Rondé Barber Suggests “Loyalty Issues” Are Keeping David Walker From Playing More
October 22nd, 2026
Screenshot from The Rondé Barber Show, a WFLA-TV streaming production.
Rondé Barber continues to be in disbelief over the usage Bucs edge rusher David Walker.
Walker has been successful against the run and incredibly successful as a pass rusher. And, per Barber, Walker is the best Bucs outside linebacker when it comes to dropping in coverage, a hallmark of a Todd Bowles defense.
“He needs to be playing more,” Barber said for the second consecutive week on his WFLA-TV streaming show. “He’s got a twitch to him that YaYa [Diaby] doesn’t have, that [Rueben] Bain doesn’t have.
Barber detailed the stunning stats shown in the graphic above. “What are we looking at? Play this guy more,” Barber pleaded.
Asked why Walker isn’t a starter, Barber replied: “I don’t know. There’s loyalty issues, I guess.”
The loyalty comment intrigued Joe. The NFL is littered with massive egos, from coaches to players to front office types. The best players don’t always play. As The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, Ira Kaufman, always says, “investiture” is a powerful force.
It seems sackless starting edge rusher YaYa Diaby could be a sacred cow of sorts at One Buc Palace.
Joe continues to wonder if Team Glazer sits around pondering what the Bucs record might be if Walker simply played double what he has. That would total half of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:20 am
He did the same thing with JTS his final season. Gave him every opportunity to prove himself to the detriment of the team. Bowles is a total incompetent, and Licht let’s him get away with bad decisions. Both need to be replaced ASAP.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:21 am
If Walker isn’t playing because the DC is loyal to Yaya, what does it say about the DC? One more reason to fire the guy, IYAM.
Also… Yaya never had the twitch. Bain arguably just doesn’t have it yet.
This is the closest I’ve seen yet to Rondé actually calling for the DC’s head.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:28 am
the egos of Todd Bowles and especially Jason Licht are destroying this team – whistleblower Ronde Barber sees it – why don’t the Glazers ? ego, maybe ?
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:32 am
an-we-get-rid-of-Licht-now-PLEASE?
Because Team Glazer are delusional who listen to BA, JL, etc. Blind fools.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Loyalty should go out the window when you are going to be gone next year. You should be coaching with a good reckless abandon not like the reckless coaching for the last few years of coaching. He gets QB pressure but he must get too many sacks for Bowles defense, this throws off the whole system.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:39 am
The record would still be 1-5 due to the offense but that’s irrelevant. Just another data point on the HC.
Must be fairly obvious what’s coming if a team-paid media member is comfortable calling it out.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:39 am
Mountain out of a mole hill.
So again as a coach who do you take off the field, the guy trying to earn a new deal in Yaya or your 15th overall selection? Seriously, because that’s what needs to be answered to get Walker on the field more defensively. Now it seems like the same fans that were saying they didn’t believe the hype in the offseason are brought into the height now and going unreasonably hard on Walker slowly getting more reps per game.
wk 1 – 0 reps
wk 2 – 9 reps – 1 sack
wk 3 – 19 reps – 1 sack
wk 4 – 24 reps
wk 5 – 19 snaps
wk 6 – 28 snaps
Literally coming off the most reps he’s played in his 6 game career, but leave it to Bucs fans to lean into their victimhood and swear the “problem” is bigger than reality is showing.
So again, who’s reps do we give Walker, Bain or Diabys’? I’m not against Walker playing more, but some of you just using this to say the same old sh** you always say. 4 sacks and now all of a sudden, everybody is a David Walker fanatic and knew all along lol
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:40 am
Chronic problem with this HC. That’s one of the reasons he is mediocre.
He also does not trust the team. Otherwise, he would have gone after Rodgers in OT, but he went soft.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 am
Reason number 576 why it was lunacy to retain Bowles after last season’s collapse.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:46 am
JL IS the guy who drafted him…TB IS the guys who is sitting him!!
Please keep TB till years end, that would assure us of a very high draft pick!
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:48 am
BA’s Red Pen Says:
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 am
Reason number 576 why it was lunacy to retain Bowles after last season’s collapse.
My count is 2,048.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:50 am
JASON LICHT has the MOST LOSSES as a GM in the salary cap ERA – 109 losses and counting. Can we finally dump this loser? Licht sucks.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:53 am
JL is the best GM we have ever had. He has consistently drafted good talent. It’s up to the coaches to get that talent into the best position to win.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:55 am
I don’t really blame Licht. He continues to draft and find talent at a better than avg GM level.
