Bucky Irving’s Final Touch Came With 11:50 To Play
November 10th, 2024
“He’s got twitch, doesn’t he. Man, he can move.”
The above was just one of the high-energy takes by Tom Brady on the FOX broadcast when talking about electric Bucs rookie running back Bucky Irving.
Brady was clear. The Bucs need more Bucky Irving.
Irving was the Bucs’ most dangerous weapon on the field today against the 49ers, but the Bucs stopped using him.
Joe doesn’t want to hear one damn excuse. Irving was strong and the Bucs pulled the plug. His last touch, not counting a fumble recovery, was with 11:50 remaining in the game.
How does that happen?
After the groin-stomp 23-20 loss, Todd Bowles was asked about Irving not being used on what could have been the Bucs’ game-winning drive. Bowles replied that Rachaad White was doing good things and it was his time. No slight on Irving; nothing out of the ordinary.
Unfortunately, that’s not reality.
Joe is so tired of hearing from various Bucs how Irving always makes the first guy miss. If so, then use the guy more often! Heck, just last week Bowles was talking about how Irving has a rare “gift.”
As Joe wrote after the late-game Chiefs debacle, it’s always best to put the game in the hands of your best players.
Last week, that was Baker Mayfield and the offense — not tying the game to give the ball to Patrick Mahomes.
This week, it was feeding your best running back who was having strong day. It didn’t happen. Bucs lose.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Once again, there is no excuses for this. No I’ll will toward White but both can be on the field at the same time due to White’s skill set. This is just bad decision making
November 10th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Dynamic playmaker sits. Bucs lose. Coincidence?
November 10th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Todd’s decision making is all about the ‘win’. With the 49ers 6.5 point favorite if the Bucs only lose by 3 it’s a win.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Everybody knows that we need more Bucky, except the one guy who makes the decision not to have more Bucky. How many games has the head coach cost us this year do you think? Two, three? I have absolutely no confidence that this man can leave this football team to be a successful as it should be.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
I agree with more Irving, and what about Sean Tucker? He get nfc player of the week, then gets benched. Crazy!
November 10th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
So Irving wasn’t injured in those last few minutes of the game? I got to now side with others who say Bowles is not a good HC
November 10th, 2024 at 5:29 pm
We need Bruce to come back
November 10th, 2024 at 5:32 pm
Travesty.
And all the morons griping about no Tucker.
They gave up on Bucky- why?
November 10th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
A lot of that is going to be because Sucke was out there, and White is the much much better blocker.
But, with that said, you can use another TE to help block if you want to keep Otton running routes. They certainly should have got Bucky some snaps in there if they were just going to run anyways.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Enough of this conservative coach . Defence is awful ! Time management awful . Play not to lose instead of playing to win. Nowles has to go . Offense coach stays .looking good for only his first year . Still scoring with all the injuries and now treston gos down . Bad year for injuries .Last 3 years the same .
November 10th, 2024 at 5:44 pm
I’ve been beating this dead horse for the last two years fire Todd
November 10th, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Bucky had already shown he could truck Bosa. He also had the run to the right side. No way White should have been in for any reason.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Clueless, passive, hope coaching. We had so many opportunities. Just good enough to lose. When will it end? Lovie 2.0. say it ain’t so. Hot hand? Nope just follow the script. Dumdumdum.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:48 pm
This is where you need a REAL head coach. What bothers me is either Bowles is truly hands off and Coen did this or Bowles made Coen put white on the field either way of you take your best weapon off the field for that long you’re not qualified to be a head coach
November 10th, 2024 at 5:48 pm
How many touches did Sean Tucker get? He was the offensive NFC player of the week just 3 weeks ago no?
November 10th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
White just needs to play wr at this point. Bucky and tucker and white at wr would benefit all 3 of them.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
Don’t understand why Bucky didn’t finish the game either. And like many others, what is going on with Tucker too?
November 10th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Fire Bowels tonight!
November 10th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Played for the tying FG, even after the disappointments of the prior 2 weeks. Then, he gives popgun arm Purdy everything he wants by having his DBs play 10-15 yards off the receivers. Just stupid! Squash the Toad!
November 10th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
The wooden Indian strikes again
November 10th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
I love the two back set, put White and Bucky in and pound that rock !! Make em guess who’s running and who’s blocking !!
One thing is for sure, I think Irving is a better runner than White but Rashad feeds off Bucky. The more#7 runs it, the harder #1 runs !
Get some rest Bucs and let’s beat the New York Football Giants !!
Go Bucs !!
November 10th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
We only win rings with offensive head coaches. Defensive guys, outside of BillBell are not aggressive enough.
November 10th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
I actually think Coen decided who was on the field.
November 10th, 2024 at 6:04 pm
Whirr and Bucky are spectacular….but not good enough to make up for our defense….
