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Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis.
SirVocea Dennis has a friend in Calijah Kancey.
Dennis very well could be Lavonte David’s heir as the next great Bucs linebacker. Problem is for Dennis, is staying on the field.
Folks hope at One Buc Palace that Dennis’ shoulder surgery to correct a nagging injury dating back to his Pitt years has resolved this issue. We shall see.
But Dennis can lean on another factor that also dates back to his Pitt days. That’s playing behind tackle Calijah Kancey. And that Pitt connection is a whole lot less painful than a bum shoulder for Dennis.
Earlier this week after underwear football practice, the man most outside of One Buc Palace would mistake for a grad assistant in the biology department at USF said that if anything, Kancey could help him stay on the field.
Dennis finds a bit of comfort playing behind Kancey. Sort of like Dennis’ safety net.
> “Being with Calijah – I’ve been with him for obviously the four years at Pitt and this will be our third year here so seven years – it’s amazing,” Dennis said. “That guy is an animal, of course. You guys see it night in and night out on the field.
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> “Just to be playing five yards behind him – I’m just comfortable, you know what I mean? I don’t have to worry about him, I don’t have to worry about his assignment. That guy is a dawg and I’m just excited and lucky to play with that man.”
And, equally important, until Dennis can demonstrate he’s not brittle, Kancey helps keep NFL bodies off of Dennis.
Joe doesn’t believe there are many, if any, Bucs fans who think Dennis can’t play at a high level in the NFL. But he could be the next Lawrence Taylor and it won’t matter a hill of black beans and yellow rice if he can’t stay on the field.
And Joe doesn’t think he’s overstating that Dennis finding a way to stay on the field could be one of the most crucial hurdles for the Bucs to overcome to develop into a Super Bowl contender.