It’s not his fault the coaches don’t know how to utilize the talent.
Walker’s lack of snaps despite being so impactful is just an indictment on Bowles.
Lack of ‘killer instinct’ = indictment on Bowles.
Consistently seeing us give up leads or give up points late = indictment on Bowles.
You can just feel it when the game is close, we are going to make the wrong decision from a coaching standpoint lol. That sucks as a feeling.
And you’ve got quotes from this guy basically saying there is nothing he can do if the QB wants to pass the ball in <2 seconds which is ridiculous.
The only way this guy could stay would be a complete ego / philosophical overhaul and winning out the rest of the year and a playoff game or 2. Good luck. Rooting for it but sure as hell not betting on it.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:56 am
WBL. I tend to side with most of your viewpoints. And the point you’re making about Walker getting more playing time is valid in most ways.
Here’s where we’re at odds. David Walker explodes off the ball and has a way of playing defense that doesn’t come along every day. He’s a natural.
When you have a player that good on your defense, you play him. I don’t care if you are playing a 3 or 4 or 5 man front. If you think YaYa and Bain are just as good, then you find a way to play all of them.
It may be a small sample size, that’s true. I don’t know much, and the older I get, the more I know that I don’t know. But I do know this. At the present moment, David Walker is the best player on this defense. Maybe the best player on the team.
It’s simply coaching malpractice not having this guy on the field and we need to stick him out there until he cries uncle. At 26 he’s a full grown man right in his prime. Man, we’ve got a chance to have us a whale of a defense.
October 22nd, 2026 at 10:57 am
Coach isn’t doing his job……. BLAME THE GM!!!! smh gtfoh
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
David Walker, Jr. is a year removed from a knee surgery that required extensive rehabilitation, therapy—and still requires treatment. He’s playing enough against favorable matchups. The defensive coaches have all three levels of the defense playing at a high level. They aren’t the Vikings or Patriots talent-wise, but the defense isn’t even a gnat on the ankle. The alligator on the backside is 11 turnovers. Points off turnovers is devouring any chance at a victory meal and has been since October last year. Barking up the wrong tree is noisy but unhelpful.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:01 am
Ronde is becoming more and more outspoken. Maybe he can convince ownership to make some changes.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:06 am
Unless Bowles is being directed to hold walker back? Trade partners for yaya want to see fresh tape. Reduce his snaps, reduce his trade value.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:06 am
Yeah may e the plan was to always tank this year?
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:08 am
Everyone has their finger prints over this crap show. And it’s funny how Team Glazer holds no one accountable other than some assistant coaches that got the boot last year and were scapegoats. Lack of accountability at the top is sickening. But the empty seats are coming. Maybe then Team Glazer will realize they have a problem.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:18 am
WBL
its not that hard lol and the answer is simple…..
Walker should get YaYa’s snaps….go with the youth movement….we still have to draft a DE next year but at least we know what Walker has and brings to the table….YaYa’s replacement is already on the roster and he’s producing
YaYa hasnt produced and wants a payday….and Licht might be foolish and make him a top 10 paid DE/OLB lol…..I’d rotate him with both Walker and Bain…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:19 am
JBF’s hanging on Walker’s sack like crazy this season. Sheesh what a drain.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:21 am
i can guarantee you Licht is pleased his case to the Glazers saying,
“I draft good players but the HC wont play them” lol
for some, Loyalty is out the door when your @$$ is on the line
GO BUCS!!!!
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:22 am
just be patient Ronde
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:23 am
This team is way underperforming for the amount of talent it has and that is a direct reflection of the coaching staff. As others have said the teams ability to draft quality players is better than average, finding quality depth in free agency, average.
The coaching staff is coaching X’s & O’s instead of scheming to the strength of the players. There is a reason why not one coach on the defensive side has moved on to bigger and better roles since TB has been HC here. I like JL but unfortunately I don’t see him staying after the house cleaning that is inevitably coming to this franchise in a few months.
Everyone screaming for his head better be prepared to go back to how bad it was when MD was our GM…. How quickly we forget how bad things really can be.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:25 am
Every article subtitled: reason #X? Why Todd Bowles needs to be fired.
The analysis just is hard to read when you know it won’t change and we know this is a lost season… When the young players who are part of our future look back on this year, they will call it “a learning experience” which is euphemism for difficult, with no hope of reward, and glad to put it behind me.
