Another Challenge For SirVocea Dennis
November 16th, 2025
Targeted again?
Last week Bucs inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis had a pass defensed.
He also had a tackle.
So aside from two plays, you didn’t know Dennis was even on the field. Joe doesn’t know how an inside linebacker only has one tackle. That’s damn near Chris Braswell territory.
(If you didn’t actually see a guy on the field last week wearing No. 43 in a white jersey, you’d never know it.)
One guy who has been consistent in pointing out that Dennis may not be a credible starting linebacker is a guy who never met a number he didn’t like, Seth Walder of BSPN.
Walder regularly points out how Dennis is subpar in pass coverage. Joe thinks Dennis has been better at pass coverage than the first month of the season. That’s not to say Dennis is a lockdown linebacker in the pass game. Not close.
As a result, Walder believes Bill quarterback Josh Allen is going to target Dennis early and often and the main beneficiary will be Buffalo running back Ty Johnson.
Bold prediction: Bills RB Ty Johnson will record at least 40 receiving yards. Johnson could be the latest running back to take advantage of Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis’ coverage struggles.
That’s a polite way of saying Dennis can’t defend the pass.
Joe would sure love it if Dennis got pick-six.
Joe can say this about Dennis: He’s stayed healthy this year (so far).
November 16th, 2025 at 1:02 am
I want the Bucs to win but I’m just having a hard time seeing them win this.
November 16th, 2025 at 2:08 am
Against the 49ers and McCaffrey, the Bucs gave the ILBs a lot of help, and they better do it again this game against Buffalo.
Sometimes, they had both ILBs bracketing McCaffrey, and sometimes they had DBs and OLBs helping the ILBs; even the DTs a few times IIRC.
With the wind likely playing havoc with long passes, I would like to see the two tallest and fastest DBs, Dean and McCollum spit the field deep so that they can rocket under any deep passes and contest catches on balls swirling around in the wind.
And, I would like to see the quick and nimble safeties and nickelback helping the LBs shutdown the first 20 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage. And, playing the two fastest guys deeper gives a bit more of a chance of stopping breakaway runs sooner.