Major Upgrade At Inside Linebacker
October 27th, 2025
Joe has to applaud the Bucs’ front office and Todd Bowles for executing a major upgrade at inside linebacker.
Consider the following:
Last year the Bucs told everyone K.J. Britt was the guy to handle playing alongside Lavonte David. Joe was slightly flumoxed. Britt looked pretty good with fresh legs when he got a chance late in the 2023 season but he seemed to be missing the athletic traits to complement David.
Through eight games last year, Britt had zero tackles for loss and half a sack. He wasn’t on the stat sheet with an interception or an official pass defensed, either.
Britt had his snaps cut and never snapped out of his funk. He’s now a backup on the Dolphins.
Enter SirVocea Dennis in the primetime linebacker role from Day 1 alongside David.
Through eight games this season, Dennis has 2 sacks, a team-leading 7 tackles for loss and 59 tackles. Yeah, he’s had struggles, but he’s on his way to a standout statistical season as part of the Bucs’ impressive run defense.
What an upgrade Dennis has been!
Joe’s not blind. Joe has seen the coverage busts and the tackling mishaps, but man, Dennis versus Britt is not something Joe can gloss over. Dennis also has stayed healthy after two seasons dogged by injuries.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:33 am
SVD is coming along I’ll admit that. Definite improvement from earlier in the season. We need him to continue to improve going into the home stretch.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Dennis has been much better coming downhill defending the run, which is what you want from the ILB position. I think it’s a matter of time til things slow down well enough for him to also start making better plays defending the pass in space.
Some of the pursuit angles he’s looked stiff, which has allowed him to get the 1-2 from ball carriers in space and he’s looked brutal there, but he’s handled himself well overall in the longest span of games where he’s gotten the most reps in his short-lived NFL career thus far.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Indeed – have to admit the last 2 games he has been a playmaker, if not spectacular. He and our secondary are coming along quite nicely. Hopefully he can show that he can stay healthy and play the whole yr, and itll be one less starter we’ll need to worry about at ILB in the offseason
October 27th, 2025 at 10:42 am
He is definitely coming along.
The big problem is the scheme part of every game. It seems they are content to have no one covering anyone within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. I’ve never seen so many receivers so open or backs in the flat with no one within 10 yards.
The notion of keeping everything in front of you should apply starting around 5 yards not 10 to 15 downfield.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:43 am
He does seem to be improving week to week…..
October 27th, 2025 at 10:45 am
With all due respect Joseph, I agree is an upgrade, but i don’t see the mayor upgrade, what am I missing, good against the run, very bad on coverage.
The upgrade is because Britt was awful, not because SVD is great!!!
October 27th, 2025 at 10:47 am
We have SVD and LVD?
When you play Tampa, you know you’re going to get a VD.
Rattler got a VD penetrating the A Gap. He’s going to feel that VD for awhile.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:51 am
wow SVD had a great game against a pathetic offense. yea britt wasnt great, but dennis is not either. now hes some sort of upgrade because he didnt get absolutely whipped at least once for an embarrassing gain?
how soon they forget last week. or the week before. or the week before that. and so on.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Who among us has not been impressed with the improvement in defensive play over the last few weeks? I mean, we were all blasting the D on this website week in and week out, as the offense was carrying the day. That has largely been reversed the last two weeks. If we can get both the D and O to hit their strides at the same time, look out!
October 27th, 2025 at 10:56 am
He keeps getting better. If this continues, all will be fine!!
