do next year.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Britt didn’t have the tools, SVD does, just needs reps
October 29th, 2025 at 10:19 am
MLB covering Backs and tightends has been a problem here for a loooooooooong time you’d think the GM would address that position after awhile
October 29th, 2025 at 10:23 am
I want to see us get up 20+ points again and then just blitz every down. I liked what I saw out of Chris Braswell and Markees Watts.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Maybe he’s not really an MLB. Maybe Dennis should be pass rushing and playing the run on the end and occasional pass defense.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:46 am
Lol. Please get Jordyn Brooks.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:47 am
as a 5th round pick, Dennis has developed nicely….
glad this coaching staff knows how to develop players!!!!
6-2!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 29th, 2025 at 10:54 am
I watched a lot of the Miami game Sunday! I like that Brooks. Perfect future replacement for LVD. He would match perfect with Dennis, LVD for our playoff run and for the future. Cmon Mr. Licht make it happen please!! Go Bcs
October 29th, 2025 at 10:54 am
“” I liked what I saw out of Chris Braswell and Markees Watts.””
How? Braswell had 0 tackles and 0 assists in N.O.
October 29th, 2025 at 10:56 am
todd just rambles on making up random junk, svd has been pathetic all year. liked what he saw out of braswell? what was it that he saw?
October 29th, 2025 at 11:23 am
“How? Braswell had 0 tackles and 0 assists in N.O.”
Some of us can watch players actually play, without needing stats to correlate to them being able enough to make plays or impact. Prime example, Vita Vea
October 29th, 2025 at 11:46 am
Isn’t this how LT became LT? I seem to remember he couldn’t play in coverage and turned into a feared pass rusher. Voss… the Bucs new LT?!
October 29th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Very good news! I’ve always been patient which has come in handy throughout my life. Aa a Bucs OG fan, I have needed it! JTS turned into a bust which was a bummer. I wonder if LVD has been hinting himself and the “R” word to some of these younger LBs? I know he’s been on SVD’s case.
October 29th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Stopped with Dennis he’s garbage, hey !!! Linebackers deflect a pass in zone coverage, how about breaking up a pass in man coverage show me that.
Good night and good luck. ( good movie by the way )
October 29th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Sky is blue
October 29th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
While his blitzing is good, Voss is still the weakest link in this D. His is lacking in coverage, often takes bad angles in the run game, and he whiffs on tackles too often. I still am optimistic he can improve. Dion Jones isn’t lighting it up either. I’d like to see Bullock get some snaps to see what he can do. C’mon Voss, we need you!
October 29th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
J.O.R.D.Y.N. Brooks please
Then we are ready to roll.
Also Mark Andrews and Calais Campbell lol
October 29th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Hopefully we can put NE on their back next week. Most sacked QB is coming to Tampa
October 29th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
The Bucs have been big on Dennis for certain reasons that are becoming apparent. I can see that he has a role in a rotation. And, maybe the Bucs remain convinced that the Safeties can cover for Dennis’s weak spot.
I still believe that the Bucs need a plus, or at least solid, coverage ILB to add to the rotation. And, an all around ILB with Dennis’s skills plus top tier coverage ability could move the Bucs defense into truly elite territory.
October 29th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Surprising Dennis didn’t win NFC defensive player of the week.
Really.
October 29th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Jack Burton Mercer … ‘Maybe he’s not really an MLB. Maybe Dennis should be pass rushing and playing the run on the end and occasional pass defense.’
I was wondering the very same thing Jack. If I remember correctly, he played MLB his last year in college & was very good at it, but I think that was his only year there. He’s touted as a tackling machine by some, yet he leads the team BY FAR in missed tackles (he has 11 now, LVD has 9, then the next closest is 4). He also leads the team in Yards After Catch Allowed BY FAR (SVD has now allowed 342 yds YAC in 8 games; next closest is LVD who’s allowed 128 yds YAC).
MAYBE though he’s just playing out of position. Maybe he’d do good taking LVD’s spot when he retires. Or maybe we’ll someday go back to a 4-3 defense & use him there.
October 29th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
^^^ or MAYBE we make up for not moving back into the 1st to get Jihad by getting an established, high quality veteran with 1.5 years left in his contract. Jordyn Brooks please!
October 29th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Voss has been getting better game by game this season. He has a way to go,
especially in pass protection, but the improvement is there.
He’s starting to look more like he did in his first two seasons.
October 29th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
No way the Patriots will try to take on the mighty Dennis with a running back or tight end when they clear everything else out and just have Voss there isolated. No one would do that given how well he’s playing now.
October 29th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Only a Bowles fanboy would say Dennis has developed nicely! What kind of bafoonery is that??? Dennis has been one of the biggest disappointments on the defense this year. The only way he and Braswell can tackle anybody is if they’re not seen coming and even then they get faked out by a shadow
October 29th, 2025 at 9:58 pm
Dennis will make a good backup. This is not a year to allow an ILB with pass coverage limitations, develop his game. This is Super Bowl or bust. The hope with Dennis coming in was that he could look like a 3rd year player and not a rookie. We need Jordyn Brooks in potentially LVDs last season and 50th anniversary! Make it happen Jason!
October 29th, 2025 at 10:02 pm
Dennis is effectively a rookie. Remember last year when we counted on rookies in the playoffs?
October 30th, 2025 at 4:11 am
We got enough guys who can blitz. We need a MLB that you know protects the middle of the field. We need an MLB that can not only cover backs, and TEs, but can actually intercept a pass once in awhile. Bowles can scheme anyone to get home on a blitz. Parrish, Smith, Winfield, hell Dean had a strip sack. What ya need from your MLB is to be a difference maker in the middle of the field. That ain’t Dennis.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:40 am
@ DefenseRules – great analysis on Voss. My guess is there at least 31 other NFL teams that have figured that out. Let’s see what Bucs do.
October 30th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Denis will be a great linebacker. ‘
He’s already starting to be their leader.
October 30th, 2025 at 11:18 am
The odd thing is Voss was good in coverage lat year but lost this year. He’s coming on though.
October 30th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Voss just seems to take very bad angles.
October 30th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Any chance anyone has those to rush Voss off the edge. Play him like as a Micah Parsons role
October 30th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Thought*