Larry Foote: SirVocea Dennis Needs Time To Develop A “Feel”
October 9th, 2025
It takes time.
A reader of JoeBucsFan.com pointed this out to Joe in the wake of the Bucs’ tremendous win over the Seahawks last week.
As Joe likes to say, winning is the greatest perfume. And boy, did that perfume cover some stank last Sunday. The Bucs defense was hideous and the kick coverage, grotesque.
If either one of those two elements rears its ugly head again in January, the defense better get a half-dozen takeaways or the Bucs aren’t winning many playoff games.
This particular fan asked Joe why Todd Bowles’ defense always struggles with middle linebackers in pass coverage. First it was Devin White. Then it was K.J. Britt. Now it’s SirVocea Dennis.
Well, with Britt the answer is easy: He just wasn’t athletic enough to be good in pass coverage. Against the run he was much better.
This reader pointed out to Joe that inside linebackers playing poor pass defense is almost as big of a Todd Bowles’ defensive hallmark as no edge rush.
Fair point.
Today, Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote was asked about Dennis’ struggles covering passes in the middle of the field. Foote said that it takes time for an inside linebacker to develop the skills the Bucs are looking for in pass defense.
“We play a lot of zones,” Foote said. “We have a game plan, but you want them guys — they’ve got to have a natural feel. Instincts have got to take over. You’ve got to read the quarterback. You’ve got to anticipate. You’ve got to study stacks and bunches and how they’re trying to attack us.
“But you’ve got to have a feel. You got to have a feel for underneath coverage. Got to read the quarterback. Some of the savvy ones can lie to you better than the other ones. But it’s just a natural feel. You’ve got to anticipate.
“You’ve got to hit your landmark. You’ve got to what we’re trying to get accomplished. … You’ve got to have your natural feel. And that comes with time, and you’ve got to anticipate.”
In other words, that comes with experience.
In a sense, Dennis is still a rookie. He missed 17 games in his first two seasons and this year is his first year starting. He only has five starts under his belt.
So Dennis really is very green at what he is asked to do, which in addition to that, he’s also wearing the green dot meaning he’s calling the plays, getting intel from Bowles on the sidelines.
Is that too much responsibility for a first-time starter? Probably. But it makes Joe wonder, given recent history, if Bowles isn’t putting his inside linebackers in proper position or if Bowles’ defense has a fundamental flaw in it.
Aside from not valuing an edge rush.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
I’ve seen Lavonte with green dot ever since week 1, when Bowles cited taking more off Dennis’s plate.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Sounds like the defense asks its middle linebacker to be LVD, and that’sa big ask for any player especially one that’s green. If this is the case, and this defense puts this much on the MLB why haven’t we made the position a bigger priority in the draft and free agency. Feels like we keep putting square pegs in round holes.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
We should prob start Deion Jones. He’s potentially still a stud.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
When TBBF was a teen …dating , he needed time to “cop” a feel…
October 9th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Sounds like they should stock up on Safety/Tweeners instead of MLB.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Start jones he seems to know where to be
October 9th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
LVD has been HOF successful. White was successful until he went off the reservation. That was Bowles’ defense.
ILB need a high football IQ. That’s what Foote is saying.
We’re stuck with Dennis so he’ll get his shot. We may be drafting 1 or 2 ILB next year.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
I really miss a 4-3 Defense.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
So SVD has been in the system 3 years now and was actually playing pretty good until he got hurt after game 4 last year. So…what has happened over the last 12 months?
October 9th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
i mean, we could always play nickel i guess. since it’s come to that lol. i like SVD’s ceiling though, let’s give him a chance.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Hey Joe, yes if he is that green then they need to let David call the defense. Second if he is that green , which apparently he is, then Licht and Bowles as good as they have been with personnel made a serious error!!. They should have picked up someone in a trade by now. Sometimes you have to give up a pick to put you team in position. The defense can’t be serious contenders with both no pash rush and a LB who can’t cover the middle of the field, simple as that.
We saw it last year and now we are seeing a repeat this year!!
So Sunday where do you think the 49 Niners will attack? The Bucs hopefully win but bet Mac Jones has a big day, especially to their back on short , intermediate passes in the middle of the field!. Heck Dennis gets lost on passes to the flat.Take that to the bank
October 9th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
How can a pro ILB not have a feel for zone coverage after all their years playing football.
On this play call you drop and cover this space, based on the opposing formation you are likely looking for these players entering your space. Read player movements and keep an eye on the QB to try to break passes up.
Doesn’t seem like rocket science. Year 3 as a pro football player and we are still developing a feel for dropping into a 10 yard zone. Get outta here.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Todd is asking a lot from Dennis. Similar to his expectations/hopes for JTS. Apparently, Dennis is very talented with a high upside. We will see if he can grow faster in the next five weeks. A “rookie”, indeed.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
It’s always excuses for poor ILB play.
