CBS Projects Big Year From Bucky Irving
July 1st, 2024
How many carries?
Seems more than a couple of folks think the Bucs have run out of patience with Rachaad White as a running back. Please do not include Joe in this group.
No, Joe has not gone on a drunken spree so intense that it makes Joe think White is the second coming of Tony Dorsett. For Joe, White has a lot to prove he’s an average running back, forget quality.
However, Joe is very impressed with how White is as a receiving back. The guy is just dynamite catching passes and making guys miss. How and why White cannot carry those skills over to the run game just bewilders Joe.
So these folks who think White has proven he’s not adept at running the ball are also convinced Bucky Irving will share White’s snaps. Chris Trapasso of CBS thinks Irving will become one of the top five new running backs in the league this fall.
Irving was one of those backs — or prospects in general — who appeared significantly more athletic on the field than his combine workout indicated. And while a 29.5-inch vertical at 5-9 and 192 pounds is concerning, he did run a very respectable 4.55 with a 1.54 10-yard split that placed him in the 68th percentile at the position over the last 25 years at the combine.
And I love his similarity to Rachaad White, Tampa Bay’s No. 1 back. Instead of Irving acting as a genuine complement to White, he can step in to spell White and provide the same pass-catching specialty for Baker Mayfield and Co.
Not only was Irving easily one of the most purely elusive runners in the 2024 class, he was a major stat compiler as a receiver with 87 receptions for 712 yards and five scores through the air in his final two seasons with the Ducks. So he can’t jump very high and is a tick smaller than teams have traditionally wanted their backs. Fine. But Irving is nearly impossible to corral in space and, similar to White in 2023 when he caught 64 passes, the rookie can be a useful pass-catch element in Tampa Bay.
Joe is happy as can be the Bucs drafted Irving and thinks he will be a quality addition. But Joe just cannot see how the Bucs can pull White off the field.
White is an elite pass-catching back, a weapon in the passing game. By pulling White off the field on running downs, the Bucs will be tipping pitches. “Look, No. 1’s on the field! It’s a pass. Pass! … Pass! … Pass!”
Most coaches don’t believe in tipping pitches.
Now will new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen rotate White and Irving? Probably. Still, Joe goes back to how dangerous White is in the passing game. Those are the kinds of guys you want to get touches, not pull off the field.
July 1st, 2024 at 4:45 am
The key here is Irving being just as good as White catching balls out of the backfield. You won’t tip pitches if they can both do everything.
July 1st, 2024 at 5:10 am
Very interesting interview from Peete. With better blocking, I hope that White will be able to continue to evolve his game where he hits the hole with a forceful less patient style. Also would like to see him be coached up. Hopefully a less predictable play caller will also help him. IMO, a two back system gives defenses more things to adjust to and will also keep our backs fresher.
July 1st, 2024 at 5:22 am
An important part of a RB position is pass pro and I think we should have some
of that. Keeping backs in once in a while gives the QB a more time to create more chunk plays in the passing game on early downs.
July 1st, 2024 at 5:50 am
Last year there really wasn’t anyone to compare White to, we’re (mostly) assuming his lack of run production was the O line. Between Irving and new people up front, we’ll have the answers in a few months
July 1st, 2024 at 6:31 am
Yet another no name from CBS says it so it must be gospel. Even though he did his research in the men’s room of the local Burger King and Bucapedia told him that the name alone makes him a HOF candidate.
Really scraping the bottom today.
I think he will get some snaps this preseason.
Go Bucs
July 1st, 2024 at 7:16 am
I hope they are correct on Irving.
Still remember Rachaad White being 100 percent responsible for the 1st two sacks on Baker Mayfield in the Detroit playoff game.
2nd and 9 on the 1st drive and 1st and 10 on the 2nd drive.
Ouch.
Not surprising the Chase Edmonds came into the game after that 2nd sack.
Good coaching got Rachaad’s head on straight the rest of that game.
Overall, White and Edmonds are good at pro pass protect. If Irving wants to get on the field, he better pass protect.
