SirVocea Dennis And Barrett Ruud
September 20th, 2025
Run defense good, but what about SirVocea Dennis’ pass defense?
Joe has nothing against Bucs linebacker SirVocea Dennis. If Joe has to quibble, it has been Dennis’ inability to stay on the field in his first two NFL seasons.
New year, fresh start for Dennis. He’s made it through two games. That’s a start. When a guy has missed half his games with injuries, two games without getting too badly dinged is a step in the right direction.
Dennis did pop up on the Bucs’ injury report this week. He has a bum ankle but fully practiced Thursday and Friday and is expected to start on Sunday against the Jets.
Over at BSPN, Seth Walder, a guy who never met a number he didn’t like, had a bold if not crazy take: Dennis will lead the NFL in tackles this season.
Bold prediction: Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis will lead the NFL in tackles this week. Among linebackers with at least 80 snaps played this season, Dennis ranks second in run stop win rate (53%) and is tied for eighth in tackle rate versus the run. There should be plenty of tackle opportunities against the run-heavy Jets.
Well, after just two games, if Dennis is going to lead the league in tackles, he has an incredibly long way to go.
First off, he better stay on the field. (Joe is hoping for the best — there’s that ugly word again: hope). And Dennis will probably need a bunch of guys to get dinged up so he can do some leapfrogging.
Dennis is currently tied for 52nd in tackles as he has 14. Miami linebacker Tyrel Dodson currently has 33 (through three games) to lead the league. Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke leads the NFL in tackles for players who have played just two games with 26.
It’s great that Dennis is doing a solid job on the run. He’s gotten burned a few times in the passing game. With so many injuries to the Bucs’ offense, in the next month or so until the Bucs get healthy, the defense is going to have to pick up the slack and play tighter ball.
Joe expects the offense to take a least a half-step back because the offensive line is a trainwreck of injuries and dudes playing in different (wrong?) positions.
Dennis may be playing the run well but is he much of an upgrade over K.J. Britt in the passing game? Joe’s seen him burned a few times there already.
Right now Dennis is giving off Barrett Ruud vibes. The former Bucs linebacker racked up a lot of tackles (which is good) but was toasty in the passing game.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Actually first year Dennis is full time. He’ll get it.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:08 am
He makes a lot of mistakes, out of position on too many plays……..inexperience shows!!!!!!!!
September 20th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Another horrific coverage LB.
Maybe he’ll improve but at this point in his football life, I think the vast majority of players are pretty much who they are & ever will be
September 20th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Ruud would start a tackle at the line of scrimmage and finally get the guy down 5 yards later. At least Dennis is a firm tackler that doesn’t give up extra yards typically if he gets ahold of someone. As far as pass game, it’s hard to tell except for a couple really bad angles.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:13 am
He’s the most responsible player for giving up early leads in both of our first two games. The Jets will be testing him early with Breese Hall in the pass game. If the Bucs were smart, they’d start Jones who did pick off a game winner in the preseason. Dennis hasn’t been close enough to backs to make a tackle let alone get a pick. If the Bucs want to get off to a fast start on defense, don’t start Dennis.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Yes, Joe lets hope Dennis stays healthy and gets better as the season progresses. It appears he is a pretty big libility in the pass game. However, he has the skills to get better where Britt didn’t. I don’t see much depth at the position as Jones’s better days are likely behind him. So if Dennis doesn’t get better down the stretch the Bucs are likely to suffer a pretty big weakness in the middle. I agree with Ira, currently the D overall has been playing fairly well, but not anywhere close to imtimidating. Despite what people think, I believe it is Bowles who is keeping this defense playing at the level it is. Overall Dennis included play by the players absent a few has been average . It will be interesting to see what happens without Clancy, and Dennis now, surely needs to grow up quick.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:21 am
I’m wishing the best for Dennis.
On some passing downs, he’s looked lost and it’s been a concern for sure
September 20th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Ruud was in on a lot of tackles but was dragged going the wrong way. Lavonte and Brooks tackle(d) facing forward.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Weren’t most of Barrett “Clown Shoes” Ruud’s tackles were chasing down runners, not head on?
September 20th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Probably should have started Deion Jones and had Dennis come in to rest Jones. I think that would have gone better. But we have really given Dennis a trial by fire
September 20th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Check your info, Joe. Ruud was the polar opposite. He made a ton of tackles, usually five yards down the field, but he was actually a better coverage LB. He was surprisingly decent in coverage. Ruud was far better moving away from the LOS than going to it, the exact opposite of Dennis. I think you’re misremembering
September 20th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Sir Dennis is what he is
A 5th round draft pick
I don’t expect much from a 5th round pick
The Bucs shouldn’t expect much from him
If they do, then they have a problem
September 20th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Joe says, “Dennis will lead the NFL in tackles this season.” Nice analysis Joe, but that’s not what Walder predicted. He predicts Dennis will lead the league in tackles this WEEK when the Bucs play the Jets, not this year. It’s a Gilda Radner Rossana Danna moment. Never mind!
