Bucky Irving = Saquon Barkley
December 3rd, 2024
Best Bucs rookie?
Bucky Irving is beginning to show he’s one of the best running backs in the NFL.
He ranks fifth in the NFL in yards per carry at 5.5. But it is his YAC yards that put him in even more elite company.
The numbers Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis dug up on Irving blew Joe’s mind.
Joe thinks it is fair to say that Saquon Barkley is the best running back in the league. Even when he is behind or at the line, Barkley still gets production.
Per Hribar, Barkley has scratched for 257 yards after contact behind or at the line of scrimmage. Impressive. Well, that just one more yard than Irving has.
Irving is No. 2 in the NFL in YAC yards after getting hit behind or at the line with 256.
“He’s getting more comfortable with the offense,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of Irving yesterday. “The more comfortable he gets, the more you can give him, the more he can do.
“Both [Irving and Rachaad White] are running well – we’re happy with both of them. Bucky has a skill you can’t teach – he can make people miss in the hole. He’s tough on the inside.”
What’s wild is Irving isn’t that big of a guy. But damn if he doesn’t get the job done.
The Bucs had the worst rushing attack in football last year. Through 12 games, the Bucs are No. 8 in rushing yards per game and No. 4 in yards per carry.
A really big reason for that massive improvement is Irving.
Joe was thinking about this last night: Who is a better draft pick right now, first-round draft pick Graham Barton or fourth-round pick Irving?
@LordReebs: Bucky Irving has 256 yards rushing when contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage per TruMedia.
Only Saquon has more (257).
Irving has those yards on 40 fewer attempts than Barkley when hit at or behind the line. …
Irving is averaging a league-high 4.0 YPC when hit at or behind the line.
The average for Running Backs this season is 1.6 yards per rush.
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:01 am
Irving was our best pick
Worst to #8 in rushing says it all
December 3rd, 2024 at 6:06 am
Let’s get him healthy! No more kickoff returns.
December 3rd, 2024 at 6:56 am
Just another example of coaching malpractice with this staff having him back there returning kickoffs. Even if Bucky lobbied for it you don’t do it, just inviting an opportunity for a senseless injury to your #1 RB. Jeezus
December 3rd, 2024 at 7:32 am
Bucky is something else and is very humble about it all too. Makes him a real special guy. And that is the genuine trait our Bucs have, they are all humble and no diva issues going on.
December 3rd, 2024 at 7:52 am
Imagine if Todd Bowles was Jim Harbaugh!
The NFL would be saying Saquon “who”?!
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:23 am
bucky’s great, but the key is installing rams rushing scheme, confusing opponents for the first time since arians. tucker was just as good when he got his shot. what is uber clear now — white can’t be taught to hit holes any quicker. kudos to coach for leaning so hard on bucky finally.
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:23 am
can r white play the slot once in awhile?
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:24 am
Hey , while not flashy, G Barton was a pretty darn good pic. I think credit goes to both Irving and Barton that has bolstered the run game where it is not just Buckee.
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:34 am
They are both da##ed good picks. Thank you, Licht/Bowles, etc. However, Bucky has a hip pointer. Is there ANY first string Bucs player that hasn’t been injured this year????????????? We’re the walking wounded, and we’re still 6-6. I’m not religious, but I’d call it pretty close to miraculous!!!!! Plus, Bucs are the 2nd youngest team. I really hope they stomp the Raiders into the ground this Sunday. Go Bucs!!
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:39 am
Ehhhhhhh. Look Bucky is ELECTRIC, top 3 elusiveness in the league, top tier vision, but not a lot of people are catching Barkley. Barkley and Gibbs are legit 4.3 guys, but Bucky is Doug Martin slow when it comes to long speed, minus the drugs…
Much more quick than fast. Which is fine, at the end of the day its about production, but he just doesnt have that gear to house a 70 yarder
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:46 am
You have to give the offensive line a lot of credit as well. There are holes to run through and very seldom is the a defensive player in the backfield. Great job!
