
_“Jeff, did you hear the one about the coach who won’t play a hot, high-impact edge rusher?”_
Joe sincerely hopes Team Glazer has a membership meeting and all attendees are strapped to a polygraph machine and asked what they think the Buccaneers’ record would be this season if edge rusher David Walker played twice as much.
The Bucs are 1-5 and, typically, the team is one impact play from a victory on Sundays. Meanwhile, their high-impact pass rusher is too often a spectator.
Walker has earned a start and Todd Bowles won’t start him. He’s coming off a two-sack game against Pittsburgh and he made other plays in the game while lining up for about one-third of the defensive snaps.
Reward excellence? Send a message? Joe isn’t expecting that to happen on Sunday.
Walker has been ridiculously productive in less than 100 snaps — in first NFL season on the field.
Former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger has taken notice.
Often, Baldinger’s film breakdowns on X feature too much talking. This one below on Walker is right on point. Baldinger succinctly showcases why Walker is a menace against the pass and the run. “David Walker is popping right now,” Baldinger said.
> .@steelers @Buccaneers @dwalkeerr33 David Walker keeps showing up with tools in his arsenal to defeat blocks and affect QB’s. Perhaps more PT?? #BaldysBreakdowns https://t.co/xLGvSX93uA
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> — Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) [October 21, 2026](https://x.com/BaldyNFL/status/2112724899559268460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)