David Walker Stock Up; Another Flop For Rueben Bain
October 9th, 2026
Early stud (right) and early dud.
A few things are clear along the Buccaneers’ 2026 defensive front.
First, the Tampa Bay pass rush is downright sad. The Bucs were sackless again tonight in their thrilling win at Dallas. They’re on pace for a 20-sack season, which is downright horrendous.
Second, the run defense is stout, though shaky when Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are out of the game.
Also clear is that Rueben Bain is having problems.
The Miami Mauler rookie returned to the lineup tonight and looked rusty as ever, a little more burst in his legs but he was a complete non-factor. Maybe it was weakness after missing Weeks 3 & 4 with a groin issue, but he was awful in Weeks 1 and 2. Tonight, Bain simply had no juice.
However, second-year edge rusher David Walker is a handful. He hit Dak Prescott and got in his face a couple of times. He’s more active than Bain. He’s steadily passing the eye test in pool of soft Bucs edge rushers.
Joe is pleased by Walker, who dropped in coverage tonight and had a key pass breakup that led to a YaYa Diaby interception — another edge rusher who dropped in coverage on the play.
Wild night indeed.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:21 am
But Bain’s bend !!!
October 9th, 2026 at 12:26 am
There is always this talk about dropping edge rushers, but they are OLBs. With 3 down lineman, you can’t blitz 5 on every down. And sometimes you put 4 guys down and play coverage. If they can’t get home it’s a question of the player.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:29 am
I don’t know what to believe. They hyped up Walker, he got hurt, now he’s playing well not great. They hyped up Bain BIG TIME and he looks completely pedestrian. CK is also not as advertised even though he plays the run well. The lack of sacks is infuriating.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:30 am
Gotta wonder if 3 simply made his living beating up on NC State, UNC, Wake, Duke, and various Techs in college—and it’s showing now. He’s a step slow, small and not that strong vs NFL caliber OL. The worse part…not flashing or showing any motor.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:37 am
Rueben Bain will be ok in due time
October 9th, 2026 at 12:38 am
Don’t get me wrong, Joe. I want to see sacks too but that play by Walker when he dropped back is classic OLB play in a 34. He’ll get his. Maybe against Aaron. At least that’s the hope.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:39 am
It’s early and I am hopeful he will improve. But I was one of the few that hated this pick because he is undersized, only to be “corrected” by Gator faithful about how wrong I was. 😂
October 9th, 2026 at 12:42 am
Ooops. I mean “Hurricane” faithful.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:42 am
On that 99 yard drive, all I saw was Bain running backwards into poor coverage. I really don’t remember seeing him get after Prescot when that’s what was needed most. Gotta ciach it better.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:42 am
Coach it better
October 9th, 2026 at 12:48 am
walker needs more and more snaps…
i saw bain on the back of milk carton floating in the water near alligator alley
October 9th, 2026 at 12:49 am
Just look up the movie Deadpool. When he makes fun of a T-Rex.
Everyone fears the Mighty T-Rex..mimicking TINY ARMS.
Bain LOOKS mad, but he’s like the little doggy that wants to be Spike.
I really wish he was the next John Randall. Now just not seeing it. At all
October 9th, 2026 at 12:55 am
If Bain was a non-factor, who was breathing down Prescott’s neck on that last interception? He didn’t have to move in the pocket because of a ghost.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:56 am
Call me crazy, but I personally feel that Walker is having a GREAT season thus far. Especially considering his limited snaps. Has 2 sacks, a nice amount of pressures/QB hits. He also jumps off the screen. Appears to have more juice than any other edge. I can see him finishing with 8-10 sacks. That’d be phenomenal for a “rookie” year.
October 9th, 2026 at 1:06 am
I think Bain will be fine by end of year he got a little beat up in camp and a shoulder then a groin is tough, he was hurt at Miami in the beginning too he will bounce back
October 9th, 2026 at 1:10 am
On the last interception Bain got out fast and came around the back dak definitely felt pressure on that play
October 9th, 2026 at 1:25 am
Fire bowles. What are we rooting for now the 13th pick in the draft? Wish that newest stoopid decision of bowles cost them the win. He wouldnt have been let back in tampa
October 9th, 2026 at 1:39 am
Walker had another sack tonite all lined up and Dak kinda spun out of it and Walker missed the tackle. I was bummed!!!
Not sure about Bain.
I did see a good pressure from him one time.
Mostly I saw him dropping into coverage quite a bit tonite….
Gotta give this dude some time.
Remember, Walker is in year 2 and he’s flashing.
Bain just gotta get that shoulder healed up and get some experience…
It will get better for him!!
October 9th, 2026 at 1:42 am
Walker is easily our best edge rusher, but it’s pretty sad that our edge rushers had more impact plays in pass coverage than rushing the QB. WTF
October 9th, 2026 at 2:53 am
I’m not worried, there must be three or four first rounders on the Dallas O-line. Let’s give the rookie time. At least Bowles is giving Walker more snaps, nice to see.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:54 am
All of the talk about him being angry that he slid in the draft and so many teams passing on him certainly isn’t the motivation many said it would be for him to be a force as of yet is it? I still have hope for him to be great and elite but so far he is a non factor.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:26 am
The Bucs got ZERO sacks. But, they got 2 interceptions including the second one to ice the win. I will take that every game.
