Keeping An Eye On SirVocea Dennis
June 14th, 2023
Early impressions.
Joe has noticed one thing about rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis: He makes plays.
You know when Dennis is playing defense. He makes an impact. How this translates from underwear football to big boy football remains to be seen.
With disgruntled Bucs linebacker Devin White not participating all spring, Dennis has gotten on the field quite a bit. And it seems Bucs coach Todd Bowles has noticed.
“He’s got a ton of reps,” Bowles said of the rookie from Pitt. “He’s getting a lot of reps at both spots, so he’s picking it up pretty [well] and that’s hard to do – come in as a rookie and pick up both spots.
“He’s a smart football player and it’s starting to slow down for him.”
These snaps for a rookie are valuable, and the investment seems to be paying off.
Dennis wasted little time making a play yesterday. He picked off a competing Kyle Trask pass over the middle and housed it to the right side.
Yeah, Joe knows, it is underwear football. But at least the early returns for Dennis are promising. Who knows? If White launches Operation Shutdown this fall, Dennis might find himself on the field a whole bunch more than most predicted.
June 14th, 2023 at 3:58 am
This kid kind of reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Bucs players, Hardy Nickerson, who was also a 5th Round pick. Both have ties to Pittsburgh (Nickerson drafted by the Steelers, Dennis played for Pitt). We’ll see, if he’s as good as Hardy Bucs fans will be ecstatic.
June 14th, 2023 at 5:32 am
I think pics in practice translate more than anything else would because you don’t have to hit guys and it doesn’t matter if pads are on.
Jumping a route in practice shows how mentally stable he is.
One thing the guys who rank us don’t know is how good our draft picks will play.
I think it’s quite possible we have 5 maybe 6 guys who start at some point this season. Injuries happen every year especially when your Pro Bowlers are older.
June 14th, 2023 at 5:47 am
White hasn’t picked off a pass in TWO years! This kid has had 2 picks in a handful of practices.
June 14th, 2023 at 5:53 am
I think Devin White might have a dart board with his picture on it.
He is definitely having Sirvocea Dennis nightmares like he is in a mask chasing him.
When White finally gets interviewed and someone asks him about Dennis, I will be evaluating his response for sure.
He has to be thinking, “Man screw this guy.”
June 14th, 2023 at 6:57 am
The more I hear about it the better I like this draft class….
June 14th, 2023 at 7:25 am
I love the name. SirVocea. He’s going to be big.
“Tiny circles, Devin.”
June 14th, 2023 at 7:56 am
Dude looks 40 years old.
June 14th, 2023 at 8:05 am
White really messed up with this contract and trade stuff. Bucs fans want him gone. His teammates will never look to him as a leader again. On the opposite end, you have a young man like Dennis learning quickly, showing that he could be a draft day steal and a future starter, so perhaps the scales will balance out for the Bucs when it’s all said and done.
June 14th, 2023 at 8:10 am
“This kid kind of reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Bucs players, Hardy Nickerson, who was also a 5th Round pick.”
Bruh, Hardy Nickerson is personally one of my favorite players of all-time and a big reason I became a Bucs fan as a kid. I like that comp for Dennis and that’d be a perfect player for him to pattern his game after. Remember reading Dennis’ scouting report and thought it was interesting that he got recruited to Pitt playing QB & DB in HS, but turned himself into an “undersized” over-athletic LB
June 14th, 2023 at 8:27 am
Why don’t we just cut Devin and with the money we save get RB Cook??
June 14th, 2023 at 8:39 am
dennis looks like a young med student…
white gives podium and does not sound like said med student
June 14th, 2023 at 9:17 am
If the guy blossoms…IF…it would make navigating the Diva White situation a little easier.
June 14th, 2023 at 9:42 am
He should ask for the number 45. I’m no longer a DW fan. I just want him gone so he can blowout his ACL on a different team.
June 14th, 2023 at 10:27 am
I don’t think SirVocea wants 45. Didn’t he choose #8?
June 14th, 2023 at 10:31 am
Good point, Fred. That’s a toxic number. Just burn it.
June 14th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Ah the optimism of summer.
Where mid round rookies set the world on fire and the Baker Mayfields of the world are considered upgrades over the Tom Bradys of the world.
June 14th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
A great season will win you guy back over to DW45
June 14th, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Hey some dude, news flash for you. EVERY NFL QB this season is better than Brady. Brady is retired from his NFL career.
Brady and his GOAT stats are never going to be topped. His playing days are over. Thanks Tom for the SB and the way you played th3 game.
June 14th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Interesting news article I came across regarding Dennis when he was with Pittsburgh:
First-year Pitt linebackers coach Ryan Manalac called Dennis a “special talent”.
“He can play all three spots for us,” Manalac said. “He played both Money and Mike throughout camp and it kind of shuffled out and he ended up in the Mike, but certainly confident he could go play either outside spot if we needed him there as well.”
Joe cut it off there. Joe doesn’t copy and paste more than a small excerpt of someone else’s hard work. Thank you..–Joe
June 14th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Oh yay an article inside an article
June 15th, 2023 at 1:15 am
Hope he keeps it up when the pads come on.
We will need him to light a fire under Whites @$$.
Go Bucs!