Get An Inside Linebacker Who Can Cover
February 4th, 2026
Inside linebacker blues.
Joe might get in trouble typing the following sentence. Blame the caffeine. Or blame it on the cold weather that has turned Joe surly. Or the lack of football this past weekend.
No team serious about making a run in the postseason has SirVocea Dennis as a starting linebacker.
Dennis might be good as a special teams guy. He might be good in spot duty for a few snaps to highlight his best skillset, whatever that may be.
Joe questions Dennis’ ability as a run stopper (go back and rewatch the loss to Philadelphia, if you can stomach it) and Joe has seen enough to know Dennis cannot cover passing targets. At least he can’t do it in the formidable Todd Bowles defense. (Sarcasm alert.)
Joe had high hopes for Dennis in the limited time he was on the field prior to this past season. Those hopes were splattered.
It seems Kevin Patra of NFL.com is of the same mind. Patra typed how it is painfully clear what the Bucs need to add this offseason. And that is a linebacker who has an idea of how to play pass defense.
Add a coverage linebacker
The Bucs’ defensive issues up the middle were evident as the linebacking crew struggled. Lavonte David is a free agent and could ride off into the sunset, coming off a down campaign at 36 years old. SirVocea Dennis struggled mightily in coverage, getting picked on repeatedly. The two Bucs starting linebackers combined to allow 106 catches for 1,052 yards in 2025, per Next Gen Stats. Adding a coverage linebacker is critical for Todd Bowles’ defense in 2026.
Joe is fixated on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Joe, however, has strong doubts if he will be available with the Bucs’ No. 15 overall pick. But there are ways to address this issue without rolling the dice on the draft.
Go after a proven guy in free agency. And Joe isn’t talking about an Anthony Walker kind of guy. Get someone in here who has started in the league and demonstrated he can stay on the field and make plays.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:22 am
what about an edge rusher who can cover?
February 4th, 2026 at 4:44 am
Deonte lawson could be there when we pick 3rd rd….probably wont be bad for a 3rd, bit yeah, we also need to sign someone.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:55 am
The Bucs need a defense that works, not the slop that Bowles has been putting out the last few years. It looked like a system that was run by Lovie Smith or Mike Smith.
February 4th, 2026 at 5:06 am
We need a Bobby Wagner-type LB.
I’m not saying we need to get Bobby specifically, just someone with a pedigree similar or close to his.
In fact, I’d be fine with it if we went out and picked up two LBs in free agency, rather than taking a chance on the draft. Other than LaVonte, we’re in a bad way there, and there’s no guarantee LaVonte will be back.
I think we all had higher hopes for Voss, based on what we saw in 23 and 24.
Recent history suggests Voss will play out his full rookie contract here, regardless of how well or badly he performs. JTS anyone?
Two proven LB starters in free agency is asking for a lot. Wishful thinking, probably. But, after LaVonte, we’re so bare at LB that I’d simply prefer we not take our chances via draft picks.
February 4th, 2026 at 5:47 am
MLBs are not usually drafted in the 1st round.
We may be able to trade back.
And still get 2 great MLBs in rounds 1-4.
February 4th, 2026 at 5:54 am
Definitely don’t want to hear ‘we like the players we’ve got’.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:14 am
Kyle Louis! We’re going back to Pitt for an LB
February 4th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Joe … ‘Go after a proven guy in free agency. Get someone in here who has started in the league and demonstrated he can stay on the field and make plays’.
Yea verily Joe, we desperately need a PROVEN VETERAN to anchor our ILB group. I have serious doubts that LVD will be back next year, and even if he is, it should only be for a part-time role for part-time pay (Father Time has caught up with Lavonte).
Bucs typically keep 4 ILBs and 4 OLBs, although it’s prudent to have a 5th of each ‘waiting in the wings’ because of injuries. The ILBs are critical to Todd Bowles’ Pass Defense AND Run Defense; BOTH ILBs need speed, excellent tackling skills, solid pass coverage skills & tremendous instincts at ‘sniffing out plays’. We saw last year what happens when those are missing.