Different game, different player – same story.
I think it’s the stubbornness of our DC/HC.
Heck, maybe a good pass rush (JPP/ Shaw) and push up the middle (Suh) actually took pressure off the ILBers.
Hummmmm.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Agree with some here. “Feel” is the innate quality you draft for. Has to be there to begin with. Haven’t seen it at all from #8. Have seen him qui on tackles and plays, though.
October 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
…or chase people without the ball as the runner goes behind him
October 9th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
@scotty He has todds voice in his ear and he has to communicate with everyone before play starts it might be to much for him imo
October 9th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
If Dennis cannot wear the green dot and still play instinctually we will be in trouble next year. This could be LVD’s last year.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
The defense played lights out in the second half of the Philly game. -1 yards. So what is stopping them from doing it the rest of the time? Is it injury, effort, or lack of scheme knowledge? Or trying to do too much leaving an area open to attack?
I still think it’s injuries for the most part.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
He better start “feeling” it in a hurry! Being a step behind on passing plays is going to cost us, especially with McCaffrey coming to town! I have no doubt that Shanahan is going to try an exploit him.
Beat the 9ers!
October 9th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
purplebeard
Dennis running away from Hurts should be right up there with Neil O’Donoghue’s FG attempt on the Buccaneers blooper reel..
Bud Licht has put Diaby, Reddick, and Braswell up as the best we can do. On a professional NFL defense.
Outside of Lavonte, who’s earned his flowers, who is the star of our D? Pretty sure that leaves Vita Vea. Gonna need more than that..
After 50 years of watching the Bucs have mostly great defenses, and never having enough offense, to be the exact opposite now is uncomfortable at best.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Second half of the Eagles game they played A LOT of tight man and shut them down. You would think they would have learned that less zone is better. I think they way to do that is EDGE RUSHERS! The talent in the secondary is there.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
The MLB position is one of the toughest in the nfl IMO. You have to be fast enough to cover rb, big enough to cover t.e. strong enough to stop Derrick Henry in the hole and quick enough to spy Lamar.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Maybe Jackson or Bullock have got the feel?
October 9th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Stpetematt … ‘I still think it’s injuries for the most part’.
Super comment, and I’m of the same belief that the INJURIES are what started the ball rolling downhill. Bucs were 3-0 after our first 3 games, and we were pretty much healthy. Our defense held the Falcons to 20 pts, the Texans to 19 pts, and the Jets to 20 pts (can’t count the 7 pt TD from the blocked FG as being surrenderted by the defense). Defense even helped the offense in that Jets game by scoring on Dean’s Pick-6.
Admittedly we’d lost Kancey in the 1st half of the Texans game, but to that point he really hadn’t contributed much (1 TFL & 1 tackle in 2 games). Other than Kancey (and Izien), looks like we were pretty much at full strength defensively in Games 1-3.
But then we lost Dean AND Morrison in Game 4, and now McCollum after Game 5. And we’re still missing Izien back there. That’s a lot of missing starting talent to try to compensate for. And especially now that we’ve hit the part of our schedule where we’re playing some of the better teams. I’m just hoping that our offense can continue to crank it up a notch, score a lot of points, AND control the TOP in the process.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:03 pm
What ever happened to adopting yiur scheme to the players like most successful coordinators do!!!
I think the question needs to continue to be asked why we don’t upgrade the edge and linebacker corps. Its been an ongoing issue with the front office not been able to draft this area. That’s ok just stop been stubborn and Trade a pick to get one instead! They are just been too stubborn. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing overand over and expecting a different result. Time to start deion Jones and the other rookie. Bench lvd and Dennis.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Talk about zero awareness! 🤦♂️
October 9th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
“or if Bowles’ defense has a fundamental flaw in it.”……Joe
DO YOU THINK?!! Some of us who are do not think we are going to the SB the way the pass defense is playing have been saying this for the past 3 years.
The way I look at it there are two elements to defense: Pass or Run. Duh.
If you overcompensate for one (run) you must under value the other (pass).
This is a passing game now in the NFL.
QED!
October 9th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Agreed with Jmarkbuc. This team needs to go back to a 4-3 as the base with real DEs. Our OLBs can’t rush and can’t cover. What is this team going to do when LVD retires next season? SVD is going to have his hands full with McCafferty this weekend. Scary.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
Mcaffrey has been thriving in the pass game and has feasted on the middle of the field, should be a good test for our defense this week, +2 in turnovers will be the difference
October 9th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Ray Lewis never needed anytime to “ develop a feel.”