I actually feel bad for the players as this coach is squandering a year of their professional lives. Mike Evans knew what he was doing.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:31 am
I can’t help but wonder if licht is handcuffed by Bowles. It seems weird to me that since last year licht has sung the praises of walker jr and deservedly so but it’s almost like Bowles refuses to listen to his gm
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:38 am
WBL- it’s not that complicated. There is data/tape now that shows Walker deserves more time. It doesn’t matter whose snaps he takes, Diaby & Bain can split snaps. Also, Diaby’s had 3 years to prove his worth for a new contract. Can Walker handle more snaps? That’s to be seen but he should definitely be on the field over both Bain & Diaby as of now
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:39 am
Yet he wants to keep Todd Bowles
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:51 am
I do t get the loyalty to yaya. In my eyes it’s simple. If you produce then you play and get more snaps until you are the starter regardless of draft position or pay. If JD was playing a lot better than baker then JD would be starter over the 165 mil man. If walker is playing and getting more production then Bain then walker is the starter. Plain and simple. I would say tho play walker on the other side of Bain and let Bain develop more. Looks like Bain is breaking out and if he keeps getting better shoot we could have to good edges rushers wreaking havoc off both sides
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:51 am
I called this. If true, it’s lunacy.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:53 am
Young bucs fans please listen to the following. For GRUDEN AND BOWLES loyalty means MY WAY ONLY!!!! This equates to .500 coaching or worse.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:58 am
Honestly almost looks like he has been instructed to Lose now.
Makes zero sense.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:02 pm
“Walker should get YaYa’s snaps….go with the youth movement….we still have to draft a DE next year but at least we know what Walker has and brings to the table….YaYa’s replacement is already on the roster and he’s producing”
Never said it was a difficult decision, but what most of ya’ll are complaining about is why i posted his defensive snap counts. Walker has progressively been getting more snaps on a per game basis, it dipped once and he’s coming off the most snaps he’s played since.
There’s guys in here commenting on Walker playing more, who were just a few months ago saying Walker wouldn’t amount to anything. I’m just pointing that out without pulling up receipts. Even Joe himself, was hearing all summer about how good Walker was and was posting about “hype”, like aren’t you at these practices watching with the same eyes you watch games?
Now everybody is doing a 180, so apparently Licht can draft and Bowles-Foote can develop edge talent, or is Walker doing that in spite of their tutelage or the opportunity Jason set him up for. It’s funny reading changed tunes.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Folks act like Bowles cares if he’s fired. He’s on record as he’s not coaching after this gig, he’s obviously ready to retire and if he gets fired, he’s getting paid to sit home. I honestly think he wanted to be canned last year. It certainly looks that way this year. The idea he doesn’t see the obvious is ridiculous, he knows what he’s doing and the threat of losing a job isn’t a concern for a guy that’s ready to retire.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Ronde was criticizing the talent on the team a week ago and rightfully wondering just how many starters the Bucs have that would immediately jump into a starting role on another team…..direct dig at Jason Licht no question.
Ronde now has pivoted to saying the quiet part out loud about David Walker. Why is our statistically best defender not getting snaps…..direct dig at Bowles.
Ronde may be not so quietly announcing to the Glazers and all other NFL teams that he is quite ready , willing, and able to take over as HC or GM. Sure sounds like it to me.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
He’s been doing that all along. Devin White etc etc etc etc. I decline to piss myself off by running the list again. We all know who is on it.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
“Capt.Tim Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:39 am
Walker will fit right in with Lichts last 10 wasted picks on the D line.
Looks Like an All Pro As long as it’s not in a game, or in front of people.
Sounds about right.”
“Hodad Says:
August 18th, 2026 at 5:56 am
Yes, Walker is human. It’s been the Tampa media that’s been making him out to be something he is not. That would be some kind of sack machine. What is he really? An already 26 year old from a small school coming off an ACL never having played in an NFL game until Friday. Folks, hate to break it to you, he’s nothing special.”
“Erik with Clean Athletics™ Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Regardless, Walker isn’t going to take Yays’s spot or Bain’s.
So, he will a partime backup rotational guy who gets a very low percentage of the snaps.”
“Jack Burton Mercer Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 9:09 am
If the past is the best predictor of the future, and it is, I fully expect Buster Walker to be a big fat zero.”
