“It Puts That Fire Underneath Your Butt”
December 23rd, 2025
The Bucs have found a spark!
At least one Bucs player thinks this week will be extra intense.
Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis is a key member of the flatlining Bucs defense and he’s feeling pretty good about his play and the prospects for the defense cleaning up their act in the final two games.
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night, Dennis said he had one of his bet games against the Panthers, even though the loss was rought.
“When we get in [and] lose, you know, it’s a tough road ahead of us, but I just wanted to lock in a little bit more, read keys, play faster, obviously produce more, get a lot of production out there and just have fun, really,” Dennis said.
As for the defense’s struggles, Deninis said it’s minor details becoming major gaffes.
“Honestly, [the Panthers] were in a plus area a lot; we just tried to hold ’em to three. That touchdown right before half kind of put us in a bad position,” Dennis said. “You wish those plays don’t happen, but it’s football. Those guys get paid, too. Those guys, you know, are in the same place you are. So it happens. It’s just over the past couple of weeks, it’s just been little plays like that where it’s just a little mishap and it turns into a big play. You know what I mean? And that’s the tale of the season or the tale of the defense this year. And it’s nothing to be mad about, but it’s also like, ‘Dang, if we just had that back.’ And it’s tough. It’s real tough.”
The Bucs have every reason to be optimisic, Dennis said, as their defensive woes are fixable, even this late in the season.
“For sure. Practice is really huge. These upcoming weeks, the communication, the meetings, everything is really huge,” Dennis said.
“I know it’s been huge, but it puts a little bit more pressure on it. It puts that fire underneath your butt, you know what I mean? So, yeah, it’s definitely something that we know we could clean up, that we will clean up, and that we just have to go out there and execute.”
Joe is all for optimism, but saying now that playoff fire under your butt is a factor is hard to stomach.
That should have been a thing after the Bucs allowed Buffalo trampled their defense for 44 points. The Bucs responded to that by allowing the Rams to put 31 first-half points on them in a critical NFC matchup in prime time.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:04 am
Ball at the 42 Yd line 2nd down and we throw a Int because we Thought Evans was going to his left … Maybe less thinking and just take the 2 wide open guys or gain the 4yds that you could of just ran for.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:04 am
Blah Blah Blah Blah. Anything coming out of the mouth’s of Bowles and players at this point is white noise. They’re talking but saying nothing. Blow this joke of a team up.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:06 am
This is a joke, right? Now we will get serious after getting embarrassed multiple weeks in a row? Dumbest S&!t ever Joe. These tools shouldn’t get paid. They don’t care and it is pretty obvious. Oh how far we have fallen. Butt-aneers – we gladly play like A$$
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:12 am
It’s hard to instill a sense of urgency when the head coach doesn’t seem to have it either. Making desperate moves instead of fixing problems only makes things worse. There was no need to proclaim to the world that the Bucs were going to run the ball 30 times, no matter what the opposing defense did.
If they had fired the special teams coach in week 3, there could have been at least two or three more wins. Instead, the Bucs were in bad field position the entire year. This affected both the offense and defense.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:13 am
Anyone remember Derrick Brooks mentality.
He said he did not want to give up a BLADE of Grass.
“Honestly, [the Panthers] were in a plus area a lot; WE JUST TRY TO HOLD’EM TO THREE. That touchdown right before half kind of put us in a bad position,” Dennis said.
I like Dennis’s enthusiasm, but man, D Brooks mentality was VASTLY different than this just Hold’em to 3 comment.
The Bucs play so conservative, that even little mistakes flat get you beat, because of a tiny margin of error.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:14 am
Yawn. The defense will still give up 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14. Fire Bowles and grizz. Hire Kubiak, Hire Flores for DC. Draft a TE in the first, add to the O-Line with a pick or 2 or in FA, and then just go all defense, mainly edge and LB. LD is old and is most likely gonna retire. We need a true leader that has the developmental possibility to step into that role.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:15 am
All talk and no action. It got old weeks ago.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:15 am
The 2025 Bucs are not a good football team. I don’t know why but they aren’t. It’s over
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:16 am
This dude has clinical level lack of self awareness. He’s one of the primary reasons this team sucks.
He’s just saying the company line, stuff management wants to hear to salvage his job and potential future at other places.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:16 am
Another Licht Loser
Preseason all we heard about was how great this guy was. He was the future.
Shut up with the nonsense Dennis. You would not make another roster in the NFL. The only reason you have a job is because Jason won’t cut his draft picks.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:18 am
Everyone is starting to position themselves to protect their jobs.
That is the sign of a coaching staff on their way out.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:21 am
We have to kick through the end zone because we can’t cover a kick
We have to run a bazillion times a game so as to keep the sieve we call a defense off the field.
We have to stand back 15 yards off of a receiver “ so we don’t get beat deep”.
( how’s that working out?)
We stand and wait for a ball carrier to get to us and then we throw an arm out.
Meanwhile the cigar store Indian stands and watches with his arms crossed and a vacant stare.
This team ain’t gonna do $hit with this coach and this GM
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:22 am
This team couldn’t find a spark if you shoved a Roman candle up their azz.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:23 am
Fixable? Sure….its been fixable all year.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:25 am
So you mean he will jump higher in frustration when another player tackles the guy that just ran by him?
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:44 am
Communication issues? First time we’ve heard that over the past how may years?
🤦♂️
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:50 am
“It puts that fire underneath your butt..” I’m calling BS.
Professional football players get paid to do a job…just like the rest of us. I look at my own career as a measuring stick. “Hey boss, I’ve really sucked at my job for the last 16 weeks, in fact, I didn’t really even care to try harder – but now I see the light and I really feel the need to do a better job…I’m really burning to do better.” Answer from boss, “you suck – you’re fired.” Real world stuff.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:51 am
There is no fire. There is only butt
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:01 am
tired of the cleanup cliche used by so many on this team. it’s an empty excuse.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:07 am
Don’t think it will happen. 🙁
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:11 am
Ahhhhh, Week 17 is when it all comes together….got it, SVD!
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:23 am
BUCNJIM
I AGREE!!!!
at the very worse canning the special teams coach wouldve “put that fire underneath your butt” in Week 4…
benching a player like Zyon who gets “bored” mightve “put that fire underneath your butt”…
no sense of urgency from the top starting with Licht and bowles
HIRE KLINT KUBIAK
GO BUCS!!!!