Locker Room “Attaching Itself” To Bucky Irving
September 1st, 2024
Rookie running back Bucky Irving.
There seems to be a rare rookie phenomenon happening at One Buc Palace.
No, Joe isn’t invited to roam the halls, join staff meetings and hang in the dining room with players, but Rondé Barber is. And the retired Buccaneers legend takes advantage of it. Barber made that clear last week on WDAE radio.
While praising the Bucs’ 2024 leadership on the air, Barber talked about how it starts with Team Glazer and “flows downhill.” But Barber didn’t cut off the leadership train with the captains and big names.
He opted to drive that bus, without being prompted, down to the rookie class — stopping at one specific rookie.
“And then you go down and look at a guy in his first year like Bucky Irving, who has leadership qualities that the rest of the team is already attaching itself, too,” Barber said. “That’s kind of special, man.”
Joe has spent a lot of time pointing out signs that Irving is ripe to take a lot of carries from current No. 1 running back Rachaad White, perhaps even leading the team in rushing attempts this season.
Barber’s chatter is one more breadcrumb on that trail.
Regardless, Joe thinks it’s fantastic that a fourth-round pick like Irving is having a profound impact in the locker room, per Barber. That’s hard for any rookie in August, especially a late draft pick who is one of the smallest dudes on the roster.
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September 1st, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Knew he was special when he was a Minnesota Gopher. I’m sure Antoine will take some Golden Gopher ownership of Bucky when he kicks arse this season.
Rachaad will also play well, behind a non-matadorian interior OL.
September 1st, 2024 at 6:31 pm
Joe … ‘That’s hard for any rookie in August, especially a late draft pick who is one of the smallest guys on the roster.’
And there-in lies a POTENTIAL dilemma. The Bucs will most likely pass on somewhere between 55-60% of their plays (say around 580-620 passing attempts … Baker had 568 passing attempts last year plus he took 40 sacks). Our 4 RBs got 94 targets out of that. Since Bucs didn’t use an empty backfield very often, it’s probably safe to assume that our RBs did a LOT of pass protection combined with being a ‘relief valve’.
Last season Rachaad White (6′ & 214 lbs) got 861 snaps, meaning that he was on the field 78% of the time. Of those 861 snaps, he got 272 rushes & 70 passing targets … almost exactly 40% touches/attempts when he was on the field. Waaay too many snaps & way too many touches IMO for any RB. Thus the NEED for another quality RB who can pick up a sizable part of the load. Enter Bucky Irving (5’10” & 195 lbs according to the Bucs, but shorter than that at the Combine).
How much of the RB workload is given will depend upon his pass blocking IMO. He’ll get his run touches & his pass targets, but how effective he is at pass blocking will determine how many OTHER offensive snaps he gets. Todd Bowles won’t take any chances of getting Baker hurt. Bucky will have to prove his worth & earn those additional snaps.
September 1st, 2024 at 6:42 pm
go bucky go…
run bucky run…
score bucky score…
September 1st, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Hoping for all three running backs to get over 750 yards rushing alone. That would be just over 132 yards a game. That would be a hell of an improvement!
September 1st, 2024 at 6:47 pm
I still want Todd Bowles fired
September 1st, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Maybe, but ……
Don’t count ur chickens before they’re hatched
September 1st, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Watching the Arizona and New Mexico game now and this kid Tetairoa McMillan is over 300 yards receiving and the 4th quarter has over 13 mins left. Yeah it’s against the Lobos but he is special. Get him and he’ll have years with Mike and hopefully Chris and eventually we’ll have JMac & TMac. This kid will go in top 10 or so so we’ll have to move up. Yeah, I want another top edge rusher too.
September 1st, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Potential means they ain’t done it yet.
Just play, Irving. First things first.
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
-Mike Tyson
September 1st, 2024 at 6:59 pm
He will have a successful career, but he has NO idea what he is in for with a 17 game season, just to get to the real deal!
September 1st, 2024 at 7:01 pm
Had a mental flash of Kevin Hart walking into room of Dwayne Johnsons and winning them over!