October 27th, 2025 at 11:03 am
@SlyPirate
We just gotta get a LB with the initials of DVD next.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:06 am
SVD still behind on too many plays. Good RBs will eat him up on screens and crossing patterns.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:09 am
Agreed Joe. Bucs have a much better ILB this year, but I think this is a position Jason Licht should and will attack in next year’s draft no matter how this season ends up.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Denis has some ok stats, he’s also been directly responsible for almost every big play that’s gone against the Bucs. Improvement over Britt, no question but it ain’t good enough either. He has to play much better.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Not on topic, but if you want to have a little fun listen to some Atlanta sports radio. They are roasting Falcon today.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:35 am
I know he just needs reps so the game can slow down for him but i would rather have deon jones as a starter as long as he makes plays
October 27th, 2025 at 11:43 am
Voss played 3 of the best RBs in league. 90%backers will lose that matchuo
October 27th, 2025 at 11:48 am
It’s a low bar. That why this seems decent enough. SVD takes angles like an 8-10 boys flag football team.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Yeah- really Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are too fast for any linebacker in the NFL to handle by himself. That’s why you need to gang tackle them.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:51 am
He has made more splash plays. Unfortunately he has also allowed a lot of splash plays. They need to draft ILB in a major way next year. Wouldn’t mind them trying to trade for one either.
October 27th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Yes Dennis is an upgrade over Britt.
No not true that all of us have been bashing the defense week in and week out.
No the offense has not carried the team. In fact only once has the offense carried the day. That day was of course in Seattle. The come from behind wins where Baker and the offense finally came together to make a last minute winning drive were carried by the defense keeping us in the game.
The defense has played a lot better than last year. The defense has been consistently better than the offense and special teams in 7 out of 8 games this year.
Yes it is good that some are finally acknowledging the improved defense. If you are a Bucs fan how could you not?
Simple Facts
Go Bucs !
October 27th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Credit to the player formerly known as Sir Whiffs A Lot. He’s coming around and only elite LBs are excellent in coverage. More than holding his own recently…still a somewhat inexperienced player.
October 27th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Britt didn’t have the physical tools, would never have worked out. SVD DOES, and just needs experience and coaching
October 27th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Dennis is improving…
him being healthy and not having to wear the green dot has him playing faster….
keep improving!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 27th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
He’s pretty good moving forward, and when he only has just ‘one thing’ to think about. It’s when he has to move side-to-side, (&/or) backwards, where HE runs into Trouble. Has TERRIBLE feet and instincts, and can be very slow to react when forced to make a decision… Especially, when on an island all by himself. But, WHERE is Braswell!? He’s now halfway through his 2nd season… As a 2nd-round draft pick. I expected A LOT MORE from him, by now! ELITE coaching at every level… Saban and St. Frances Academy. ELITE combine numbers on most everything, especially physical strength. Looks-like, an ELITE athlete. Good Speed for his size. POWERFUL. They said he was timed at 22mph at BAMA, and can run a sub 4.6. Maybe, all of that is ‘the problem’ tho… He just got by with overpowering people at the HS and College levels, in a way that he can’t in THE NFL!? He just doesn’t seem to have the ‘it’ factor, or the drive… Lacks HEART. Cause, all he is right now, is just a ‘special teams’ player. And, that is VERY disappointing. WHY can Bowles not develop of friggin’ EDGE RUSHER… At ALL!?:/ It’s really Unbelievable. Just makes no sense.
October 27th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
He definitely flashes but he gets himself in poor angles for tackling… considering basically first year I will take it
October 27th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
“WHY can Bowles not develop of friggin’ EDGE RUSHER… At ALL!?:/ It’s really Unbelievable. Just makes no sense.”
Guys, Braswell isn’t a starter. Plays less than Nelly, and I don’t really think that’s a discredit to him or his ability but at best he’s our 4th option in the OLB room when we’ve been healthy.
The way that Nelly opened up the game and ended up playing 65% of the defensive snaps yesterday which is double what he played in any game leading up to this is more about not having Reddick than anything.
Being a 2nd round pick means nothing if the established guys are playing better than you. Hell I was hype to hear Mo Kamara got to dress, but I wasn’t expecting to see a ton of him. Braswell played 30 snaps yesterday finishing with a single tackle and registered a single QB hit. Going out the way to criticize him like he’s getting the lions share doesn’t make any sense to me. I get the disappointment, but relative to everybody else on our defense why go out your way to gripe about that 1 guy?
