Two Insider Perspectives On Why SirVocea Dennis Played Last Night
August 10th, 2025
Linebacker SirVocea Dennis.
So why did inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis start last night’s preseason game after head coach Todd Bowles said he didn’t expect to play starters?
Dennis had been considered a starter to replace departed K.J. Britt, and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talked about Dennis being a starter four months ago.
On the WFLA-TV broadcast of the Bucs-Titans game, iconic Hall of Fame Buccaneer Rondé Barber, a true Bucs insider, said he thought Dennis being on the field was a test by Tampa Bay’s decision-makers.
“I think they’re trying to get a look and make sure that he is as good as they think he’s going to be,” Barber said.
Joe asked Bowles after the game, a runaway Bucs victory, what his thinking was playing Dennis after he said starters largely would be getting the night off.
“We did the same thing with K.J. [Britt] last year. He needs the experience,” Bowles said. “He needed the [green-dot communication] helmet on. He needed the headset without Lavonte [David], and he needed to get some game-time adjustment experience. We said we were going to start him out playing and he knew he was going to play. We got out of it what we wanted.”
Joe suspected on the Ira Kaufman Podcast that the Bucs would want Dennis to get time using the communication helmet since he’s expected to call the defense.
Joe also thought the Bucs might be curious to see whether Dennis could get through a busy preseason, as he battled injuries in his first two seasons after the Bucs drafted him in 2023.
August 10th, 2025 at 1:43 am
he played because brass knows we’re still short one linebacker…so they’re getting an extra look see…
i’m guessing they’re not much more confident in him than they were in britt last year, and can’t have that situation play out all over again…
the price has dropped..,get free agent backer KW in camp asap
August 10th, 2025 at 2:25 am
They need him to round out his other position skills. Versatility is key in Todd’s “confuse everyone especially your own players” defense. On the one drive where Cam Ward was in, the big play happened when Braswell and Nelson were in deep middle coverage, covering grass. Same as it’s been.
(Banging head with empty scotch bottle)
August 10th, 2025 at 2:34 am
Yeah, I saw the Bowles postgame interview, and thought that made a whole lot of sense. And, he needs reps… zero reason to ‘baby’ him.
August 10th, 2025 at 3:38 am
Bowles said as much in his presser, they wanted to get a look at Dennis running the show w/o Lavonte. It’s what the preseason is for.
August 10th, 2025 at 4:48 am
“On the one drive where Cam Ward was in”
@Aqualung Ward played two drives…
August 10th, 2025 at 6:10 am
This guy hasn’t done anything to be handed a starting job. He was invisible last night, and hasn’t flashed in camp. He’s been made out to be some kind of talent, but the reality is he’s a 5th rounder who’s done squat in the league. Deon Jones didn’t impress either. Bowles raved about our depth at ILB, but aside from David we don’t have anyone else. Jackson, and Bullock looked better.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:14 am
Hodad, Jackson and Bullock did look better. And that other LB who returned that pick doesn’t look too shabby. Be interesting watching these next few weeks.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:33 am
As far as guys “looking better’ than other guys…keep in mind the level of competition guys are going up against.
August 10th, 2025 at 8:24 am
Hodad Says:
August 10th, 2025 at 6:10 am
This guy hasn’t done anything to be handed a starting job. He was invisible last night, and hasn’t flashed in camp. He’s been made out to be some kind of talent, but the reality is he’s a 5th rounder who’s done squat in the league.
********************************
He was injured early last year. He’s healthy now. First preseason game. Relax Francis.
August 10th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Didn’t see anything out of Dennis last night. Needs more playing time but at this point it’s all hype. Let’s see how he does at Pittsburgh.
August 10th, 2025 at 8:41 am
In the little bit of time he has played in regular season games Voss has shown his ability to at least cover/recover. I don’t recall how well he did in defending the run.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Aqualung
Middle of the field was open – the DL guys do well covering grass.
Don’t think we’re confusing anyone but ourselves.
(Banging head with empty rum bottle) lol.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Hodad, Dennis was injured last season. He was “invisible” cos he wasn’t on the field. I’ll be focusing on his play this preseason. I’m rooting for him. LVD (HOFamer) will be retiring soon. We fans know that’s coming.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:34 am
I didn’t think he played well. That touchdown was on him. They ran it up the gut and he was on the outside? Terrible. He looked small and weak all night. In my opinion he has regressed and I don’t see him getting bigger or stronger any time soon.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:48 am
A bummer Schwesinger couldn’t fall acre more spots…
August 10th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Mexico – technically correct, his first drive was a 3 and out. The TD drive was classic Bowles defense.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:49 am
I don’t believe Dennis is the right guy for the job
They need to draft Inside Linebackers
And keep Bullock or Jackson
August 10th, 2025 at 10:08 am
A Linebacker will be first rounder in next draft. But that will be Lavonte’s successor. They’ll need a second round LB as well and maybe one in a trade or signing on cut-down day. I agree, a real need, probably biggest need this season.
