It was one thing when Joe noted second-year edge rusher David Walker, the super-hyped 2025 fourth-round draft pick, showed questionable effort in his preseason debut.

It’s quite another thing when two Bucs legends call him out.

The film doesn’t lie. And it caught Jon Gruden’s eye from the opening whistle.

On The Rondé Barber Show yesterday it was revealed that Gruden and Barber had a film session together, studying Bucs players in last week’s game against the Jets. Gruden and Barber were preparing to be in the broadcast booth for the WFLA-TV call on Saturday night at The Licht House.

“Coach and I were watching film, and on the very first snap of the game … Josiah Trotter, who I think is going to be a stud starter, chases this ball down. Well, [David Walker] goes up the field and starts jogging toward the ball. And I was like, ‘Jon’s going to call him out on that,” Barber said.

Oh, Gruden’s facial expression changed immediately on the show from a smile to a grimace.

Co-host J.B. Biunno reacted to Gruden and asked him if he was “going to keep it real”for viewers.

“No,” Gruden replied. “I’m going to keep it positive. I just pointed it out to Rondé but I know how these guys look at team pursuit on defense. It’s been a way of life here in Tampa Bay. “You run to the ball, you strain to finish players.

“When you watch Trotter on the very first play, you’re glad he’s a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. And don’t get me wrong, I love Walker. I love his upside but he’s going to have to learn to finish plays with authority. I got a couple of clips of Simeon [Rice,] Lawrence Taylor, some of my favorite guys out of the stack … Because that’s where you cause the turnovers. These receivers, they make a guy miss. The cut it back, and here comes Robert Mathis of the Colts. … I’m sure Todd Bowles pulled that play out and started the [defensive] meeting with it.”

Barber added that as good as Walker’s training camp has been, his preseason game was unimpressive.

Joe was stunned by Walker not playing with his hair on fire. But it was his NFL debut coming off a major injury, and he did admit to being “jittery.” So Joe is willing to cut Walker some slack.

But the Joe typing here remains scarred by Joggin’ Jamel Dean and other loafing on the Bucs defensive film last season. That cannot be tolerated.