Bucky Irving Makes Defenders Miss At Historic Rate
December 5th, 2024
Pro Bowl running back?
This is absolutely wild to Joe.
One of the reasons Joe has been down for a couple of years on running back Rachaad White is that when he runs between the tackles, he couldn’t make a mailbox miss.
And yes, NFL strongman Roger Goodell still allows running backs to dodge defenders and make dudes miss. Joe checked on this with the league office.
White’s teammate Bucky Irving? He’s a forced missed tackle from the instant he touches the ball. Several in fact.
Last night the Bucs twittered out this wild, crazy stat from NextGen Stats about Irving and missed tackles. Let’s just say the NFL hasn’t seen a running back like Irving in seven years.
Per NextGen Stats, 59.7 percent of would-be tacklers whiff when they try to bring Irving to the ground. Yes, that’s over half of defenders that go after Irving, he jukes his way out of danger.
That’s nuts!
Also per NextGen Stats, that is the highest percentage of forced missed tackles by any NFL running back (with at least 50 carries) since 2016.
Joe thinks it is now safe to say that Irving, a fourth-round pick, was a home run selection.
Another crazy thing for Joe related to Irving: He is still not the Bucs’ starting running back.
After reading this stat that NextGen Stats pumped out and witnessing what Irving has done the past two games, Joe thinks it’s time to start calling for Irving to be named to the Pro Bowl team.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:08 am
We should be unstoppable on 3rd, 4th down and short. Give Bucky the ball when it matters the most. Its nice having a special player to root for. Imma get me a Bucky jersey. Go BUCS!
December 5th, 2024 at 12:19 am
Bucky is da man! Look, on that one play late in the 4th at 3rd and 1 where White got stuffed for a -4 yard loss and the Bucs settled for a field goal, Bucky might not have scored on that play or even got it to first and goal but I bet he would have made it at least 4th and so short that Coen would have to think about going for it via a qb sneak, etc as the kid is so elusive, he would have broke the tackle that took White down for a big loss…… Could have been game over if the Bucs got a TD.
Granted if the Bucs did score a TD, it is likely Bowles would have gone for 1 and made it an 8 point game and if there were more than 30 seconds left on the clock then the Panthers probably would have still tied it up as Bowles soft-serve prevent/zone but maybe, just maybe the Panthers would have run out of time and the Bucs win in regulation. I am simply happy the Bucs won because of guys like Bucky and Nelson, Todd almost coached the team to 5-7 and into draft slot conversations.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:28 am
FortMyersDave … I think there were 3 minutes left when White took that TFL. I agree with you that the game likely would have turned out the same.
Bucky is incredible. See what the others turn into but Licht got a couple real good ones in the 1st and 4th round.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:43 am
Bucky had 25 carries and 3 passes in the last game.
11 carries and 1 pass for RW
Doesn’t that make Bucky the defacto #1 back for those who care about that?
Or is who plays the 1st snap that important?
December 5th, 2024 at 12:45 am
Don’t forget Tykee Smith in the 3rd. Jury still out on Braswell and McMillian. Klein and Culp could be future contributors. Could end up being one of the best drafts in Buc’s history!
December 5th, 2024 at 12:47 am
Can’t be a starter if you don’t start the game. Starter = RB1.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:47 am
Barton is going to be great but he did not play well during the Panther game.
December 5th, 2024 at 5:48 am
only bowles can keep the bucs out of the playoffs. for crying out loud, start him already. the locker room will understand. i can hear him saying “he’s still learning” or some crap. if only bowles was still learning
December 5th, 2024 at 5:53 am
gone gator – or did he just ‘ride the hot hand’ after white flamed out in typical fashion… i hear you, but he wasn’t used in third and one at the goal line, and the opening drive of a game might be the most important. using white in that spot was so painful to watch. is liam not allowed to start who he wants? maybe he doesn’t know white can’t run between the tackles, or that white tips off defenders presnap, or can’t see holes early enough, or can’t resist bouncing wide, or whatever the F is happening with him. at least use tucker for god’s sake
December 5th, 2024 at 5:55 am
Has Barton hit the “rookie wall”? We will see.
Run, Bucky, run!
December 5th, 2024 at 5:59 am
Who was the leader in 2016 Joe ? Leaving that out of your story suggests the last person to do it is a RB that hasn’t made a name for himself.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:07 am
“Another crazy thing for Joe related to Irving: He is still not the Bucs’ starting running back.”
Because White is better in pass protection. Hopefully, the Bucs don’t find a great blocking wide receiver because they might bench Evans.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:14 am
yeah bucky be straight ghosting dudes…
they be grasping at air
December 5th, 2024 at 6:20 am
one day you will learn…
bucky is not even human…
he is………………………………..half man – half machine
December 5th, 2024 at 6:48 am
We having a budding superstar on our hands.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:49 am
We having a budding superstar on our hands. Off topic but I never ever want to see this team wearing cream cycle uniforms ever again. They’re cursed colors.
Burn them all.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:56 am
And yet, they still run White inside the 10 yard line.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:56 am
I want him to run the ball every play….. but perhaps pacing him is just as important.
December 5th, 2024 at 7:53 am
@ adam from NY: Domo arigato Mr. Roboto.
December 5th, 2024 at 8:15 am
The only higher missed tackle rate in the league is Todd Bowles’ defense.
December 5th, 2024 at 8:44 am
I have a great idea for the Bucs.
Since they refuse to play Bucky when the game is on the line, why don’t they trade him. That’s rite, I’ll wager a dollar to a pound of dawg poo, teams will give up a nice number one pick for him!
December 5th, 2024 at 9:20 am
And better home run hitter in the pass game. But Bucky is starting to make Joe think twice about that.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Because they are on every highlight reel, White’s last run ended with him trying to hurdle the tackler and he missed. Hahaha!
December 5th, 2024 at 10:09 am
Go online and read Bucky’s draft profile. Every scout saw his electrifying ability to break tackles and make instinctive cuts. Still they cautioned he was too slow and too frail to be number one back in the NFL. Lesson, the draft is not a science.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Cometowin2 Says:
Jury still out on Braswell
^^^^^
I’m not sure if that’s fair. JTS, Yaya, Braz. All misses? You cannot have that many physical freaks and none perform. Braz was a 12 sack guy at Bama! JTS 10 sacks at UW. It has to be the coaching and the scheme at this point.
I envision JTS leaving the Bucs and blowing up for +10 sacks the next season.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Bucky is dinged up like most of the team. So, Coen has been here long enough to start doing more pairing with White. The OLine is starting to jell. Time to get more creative, Coen. Beware of the refs.
December 5th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Nice one Mr Funderstruck🤣
December 5th, 2024 at 6:41 pm
Adam, Dan,
His heart is human,
His blood is boiling,
His brain IBM.