Bucky Irving Better Than Saquon Barkley?
December 4th, 2024
It almost seems sacrilegious to suggest that Bucs running back Bucky Irving is better than Eagles stud running back Saquon Barkley. But he may be.
First, Irving has racked up his stats as a backup. That’s insane on face value.
Second, Joe has already pointed out that Irving has more yards — well, a yard — than Barkley after getting hit behind or at the line of scrimmage.
No matter how you slice it, the Bucs appear to have found a special player on the third day of the draft.
Now the crowd over at The 33rd Team has a graphic showing through 13 weeks of games, Irving has a high percentage of runs that go for 10 or more yards. Some 13.8 percent of Irving’s carries have gone for 10 or more yards. For Barkley, 13.0 percent of his runs were for 10 or more yards.
As for running backs thriving with this stat, Irving ranks sixth overall. Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions has 17.8 percent of his runs go for 10 or more yards.
The way the Bucs played, or didn’t play, in Carolina, it looks like two players will have to carry the Bucs to the playoffs: Mike Evans and Irving.
December 4th, 2024 at 3:51 am
Bucky is very good but lacks the elite breakaway speed that Saquon possesses. I’m fine with that because Bucky is very good at getting 5-35 yard runs, but he will likely have very few 50+ yard runs that Saquon can do.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:09 am
No Raiders on that list. Maybe the defense can focus on covering receivers.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:55 am
Some incredible players at the top of that list
December 4th, 2024 at 6:08 am
Third day of the draft @joe!
December 4th, 2024 at 6:14 am
Bucky is impressive. He reminds me of a prime Charlie Garner as a rookie.
December 4th, 2024 at 6:40 am
Bucky performs at a high level every day. Love this guy.
December 4th, 2024 at 7:11 am
No Cowboys or Chargers that will play on that list either. Can only help
December 4th, 2024 at 7:46 am
Can’t be Joe…our guy isn’t even the starter!
December 4th, 2024 at 8:03 am
“First, Irving has racked up his stats as a backup. That’s insane just to think about on face value.” The insane part is that he is a backup in the first place.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:07 am
When defenses are accounting for Barkley every time the offense breaks the huddle and he burns them then that is impressive.
Teams are not focusing on stopping him so he has an advantage for now. Take out the one 43 yard run and Irving had 24 rushes for 109 and a 4.5 average.
I find it odd that that all last season fans were ragging on Canales for running up the gut on first and second down and this season nothing. Coen runs Irving up the middle quite often on first and second down and the difference is because a better line, provides a few more yards, and not that Irving is one of the best backs in the league.
Irving benefitted @ Oregon from defenses using assets to stop sharper weapons. With Barkley and Henry defenses know they are getting the ball and even if they don’t defenses react as if they are.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:08 am
Steal Of the Draft!!! He is a Rookie so Lots Of Tread On Those Tires…
December 4th, 2024 at 8:21 am
Wow, stats don’t lie. Bucky is something else!
Dobbins stats will go down since he is on IR now. Surprised to see James Cook and some others lower on the graph. And that is okay too.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:28 am
And yet they still run White inside the 10 yard line.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Will someone please send that info to someone that makes those decisions of how many carries a buc RB gets in a game.
Bucky Irving is no slower than emmit smith was in his prime.
Think about that.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:58 am
If Bucky did not have all those big runs his rushing average would be much lower than it is. What kind of logic is that?
December 4th, 2024 at 9:54 am
First comment is correct. Bucky lacks home run speed, but that only plays out a few times a season where Bucky will get 30-40 yards instead of a 70 yard TD. But he is soooo good at making the most of every run and getting a positive play it’s a small difference.
December 4th, 2024 at 9:55 am
D Cone – In addution to adding better O-linemen, Coen has a mixture of blocking schemes and uses misdirection. Canales used poor and basic blocking schemes that defenses figured out within two drives (or fewer if they watched tape). We’re not complaining about them this year because they work.
December 4th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Bucky is a steal, but Licht has been doing that for quite sometime. The other factor is the OLine; it’s jelling. How is Wirf doing? Didn’t Barkley start his career with the Giants?
December 4th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Irving is better than Barkley Joe. He’s got more moves, he’s an explosive runner, an excellent receiver, and most of all, he’s a Tampa Bay Buccaneer!!!
Go Bucky !! Go Bucs !! Beat the Raiders !!
December 4th, 2024 at 10:53 am
@D-Cone Barkley averaged 4.1 yards per carry with his longest run taken away against the Ravens… Your point?
December 4th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Maybe what the Bucs need is for Jason to get Todd some psilocybin therapy on game day. The defense sure as hell can’t be any softer, maybe some useful brain cells and neurological pathways might accidentally connect.
Note to Jason – something to consider.
December 4th, 2024 at 11:20 am
He keeps it up for 6 years then ask us that question
December 4th, 2024 at 11:27 am
Hahahah yeah, “ocala,” IF Barry Sanders (and literally EVERY single RB who ever lived and played the game) hadn’t had all of those BIG ‘runs’ then HIS/THEIR averages wouldn’t have been what it was LoL. On top of that, THIS “logic” is saying that roughly, every 7TH CARRY (for Bucky) is going for 10+YARDS Lmao. And, Dobbins stats (on this list) are NOT going to “go down” while he’s on IR, “heyjude.” They will remain the same. Exactly, what they are. I was just thinking on Sunday, too bad he doesn’t have ‘breakaway’ speed. Wow. Now, that would be something.
December 4th, 2024 at 11:31 am
Well, if Bucky hadn’t had all those “big runs,” then his average wouldn’t be what it is LoL… Yeah, literally the SAME for every player who’s ever played. Ummmm… WHAT would RWhite’s be right now, if you took away HIS ‘handful’ of big runs!?
December 4th, 2024 at 11:50 am
It’s interesting to see the highlights of Saquon. On those long runs, he has HUGE holes that Bucky very rarely gets. Our OL is much improved and they are getting better, but they haven’t caught up to the Eagles’ OL. I think Bucky does a better job than Saquon when the holes aren’t big. For our OL, I think Bucky is better than Saquon.
I wonder where White would be on the list above?
December 4th, 2024 at 11:57 am
You guys…. 🙄
December 4th, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Yesterdays article was =Barkley
Todays is better than Barkley
Love Bucky but isn’t that a little much for a RB after 1/2 a season?
Hopefully he won’t get injured falling from the pedestal some of yall have placed him on when he levels out a little.
December 4th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Bucky got the majority of touches last week for those who have wanted to see that! 😁
25 carries to RW’s 11 (6.1 YPC Bucky) (6.9 YPC white)
3 passes to RW’s 1 (11 YPC Bucky) (2 YPC white)
That’s probably as much use as you’d want to put on him in a game.
Need to keep him healthy if we want to make a run.
December 4th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
My Momma thinks Bucky is a backup because they want to limit his exposure to injury; he is a smaller back. Notice his hip pointer coming out of the Kitties game. Didn’t they show him getting wrapped on the sidelines when they put White in on 3rd and 1 at the goal line, Joe?
December 5th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Why would you even write a piece like this. Bucky Irving is obviously very good and looks like he has a nice career in front of him, but to suggest in anyway that he’s possibly better than Saquon Barkley is a joke. You can throw numbers out there or whatever you want, but come on man. That’s like saying Jayden Daniels is better than Patrick Mahomes. It’s not even a conversation so please stop trying to make it one
December 5th, 2024 at 9:39 am
He’s younger which means he’s better for the Bucs than Barkley is for the Eagles