But as much as anything, the reason the Bucs didn\u2019t feel the need to address the position in the draft is their belief in SirVocea Dennis. The third-year pro played in only four games in 2024 before suffering a shoulder injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dennis was asked if the decision was a vote of confidence in his abilities. <\/p>\n \u201cI think my confidence remains the same, honestly. It was just the competition level,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cBring in a guy, and you have to compete 100 times more, you know what I mean? So now, stay comfortable. Stay healthy and just compete. Go out there and do everything you can not only to stay on the field but prove to guys that you belong there.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as if the Bucs ignored an obvious need this offseason. They signed former Dolphin Anthony Walker Jr.<\/a>, as well as ex-Falcon, Brown and Panther Deion Jones to one-year contracts. <\/p>\n Opposing quarterbacks attacked the middle of Todd Bowles\u2019 defense a year ago, particularly through the air, and both Jones and Walker excel in coverage. Jones had a spectacular juggling interception during an 11-on-11 period at Tuesday\u2019s workout. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very good player,\u201d Bowles said. \u201cHe\u2019s a very good athlete. For him, that was routine. Anybody else, that would have been difficult. If I give him too much credit, he\u2019s going to get a big head, so I\u2019m going to let it go right now.\u201d<\/p>\n But it\u2019s the return of Dennis and reunion with David that is the reason for cautious optimism. Bowles was asked this week which defensive player consistently has stood out during voluntary offseason workouts.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, the only one was \u2018Voss\u2019 (Dennis),\u201d Bowles said. \u201cHe gets his hands on a lot of balls. If you want to say he\u2019s had a very good four days, he\u2019s had a very good four days. That doesn\u2019t mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but I like where he\u2019s at right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Dennis\u2019 injury had a significant impact on a Bucs defense that allowed 22.6 points per game last season.<\/p>\n Despite playing in a platoon role behind Britt and being on the field for only 43.7% of the defensive snaps, Dennis had a combined 18 tackles over the first two games, including a sack of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. But two weeks later, Dennis aggravated a labrum injury from his days at Pitt and needed surgery. <\/p>\n Stay updated on Tampa Bay\u2019s sports scene<\/p>\n Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter<\/p>\n We\u2019ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida\u2019s college football teams every day.<\/p>\n You\u2019re all signed\u00a0up!<\/p>\n Want more of our free, weekly newsletters\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0inbox? Let\u2019s\u00a0get\u00a0started.<\/p>\n Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI felt like I was just getting my groove back and then, you know, that shoulder just flared up on me and I guess at that point I had to get it done,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cI was really comfortable in the defensive scheme, and hopefully we\u2019ll get back there soon.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything has definitely slowed down for me. It\u2019s fun just being out here, telling guys where to be and stuff like that. Just being around other guys and competing is fun, so I\u2019m excited to be where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n At least for one more season, Dennis will be standing next to David, who led the Bucs with 122 tackles and had 5 \u00bd sacks last season.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get a full year with Lavonte last year, so I\u2019m definitely excited for that to see how that goes,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cAnd just to be alongside him for another year. I mean, (season) number 14. It\u2019s amazing for him to be out here and play alongside him as well. <\/p>\n \u201cI call him at night just to ask him a couple questions, you know what I mean? And obviously, 14 years in, this dude has seen so much and played so much, he\u2019s probably tired of me now. But you know, sometimes I just want to talk ball. I know sometimes it\u2019s like, \u2018Leave that at work,\u2019 but he enjoys it.\u201d<\/p>\n At first glance, the 6-foot, 225-pound Dennis doesn\u2019t look like a physically imposing NFL linebacker. He\u2019s undersized for many schemes. When he puts on his glasses, he easily could be confused for a Wall Street broker. <\/p>\n But he reacts and plays fast, something that prompted David in the past to say that Dennis eventually may replace him as a defensive captain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot, really. Especially (coming from) a guy who\u2019s seen a lot of ball, played a lot of ball, been with a lot of players,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cIt means a lot, not only from him, but a guy like that who says, \u2018He can have the keys to the car when I\u2019m done playing.\u2019 … Anytime anyone says that, it\u2019s just like, \u2018Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n According to Bowles, it\u2019s just a matter of Dennis staying healthy and in the lineup. If he does that, the Bucs\u2019 decision not to address the position in the draft will be validated. <\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that he\u2019s been here two years, he understands how it works and what to do,\u201d Bowles said. \u201cJust the experience and him being out on the field every day and staying healthy will help him a great deal. I don\u2019t worry about him from the game getting too big for him standpoint. He understands everything, he knows how to play, and right now he\u2019s in the best shape he\u2019s been in since he\u2019s been here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nSirVocea Dennis (8) greets fellow linebacker Deion Jones during voluntary offseason workouts Tuesday at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa. [\u00a0DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
SirVocea Dennis is checked out by medical staff, after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 29 in Tampa. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times, 2024\u00a0]<\/p>\n