BSPN: 2024 Surprise Of The Bucs Might Be Bucky Irving Taking Over The Run Game
August 30th, 2024
Waiting in the wings.
Not since Bucs fans had Doug Martin’s back have so many Bucs fans rallied to the defense of a running back who simply didn’t get the job done on the ground like they have with Rachaad White.
Joe gets an avalanche of hate just with the mere mention that White led the league’s worst rushing attack two years straight, and that his biggest play on the ground in two years was a sweet stiff-arm on foreign soil. It’s as if Jim Brown was running the ball in many people’s eyes.
(Notice Joe is quick to point out White is supremely dangerous in the passing game.)
Well, ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who has excellent sources throughout the league, types that the Bucs have just about run out of patience with White — as a runner.
Therefore, if White still can’t get the job done on the ground, Graziano is of the mind the Bucs will have a quick hook for White with rookie Bucky Irving getting his shot to take over the running attack.
Don’t be surprised if … Bucky Irving has the best year of any rookie running back.
What I’m hearing: Rachaad White is still the starter in Tampa Bay, but the Bucs would really like to see him improve on his 3.7 yards per carry average that he has put up through his first two NFL seasons. Irving, their fourth-round draft pick this year, has impressed the coaches in camp and during the preseason, and he is a candidate to earn a lot more work if White and the run game don’t improve on last season’s inefficiency. Irving rushed for 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns at Oregon last season.
This sort of adds up with what the Bucs did in the offseason. They beefed up the offensive line and drafted Irving. It’s as if the Bucs told White, “Look man, we got you more blockers and another couple of receivers to take heat off you. We also got a running back. So prove to us you belong as a starter. We cannot have three seasons in a row running to nowhere.”
“This Joe” thinks White is such a weapon in the passing game that Joe doesn’t know how you take that guy off the field, despite his habit of not hitting holes quick enough for coaches, and an apparent inability to consistently read blocks.
Joe really, really hopes White figures it out on the ground. Because if he does, the Bucs have a real shot of going far in the playoffs.
August 30th, 2024 at 5:41 am
White is similar to Fournette in that he needs a carrot to chase and competition pushing him for playing time. I’m doubtful he changes as a runner, very difficult to suddenly develop vision and you can tell his preference is not to ground out the tough yards. That’s just how he’s wired and has run since he was a kid. Irving and Tucker prove capable and I can see Licht entertaining calls for a White trade.
August 30th, 2024 at 5:54 am
Without chicken legs Hainsey on the field getting blown back every snap or people just blowing by him. We should be fine.
Brederson also looked good. He’s a stop-gap for 1 year.
Then draft the best LG in the draft in the 2nd round.
Klein can be our cheap backup swing guard.
August 30th, 2024 at 6:13 am
Whites going to explode
August 30th, 2024 at 6:26 am
Doolnutts- I believe White is going to explode also. Along with the rest of this offense. As long as the defense keeps flying around making plays- we just may be the best team in the league in a month or two. I don’t usually go all in on a team like I am with this years Bucs. Many of you Bucs fans have been disappointed too many times over the years to see what’s brewing around here. But to me it’s just as clear as the nose on my face. One grand will win you 90. I suspect there’s more than a few takers on that. Hope springs eternal. LFG!
August 30th, 2024 at 6:31 am
Not sure if it was a JBF post or Ronde Barber doing preseason, but from what I’ve heard the Bucs are looking at packages where they get both of them on the field at the same time. It will be interesting!
August 30th, 2024 at 6:32 am
White’s issues are the unwillingness/inability to see the hole and fight through first contact. Yes, there were times when d-linemen crashed the backfield, but that is going to happen some times (hopefully much less now). White is frustrating because he literally ran into the ass of his blockers when the hole was immediately adjacent. It was as if he ran to the area the play intended despite defensive alignment, line movement and the leverage the linemen gained on their opponents. You could call it a lack of vision, but it looked more like a lack of intelligence…like he didn’t know the “hole/gap” isn’t a static piece of turf and that he has to adjust based upon what is happening at the line. Combine this with a propensity of going to the ground immediately when arm tackled means a poor rushing attack. For those too young to remember the dark days in TB when Barry Sanders was playing, go watch some YouTube videos and note how often he ran to the chunk of grass the chalkboard said to.
August 30th, 2024 at 6:33 am
KS – I’m with you!
We got this!
LFG!!!
August 30th, 2024 at 6:37 am
Im definitely pulling for White, Young Bucky will have his shots!
August 30th, 2024 at 6:40 am
When you lose 2 pro bowlers LG and Center and a solid RG and replace then with back-ups and a rookie RG your run game is going to suffer. White will get over a 1000 yards plus 500 passing yards.
August 30th, 2024 at 6:57 am
The line is opening up holes for the running games. Even White has had some good runs, but if you look at the tape, as good as his runs have been they could have been better if he could read blocks and see the open holes. He consistently misses open space that could turn 5 yd runs into 8-10 yd runs. Bucky and Sean can see those holes and consistently run through them.