Right now, under contract, the Bucs only have TWO ILBs: SirVocea Dennis & Nick Jackson. I’d keep Dennis for now … as a backup. Jackson’s fine … on the Practice Squad, not on the active roster unless injuries require a filler. So the Bucs actually need THREE ILBs on the active roster … 2 starters & another backup. That’s a tall order, but that’s how far we’ve fallen. Bad planning by our GM IMO.
Signing a FA PROVEN VETERAN who also has strong leadership skills is critical. Guys like Brooks & LVD have been critical to the success of our defenses for the past 30 years. Bucs NEED a player who can become the next Brooks or LVD for a number of years. In addition, we NEED to draft a quality ILB with exceptional instincts who can pair with that proven veteran to provide the critical ILB capabilities that this defense has to have to function. Personally I’d use either our Rnd 1 or Rnd 2 pick to get our guy.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Where’s Dewey Selmon?
February 4th, 2026 at 6:52 am
Sounds like you are talking about the NFL’s leading tackler and known great cover LB Jordyn Brooks of Miami that was dangled in front of Licht at the Trade Deadline like a steak in front of a starving man.
Thanks Joe’s for making my point for me that a GM who does NOT make deals at the trade deadline EVER-is not a REAL GM.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:02 am
Licht should be on notice too along with Bowles, the worst HC/DC in the league.
He’s a big part of the problem here. Then add a pinch of Glazer’s unwarranted extensions then cowardness after it blew up in their faces and you get a team in free fall. I don’t ever want to hear the word accountability from any of these failures again.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:15 am
It was painfull watching Dennis at times. I’d see wide recievers block him out of the frame. He got pushed around more than a skinny kid wearing thick glasses, and braces in jr high school. We need two new staring ILBs. David is going to want 8 to 10 million. Take that bag, add to it, and get an upgrade. Draft another early, one late, add another second tear FA. Do the same at edge, and DT. Our front seven is garbage. Morrison pick should’ve went up front. Drafting two high was over kill. Draft all the corners you want, without a pass rush the best will fail. I have no faith Licht, and Bowles will get this fixed.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Go out and get a Quay Walker or Devin Bush in free agency. Pick up a solid edge like Oweh or Mafe. Then go get a DT like Franklin-Myers or one of the Detroit guys. Draft the best available edge rusher at 15 and trade up in the 2nd to get ILB Rodriguez. Draft another corner and guard in the later rounds
February 4th, 2026 at 7:29 am
Licht reminds me of the 2008 crash. We all wanted to blame borrowers (players/injuries) whose eyes were bigger than their stomachs or the foolish local bank manager (Bowles) who were making lones unaware of the products/mortgages they were pitching, but really the culprit was fat cat Wall Street fund managers (Licht) who stitched together crappy surprise lending vessels without any regard for the future. Everyone was $h!ts and giggles until the bottom fell out. Meanwhile, gramps loses his pension wnd families lose their homes while being stuck with with the bailout so the fat cats can remain sipping champagne on their yachts.
Yes Licht was present for a super bowl…and some of you likely “owned” a million dollar home with a $50,000 income, but this house of cards is tipping and we need to blame the architect (Licht) for a change instead of the electrician (Grizzard). Not saying Bowles isn’t culpable, just saying Licht does not deserve the pass (Ring of Honor, pfft) he gets for drafting the ringers Evans and Wirfs.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Bond
Beckwith
Licht
White
Russell
Britt
Stuart
Dennis
Licht has no business drafting an ILB. He and Bowles even broke the ringer, White. Ring of Honor, my foot
February 4th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Cichy*, not Licht.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:46 am
Chenille or Bush. Young, cheaper than Lloyd, and better coverage than Quay Walker. I like Quay as a tone setter, but if you want cover skills, pass. I get a lot of GB games in my neck of the woods and Quay is very burnable underneath
February 4th, 2026 at 7:47 am
Chanel*
February 4th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Do not let Bowles pick ANY of the groceries. He should have no say in FA or the draft..but we all understand that won’t happen. He will tell Licht what players he needs or doesn’t need for his complex scheme. Then when Lichts offensive players continue to work out and his defensive groceries go rotten time and time again, the same old morons will continue to blame Licht.