November 10th, 2024 at 6:10 pm
Bonzai, I think that’s where a HC steps in though and says hey let’s get Bucky out there
November 10th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Have you all seen the stat from Greg Auman? Only two times has a team scored 180+ points in a six game stretch and gone 1-5. Both times it’s been us…
November 10th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
For I have noticed this too.
“One thing is for sure, I think Irving is a better runner than White but Rashad feeds off Bucky. The more#7 runs it, the harder #1 runs ! ”
I just wanna see the coaching staff better utilize the talent they have on offense. We have a big, athletic and Fast rookie TE hybrid Devin Culp, would love to see him in a few red zone packages while Evans is out.
November 10th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Yeah, does Bowles make the final call on offensive personnel or does he defer to Coen?
November 10th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
“White was doing good things and it was his time.” Got it, so let me state that in plain English. Rachaad was doing well and we planned/wanted to have him in during that drive.
Note: He didn’t say Rachaad was the better back. If he thought Rachaad was a better runner than Bucky he would have said something along the lines of Rachaad is our #1 and we needed him out there on the games most important drive.
So seems to me like Bowels admits Bucky is the better back but wanted Rachaad in their anyway. Which if true, means he actually hurt the team by this decision to keep Rachaad in and should face consequences for this poor decision.
If I am wrong and he actually thinks Rachaad is the better back… well then he’s delusional.
November 10th, 2024 at 6:31 pm
This comment about White doing good things so it was his time, well then what about Tucker, he was doing the best things and got placed on the bench to basically never be seen again.
November 10th, 2024 at 6:43 pm
if you want white on the field, how about taking one of the lame ass receivers off the field and put Bucky in with him? start them both in the backfield, then have whichever one you want as receiver to split out, or go in motion, both can catch,
November 10th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
hell just put White, Irving, and Tucker in the backfield then split white and Irving out with Tucker in the backfield, or any combination of the three, defence wont know what the Hell to expect…
November 10th, 2024 at 7:09 pm
They had every opportunity to win where was tucker we said that after the first quarter bad bad coaching
November 10th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
The final straw for me.
Todd, you’re an effing stubborn idiot.
You’re Lovie 2.0
Bucky is a freaking live wire and you give it to totem pole Rachad.
That ain’t White’s bag.
Like Joe says……put the ball in your playmaker’s hands!
November 10th, 2024 at 7:25 pm
Agree with Rod. White is getting plays because he is the better blocker that
Bucky , and it is not even close at this point. I have not seen Bucky use his body
for leverage just his arms to block mostly. He needs more time and coaching to improve this and his size may be a limiting factor. a good example on White’s blocking was the the linebacker that couldn’t get by White even with an illegal facemask.
Bucky is better inside runner and is also shifty and breaks a lot of tackles but I
believe he is getting more running plays than White for the last couple of weeks.
November 10th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
We need arians to pull a pat Riley and lead us… unfortunately the damage may be done… with tiebreaker against the beagles lions and skins would have been great to have this win too
November 10th, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Another winnable game not won against a good team. It’s sad, as a fan, to watch this happen game after game. TB needs to toughen up the soft defense. LC needs to get more creative when the game is on the line. The players need to execute when the game is on the line! Then again maybe TB is looking for a higher first round pick in the draft! Sad! Game after game, sad!
November 10th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Baffling.
November 10th, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Joe.
This is the reason Bucs fan base is done with Bowles. His Defense stinks and his game management is worse then gas station sushi.
November 10th, 2024 at 8:12 pm
Don’t play Bucky and count your last days coaching da Bucs. Even the fans were calling for Bucky. Heck we all see how good he is. Why don’t you coach Bowles?
November 10th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
Best quote I’ve ever heard.
‘Forest, stupid is what stupid does’.
November 10th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
If Bowles wouldnt still be learning how to coach we’d be 8-2 not 4-6. Nice of JTS to show up today for the first time since Week 18 last year. Usually I’m watching him having his @$$ handed to him. I don’t think #32 watches much film he should have known that football was headed to the corner of the endzone. Unfortunately Mayfield can’t play defense because he did everything he could to win this game at the end. And where was Bucky at the end of the game? NOPE WHITE UP THE MIDDLE FOR NO GAIN CAUSE WE HAVE TO RUN TIME OFF THE CLOCK. When your defense sucks this bad, you needed 7 but ya know White is a slot receiver pretending to be running back. Fire. Bowles. During. The. Bye. Week. And keep our OC as the OC next year and let’s being in someone that actually knows how to coach.
November 10th, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Been saying it all season 500 Coach who can’t make any in-game decisions all he does is cost us games. And and our press never challenges him they just go thank you Todd
November 10th, 2024 at 8:34 pm
We drafted him to be a jahmyr Gibbs type the problem is we don’t have David Montgomery lol
November 10th, 2024 at 8:46 pm
Why does Todd still have a job?
November 10th, 2024 at 8:53 pm
Just genius coaching and game management. So good.
Fired tomorrow? Please.