Those guys were football players. It’s not complicated, nor do you need a Master’s degree to play in the middle of a defense. Read, react, hit, repeat.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
All these needs are piling up. Edge, another DT, middle linebacker. Seems like edge and lb the bucs have neglected the past several years. I get that JL has drafted d line a ton over the past few seasons, but when you still dont have a 10 sack player after all those investments it tells you something. Maybe you need to go out and buy one via trade. Or Spend in FA. The middle was a h8ge hole for them last year. Very surprised they decided to just hand the position ti Dennis with little competition. It has come back to hurt them. At this point Id be looking ti platoon Dennis with Jones and have a true battle. Dennis does not deserve a starting spot at the moment.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:58 pm
It really comes down to, you either have it, or you don’t. He ain’t got it! He is not built to be a MLB that sets the tone. We need a Fred Warner, not a Pop Warner. He doesn’t have what it takes, the film don’t lie. Sir Dennis will never be more than a jag. Jones should start, and work in some Bullock. Dennis just doesn’t have it. End this experiment.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
If you’re still aking these questions after 6 yrs, the answers are yes and yes. This system needs stars (especially in the secondary) and wiley vets to click. If Devon panned out this D may have been able to mind the talent gap, but a smarted ILB was needed. It’s smoke and mirrors vs fundamental smashmouth. Never been a fan of this def, but Bowles is growing on me as a HC. I just really wish he hired a DC, I would love to see Flores….dream sequence bubble just burst. I don’t get why JL, TB’s boss, doesn’t demand a DC and an edge rush.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
The dude is always trailing his guy by at least 2 yards when they catch the ball.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
I still believe we should have traded back up to end of first round and grabbed Jihad Campbell with the last pick in first round. Can you imagine having Emeka and Jihad!?!?
October 9th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
I’ll bet Jameis Winston has the feel
October 9th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
You either have football instincts or you don’t imo. Yes he needs time to get things in gear, but that is a bit concerning.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
This board would complain if Dennis was All Pro. It’s what this board has become. When we literally had Vita Vea in pass coverage last week, we may have a scheme problem.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Remember that LVD was calling the defenses in his second year. AND, he was playing outside LB.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
He is not what we need we will have to wait till next year to draft a linebacker. going to get destroyed this weekend McCafferty is going be catching screen passes all day long on him.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:19 pm
I could be imagining things, but after the first 3 weeks or so I feel like he hasn’t been getting toasted nearly as much. He’s been fairly quiet which isn’t the worst thing with some splash plays in run game
October 9th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
That has always described great middle linebackers. They call it a “feel” because it is instinctual. Repetition can help some, I guess, but instinct can’t be taught.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
Blowes is a liability. Here’s a new Exhibit A. Forcing a dude to play a scheme that he doesn’t understand, is too complex for him, and apparently can’t be taught because no one is teaching them. So tired of his lame defense and lame excuses.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
Thanks DR! Really appreciate that from the most informed commenter on these threads. The next step is the Bucs need to find out the underlying causes of all these injuries and do something about them!
Most are soft tissue injuries that frequently happen from dehydration.
Not all- obviously but that might help *some*. For some reason we always seem to be one of the most injured teams.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Joe’s- look up who has the most career interceptions for active inside linebackers… I’ll give you a hint, we have the top two on our team. Maybe time to give Deion Jones a start?
October 9th, 2025 at 10:00 pm
It would appear Lovie Smith has been brought back to run the Bucs and coach the defense.
October 10th, 2025 at 4:31 am
I see the injury excuse has already begun. I shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, I predicted it. Just a few weeks ago. When Kancey went down the first domino had fallen and right on cue here they are. The Bowles apologists (take a bow fellas) have absolutely no shame at all. Those hard luck delusional dimwits. Celebrate your ignorance, fellas.
Bowles Injury Excuse 2025 is officially on.
October 10th, 2025 at 6:31 am
Vita Vea should never drop in coverage. Vea should never be moving backwards at the snap of the ball, never. Bowles is only fooling himself, and his players. I’m sure opposing QBs are delighted to see Vea drop in coverage rather than be in their face. This defense is a joke. Bowles can’t name a DC. He has co DCs, does any other team? It’s a three headed monster, no wonder the players look confused. Licht needs to step in. Tell Todd to concentrate on his HC duties, choose a DC, and let him own it. Let him call it on Sundays, and pick the starters. I say that because Dennis is our starting MLB, and he shouldn’t be. Time for a change with this D.
October 10th, 2025 at 6:39 am
What happened to putting your players in the best possible place to succeed vs square peg/round hole-ing everything with this D? As Father Dungy often said, we need to “simplify to execute.”
October 10th, 2025 at 6:54 am
@Hodad, you seem to have all the answers. See if Joe can get you that interview with ROH GMJason Licht.
October 10th, 2025 at 7:03 am
Kyle Shanahan will have McCaffrey attacking Voss and Jones in the passing game. Time to get Bullock some snaps and see what he can do.