“BigZ Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Lots of hype and hope for an older, mid pick, smaller dude at a small school coming of an injury. Oh, he don’t play last year. The way some talk hes the next LT”
MelvinJunior Says:
“June 17th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
“ Larry Foote explode on Walker’s draft night and declare him a Super Bowl cog. Jason Licht literally has acknowledged trying not to gush publicly over the guy.”
Just knowing where these two statements came from alone, should give any smart rational person a very good reason to pause. I mean, you’re definitely taking the ‘under’ and betting the exact ‘opposite’ on this one hahah. I think Lickt got confused and took the WRONG “Walker.” THIS is the perfect example for WHY we are lacking on “ELITE-talent” throughout this entire roster. Could’ve had BIG DEONE.”
“Joe is pulling for Walker, a great story as a 25-year-old rookie out of the University of Central Arkasas, but it’s borderline ludicrous to call him a major key to this season’s defensive success.”
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
“Capt.Tim Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:39 am
Walker will fit right in with Lichts last 10 wasted picks on the D line.
Looks Like an All Pro As long as it’s not in a game, or in front of people.
Sounds about right.”
“Hodad Says:
August 18th, 2026 at 5:56 am
Yes, Walker is human. It’s been the Tampa media that’s been making him out to be something he is not. That would be some kind of sack machine. What is he really? An already 26 year old from a small school coming off an ACL never having played in an NFL game until Friday. Folks, hate to break it to you, he’s nothing special.”
“Erik with Clean Athletics™ Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Regardless, Walker isn’t going to take Yays’s spot or Bain’s.
So, he will a partime backup rotational guy who gets a very low percentage of the snaps.”
“Jack Burton Mercer Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 9:09 am
If the past is the best predictor of the future, and it is, I fully expect Buster Walker to be a big fat zero.”
“BigZ Says:
May 19th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Lots of hype and hope for an older, mid pick, smaller dude at a small school coming of an injury. Oh, he don’t play last year. The way some talk hes the next LT”
MelvinJunior Says:
“June 17th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
“ Larry Foote explode on Walker’s draft night and declare him a Super Bowl cog. Jason Licht literally has acknowledged trying not to gush publicly over the guy.”
Just knowing where these two statements came from alone, should give any smart rational person a very good reason to pause. I mean, you’re definitely taking the ‘under’ and betting the exact ‘opposite’ on this one hahah. I think Lickt got confused and took the WRONG “Walker.” THIS is the perfect example for WHY we are lacking on “ELITE-talent” throughout this entire roster. Could’ve had BIG DEONE.”
“Joe is pulling for Walker, a great story as a 25-year-old rookie out of the University of Central Arkasas, but it’s borderline ludicrous to call him a major key to this season’s defensive success.”
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:18 pm
“ Bucs fans to lean into their victimhood and swear the “problem” is bigger than reality is showing.”
———————————-
Reality is 1-5. One the four worst teams out of 32 and staring down the barrel of 1-7.
Just in case you missed it.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Todd Bowles has fluffed his pillow and made his bed. He can now sleep in it dirty sheets and all. He soiled it and everybody held their nose and turned their heads.
This loyalty crap has become nothing more than a boot licking favoritism paycheck protection program.
Anything outside the organization, ie. fans and I am no longer one of those, seems to mean nothing but a secondary revenue stream.
I hope the Rays win the World Series, move into their new digs and shame the Bucs out of town.
I hope the Bolts do the same.
3 peas in a pod; Bucs – Browns – Jets
That SB trophy should be in the bottom of the river. The owners don’t deserve it.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Can’t wait until this head coach is gone
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Bowles lacks the requisite decision-making capacity to be a winning head coach. Nice guy and all that, possibly very smart on occasion with defensive schemes when he has all the right players and the circumstances are perfect, but too many times he’s just effectively an idiot.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Some of you guys think Licht is the reason why Walker doesn’t get more snaps?
Lulz. He’s the one who drafted him FFS…
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Remember what Bain’s contract says, a pretty good jump from Walker. We should have kept Pyburn and let Nelly go as well. We will see if he got a good taste of that Sack Blood Baby. The Pitbull has awakened. They double team him most of the last 2 games. BUT I think that it’s out of Bowles context in words about using the hot hand and, the disruption of the qb as well. Pressure and disruption. These little things cost us every game that we lost. The message has faded, the belief isn’t there, the direction is lost as well and the finger only points one way ya’ll.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
I’d rather pay less for more wouldn’t you?? Bowles if you want to say your ass you need to put the headhunter in the game you gotta win 10 games starting Sunday. He doesn’t even show any emotion about even his job on the line. People would be getting bitch slapped about my job.
