Let Josiah Trotter Take Over
August 12th, 2026
Josiah Trotter’s play gives Bucs fans a reason to smile.
So Joe noted on Twitter how at one point during the controlled (ha!) scrimmage between the Bucs and Jets up in New Jersey, SirVocea Dennis was getting a lot more snaps with the first-team defense than rookie Josiah Trotter.
Joe referenced this as “troubling.” And it was. And is.
Joe never realized Dennis had so many staunch defenders. Man, they came after Joe. The blasphemy of suggesting Dennis is not an NFL starting inside linebacker!
They were outraged. Instead, they should be outraged at Dennis.
(Need evidence? Rewatch the loss to the Eagles game. Make sure you have a puke bucket near you.)
Last year, Dennis may have been the worst starter on one of the poorest defenses in the NFL, a defense that Joe maintains quit late in the season. Joe’s not sure how anyone could justify keeping Dennis as a starter.
Simply put, if Dennis is starting, this defense is going nowhere. After his atrocious 2025, Joe was ready to turn the page. It was that bad.
There is a reason the Bucs drafted/signed several inside linebackers in the offseason.
So Joe wants Trotter on the field. And Joe doesn’t care if Dennis knows Bowles’ defense. What good is knowing the defense if one can’t execute assignments? Joe’s very confident K.J. Britt knew the defense. Same with Devin White.
Joe has seen every Bucs practice open to media. The tempo of the defense changes when Trotter is on the field. It is so clear watching how that defense gets a jolt with Trotter raising hell.
That’s exactly why he was drafted: He’s good on the run, but his passion and fire are contagious. Between Rueben Bain, A’Shawn Robinson, Alex Anzalone, Keionte Scott, and like-minded Tykee Smith, and yes, Trotter, this defense is night and day different from last year.
You know who said that? Todd Bowles three days ago. Yes, he said the newcomers brought a mentality that is a “night and day” difference from last year.
The Bucs defense has no upside and no future with Dennis as a starting linebacker. The future, if not the present, should be all about getting Trotter ready.
Go ahead and watch video from the Bucs-Jets practice yesterday courtesy of the Buccaneers and you can see how the defense feeds off Trotter’s energy.
Joe saw this last week when the pads came on. Bowles predicted Trotter would show up when the pads came on and Bowles was absolutely correct.
It’s OK to say a guy stunk if he stunk. If the Bucs didn’t tell him, if the tape didn’t show him, Dennis probably got the hint when the Bucs started collecting inside linebackers in the offseason. If the Bucs weren’t trying to replace Dennis, they wouldn’t have burned a second-round pick on Trotter.
The stench of Dennis’ play last year is all too fresh in Joe’s nostrils.
It’s time to hand the keys to Trotter.
Here are some video clips of today's Bucs-Jets practice in New Jersey. Video courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/YtA5yQ4thr
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 12, 2026
August 12th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Jason, we know you read JBF.
Please walk into Todd’s office, show him this article and say, “Bruh. Stop with the Dennis nonsense. Read this.”
Thank you. Sorry you have to be the middle man for your head coach to arrive at critical thought.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Joe, you named a half dozen passionate defenders on our defense and didn’t even mention the new double digit sackmeister (Muhammad) or our ace in the hole “that’s how you win a Super Bowl” David Walker. Talk about an embarrassment of riches!
I’m thinking Trotter may have just been the right choice. And if he turns out to have been- oh, we’re gonna kick the living shlt out of some teams this year, and I ain’t whistling Dixie!
August 12th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Amen! I believe Bowles knows this… but we shall see.
Love me some Trot! Kick that ass!
August 12th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Dennis is a fifth round pick. A lot of 5th round picks don’t even make their teams so why be so loyal to Dennis? Makes no sense. Maybe Bowles was just giving Trotter a breather since he was dominating so much?
August 12th, 2026 at 7:28 am
If rage bait were a blog post…….
August 12th, 2026 at 7:28 am
I sometimes wonder if some of these Joes just starter watching NFL football. I mean, the Bucs haven’t played a single preseason game yet.
A rookie 2nd round pick who only played a couple years in college, not being handed the starting job after a few padded practices? Craziness.
