Rondé Barber Illustrates A Bucs-Fan Pass Rush Frustration
October 15th, 2026
Disagrees with a defensive vision.
Would the Bucs have a better record if edge rusher David Walker simply played more snaps?
Joe wonders if that notion has sent some members of the Bucs’ front office, coaching staff and ownership suite seeking counseling or handymen to repair their walls.
Walker had a career high 19 snaps on Thursday in Dallas, a low number. He’s averaging just 14 snaps per game this season.
Bucs legend Rondé Barber says Walker has been an every-down menace.
So Joe asks, why is Todd Bowles hiding Walker? Before Sunday’s games, Walker was lauded by NFL NextGen stats for his 29.4 percent pressure rate, which ranked second in the NFL among guys with enough snaps to qualify.
Consider what Barber said this week on his WFLA-TV streaming show.
“I put on the film and I watch David Walker — and he’s only getting what, 30 or 35 snaps a game, maybe that. — every single one of them is a meaningful snap, dude. Like he impacts games like every time he’s on the field,” Barber said.
How ironic that Barber was way off on how often Walker is on the field.
The numbers show former Bucs edge rush bust Chris Braswell — Chris freakin’ Braswell — got more defensive snaps per game in each of his two sad Bucs seasons than Walker has this year. Braswell was cut by the Bucs this summer and then was cut by the Texans.
Barber continued to gush about how Walker is a complete player.
“The first interception, when Dallas was getting ready to answer and score, [Todd Bowles] dropped him into coverage on a simulated pressure. The two inside linebackers were mugging the A-gap, and they went and then both the edge players dropped into coverage. Not only did [Walker] drop into coverage, he passed the slant and went to the second window,” Barber said.
“… He had a receiver coming in front of him; he let the guy go … and he went to the second window where Dak [Prescott] was trying to throw this ball. And it caused the deflection that popped up, that Tykee [Smith] popped up again [and] then Yaya Diaby intercepted it.
“Like I see those type of plays [from Walker] and you’re like, ‘Hey man, this guy gets it. This kid gets it, dude.” And he’s playing the run well.”
But Walker can’t get on the field as often as Chris Braswell did. Amazing.
Todd Bowles staunchly articulated this week that sacks are not key to winning. Not surprising, Barber said multiple times on his show that sacks are the missing link from what has become a good Bucs defense. Sacks are what could make it great, Barber said.
Meanwhile, Walker, the Tampa Bay sacks leader with two, is getting plenty of rest.
As Joe wrote this week, Aaron Rodgers is 26-4 when not sacked in a game. He’ll visit Tampa with the Steelers on Sunday.
October 15th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
“The numbers show former Bucs edge rush bust Chris Braswell — Chris freakin’ Braswell — got more defensive snaps per game in each of his two sad Bucs seasons than Walker has this year.”
Braswell got more reps than Walker did last year, because Walker was hurt and are you really trying to compare the snap count of a player who played a full seasons worth of games to a guy in his first 5 games? Walker has played 71 defensive snaps in 5 games. From week 1-4 his snap count went up every week, but with Bain back it Thursday it went back down 8.3%. [That’s inaccurate. He played more than that on Thursday.–Joe]
You also euro-stepped the opportunity to include the graphic they had on Barbers’ show the showed how Walker had the 2nd highest pressure rate per snap as any rusher that qualified to drive home why he should be getting more reps. Joe didn’t EuroStep anything. This was mentioned clearly in the post. –Joe Walker will have plenty more opportunities to make something shake as the season goes on.
October 15th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
HELLO Rondy !
It’s EVERYTHING!
Including you trying to play both sides of the coin!
My freaking gawd!
When will the media step up and tell it like it is or isn’t!
October 15th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Sacks area key to NOT LOSING ! Lack of sacks gets the HC fired
October 15th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
You just don’t understand the Brilliant mind of the head coach Joe, when will you understand smh you are just not smart enough Bro.
October 15th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Best way to get Edge players motivated is to let them eat. We don’t rush the passer to make him uncomfortable, we rush him to put him on his ass, with force (preferably, if the refs don’t throw the crybaby flag).
October 15th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Bingo SA !
October 15th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
“From week 1-4 his snap count went up every week, but with Bain back it Thursday it went back down 8.3%. [That’s inaccurate. He played more than that on Thursday.–Joe]”
Sir, he went from playing 40% of snaps vs GB, to playing 31.7% of snaps @Dallas
October 15th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
Broken Record!!!
October 15th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Maybe they are limiting him early in the season because of the knee injury he had last year?