August 10th, 2025 at 10:13 am
. The kid is 230lbs no where near small in today’s league. He had the responsibility of calling plays and his coverage skills are elite for a LB and he is a sure tackle. If he stays healthy he will be a really good one
August 10th, 2025 at 10:34 am
He gave up a catch over the middle for a first down on third, and long. Touchdown drive. He was pushed around, and bullied all night. Watch the game. I just rewatched it. He had no energy, never looked comfortable. The defense looked lost at times, pre snap. That’s his job lining guys up, he failed at that too. Look at his career stats, don’t care he was to brittle to play his whole career so far. He’s a fifth rounder for goodness sake, most fifth rounders don’t have great careers. This guy has been all hype.
August 10th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Rewatching the game now, trying to figure who is worse, Dennis or Braswell ? Braswell has nothing. Even against scrubs he is getting chipped and blocked. Bucs need help. bring back Shaq. lol.
August 10th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Now we’re campaigning from one preseason game being enough to say Dennis is no good, yet we had a whole season last year after losing him that showed how much our defensive unit missed what Dennis provided with his play.
Braswell looked great last night, lol but I know we determine the value of an OLB soley by how he stuffs the sack stat column. I’ll take my OLBs getting TFLs on a-gap runs all day, that’s a negative for them and positive for us.
August 10th, 2025 at 11:35 am
They are immensely aware that they hyped Dennis up to the point of obscurity and that hype doesn’t match the play. Licht gambled but it didn’t pay out this time. All of that was to get some heat off of Licht as they “kicked the can” down the road for another time.
That time Is Now…. And unfortunately I have to agree with the majority on the “Lack Of” from Dennis. Personally, I’m a Dennis supporter. I had higher hopes until the first preseason scrimmage. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Dennis is ready yet. He doesn’t seem Healthy enough, or strong enough “yet”. He might also be mind dealing a bit concerning how he sees himself and his own readiness.
He (Dennis) WAS a Difference maker last year before he got hurt and Licht was bargaining that, that reputation would buy Licht more time to find out the reality (hoping Dennis could flash back to his abilities by preseason, While… covering the Stink of, to the amazement of most, the fact that Licht didn’t draft ANY appropriate linebackers in a CLEAR Desperately Needed area in the middle of the field where we were DECIMATED and just STRAIGHT UP ABUSED last season) of whether or not Dennis could come back to form. As well as be able to have the physical fortitude as to not Break in Half so easily…
I Believe Dennis Will come back to form and even better. I do. It’s just not quite right now. He needs more time to get Stronger and to regain his confidence back…
Due Diligence was Not the name of the game when it came to “TRULY” making the “SORE THUMB” middle of the field a strength..
Looks like the magic eight ball is as good as a guess as any at this point concerning the middle of this defense….. Licht SHOULD HAVE been MORE AGGRESSIVE in Shoring it up! Licht has one more shot to find a SUBSTANTIAL “Ready To Go” middle linebacker to compliment and learn from Lavonte after the cuts. Because Dennis doesn’t look ready. And yet the time IS Now….
August 10th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Vos doesn’t have to make splash plays as a cover LB, he just needs to deter the QB from throwing his way and force the ball to a DB
August 10th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
SVD did fine! He was very good in the games he played last year, surgery fixed the shoulder issue he’s had. He will be very effective this year… hopefully for 17+ games! IMHO.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
since he survived, very smart
August 10th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
^^^ read what hodad said above…
facts…
we have some trade pieces and stuff to juggle around…
sign kyzir white or make a move…
and possibly finesse a good edge guy onto the squad someway, somehow…
i like dennis and he did fly out the gate like a greyhound last year…gotta give him credit for that…
but we need a bit more than a guaranteed lavonte…because at his age nothing is guaranteed anymore…as great as he is, he can not pick up the slack for an entire room
August 10th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
“Vos doesn’t have to make splash plays as a cover LB, he just needs to deter the QB from throwing his way and force the ball to a DB“
Bingo. In between those particular scenarios, get home when you blitz and contribute to the run defense. We don’t need all world, we need better than Britt and we already know Dennis is better than Britt was for us.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
yeah both bullock and jackson looked active and frothy…so that’s good
August 10th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
The chiefs should pick up Jarett in 3 weeks.
August 10th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Cant not play a guy that has minimal experience and is expected to start. Cant be afraid of injuries over experience, if he gets seriously injured again then he ain’t it and they need to find someone who is. I dont have issues with them playing him, and I don’t think he should be handed the job either.
August 10th, 2025 at 11:04 pm
I agree Joe, I think the Bucs want to see if he is the same guy who played a really good game against Detroit last year.
August 11th, 2025 at 1:16 am
Curious about the answer now…
Go Bucs!
August 11th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Let it not be misconstrued that I do not disapprove. Thank you.