Who knew that the Bucs’ move protection, particularly in the course of the sphere, would disintegrate so badly as a result of season-ending damage to inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis?
That’s precisely what occurred final 12 months when the second-year linebacker succumbed to a shoulder damage that had plagued him since his school days at Pittsburgh, the place he was an All-ACC performer. Dennis posted 239 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two compelled fumbles, a fumble restoration, and three move breakups with the Panthers and the Bucs had been starting to see glimpses of that participant earlier than he re-injured his shoulder in opposition to the Eagles in a Week 4 win.
Dennis had 22 tackles, one sort out for loss and one sack within the first three and a half video games of the 2024 season earlier than winding up on injured reserve and present process shoulder surgical procedure. He was making such a superb impression that he was on his method to unseating Ok.J. Britt because the group’s beginning center linebacker earlier than he was out for the 12 months.
“He’s super instinctive,” Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht stated about Dennis on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix on Tuesday. “He’s fast and active. He’s good in coverage and he’s got great awareness. That was a big blow to us, losing him because he was really coming along. And I think he was becoming one of the better, young linebackers in the league.”
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Dennis advised Pewter Report that he’s glad his shoulder surgical procedure is behind him and that he can give attention to bettering as a soccer participant in 2025 with out having to fret about that damage flaring up.
“I’m glad I got it done, but I’ve had that since I was in college when it first got messed up,” Dennis stated. “I’m glad it’s executed, however I want I’d’ve bought to play extra in the course of the season and had extra video games and extra alternatives. Having it mounted and having it again to regular is thrilling and I’m prepared for the following step. It simply feels good.
“It was what it was with the shoulder, but I wanted to showcase what I could do and that I could play with these guys. Not that I could play with these guys – I want to play with these guys. I want to be here for the team and to be successful for these guys. Playing the way I did in those four games meant a lot to me and hopefully it meant a lot to the guys as well.”
Licht and the Bucs have Dennis penciled in as a possible starter on protection with the unlikely return of Britt, who can be a free agent in March.
“He’s doing a great job and he’s fully recovering – he should be ready by OTAs and ready to go,” Licht stated. “We’re excited about his season [coming up] this year.”
SirVocea Dennis Has The Soccer I.Q. And Capability To Be A Bucs Beginning ILB
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
SirVocea Dennis needs to select up from the place he left off in 2024 – and that’s on the verge of changing into a starter in Tampa Bay. Regardless of solely taking part in significant snaps on protection in simply 5 video games in his first two years within the NFL, Dennis has confirmed he has the skillset and soccer I.Q. to begin for Bucs head coach Todd Bowles at one of many inside linebacker positions.
“He’s a very good pass dropper,” Bowles stated. “He’s a good striker. He’s a very good pick guy from a blitz package standpoint like he was in college. He’s a very heady player. He’s probably our headiest underneath zone player from a ‘backer standpoint with the exception of Lavonte [David]. We just haven’t seen enough of him. We’ve got to get him out there more and see him full-time. He’s got to stay healthy.”
Dennis has had quite a few interceptions, together with a handful of pick-sixes, in follow throughout his two years in Tampa Bay. However he simply hasn’t been in a position to present that sufficient in video games as a result of accidents he’s confronted.
Dennis did report his first sack within the NFL final 12 months, and it was really a trophy sack. He was in a position to drop the extremely elusive Jayden Daniels in a 37-20 win over the Commanders in Week 1.
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“I thank Lavonte for it, really,” Dennis stated. “He kind missed the sack and it kind of fell into my lap. That’s a tough guy to get down no matter what. He’s a guy that runs around the pocket and still sees downfield. Even Yaya [Diaby] saw that.”
If Dennis can keep wholesome in 2025, the Bucs consider he could be the reply at one of many group’s two inside linebacker spots.
“The number one thing is just being healthy,” Bowles stated. “If we can get him healthy, he had a role on defense starting out the season, but he got injured right there. Coming off surgery, hopefully he won’t have any more injuries and he’ll be right in the mix to play a lot of plays for us.”