And I know this more about how bad Dennis was last year. But it’s early..
Relax!
August 12th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Well joe.. you know everybody was beating the drum for kj britt when devin white was stinking it up…. And then when kj britt became the starter he started to stink it up, all I ever heard and seen, was when is dennis gonna get a healthy shoulder so he can play,then we got dennis… now here we are. Deja Vu?
August 12th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Fanofdabucs … Excellent points. SVD isn’t just NOT a starter. It befuddles me why we even have him on the team after last year’s performance.
But like you said, maybe Bowles’ approach has more to do with Trotter than with SVD. Maybe he’s just trying to get him super-comfortable at the 2nd-tier before moving him up to play with the big dogs.
It seems strange how so many 2nd-guess EVERY little thing that Todd Bowles does in Training Camp to get this team ready to play. He’s now 8-0 in the first 2 games of the season over the past 4 years as HC/DC. That apparently counts for nothing in Bucsville.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Dennis has THE worst feet and THE worst instincts I think I have EVER SEEN before, in an NFL Linebacker. And, it sounds-like Bowles is determined to keep him on the field, and covering dudes like Bijan Robinson and Gibbs coming outta the backfield, and etc. What… Because, HE KNOWS THE SYSTEM AND PLAYS!? LoL. It’s irrelevant, when HE CAN’T EXECUTE. And, only exposes himself, and EMBARRASSES YOU. Lmao. We have a “Head Coach” who is a literal walking definition of INSANITY. I mean, seriously… HOW is this guy still even ON THE TEAM!? Not a mental heavyweight by any means, with ZERO instincts, and BAD feet… I mean, you’re NOT changing ANY of that. And, Bowles’s ANSWER IS… Ah, we’ll put HIM IN and he’s him anyway!!!! REAL SMART MOVE THERE.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:52 am
Careful now DR. That came really close to being a compliment in Todd’s direction.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Joe I could not agree more Dennis may have been the worst starting LB in the league on a defense that was one of the worst. Those are facts simply stated. Surely Bowles knows this. I hope he is just letting the rookie win the job since Dennis has been the starter. The second one is , if we could just replace McColumn. I just have no faith. McColumn may have been the worst starting cb on one of the worst starting defenses last year. The problem now, we don’t have a Trotter to replace him.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Two things about Mr. Dennis. When Bijan Robinson clowned him on that swing pass in the first game, that was not an outlier. Rather, it was a preview of what was to come for the whole year. Yea, it get that it was Bijan but still. The second thing is that Eagles game. Blocking 30 yards downfield for Jalen Hurts. Child please!!
August 12th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Now, with this said… I also have ZERO ‘confidence’ in Trotter. BUT, he couldn’t be ANY worse. And, IF he truly brings the type of ‘attitude’ that the Bucs desperately NEEDS and ‘lifts’ the rest of the defense, then you have to go with him (at least over DENNIS)… If he has ANY ‘upside’ at all. Cause, I’ll tell ya right now, that Dennis is ‘lifting’ NO ONE. He can run in a straight line, and THAT IS IT. He is subpar and overwhelmed in EVERY other aspect of the game.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Who are all these people defending him? Trotter should definitely be starting asap. Dennis probably deserves plenty of criticism for last season but consider that as a group, the whole defense stunk. How’s he looking in training camp. I haven’t heard any critique, good or bad, about how he’s looking in this camp. If this defense looks so much better with all these new additions, maybe Dennis would look better too. At least good enough maybe to be a backup and special teamer.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:17 am
I can’t believe our “ROH” GM thaught it was a solid idea to go with an oft injured below average SVD and an elderly LVD as our starting ILBs last season.
Now our “ROH” GM is doing the same BS at CB this season.
Sorry but this is not a “ROH” quality GM IMO…
August 12th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Bowles is going to screw up this season because of being loyal to previous players. I have not watched a single practice but I trust Joe. I plan on watching the pre season games so I can get a feel of how this season is going to go.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Go back and watch Ronde Barber film his first couple seasons. He stunk it up. There is a thing called improving over time. Dennis was thrown in the fire last season. He can improve.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:34 am
The only people who would stick up for Dennis are his immediate family and trolls. Can’tMakeAPlay Dennis is terrible.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:49 am
@ BA’sRedP
It’s one thing to be an under-sized ILB who is constantly injured.