November 10th, 2024 at 9:09 pm
On first and goal from the 8 yard line, hand the ball to White up the middle. I knew right then that Bowles had taken over the offensive play calling and he was only trying for a field goal. How ridiculous!!
My anger management needs this bye week as much as the team.
November 10th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
When do the Christmas firings start Jason?
November 10th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Way too many breakdowns from leadership in critical situations. I have so many why’s.
Why is the coverage so soft from corners when we need stops on 3rd down? Are they scared?
Why does Cohen continue going away from a good run game when it’s clearly effective? The Niners D was gassed and was ready to fold. Irving was clearly the best option on the last drive inside the red zone. We only manage a FG w/o even taking a shot at the endzone/lead.
Why is time management still an issue? Offense is in hurry up when we have control on the 50 with 1rst & 10 with a minute and some change left?
We love Cade but why is Devin Culp not seeing time??
I wanna believe in Bowles but my patience is as weak as his post game in pressers.
November 10th, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Way too many breakdowns from leadership in critical situations. I have so many why’s.
Why is the coverage so soft from corners when we need stops on 3rd down? Are they scared?
Why does Cohen continue going away from a good run game when it’s clearly effective? The Niners D was gassed and was ready to fold. Irving was clearly the best option on the last drive inside the red zone. We only manage a FG w/o even taking a shot at the endzone/lead.
Why is time management still an issue? Offense is in hurry up when we have control on the 50 with 1rst & 10 with a minute and some change left?
We love Cade but why is Devin Culp not seeing time??
And most importantly… Why is Bucky not touching the ball in the last 11:00 mins of a critical game?? SMH!
I wanna believe in Bowles but my patience is as weak as his post game in pressers.
November 10th, 2024 at 10:14 pm
Bucky is the best thing since sliced bread as far as I’m concerned. I was confused why he wasn’t utilized more today. I thought Todd had something up.his sleeve by using White. Clearly, this was not the case.
November 10th, 2024 at 10:23 pm
What is this little league where everyone has to play so nobody’s feelings get hurt?
Its obvious White isn’t the guy after his four years to prove it. Its obvious who constantly makes plays and makes people miss.
F*ck this running back by committee BS.
Give Bucky his 20-25 touches a game period.
The incompetence is unreal with this coaching staff
November 10th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
The formal movement to toss Lovie, keep Liam, and hire Belichick as HC and Saleh as DC. Now.
November 11th, 2024 at 4:04 am
At some point you have to be honest and say we are who we are.
Coach Bowles have shown that he is who he is just like his team.
I wont even mention his Defense because i said after the 2nd ATL loss that there is no point talking about the precious soft zones since Bowles has shown over and over that he will not change.
I will say that Coach Bowles has shown time and time again that in critical moments he will not make good decisions, right decisions. We have seen it.
Mistakes in clock management. Zero awareness about situational football.
ATL, KC, ATL, SF in all these 4 games we had an opportunity to win the game in the final 2 minutes. Bad calls, bad plays, wrong decisions. We are 1-4 in close games and that comes to coaching and situational football.
This Offense with all the injuries, all the mistakes, all the bad calls have scored some points. The Defense is abysmal and giving away yards and points.
KC game you have an opportunity to try and win the game but you choose OT.
SF you have an opportunity to win the game from the 8yd line 1st and goal and you cant do it. I can understand you want to run the ball but put your best RB in.
Even if i dont agree i can understand you want to be conservative if you have a good Defense. But we give up like 30 points pre game and we still continue to put the games in the hands of the Defense.
Its beyond frustrating at this point, beyond stupid. Its insane.
Go Bucs
November 11th, 2024 at 4:28 am
I thought he was injured and they were hiding it….if he wasnt, then all the more reason to fire todd!!!
November 11th, 2024 at 6:28 am
And more Cowbell.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:56 am
Since Jason Lycht is a draft man, he needs to shut down this
And try to get good draft picks. The Carolina Pathers are
Only one game back, so let’s tank this injury prone season
get some great draft picks.
November 11th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Dave Pear. I say Ben Johnson as the HC and Robert Salhes as the DC but either Bill and Salhes or Ben Johnson and Salhes Todd Bowles got to go!!
November 11th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
We see it every week ,interference calls make the difference in field position and make it easier to score,that makes or breaks the chance of winning.the bucs have horrible linebackers,secondary,headcoach,offensive coach,secondary coach.bucky Irvin is a game changer,temindes me of a barry sanders & Emmitt Smith combination. The short passes have to stop.throwing behind the line of scrimmage makes no sense, your better off giving the ball to bucky,or Rashad right up the gut,justblock!I still think Mayfield can’t see over the lineman&stop playing scared.special teams are horrible.looks like a 6- 11 season this year.no guts no glory!
November 11th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
You guys are totally missing the point. It’s not about how the Bucs lost that is the big issue here. The issue is the fact that the Chiefs get helped out EVERY TIME they are on the losing or might lose near the end of the game. It’s really really egregious. We need a new league. Where’s the USFL when we need it?