Get rid of Bowles and his scheme that only confuses his own players, not opposing offenses. Bring in a real DC who knows the type of players he needs and how to develop those players and poof, like Magic JL groceries list will look different and they won’t spoil.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Sir Dennis was injured in 2024…so he wasn’t fully exposed until last year. And boy did he look bad most of the time. Awful angles leading to whiffed tackle attempts. Matador pass coverage technique implemented. The play I remember the most was in the season finale…he was getting mauled…tore off the opponent’s helmet yet the refs somehow missed it.
Bright Licht tries to force/will many of his draft picks into good players. And oftentimes this is the result ( yes you Braswell too! ).
Getting sentimental and relying completely on David would be a mistake in my opinion. The fact that he’s exactly tied with DB55 for tackles seems like perfect poetic justice to end his excellent career on.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Vet free agent ILB, draft Rodriguez for the Mike, stud OLB in round 1 but if that fails, a stud Guard in round 1 (since Bredsen is only ok and the jury is still out on Barton at Center. We proved DEPTH matters last year!).
February 4th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Go for an edge rusher in free agency, but draft Jacob Rodriguez and develop him. Bowles has shown he CAN develop inside linebackers, not outside linebackers. Use you free agent capital on an proven edge rusher.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Beckwith was a solid pick, too bad a car accident ended his career before it started. White was a no brainer and proved it until his 3rd year when David got hurt for a stretch, was asked to do some different things he didn’t want/like to do and went and pouted. If you want great players you have to draft them, you can score a few in FA but they are far and few between. At most you could want is solidity in a FA. Both Ohio State LB’s are fantastic, Downs is talked a lot about and played great but wasn’t really tested. Like Miami’s defensive guys too, both those clubs gave Indiana a hard time this year.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Jacob Rodriguez, love that guy. Apparently he’s projected in second or third, not sure why
February 4th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Teacherman – you’re right, but its becoming en vogue again. i would argue that Jihaad Cambpell would have helped this team a lot more than Ebuka, especially the last 8 games of the season. The value of the position evaporated for a while along with running back but the importance of being strong at those positions is really starting to show. A fred Warner type roaming around the middle for us i would take 100 times out of 100 over a Maxx Crosby. A big, nasty, fast, strong MLB frothing at the mouth is the heart beat of a defense as far as im concerned. I would sacrifice a kitten for a Hardy Nickerson on this soft defense
February 4th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Pick up Patrick Queen when the Steelers cut him in a salary cap move. Then put your chips I. And draft the top edge rusher
February 4th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Golly, was the Bucs linebacking and pass coverage bad? We hadn’t noticed. Munch has been telling us how good it has been. Almost as good as the 3rd string OG’s that combined with Graham Burton to provide a marshmellow middle for Baker.
February 4th, 2026 at 9:23 am
They won’t do it. They are so stuck on bringing back LVD for a 15th season and we’re know he can’t cover anymore. Bowles love continuity so he’ll assume Dennis as the starter and once again pick up mediocre role playing linebackers. The only way they draft a linebacker is if LVD does them the favor of retiring
February 4th, 2026 at 10:10 am
First off, 2025 was a bad for every player after the bye week. LVD was great before the bye, and even though he wasnuhis normal self after the bye week, he was still really good.
So I do not suggest giving up on him, nor do I suggest a reduced role for him. Results after the bye were a freak occurrence that too many are focusing on.
Secondly, Dennis MIGHT be one of those guys who develop slowly. That doesn’t mean he won’t eventually be great…but I agree he is not starting material. I think he is worth keeping if:
🏈 He is depth
🏈 He finds a way to earn his spot
🏈 It doesn’t cost much to keep him on the roster
🏈 If we can easily replace him
At times like these, I’m always weary of creating new holes to fill if we don’t have to. We have limited draft picks…and while we should certainly spend one on ILB, spending two early picks on the position in the same year is a waste of resources.