September 1st, 2024 at 7:23 pm
I read somewhere that he has a great personality and knows how to make people laugh. You can make friends that way. On the field though he is obviously a fighter. Hey, VegasBuccaneer, I think you should be fired. Bowles has made mistakes, but give him a chance to prove he might have learned something from them before you just discard him. Whatever your opinion of him the players love him, and I think Licht is fond of him too. The Glazers are the ones with the power though, so unless you are one stfu about firing somebody.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:11 pm
So last pod… again JBF has nothing against White, right? You guys are just calling it straight, yet out of all mainstream Bucs websites, no one, no one obsesses about White like you guys do. NO ONE. An article a week says differently about you not having anything personal about White. Perhaps you didn’t have anything personal against him until we called you on your critique of him? Now it’s a mission to prove all of us wrong and you right. Again, if White goes off this year, you don’t have to eat crow, Why? Well, we can chalk up to a different O-coordinator, Retooled O-line, a new Center, because Center hasn’t been a problem for this team the last 2 seasons and drafting one in the first round was simply out of convenience, right? Then again, he might just develop, since this is his SECOND full year as the starting RB, maybe that’s it?
Again, context JBF, and I know which one of you said it on the last pod cast but calling you boys out by name appears to be a “no-no” on the site, but one of you noted, again that White has be toting the rock for a few years. Meaning, more than 2 years?… that’s simply misleading and technically not accurate. Again, this guy’s first crack at being a starting running back was LAST SEASON! This upcoming year is his 3rd year, and you guys have already seen enough from him? It’s just unbelievable this obsession.
Oh, and the comment where the feel from the Bucs personnel is that they’ve run out of patience with White?…remarkable that they were so impatient with White that he wasn’t even fighting for a starting RB role on this team. Why didn’t we see him in the first 2 preseason games if this guy is on thin ice? He’s not a Coen guy, and based off JBF expert analysis, aside from being a pass catching this guy is dogsp!t as a runner. And yet! He played first team in the 3rd preseason game and came out when they came out. Boy that is clear indication that they are fed up with White and his incontinency at running the football. Keep at boys, I mean you still have me reading, commenting, listening… bless you.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Todd has paid his dues Vegas. This is his year to prove he has what it takes. 9 and 8 probably won’t cut it and you get your wish. 10 wins you’ll be living with him a while longer. He got the dirty job of sheparding us out of the dead cap fiasco from the Brady years. He won’t get a long leash though. They’re building a winner and won’t wait long for another trophy. Let’s go Todd!
September 1st, 2024 at 8:13 pm
The Bucs are not going to have a good run game until they get a heavy, hard hitter back. Someone weight around 250 who is willing to punish people.
Get that, and these little guys will start producing too.
But it’s not surprising we don’t have a run game. Finesse doesn’t get it done.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:34 pm
Bonzai – there is nothing finesse about Bucky, but I too would like a big thumper. Rondé believes that White can be that guy. Not sure about that.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:44 pm
I picked him up with the 177th pick in my fantasy league. Bench sleeper that I can afford. Definitely looking forward to all of our Bucs Ballin this year.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:49 pm
@Zoocomics
Thx for that!
@Buccaneer Bonsai
How many teams have old school monsters like that? Derrick Henry comes to mind but that’s about it. And I’m not he’s been much of a force for a few years. I think speed, quickness have surpassed power in the NFL (everywhere except in the trench’s) years ago. A (big) power back might help in very short yardage situations but that’s debatable too.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:52 pm
He’s a tough Chicago kid who reminds me of Warrick Dunn. Bye Bye Rachad.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:54 pm
I’ve been wanting a back like this for years and was so pissed that Licht and company kept drafting these side stepping sissies like Charles Simms.
September 1st, 2024 at 8:55 pm
bucky is bottle of lightning
September 1st, 2024 at 8:57 pm
This kid isn’t a finesse back. He’s a tough between the tackles runner. Stop with the big thumper nonsense.
September 1st, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Wow, now Todd Bowles is the best coach in the league? Some of you are just WAY TOO HIGH on hopeium! It was never a wish of any of ours for the guy to ruin SO MANY good things and LITERALLY lose games by his outstandingly BAD DECISION MAKING SINCE GO!
You people are CLEARLY BAND NEW…. Well, welcome to what has been Todd Bowles crap show. I don’t why you think he’s paid his dues because he is hanging on by a “lucky thread”! His luck BETTER NOT RUN OUT AND MUCH MORE THAN THAT, he had BETTER have FINALLY become an actual Professional coach! Hopefully Licht has seen ENOUGH of his BLUNDERS and has hired someone to pay attention to managing the actual football game instead of his WELL PERFORMED “DEAR IN THE HEADLIGHTS ACT” so that he can STOP EMBARRASSING HIMSELF and STOP playing his part of NOT QUALIFIED! Us that have actually been paying attention ALL THESE YEARS KNOW BETTER THAN DREAMING HE’S EVER GOT IT UNDER CONTROL!