October 27th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Talk about an overreaction. He gets a couple sacks and now we’re lauding how genius Licht is for ‘upgrading’ the awful, flat-footed Britt. Dennis is dead-last in the league in coverage grade for ILBs – by a wide margin.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
🤣🤣🤣🤣Dennis is horrible period you have every seen our middle backers deflect pass nope I never see that. U can cover of theses backs if you line up with leverage.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Interesting comparison. Better than last year is a solid improvement.
SVD, I gather you’ve learned a lot this first half of the year. You always had the talent. Now you have the experience.
Now it’s time to rise. Be reckless. Be vigilant. Be aggressive and be fearless. You can be as good as you want to be. This team needs a guy to emerge. Don’t let 95 steal your thunder. He’s a mover. Make each other better. Get beers with him this week.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Josh McDaniels, sean McVay, watch how Todd gets out coach. 😮😮😉
October 27th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Before yesterday’s game — Dennis had given up 438 yards in coverage. Worse than any player in the NFL including cornerbacks.
So, I agree with he has been stout against the run generally.
But my guess when it comes to the playoffs — the other team will scheme to take advantage of that horrible coverage ability.
It will be the difference in us winning the game or losing. Let’s hope, I am wrong.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Got the anti-Bowles brigade out in force, yawnnnnnn. SVD does sound like he’s improving. Still, Licht will be getting LBs in the Draft. LVD could retire at anytime now. Grateful for the Bye. Now we fans can catch a breath.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
I don’t dislike Bowles I just know he will get out coached facts.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Yes, edge rushers is important, but in Bowles scheme, the edge is less important. Buccaneers currently rank third in total sacks!
October 27th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Agree Buddha. Lots of ways to win. Don’t need edge sacks like the Joe’s always state.
October 27th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
and so many were ready to ditch him early in season. he could be our best player, he’s got that much upside.
October 27th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Correct, Dennis has not been good, but he’s still an upgrade of Britt, and Dennis has been slowly improving. At this point last year, Britt was getting worse by the week – he was just too slow, period. You can be the smartest guy in the world, but if you’re too slow for your body to catch up with you brain, you don’t help the team on the field.
Another upgrade. Heck over Sucke. Smaller difference, but Heck is also being hung out to dry by Wiz Kid who doesn’t seem to understand how to call games. Coen last year, after seeing Sucke blow up the game plan in Detroit, then perform just as bad vs the Broncos, Coen changed the game plan, went to the short passing game offense, and everything took off. But I’m convinced that change in game plan was all about Sucke not being able to hold a block at all, and Coen knowing this and changing things to match his personnel. So far Wiz Kid has not done that.
October 27th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
He’s improving in coverage assigned to some VERY talented backs. Bijon, CMC, Gibbs, Saquon, Kamara etc
He’s also contributed with tackles, sacks, TFLs
He’s 8 games back with 9 games left to go in the regular season….. Said it before, I’ll say it again, he’ll be fine. Definite upgrade.
October 27th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
@ Warren Brooks Lynch – Though, I don’t see where I JUST DESTROYED the guy at all, by saying that I was “disappointed!?” But, since I watch A LOT of HS and College Football (follow all the recruiting, & all of that), I had expected a lot more from him. Especially, after his combine. Obviously, the Bucs did too, or they wouldn’t have drafted him with their ‘2nd-Round’ Pick, AND had gone so far outta their way to ‘talk him up’ all off-season long. And, it is VERY common to see a lot of guys, who have ‘physically’ DOMINATED every other level of the sport (basketball included), to then suddenly find-it a tough-goin in THE NFL. When, their ‘physical traits’ alone, isn’t good enough, anymore. LOTS of times. They either get EXPOSED ‘fundamentally’ (&/or) for lacking a true love for the game. They just got by before, only because they were blessed with being a ‘bigger and better’ athlete. It can cause them to developed bad habits… And, not just while ON the field, but also in training, nutrition, and etc. LOTS of times, they have a low motor, lazy, not fundamentally sound, Etc. Etc. He’s been mostly invisible, while mostly, only playing special teams. I’m pretty sure that the FO had expected a lot more than THAT. I never attacked HIM personally, so I don’t understand what it is so wrong by only asking a question!?