“The Ball Just Finds” Bucs Rookie LB SirVocea Dennis

After seeing the Bucs’ interception total drop from 17 in 2021 to just 10 last year, head coach Todd Bowles has put a major emphasis on picking off passes this offseason.

Through two weeks of training camp the Bucs have picked off eight passes, and the INT leader is an unlikely candidate – rookie inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis.

Dennis, who is known more for blitzing at the University of Pittsburgh where he posted seven sacks last year and had 15 in his Panthers career, already has two picks. He recorded Tampa Bay’s first INT of camp when he stepped in front of a Kyle Trask pass and took it down the sideline for a pick-six.

“They ran it before and I know where they want to go,” Dennis said after his interception of Trask. “I know where the holes are in that coverage and I leaned more towards it. Also, the player next to me, YaYa [Diaby], I told him to do something so that the quarterback wouldn’t look there. It ended up working out perfect, really. I attribute that to film study.”

SirVocea Dennis Has 4 INTs During Bucs Offseason And Training Camp

That’s become a familiar sight this summer, as Dennis has notched four interceptions since the Bucs drafted him in the fifth round in April. Dennis had a pair of pick-sixes earlier in the offseason, one just a few minutes into his first rookie mini-camp practice, and one later in a Bucs OTA.

Dennis’ second pick of camp came at Baker Mayfield’s expense last week. Known for his cerebral approach to the game and his football I.Q., Dennis attributes his success pilfering the ball on film study.

“Different drops and different coverages, but I’m more in tune with breaking,” Dennis said about his two training camp interceptions. “We do a lot of things in indys (individual periods) that helps me with my breaks. Not just that, but the film room work with Devin [White], Lavonte [David] and (Bucs inside linebackers) Coach [Larry] Foote helps me seeing not only what we have to do but what the offense is trying to do, too.”

Dennis has been a thorn in the side of the Bucs offense in August.

“His eyes,” said Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales when asked about Dennis’ top trait. “He knows where he’s supposed to be first and foremost, but then he has a real suddenness to the ball. He tracks the quarterback’s eyes and he’s making football [plays] … Quarterback 101, start with your eyes down the middle to hold the Mike linebacker. If we start staring routes down he undercuts things.

“And he has great hands. That’s the thing. It’s not just his eyes and intelligence. You have to be able to catch the ball, too. He’s got a lot of that. He’s a pretty good player.”

Bucs wide receiver and team leader Mike Evans recently went out of his way to praise the rookie linebacker too.

“He’s been making plays, too,” Evans said. “Really good player.”

SirVocea Dennis Is Earning Some Playing Time On Defense This Year

While the Bucs have two very good experienced starters ahead of Dennis at inside linebacker in Lavonte David and Devin White, if he keeps making plays and creating turnovers Bowles will have to find a way to get him on the field this year.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He has a great characteristic – the ball likes to find him,” said Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. “That’s always a good thing in this league. So he’s making a lot of plays for us. It makes for a lot of healthy competition across the ball. We’ve got two pretty good players there but the thing about us and the way we play defense, is that if you make plays we’ll find a way to get you on the field. That’s always been our mantra here.”

One thing is for certain, if he keeps exceeding expectations and making plays as a rookie, it’s a safe bet that Dennis will be a starter next season. Both David and White will be free agents in 2024 and it’s a safe bet that one – or both – won’t be back.

David turns 34 in January and White is seeking a contract that will make him the highest-paid inside linebacker at $20 million per season.  The Bucs will not pay White anywhere close to that unless his level of play and consistency dramatically improves this season.

But that’s a conversation for next year. This year, Dennis is soaking up all the knowledge he can from the Bucs’ Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers ahead of him on the depth chart.

“I’m learning a lot, especially in coverage,” Dennis said. “Lavonte is so patient in coverage. He’s not too rowdy when it comes to covering. He’s in tune with his play. So is Devin – he just loves to get after it. Just seeing that from each of them just teaches you how to pick pieces from someone’s game and implement it into yours.”

Unless David or White gets injured, Dennis’ playing time on defense will be limited during his rookie season. But special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong has big plans for the former Pittsburgh star covering kicks and punts. Armstrong loves how quickly he’s picked up the different schemes and techniques on special teams.

Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis – Photo courtesy of USA Today

“Big-time – the first thing about SirVocea is that he’s what I call a ‘one-timer,’” Armstrong said. “You tell him one time and it’s done. He lines up, you tell him one time, ‘Watch the twist.’ Bam! He picks up the twist. Very good physically. He’s a physical football player, he’s a smart football player, and he can run. That’s what you’re looking for – smart, tough, athletic. He checks all boxes. I’m very happy for him.”

Dennis is not only happy to be in the NFL as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, but also reunited with one of his best friends and teammates in defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was the Bucs’ first-round pick. Kancey and Dennis formed a dynamic, one-two punch for the Pitt Panthers defense over the last three seasons.

“It’s a blessing,” Dennis said. “Coming in to a new environment and a new place without a lot of familiar faces could get overwhelming. But having someone with you, a familiar face, someone who knows you and the style of your play and can play off you, it’s amazing. Him being here helps a lot. We compete all day. We even see who wakes up first and who falls asleep first. It’s a non-stop grind between me and him.”