August 30th, 2024 at 6:58 am
Joemaguire I believe we all may be getting a surprise with Brederson. He may be more than a stop-gap. I saw where he was a 2 year captain at Michigan. Communicates with our new center on his right and Wirfs to his left. Real smart. I don’t care about short arms or doesn’t grade out well at the position. Best acquisition we made this offseason.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:17 am
I’m 50/50 on white. I agree with most of what you said Joe. The one caveat is that not only did white struggle running the ball so did lenny and our other backs. While white did miss holes there wasn’t much holes in the 1st place but when they are there like the blue moon you gotta hit it and hit it hard. Leftwhich last year the run game was worse than terrible and canales 1st year the run game was worse than terrible. Now we have upgraded on a OC. That alone should help the run game and beefing up the oline will help too. I see white having a better year in the run game. If not then next man up. Like you said how white is dangerous in the passing game he’s up there with the best. It tips our hand tho if we only bring white in on passing downs.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:22 am
The Bucs brass tells a different story compared to the media.
OC- replaced
OL coaches- replaced
C & LG- replaced
2nd & 3rd RB- replaced
RB1- Still White
Now, replacing the coaches and scheme was a fallout after Canales accepted the CAR job. The OL coaches followed him to CAR along with his bland play calling. Canales accepting that job was a blessing in disguise for the Bucs.
What player acquisitions did the Bucs make in the offseason?
New interior IOL free agents- check
New RB free agent- not one I can think of
Early round pick on an IOL- check
Early round selection on a RB- Not that I saw
With all this, I come to the conclusion the Bucs brass and coaches still have faith in White. He may be on a short leash with all the upgrades around him but if they thought White was the culprit they would’ve brought in a free agent RB and drafted another in rd 2 or 3.
I can see white having the same yardage as last year on fewer touches with Bucky and Tucker chipping as well. I believe overall our ground game will be much improved (Top 12). It’s not about one player, it’s a collective effort from the team.
Go Bucs!
August 30th, 2024 at 7:37 am
Just give Rashad a chance with the best line he’s had since being here been very potentially the best offensive coordinator he’s had in his full three years of NFL football. He didn’t get a lot of play in preseason but hit those holes pretty good, including a rushing touchdown. I’m just saying he’s been our warrior from the backfield through canales’s dumb plays and all never has he griped never has he made an issue in an off the field he’s always just kept his mouth quiet and did his job. Now about Buffy Urban I have a feeling this kid could be something special it may just naturally take over any running back Field that shouldn’t be a knock on Rashad White white has done a lot with the little given. I’m sure everybody will gush at what Irving does in year one because we have such a nice revamped line and again I have a feeling we’ll have one of our better more well-balanced offensive attacks the season. Besides since when do we all get wrapped up on a talking heads from the big networks
August 30th, 2024 at 7:49 am
I think all the RBs excel because of the Oline
August 30th, 2024 at 8:19 am
Like I said before, White wasn’t the only rb in the room who couldn’t run behind that line. None of them could, including Tucker who ran like a madman in camp. Believe me White will fare better behind this line than Buck and Tuck. He will make the pro bowl and maybe All Pro. Look out McCaffery!! Can you say MVP?
August 30th, 2024 at 8:25 am
I think it’s a great situation we’re in at RB.
We have RW being pushed and feeling heat to do better.
We have what looks like a much improved OL.
We have what appears to be a much better OC.
And we have Bucky who looks like a little stick of dynamite.
It’s going to be an exciting season for our offense!
August 30th, 2024 at 8:50 am
Similar to other comments – Thinking Rachaad is going to have a great season, along with Bucky, Tucker, and others. It’s going to be a very good year for our Bucs!
August 30th, 2024 at 8:58 am
If I’m Cohen I find a way to utilize White like a Deebo Samuel type of weapon. Bucky/Tucker seem like more traditional RBs but White has skills that make it really tough to just put him on the bench. There’s got to be packages where there can be two backs with White playing as basically another receiver who can get YAC.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Ive been saying this since the 1st preseason game. Just using a real time eyeball test not having to run an all 24 in slow mo back dozens of times you can clearly see Bucky has vision and anticipation that White just does not have.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:13 am
Been saying for months, “White is our new 3rd down back”.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:25 am
So “Joe’s”
If White would have had just “one” of several of his 20+ yard runs not called back for a holding call. Would you still be slow beating the drums to boot White? Still be promoting how bad White is? Still, promoting how soon our “rookie” 5’10 195lb RB will be the next great Tampa Bay RB? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we know.
“Joe writes about what Joe finds interesting”…
We have a very good problem to have, IMHO. We have 3 good RB’s who all bring very similar traits to the running game, yet each one also has traits different than the others. OC Coen, RB coach Peete and the staff I am sure are very excited to have multiple play sets for our RB’s.