And, look at the highlight replay!
On the pick by Anzalone to put a nail in it, Bain was in Prescott’s back pocket despite the Cowboy RT hooking him across his throat.
It is maybe a bit harder to get sacks when you are held and no flag is thrown because people like to see Dak fling it?
And, considering that he had an arm wrapped around his throat, I thought that Bain’s bend was quite impressive!
And, Anzalone, with a minute and change left in the game, did the selfless things and curled up around the ball rather than risk giving it back while trying to tack on some return yards to pad his stats.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:06 am
It’s his 3rd game calm down already
October 9th, 2026 at 6:07 am
I don’t know if Bain will develop or not, but declaring players busts after a handful of games is ludicrous.
You can give Walker his praise without dragging Bain’s name through the mud.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:47 am
Let these guys rush. That what they were drafted for.
Bowles is killing me!
October 9th, 2026 at 7:00 am
Don’t get me wrong, I love sacks. But when your defense front is able to create pressure and havoc, it matters! Think about it like this, some of the best Dabs in the league don’t get a ton of ints, but if they have tight coverage or are deflecting passes, it’s still great defensive play. Sacks are awesome but do not tell the whole story. Give Bain some time, he’s not playing that bad and the sacks will come. In the meantime, he is playing his part in a defense that looks to be one of the better units in the NFL.
October 9th, 2026 at 7:40 am
Cal me crazy but the snaps where he actually got to rush the passer, they were good. Had a few nice inside moves, one where he worked around the outside.
October 9th, 2026 at 7:52 am
I saw Bain drop back into coverage too many times. I wasn’t completely focused on Bain, but when I was, he dropped into coverage more time than he rushed the passer.
October 9th, 2026 at 8:15 am
not worries about Bain….he’ll produce as the season goes on…the sacks will come
excited that this defense is creating Turnovers….
lets stack some Ws!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2026 at 8:17 am
YaYa has more picks than sacks this year… it’s a Bucs life
October 9th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Ok
October 9th, 2026 at 8:45 am
If Bain doesn’t pan out it’s an F-grade for Licht… after all those other teams passed on him he bought a lemon maybe. But it’s early and I hope that Bain figures it out. And it’s not like anyone else on the d-line is doing anything either.
October 9th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Todd had Bain dropping into coverage last night. Wtf
October 9th, 2026 at 8:53 am
I expect better from Joe! Tell me how many times Bain dropped into coverage before you say he was a flop. Last time I checked he’s not a db!
October 9th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Bain is gonna be fine. Needs to be let loose and play ball. He’s dropping in coverage way too much
October 9th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Walker been awesome!!! He needs more snaps n get his a$$$& off special teams before your main pass rusher gets hurt. Bain will be fine
October 9th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Walker needed time to adjust to the fast pace in the NFL. The same will hold true for Bains. Let’s see how he is doing late in the season.
October 9th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Wow pathetic he’s played in what 3 NFL games an has been hurt give the kid time to develop this is crazy he’s a busy after 3 games
October 9th, 2026 at 9:28 am
I don’t see Bain getting many stunts. Walker seems to get alot of the stunt calls and comes in from a 9 or 7 technique through the A gap.
I’d like to see Bain get those stunts verse more one on ones verse tackles. He will get there. As we know TB doesn’t always bring the best out in young guys early.
October 9th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Bain is a rookie. Walker red-shirted his rookie year hurt and is essentially a rookie. These guys will develop as the year goes on if they get the playing time. Yaya is a jag. Play the rookies Todd. Don’t be scared.
October 9th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Walker played well !! He falls way off after about 4 plays . Not really in Game Shape ? Bain is standing up , not sure that’s his game
October 9th, 2026 at 10:42 am
Bain is being asked to do too much, dropping into coverage all game. Guy needs his hand in the dirt.
October 9th, 2026 at 11:21 am
No this is Licht problem. Bain was a top 5 projected pick, 14 teams passed on him but somehow Licht drafts him at 15 and thinks he got a steal?? Dude, looks like a bulker Noah Spence. Silly pick The signs were there already. No competent GM would have let him slide to 15 if he was going to be good
October 9th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Most of the time I watched Bain he was dropping into coverage. He did get pressure on dak at the end to force a poor throw which resulted in the int.
October 9th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Hey you idiots Rueben Bain is not under sized 6’3” 270 where do you get your info ? Yaya is 6’4” 270 For comparison they are basically the same size. Please do some kind of research before you open your big mouth’s. The man is also a rookie and he’s probably thinking too much instead of reacting. He needs a full season under his belt. Give him a chance.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
I hope Bain works out but I did point out that statistically his teammate Mesidor was actually the better player on less snaps than Bain. It’s possible that Bain benefited from being on a team filled with high quality players.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Sorry but we drafted Bain for his pass rush ability. Last night he spent most of his time dropping back in coverage. We got hardly any pass rush from the front line, it mainly came from blitz from a corner. Use the guy for what he as drafted for, let him get that before you add him trying to cover a RB or TE.I can tell you that was not ask of him at Miami.
October 9th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Bain was dropping back almost every play he was in.