But to be a below mediocre ILB who is always injured?
What are we doing here?
The dude was a 5th round pick…
We can’t do any better?
I hope J-Trott is the real deal because we are sorely due for a solid ILB here.
August 12th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Gotta agree Joe. Not that I want to agree, but if Todd doesn’t see the issues with Dennis and continues to put him out there? Well shades of Diva the “he’s our best player” BS! Bowles should be doing absolutely everything he can to make sure Trotter is ready for opening day instead of …This. I played enough ball to have seen this sort of thing before from a coach and believe me…Players see it too!
Go Bucs!
August 12th, 2026 at 9:15 am
According to Joe’s own article, Head Coach Todd Bowles said Trotter would come alive when the pads came on—and that’s exactly what happened.
Bowles saw the talent. He predicted when it would show up, and Trotter delivered. Bowles even described the energy the newcomers brought as a “night and day” difference.
Yet somehow, Joe’s conclusion is that Bowles is burying the kid? 🤔
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: SirVocea Dennis was bad last season. The Bijan rep, the Eagles tape—all of it. I’m not defending that mess. And nobody is arguing that Trotter isn’t a stud. Joe wants him out there. Bowles obviously wants him out there too; the Bucs didn’t spend a second-round pick on him just to sit on the bench.
The disagreement is simply over whether a rookie getting some second-team work—before a single preseason game has even been played—means he’s being “held back.”
C’mon, Joe.
Playing NFL linebacker isn’t just about chasing the football. Trotter has to learn the entire defense, command the huddle, make the calls, and prove to Bowles that he can be trusted on every single down.
Dennis getting first-team reps in early August doesn’t mean he’s locked in to start against Cincinnati. It means Bowles is making the rookie take the job instead of gift-wrapping it for him after a few good padded practices.
And while everyone is hyperventilating over training camp rotations, let’s look at the track record: Bowles is 8-0 in the first two games of the season over the past four years. Whatever else you think of the man, his training camp process gets this team ready to start fast.
The bottom line: Joe’s own article tells us Bowles evaluated Trotter correctly, predicted his rise, and is now actively developing him.
Let the coach cook. 😏
August 12th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Trotter looks like THE guy to be our starter but I don’t really care what they’re doing the week before the 1st preseason game. If Dennis is the starter come opening day and Trotter didn’t have some major meltdown or injury, then I’m worried.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:24 am
I honestly don’t know how some people are going to survive the season if the first training camp depth chart turns you into a quivering mess of hysterical hens.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:26 am
There’s no question in my mind that Trotter WILL be the starter over Dennis at some point in the season. Once the learning curve flattens for the rookie, I suspect we’ll see a lot more!
August 12th, 2026 at 9:29 am
One thing 💯 about it is Trotter BETTER BE “the guy,” for Lickt & Bowles sake. After REACHING for such a player, when given who all else was still left on the board. The only real thing they’ve got goin for them is past history with 2nd-Round Picks. Cause, I mean, SURELY you’ve got to eventually hit on ONE of them… RIGHT!? You really can’t make it up.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:35 am
@ Drunk
“quivering mess of hysterical hens.”
Sorry.
I just have PTSD due to LVD and SVD not playing like the VIPs our GM and HC told us they would be…
Nah mean?
August 12th, 2026 at 9:37 am
History shows Bowles is slow in making switches. It took half a season or more before he started Diaby his rookie year when he was producing coming off the bench. Last season he didn’t fire the special teams coach when after 3 or 4 games it was obvious he needed to go. Then there was be Devin White’s poor performance. Bowles stayed loyal to him a season or two too long!!! There are more.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Why can Joe see this but Todd can’t?
August 12th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Let the kid play!!! He’ll make rookie mistakes, he’ll learn, he’ll get better fast!
August 12th, 2026 at 9:45 am
You can’t teach instinct. You either have them or you don’t. LVD doesn’t appear to possess much instinct.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:46 am
In a very Jameis-like way, I was for Dennis until I wasn’t. Both had my trust until their play showed me I was wrong to have faith in them. I wanted both to succeed, because the better they played, the better chance the team had to win.