HE HAS NOT PAID HIS DUES! He better have got his act together or he SHOULD GO!
Bruce Arians and MANY MORE have and would coach him UNDER THE TABLE from A hospital bed!
Why don’t you stop ACTING like you know what you’re talking about! You DON’T!
HE BETTER GET IT TOGETHER THIS YEAR OR ALL THE LOUSY PREDICTIONS WILL COME TRUE!….. AGAIN!
September 1st, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Both backs are going to be great . For the first time in his pro Career R W will have some creases to get through . I wonder if RW had went ahead and ran the ball on the play that would have put him over 1000 yards instead of being a team guy and sliding and staying inbounds if he would get more respect. Dude has worked hard . Passed up Fournette and went on to have over 1500 APY’s . If you have an O-line that can execute the zone blocking scheme well your going to have a productive run game . 49ers have had many 1000+ yard rushers over the last decade for a reason . The zone blocking scheme works well when you have the men that can execute it.
11-6 / 12-5 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
September 1st, 2024 at 11:58 pm
Where is the mystery of why 95% of EVERY PUNDENT OUT THERE have CONTINUE to write us off??? Are you people really that confused?
A lot of GOOD DRUGS IN RETIREMENT RIGHT…. WAKE UP and smell the reality!
They have no respect for us BECAUSE of guys like Todd Bowles. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND….
Let’s HOPE he can “EARN HIS FLOWERS” and THIS IS the year he finally becomes a well rounded coach.
September 2nd, 2024 at 12:19 am
What we really need more of, is to post lots of copied stats into several long paragraphs of numbers, to challenge the assertion of Joe’s article that Bucky has endeared himself to his teammates and had leadership qualities.
Someone should then model how non-related performance benefits locker room camaraderie. Gemini Ceres.
September 2nd, 2024 at 1:56 am
Been a lot of media hype! I do not understand it.
Decent pre season but not to the extent that I am buying in to all the hype.
Prove me wrong young man. If you can.
I doubt he will get all the carries that some think on Sunday. Snaps will be limited and Tucker may get some of those. Tucker impressed me more and should be getting as much or more of this hype.
Go Bucs!
Go Bucs!
September 2nd, 2024 at 4:19 am
From what we have heard, seen so far, and read from the training camp notes – Bucky is the real deal. I definitely can see him as the guy that will go far. Go Bucky Go!!
September 2nd, 2024 at 5:55 am
I like Bucky and I think he’s going to take over as the number one by the end of the year, BUT Rondé is a company man and his opinions should be viewed from that perspective. (See his past comments on Hargreaves for example)
September 2nd, 2024 at 6:41 am
Please get off White’s back. If you ran into a wall 270 times and got killed you might hesitate too. White did not he kept pushing and kept a good attitude! Making Irvine RB1 when he hasn’t played a real snap is ridiculous. Similar things were said about Tucker last year but didn’t happen. Blocking for a QB is hard, especially for a 5’9” 190 lb RB and you don’t play unless you block. I thought Tucker looked just as good as Bucky in preseason but neither protect the Baker as well as White. Fixing the OL will go a long way for all the RBs… Go Bucs!
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:24 am
I don’t think it has to be one or the other, we will need all 3 RBs, it is a long season.
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:35 am
Obvious , I see you got into your parents liquor bottle again.
September 2nd, 2024 at 9:05 am
The camaraderie and tight locker room bonding of this team has been a prerequisite since the Dungy days. That’s cos the players are, for the most part, quality guys off-field as well as on. There have been a few exceptions like Antonio nutcase Brown, but they don’t last long. Irving is another addition to this mix. Hope he lights up on the field, too. C’mon, Bucs!!
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
Absolutely right, orlbucfan! With few exceptions, the Bucs have been stellar with camaraderie and great character off and on the field.
September 2nd, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Bucky bout to blow things up….THANK YOU JASON
September 2nd, 2024 at 4:22 pm
@Cometowin2
So we would have T. J. Macs?
September 3rd, 2024 at 3:44 am
Ok, I’ll reach for the stars….
Here’s to Bucky Irving being the second coming of Emmitt smith🙃