September 20th, 2025 at 11:05 am
Dennis sucks and should be collecting splinters in his arse riding the pine. Start Dion Jones. Please.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:09 am
Deion Jones should start next to LVD
September 20th, 2025 at 11:20 am
Agree with both Tom Edrington’s take (‘inexperience shows’) & with Hodad’s take (‘Jets will be testing him early with Breese Hall in the pass game’). Like Hodad, I’d rather start Deion Jones, but I have no problem with rotating both situationally.
Seth Walder’s prediction that SVD ‘will lead the NFL in tackles this season’ is a joke. He’s only got 14 as it stands after 2 games (11 solo & 3 assists) which extrapolates to 119 combined if he plays in all 17 games at the rate he’s been playing. Last year Indy’s Zaire Franklin had 173 combined tackles in 17 games played (SVD with 119 would’ve ranked #21 in the NFL last season).
Beyond that though, I feel that SVD has good potential but lacks experience. And oh ya, his 3 Missed Tackles in 2 games concerns me, as does his allowing 8 completions in 8 targets for 173 yards through 2 games (probably concerns Todd Bowles a LOT too).
Went back to look at his draft profile (on NFL dot com) and overall I was impressed, for a 5th Rounder. They ranked him at 5.80 which equates to an ‘average backup or special teamer’ (they had him projected as a 6th or 7th Rnd pick). That’s the only place BTW that I’ve found his speed in the 40-yard dash … they showed him as running a 4.64 sec in that dash. Lots of good strengths (especially ‘track record of high production’ and ‘sees the entire field with great instincts’). BUT … 2 weakneses definitely caught my attention: ‘Lacks desired pursuit speed’ and ‘Will struggle covering running backs in man’).
September 20th, 2025 at 11:22 am
The 2 Pitt Panthers are fragile
September 20th, 2025 at 11:35 am
Walder says “this week” and Joe turns it into “this season”. Gotta read more carefully.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:46 am
Rudd would be in position, but he struggled to bring guys down — he was often dragged for five yards even when he met them in the hole. I agree with ALL the other posters saying that. So while Dennis is a much better tackler it appears, he looks just as lost in coverage as KJ was last year so far.
What DefenseRules brought up I hadn’t even realized, but whatever scout said he would struggle in man against RBs seems to be spot on.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Derrick Brooks he is not.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:53 am
If you expect a linebacker to cover someone in man, then he has to be as fast as that person. 4.64 isn’t fast enough to cover all but the slowest of tight ends. Devin Culp would lap him. So if you aren’t playing zone, don’t have him in.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:58 am
So far big disappointment with Voss. Bucs used 19th pick on Ebuka ,who is a very nice player. Still shocked they didn’t go with a defender at 19. Browns rookie Carson Schwesinger from UCLA will lead the league in tackles this year. He was something like 36 pick. As we are seeing, the Bucs defense is not materially improved over the last couple of years. Schwesinger has really looked good in the middle thus far.
More concerned about the Oline than receiver injuries. Mayfield will get the ball to somebody like he did last year. Otton, Miller and Shep are all viable options until CG14 is back in the fold.
September 20th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
More WD-40, and maybe apply some evapo-rust. Not concerned about Dennis, I realize he’s got some things to clean up and Deion Jones can give us a replacement IF Dennis’ game cannot improve.
Dennis is at 114 reps on defense through 2 games, he’s had 205 total defensive snaps combined his first 2 years here. I’m more wait and see than I am to rush to a conclusion on his ability to play ILB.
September 20th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
DR, see my post above.
September 20th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Hope we win. Hope the team stays healthy. Hope we score enough points. Hope our defense holds. Hope the receivers catch the balls. How Evans get 1000 years.Hope the Internet stays on so we can watch the game. Hope we win another Superbowl. Hope=football. Hope joebucsfan keeps pumping out articles for the next 50 years. Hope I’m still alive to see it. Sometimes hope is all we have. Don’t hate the hope. Go ,hope he is good enough to win it all,Bowles!!!!!
September 20th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Watson.
September 20th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
No doubt Dennis has struggled against running backs in pass defense so far this year. Between eye discipline & taking a step in the wrong direction having him out of place he has missed some tackles that have resulted in big plays.
I think he has the athleticism to be effective. Hopefully the more snaps he gets he can settle in to some type of steady production.
I thought this week against the Jets would have been a good time to have him “spy” Feilds. He could have really had an increase in production and confidence as I think he would been able to think less by just attacking coming down hill. The pursuit angles would have been easier spying the QB. Of course that’s not the case because Feilds is out.
Bryce Hall will be a heck of a cover. Probably the mismatch they will try to exploit more than any other.