I for one am very excited that we will not see as many “Ole'” blocks or getting pushed back into the backfield from our center, and real running lanes and uses of different running formations, ah progress…
August 30th, 2024 at 9:39 am
I do not understand why we need to make this a mortal competition between White and Irving?
There is room and IMHO a desirability to having TWO good RB’s. Not just for depth either. I concede that Irving is not bad as a receiver and IMHO White is not horrid as a runner but it’s not his greatest strength.
What happened to creativity. Perhaps Liam will have some play calling and formations that utilizes BOTH of their talents.
Heaven knows White was grossly overused last year. It won’t hurt to cut his touches and he’ll be fresher at the end of the year, you know the IMPORTANT part of the season the playoffs!
August 30th, 2024 at 9:40 am
White doesn’t fall forward and doesn’t slip and break tackles. He dances in the hole and is not decisive.
If that doesn’t change then he’ll loses touches to Irving and possibly Tucker.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:50 am
You didn’t see this coming? And I see White just kinda give up when things get tight down field. Irving is about some contact and he keeps the motor running all the way through the run. He sees the hole and hits it, no dancing just here we go. He’s the dynamite in a small package. I think vision is Whites issue, when there was a hole. I hope he can work it out cause Tucker looks like he’s ready to. Let’s Go Bucs!!!! All those apposed, if all you got is some crap to say, save your breath, sit back, and watch them prove you wrong again, haha 😆
August 30th, 2024 at 9:59 am
And the Bucky super hype train continues….
I reserve my opinion for a few games, Actual football with real first string tacklers.
Go Bucs!
August 30th, 2024 at 10:09 am
running up the gut behind hainsey created some ypc issues…
let’s see if it’s fixed with barton manning the middle
August 30th, 2024 at 10:15 am
also early in the year white was averaging like 3.0 to 3.3 ypc…up until like midseason…
then he started grooving more, but by then it was too late…he had too many carries…
so it was gonna be a long tough climb to a 4.0 yard average…
he did well and slowly climbed to about 3.7…but ultimately finished at around 3.6
and kneel downs didn’t help either as the season wound down
August 30th, 2024 at 10:23 am
I couldn’t quit Doug Martin.
I have a feeling this is going to be a committee. Look at Miami, they have Mostert and Achane. And that’s is the NFL’s best passing offense.
Offensive team building is about weapons that can score points and create different matchup.
I think the offense is going to explode this year
August 30th, 2024 at 10:33 am
I have stated it often: OL makes the back, the backs are not great by themselves (with a few exceptions.)
I suspect all the Buc RB’s will have a good season because the OL is vastly improved, especially in the middle.
August 30th, 2024 at 10:43 am
Bucnjim said, “ I’ve heard the Bucs are looking at packages where they get both of them on the field at the same time.”
Oh please, oh please, oh please!
August 30th, 2024 at 10:51 am
AtlBuc…” Believe me White will fare better behind this line than Buck and Tuck. He will make the pro bowl and maybe All Pro. Look out McCaffery!! Can you say MVP?”
Really!? I can understand optimistic outlooks before the season starts. But, let’s be serious. From worse rushing attack for two years straight and now magically overtakes Macaffery and maybe MVP! How about seeing what White does this year behind an improved OL. He could realistically be riding the bench this year rather than being MVP. Nobody on the Bucs will get enough carries for 1,000 yards if the team consistently gives up EZ passes and can’t get the opponent off the field.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
A couple have mentioned it but with the Bucs only keeping 5 WRs, I wondered if White and Bucky might both be out there at times. White running routes more often. After what I saw in last preseason game, it’s gonna be tough for me not to bet White TD week 1. If Irving starts poaching goal to go carries week 1, I will be happy to see the TD but sad to lose money !
August 30th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
And your daily article bashing White!
August 30th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
If not for Whites 9 touchdowns and 1500 total yards last year we’d have missed the playoffs. He’s a player and anyone who can’t see that needs glasses.
August 30th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
White is a threat out of the backfield cos he can catch the ball. That’s why he’s still around. Bucs only kept 5 receivers cos they know it. With what we have on offense now, I hope Coen is going to add a few trick plays to spice things up.
August 30th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
This year’s run game will be like night and day compared to the past two seasons. RW1 will put up great numbers. BI7, and ST44, will get their share of snaps too. All will be fine! 😎
August 30th, 2024 at 5:54 pm
White’s gonna crush it!!!
August 31st, 2024 at 9:00 am
I’m excited about Buck and Tuck, but I think White will be better than most anticipate. It should be noted that White improved in the second half of the season last year. I expect he’ll pick up from there with a better offensive line and coaching.
August 31st, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Is it just me? Or have I never seen the Joes or a certain “Joe” ever bang on “Low Ball Lenny” like he does RW1? Just curious if I missed something. Last time I checked…. RW1 had more ypc two years ago when it was “Low Ball Lenny”’s last season with our Bucs. As a matter of fact…. All our RBs have sucked behind our OL the past two years. Please prove me wrong a “certain Joe”!