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:39 pm
All spring and summer the Joes have been praising Bain saying he’s so good he could play inside or out. There’s your answer…..put Bain inside and bench “Can’t see!” He been starting every game and has rarely been seen on the stat line.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:00 pm
WBL – GREAT job pulling the old quotes. Much like the Joe(s) do, a lot of these idiot “ fans” forget they took the absolute opposite slant on these players when they weren’t performing. Crazy they forget what they’ve said.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Yaya doesn’t get sacks because he’s doing the other things, like Bowles wants. Sacks aren’t important, as Todd has said. Not sure what the issue is. This is a nothing burger.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Yaya isn’t gonna be here next year, unless we want to pay $20 million for a dude who isn’t as effective as a guy on a rookie salary. Walker gets his snaps until he proves he doesn’t deserve them.
I believe he is correct about the loyalty thing. Devin white should have been gotten rid of an entire year sooner
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Who cares the defense has kept them in every game..Gainwell is the odd man out!!
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Maybe Ronde wants to follow the career path of his former secondary mate John Lynch? I would not be opposed to it.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Please tell me this is a joke.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Been there since the beginning Says:
October 22nd, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Pyburn has ZERO stats for Kansas City. It’s not clear if he’s even played a down. Fool.
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:35 pm
same thing that drove white out of here
October 22nd, 2026 at 1:45 pm
@OurYear
Just tired of seeing one of the few bright spots on this team being used as another pivot point to complain about the same person. It’s like visually sorting dirty laundry, and idk how my eyes manage to smell that what I’m reading stinks.
We don’t need 20 thesis’ on why a hold by Goedeke or a dropped INT by Trotter reflects poorly on ownership from the top down. It’s like an episode of football Ricki Lake in here, guys aren’t even talking ball. Just complaining about it.
Meanwhile, we got a Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford(I know some of ya’ll don’t know who these guys are, but stick with it.) talent equivalent of a 3rd OLB and now all of a sudden his reps haven’t gone up fast enough in *checks notes* 6 games? 5 games for Walker because he got 0 snaps in week one, nobody complained then.
Now, the guy shows the offseason hype was as real as the 4 sacks he’s got in 5 games so let’s dump more reps on him and cross our fingers. Who replaces his special teams reps?
Do you pull the plug on Yaya, right now? How’s that going to work in the locker room?
Don’t get me wrong, I want more of Walker as well but I’m also not mad about how we’ve been using him. We’re not generating points with his sacks, and it’d probably be easier to see more if we can tilt the scoreboard on an opposing team. No this past week doesn’t count, not because we lost at the end, but because we couldn’t bank points when the defense was pretty much shutting Pittsburgh out the first half of the game. Robinson got a whole INT at the Steeler 36, we got 3 points out of it. So wtf is more sacks going to do?
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Glazers have a loyalty problem, too. And Licht. Time to cut the cord.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:05 pm
I think what WBL is saying is that defense is not the problem. Scoring points is.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Whatever happened to May the Best Man Win. If Bowles won’t do it, where is Jason Licht or the Glazers. That’s a sad commentary. This team has lost the Brady mentality from ownership to Todd Bowles and company. This team needs a big house cleaning throughout the entire organization.
If I was a player I’d be screaming like Bruce Arians calling out all the Bad apples.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:08 pm
When drafted an assistant coach yelled out, “that’s how you win a super bowl”
Promote that guy to DC and Walker will play.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Would Walker cut into Bain’s, Anzalone’s or YaYa’s playing time? Which is his more natural position? Trotter is a lock. That may be the reasoning that he’s not getting the reps. That they are investing in Bain, invested in Anzalone, maybe they like the pressure that YaYa gets, even if it doesn’t result in sacks. But I am not sure.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
Nice job…. wish more people would track these morons comments, though that would be a full time job.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:21 pm
WBL. Bingo! “So wtf is more sacks going to do?” That’s where you aren’t quite seeing the value of Walker. Off ball, on ball, covering the flats. This guy is going to be a freak if we let him loose. He’s gonna get sacks, he’s a ballhawk. He could play anywhere in the front seven but he’s too good a football player not to turn loose. He’s literally frothing at the mouth.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Nothing here to see people. Just move along. Stubborn/losing coach crossing ahead. It’s a 3-28 Bucs life.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:35 pm
“That’s where you aren’t quite seeing the value of Walker.“
It’s not about what I see, I’ve been confident enough in Walkers ability since last year before he got and expressed it throughout the offseason this year before pads went on. I know Walker can play, but I also know and see he’s being ramped up. Meanwhile, this flash campaign by Buc fans that don’t care about what Walker is doing more than they want to make Walker not playing more “coaching malpractice”.