It’s time to acknowledge Dennis is a bust and move on.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:54 am
No proof anyone brought in is better than Voss. AZALONE LOOKED LIKE THE BAD NEWS BEARS missing a tackle 3 times on same play yesterday. if it was Voss it would be all on here. If Azalone was so good why was he available? Voss numbers were better than his last year. voss had double digit tfl and was top 15 or 10 in sacks for a LB with limited opportunity because so many wasted blitzing 52. Trotter is a Rah Rah guy and we havnt seen him take an nfl snap.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Trotter is 2nd round pick usually little competition when they are drafted that high almost auto start. This should be even moreso since Voss is so bad. right? Coach hinted other day before catching himself that Trotter is old school thumper but not as athletic as others.
August 12th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Maybe they are giving Dennis enough rope to hang himself…. Everyone seems to know that Trotter is the Future and the Present. Maybe Dennis just needs to be shown. It is pre season, those that have to prove themselves worthy are allowed to play.
August 12th, 2026 at 10:16 am
^^let me restate that. Upon further review, he was a fifth round pick. Less of a bust and more of a fifth round pick showing why he wasn’t a second round pick. Now it’s time to let the second rounder
August 12th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Yeah. And Dennis looked like Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner against the Eagles last year. ‘
Please. The depths people will stoop to try to protect a stiff just because he wears a Bucs jersey. It’s OK to say a guy sucks when he actually, you know, sucked!
The Bucs didn’t load up on inside linebackers because SirVocea Dennis make people forget Derrick Brooks.
August 12th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Nice article Joe. I totally agree with you here too!
August 12th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Admin. Post the azalone video. Barkley mccafrey Gibbs Bijon make plenty LB struggle
August 12th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Admin. Post the azalone video.
August 12th, 2026 at 11:24 am
@Marine,
Now still reeling from horrid, real football from last year? Yeah, I can get behind that.
August 12th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Bowles knows better than anyone else. If he says Dennis is the starter, I’m good. People who question Bowles are simply ignoring his record. He won 8 games last year with half the team injured and crooked referees.
August 12th, 2026 at 11:55 am
Sure, so long as you post the full Eagles game of Dennis puking all over the field.
(No exterior links allowed in the comments — unless you want to start paying Joe a monthly fee.)
August 12th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Todd Bowles is a moron, that’s why Dennis is still running with the ones. Truth is he should be running with the three’s. He’s in a contract year, and it’s obvious he’s not worth resigning. Last year we have to put up with both useless Bowles, and Dennis.
August 12th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
And for the record, Joe wasn’t exactly high on Trotter when Licht drafted him.
August 12th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
I liked Josiah also but just like Morrison I was iffy on him because of the injuries. I would’ve had more faith in drafting Josiah over Morrison though.
August 12th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Good thing is just like Antoine I’m sure dad will help him with some things he might still struggle with.
August 12th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
trotter from all appearances, so far, looks like a guy who is going to take that job not have it given to him which is the way it should be. hopefully his aggression doesnt turn in to penalties or punches.
August 12th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
As i said yesterday, if Dennis remains the starter, the Bucs are doomed. Thanks for agreeing.
August 12th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Cant wait for all the “fans” on here to be all over Trotters jock after he balls out and makes key plays this year…when all they did was dog him as a bust and bad pick the second the slip was turned in! So predictable
August 12th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
Wait, there are people who actually defend SVD?
That guys is absolute garbage. GARBAGE!!!!!
August 12th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
Oh wow, I guess I just found one: he posts under the username “Dennis”…. hmm, that seems suspicious.
Hey SVD, spend more time learning how to be a pro and less time reading articles about yourself LMAO.
August 12th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
@Unbelievable
Yeah I was really torn on Dennis coming out & I would’ve leaned more towards passing on him. Can see why but I would’ve considered Kancey then. I liked him. Dude shows he can definitely play. He just has to stay on the field. I’m sure nobody thought he’d be injured so much. One dude I think could be a sleeper next year is Melkart About Jaoude from North Carolina. They should look into him, too!