That’s what I would do if I was calling plays against us this week.
GO BUCS!!
September 20th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
PSL Bob … Saw your comment after I’d posted then went back & read Walder’s prediction on ESPN. Sure as shootin, Walder only predicted that ‘Dennis will lead the NFL in tackles this week’ in that article. Good catch.
In any event, what to do about our MLB position has been an issue among JBFers since last season ended. Britt obviously wasn’t the answer (pass coverage limitations), and the powers-that-be gave him the starting gig even though he’d been with us for 3 years prior & had only gotten 233 def snaps in those 3 years (and ya, he wasn’t the answer, but he did stay healthy and he wasn’t as horrific in coverage as many assumed … ended up with a 72.7% coverage percentage over his 4 years here). SVD has had problems staying healthy and sports a 88.0% coverage percentage over his career here).
Deion Jones is only 30 (that’s not ancient) and was a 2nd Rnd pick back in 2016. He’s played in 113 games all together, with 91 starts. Over that time he’s gotten 13 INTs (with 5 returned as Pick-6s). Lots of other neat stats, but the only real concern should be ‘Is he the best one for the MLB job’? Well, over his 8-year career he sports a 69.1% coverage percentage (quite good for an MLB IMO), and ran a 4.59 sec 40-yd dash at his combine. That’s just as fast as LVD ran his (4.57 sec 40-yd dash) & Jones’ coverage percentage is quite a bit better than LVD’s.
September 20th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Deion Jones has made plays when he’s out there. He must not do one of Todd’s things, Todd probably is keeping him on the bench until he is better able to read and report on the grain of the turf vs grass and how that impacts potential running backs in coverage, I suppose.
September 20th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
Deion Jones over Voss. Shouldn’t even be a discussion
September 20th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
he’s not there yet with RB leakouts, but he has coverage ability, can get sideline to sideline really well, and plays the run well. gotta develop him he hasn’t played enough is a rookie still in some ways. i think he will learn how to deal with RB leakouts. his greatest still is nearly untapped though — he’s an incredible blitzer, maybe our best. his tape is awesome in this regard.
September 20th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Always out of position in passing plays..
September 20th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Joe is not fond of SVD. That’s their opinion. How come LVD is on SVD like stink on poop? I listen to radio, but I keep reading all this noize that SVD is very good in run coverage. I trust LVD. Looking for SVD to have a big game tomorrow.
September 20th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Deion Jones is way better.
When Deion is on the field, he moves in harmony with LVD.
Deion Jones and Lavonte David have a connection.
It’s clear. Watch the replays.
Deion Jones sees what Lavonte sees.
They slide in unison. They play as one.
We are forcing a “draft pick” into the starting spot like we did with Benenoch. Or Hainsey.
Deion Jones doesn’t make mistakes.
I want Deion Jones to start
September 20th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
I liked Barrett, not nice some of you
September 20th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
It should be David and Jones starting…
September 20th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
I find it curious that David, the 14 yr vet/team captain, does not call the defensive plays. Seems info would run thru his head quicker than a guy that has hardly seen the field. I know Dennis is the new scapegoat goat, but LVD has been pretty average, at best, so far this yr
September 20th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
ChiBuc … ‘LVD has been pretty average, at best, so far this yr’.
LVD’s stats through 2 games would support your analysis ChiBuc, but I have no doubt there’s a lot more to it than that. LVD is the heart & soul of this defense; just like Derrick Brooks was even during his later years. But age catches up with all of us, and I’m sure even LVD that he’s not quite the rocket that he was in his earlier years.
Still, can’t imagine (yet) the Bucs without him, although we all know that the day is coming. I’m just hoping & praying that he can finish this year healthy, that the Bucs can ‘do right by him’ by making the playoffs AND doing well in the playoffs, and that LVD eventually makes the HOF on the very first ballot.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
SVD is the Bucs 2nd leading tackler overall and first for TFLs. Benching him is joke as the Bucs have no one else providing this impact. He has speed and is an excellent tackler. So far though he his not doing his job on RBs receiving out of the backfield. That is an experience and coaching issue which can be added over time. For reference he has started 2 games in his career and he is calling defensive plays in one of Bowles most difficult defensive positions. Wonder what LVD was like after 2 games?
Joe you’re old enough to remember that..
September 21st, 2025 at 12:07 am
Another thing, when supposedly SVD got benched at the end of the game, Chubb muscled past Jones for a 25 TD. Now it appears that Bowles ordered his players to let them score due to his time strategy. So interesting they put on Jones to let Chubb through because either they feared SVD may tackle him or not follow orders? Whatever the case, Jones was the ILB to let him through.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:11 am
How long did Ruud play after leaving the Bucs? I forget. Ruud’s other problem as I recall was that way too many of his tackles were 5 to ten yards downfield. To few in the hole.
Go Bucs!