July 1st, 2024 at 7:24 am
Irving is not going to offer much as a blocker picking up the blitz and huge difference in PAC tackling and NFL tackling. Irving learning curve will be steep.Sign ROJO and bring in NFL proven competition.
July 1st, 2024 at 8:00 am
The kid is working, there’s nothing like running hills in efforts to kick your own a**
July 1st, 2024 at 8:04 am
He’s kicking his own a$$ Liar Liar style in the Florida Heat right now.
July 1st, 2024 at 8:27 am
Interesting on their honorable mention. So far I am impressed with Bucky and can’t wait to see what he does.
July 1st, 2024 at 8:38 am
Defenses know when other teams are gonna pass almost every time anyway.
Given Irving’s size, any loss of speed will end his career. I like having him but I think he will have maybe a five year career at most.
July 1st, 2024 at 8:55 am
“But Joe just cannot see how the Bucs can pull White off the field.” What? White and Bucky are basically the same back except…Bucky makes dudes miss. Isn’t that the very quality that White lacks when he runs the ball?
July 1st, 2024 at 9:12 am
“Isn’t that the very quality that White lacks when he runs the ball?”
Absolutely not, his first step is ridiculous when he’s in space. Problem is that we’ve been trash opening running lanes to get him in space, but making guys miss isn’t something White “lacks”.
In fact he ended Talaoa Hufangas’ season breaking him down in the open field to the point the 9ers defender tore his ACL. Roll the tape, even the announcer says White at that point generated 16 missed tackles in open space sans his blockers.
July 1st, 2024 at 9:42 am
It seems to me that by having the same skill set, it would be the opposite of tipping pitches when replacing white with Irving. Unless we develop a propensity to only throw or only run using one of them, which doesn’t make any sense. In fact, one of the reasons I think we opted for Irving was the fact that we could have the same offense with both backs in there capable of doing the running or catching.
July 1st, 2024 at 9:56 am
I’d be happy if we never ran the ball….just throw, throw to the backs and TEs…..and open up our WRs…….
Our running is killing us…..so why do it….
Now, if our new Oline can run block….that’s another story.
Keep in mind that White outran Lenny in 22. Better YPC.
July 1st, 2024 at 10:00 am
Bucky will make you guys forget the days of ROJO.
July 1st, 2024 at 10:01 am
I guess this is written by the other Joe. Not the one who doesn’t think White is any better than Charles Simms as a receiving back. Says. Not as good as people say at pass catching and not as bad as said at running the ball.
July 1st, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Playoff Lenny couldn’t run behind this line either idk if any rb could the runs RW1 did get that had some yardage the defense was broke down already
July 1st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Rachaad has been running behind failed bullfighters for the last two seasons. As has been said, Jim Brown and Barry Sanders would struggle to average 4ypc behind The Three Matadors.
Yes, there were instances of White missing an opening, but when you are getting hit in the backfield half the time, I can see how that would cloud your vision.
Let’s give the Bucs a more physical interior and then declare.who sucks at running the rock.
July 1st, 2024 at 1:53 pm
@Dude… Whites first step when he’s a pass catcher is ridiculous, but when he runs the ball, yes, he lacks that first step that Bucky already has.
July 1st, 2024 at 2:07 pm
Either back can play all three downs. No need to tip pitches when you have a stable of all around backs. That’s a plus. Cautiously optimistic that we’re about to see the shiftiest Bucs RB since Dunn!
July 1st, 2024 at 2:14 pm
“@Dude… Whites first step when he’s a pass catcher is ridiculous, but when he runs the ball, yes, he lacks that first step that Bucky already has.”
Bucky hasn’t broken a tackle or taken a snap in the NFL, to try to even posture like he’s better than White at anything in July is funny to me.
Again, roll the tape @1:18 in and White sidesteps a would be tackler for 4 extra yards off a Chris Godwin seal out block. PLZ, learn how athleticism works as it just doesn’t fall by the wayside because a run was called instead of a pass 😂
July 1st, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Excellent point. And White is actually good at this.