Dude came in lined up on both sides of the front and beat both tackles for sacks. They’re talking less about that and how that shows he’s actually getting more snaps intentionally. Walker had 2 less snaps than Bain last game
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:41 pm
The guy who mentioned Lichts ego is right.
David Walker should be STARTING.
Bain should be rotating.
David Walker is 25. Bain is 24.
David Walker has literally been our best player on defense this year.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Bain is 21* sorry
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:43 pm
WBL – 2 years ago these idiots in here wanted McGlaughlin cut when he missed a few early field goals that season. Lol.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:43 pm
don’t toil…stay loyal………said former bucs head coach todd
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Isn’t Loyalty a problem from the very top. If not for Loyalty, Licht and Bowles would be long gone. Both have lifetime losing records.
October 22nd, 2026 at 2:59 pm
@Teacherman
Ruben Bain just turned 22 in September.
October 22nd, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Duh!!!! Bowles wouldn’t know what to do with a team even if he had super bowl winning coach BA whispering in his ear!!!!
October 22nd, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Diaby shouldn’t be starting we have had years to see and he is at best a number 3 rusher
October 22nd, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Walker actually looks like he’s running around with his hair on fire. Everyone else on defense looks like they’re just jogging and going through the motions.
October 22nd, 2026 at 6:33 pm
“Don’t get me wrong, I want more of Walker as well but I’m also not mad about how we’ve been using him.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
WBL, the problem is the HC speak of we have to play the HOT HAND. It is such BS. To answer your question, I would increase more of Walkers snaps and take them from Yaya. Yaya is not producing. Remember in the beginning of the season, he was making bold predictions of so many sacks? And I will add, Bain and Walker are our future. Yaya will be gone next year.
BUT that is not my main issue
Gainwell and Tucker are not being used, especially in the passing game. It is the same thing every season with Todd.
October 22nd, 2026 at 7:29 pm
“I would increase more of Walkers snaps and take them from Yaya. Yaya is not producing. Remember in the beginning of the season, he was making bold predictions of so many sacks?“
He talked about the team getting 50 sacks.
Also, would you increase Walkers reps and still have him playing special teams? Because he’s made plays there too or do you put Yaya on teamss
for him? And if Yaya doesn’t produce there, then what do you do with Yaya with 11 games left to play?
All I’m reading is the same weeping, moaning, and gnashing of teeth over an “issue” that barely exists lol
If I’m seeing a player getting a gradual increase in reps, then that means that very thing I’m complaing about is already in motion. Í likened him to a 6th man like Lou Will or Jamal Crawford, because those dudes were so good that their limited roles made them better. It’s how AQM produced last year to even end up in Tampa.
What I think, is really going on is we’ve got a new talent in the OLB room and all knowing Buc fans are having qualms about the internal pecking order in the room, but because Walker has made 4 plays(becuase that’s all some of you value from the position anyway) Diaby hasn’t made yet. Again, I like Walker as much as anybody, but the lot of you are just using this for another reason to complain about the HC ad nauseam.
Bowles’ biggest indictment as an HC to me, was putting faith and his career in the hands of a QB that averages 1 turnover per game in over 120 NFL starts, but you guys love home cause he’s Rudy in real life
October 22nd, 2026 at 8:59 pm
What’s odd is Bowles seems to get annoyed when Joe asks why Walker isn’t playing more. At this point, Bowles seems to just be being stubborn. That doesn’t sound like a guy desperate for wins. Think he’s accepted the inevitable and going with “his guys.”
October 22nd, 2026 at 9:17 pm
Yaya shouldn’t be on the field during passing downs. Put Walker and Bain out there. I’m not even sure that YaYa is better than Nellie in rushing the passer. Bowles is putting run defenders on the field instead of pass rushers.
October 22nd, 2026 at 11:35 pm
Time for another mass ban purge of all the Bowles haters. These reactionaries don’t know football from footwear.