One in the first 4 rounds is good enough, and use free agency to address the rest of ILB. If LVE does not retire, we won’t even need a proven veteran in FA…we could gamble on someone young and promising (assuming we draft one in the first 4 rounds as well).
And finally, we need to spend a minimum of 3 defensive picks in the first 4 rounds. I don’t think anyone would argue with that. If I had my way, it would be:
1) Edge Rush
2) Offensive Guard (because given Licht’s history of second round picks, it is best to spend it on the OL because he knows OL best)
3) Edge Rush
4) ILB
After that, BPA.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Sorry for the typos.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Pewter Power … ‘Bowles love continuity so he’ll assume Dennis as the starter and once again pick up mediocre role playing linebackers.’
Interesting observation Pewter about Bowles loving continuity. I tend to agree with you on that, BUT … he’s maneuvered himself into a ‘do or die’ corner. He insists on remaining the DC (horrendously egotistical move) & is in the process of ‘restructuring’ his defensive coaching staff (we’ll have at least 2 new assistant coaches there after replacing 2 others the year before, but that’s not really addressing THE PROBLEM).
Bucs had a total of 35 defensive players on th active roster at various times over the season (Todd normally kept 24-25 on the active roster). Of those 35, I figure that 14 will make the 2026 roster (Vea, Kancey, E Roberts, Diaby, Nelson, Braswell, D Walker, Dennis, McCollum, Morrison, Parrish, T Smith, Winfield, JJ Roberts) plus potentially another 1-3 (Izien, Gaines, Dean).
That’d leave us needing to fill 8-10 defensive slots on our active roster. We’d probably get 5 or so from the draft, but that’d leave another 3-5 to grab from free agency. It’s all doable, but JL won’t be able to miss on virtually any IF we’re gonna be competitive this season.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Does it matter, when Bowles drops Vita back into pass protection against a tight end or even a slot. This may look cute but has to end.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:36 am
NO to drafting an Edge Rusher, the Bucs can’t develop him into a player anytime soon. Go SPEND THE MONEY and get a proven talent. Get some athletic ILB’s that can cover and tackle. Remember watching the Bucs trying to tackle people, they looked like a monkey on a football, pitiful.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Leopold Stotch Says:
February 4th, 2026 at 4:22 am
what about an edge rusher who can cover?
—————–
Or how about we draft a deep threat receiver that can also be a lead blocker on running plays? Better yet, how about a kicker that can also be his own long snapper?
February 4th, 2026 at 10:56 am
Cardiac kidz Says:
February 4th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Pick up Patrick Queen when the Steelers cut him in a salary cap move. Then put your chips I. And draft the top edge rusher
BINGO!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
February 4th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Why even bother drafting defense?
Bowles can’t scheme it or coach it.
Licht can’t draft it to save his life.
Stick to your strengths.
WR has been a JL specialty. QB, not so much!
February 4th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Jay Buc Says:
February 4th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Go for an edge rusher in free agency, but draft Jacob Rodriguez and develop him. Bowles has shown he CAN develop inside linebackers, not outside linebackers. Use you free agent capital on an proven edge rusher.
^^^^^^^^^^
Who has Bowles developed with the Bucs? David already was established when he got here…You think Dennis has been developed? KJ Britt? Please name the ILB who has been developed by Bowles.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Please say that Bowles “developed” Devin White, the guy who got worse every year. Bowles RUINED White by babying him. What a complete train wreck that was.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Since when can Todd develop an ILB? He turned D White into a head case. LVD already on the roster. Where is this guy he developed? Can’t develop an edge either. What exactly is Todd’s talent? Maintaining mediocrity?
February 4th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
If they really want to make a splash, trade up for Reese. He’s going to be an A+ player.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
We have to get one of the 2 Ohio State studs, CJ Allen or Jacob Rodriguez. The talent drops off after those 4 guys.
February 5th, 2026 at 6:07 am
The other glaring fact is that we had nada, zip, and zilch behind Dennis. Surely we could have discovered this before last season even started. Frustrating also that we have such Soft (yeah i said the S word) camps that we can’t even find out who can/will tackle Joe.
Go Bucs!