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:50 am
How about White? he was bottom 5 last year at this same stat
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:59 am
He cuts better than anyone in the league. Hes elite. We’re lucky to find him in the 4th round. Crazy!!!
December 3rd, 2024 at 10:05 am
Was gonna say virtually the same as gofortheface30 typed. Bucky is looking like a steal in the 4th round, but he lacks an elite top gear. The way the Bucs defense has been playing, maybe that’s not a bad thing…Bucky not having Saquon speed to take it to the house once he’s is in open space keeps the offense on the field longer and less time for opposing WB’s/offenses to throw for career days against our defense.
December 3rd, 2024 at 10:45 am
Licht has a fabulous draft. We now have a top five offensive line and a top ten rushing attack. Bowles does have a good track record at selecting offensive coordinators.
December 3rd, 2024 at 10:58 am
orlbucfan Says:
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:34 am
“…I’m not religious…”
GOOD. Me either. Very simply, I’ve never found any actual evidence that would lead me to believe, and I was raised as a catholic. Believing without evidence is simply DUMB. Faith is not a virtue.
December 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 am
Irving is something special. You simply cannot teach the moves he makes on the field. Dude was a great find. A keeper for sure.
December 3rd, 2024 at 11:57 am
Fortunately for Bucky, coach has kept him on the bench too much for most of the year even though he’s shown these capabilities all season. This way, his chances at OROTY are almost nil, and his talents can’t lead to icing the game. It’s called genius coaching and all you critics should fall in line and support our Bucs. Yay!
December 3rd, 2024 at 12:39 pm
I still think Tucker is better than White. Best rushing game was Bucky starting with Tucker in relief. I don’t understand the loyalty to White. He’s not some pass blocking genius. The other two can catch.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Based on 1 good game against a quitting Saints team?
Do you really think Coen is keeping the better back on the bench?
Its not even close dude. The Rachaad disrespect is ridiculous.
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:41 pm
The leader Rachaad Cheerleader Squad Gone Gator scratches out another set of eyes of a poster for defaming the greatest Bucs rb who ever lived!!! How is it that you’re so, so emotionally invested in a football player who doesn’t care if you exist who’s really been very sub par runner since last year and is being shown up by a rookie that you attack anybody who says anything remotely bad about him? I mean you’re right in cue every time. You’re worst than the Baker Brigade. They’re probably wondering what’s wrong with you. Now that is what I strange
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:49 pm
By the way that ONE game by Tucker was better than ANY game in the last two seasons played by Rachaad White. He’s faster, shiftier and more dynamic in traffic than White will ever be. And how were the Saints quitting when they gave us fits until they just couldn’t keep up? You and your hurt feelings over White…….just priceless
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:57 pm
@DavidBigBucsFan99
Again I’ll point out, I’m not cheerleading anybody. I’m pointing out the disrepect by some of you simple minded analysts towards any of our players.
1st it was Baker but most of the Baker haters have crawled back under their rocks for now.
Lately its been Rachaad and Todd because they’ve been getting the most heat from the “you suck” crowd. A few of us have to add a dose of reality to yalls sometimes stupid narratives.
So Rah rah rah – kiss my a$$
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:39 pm
No one can honestly say that Bucky’s success and the overall success of the run game isn’t partially attributed to Barton and the revamping of the IOL. Heck, even Joes nemesis Rachaad White is averaging 4.1 YPC
December 3rd, 2024 at 11:42 pm
Tucker better than white come on dude. He has one good game. You must not watch what white does in the passing game. Last year he was just behind cmc in receiving yards. White is one of the best pass catching backs in the game and he has the stats to show for it. Tucker maybe a better run the ball kind of back. 99 coen is playing white over Tucker so that tells me and most everything we need to know. I’ll trust our OC then a key board commenter any day.
December 4th, 2024 at 11:42 am
Another Oregon pro. Where do they find these guys. Every year there’s a new guy ripping it up for 100 to 150 every game. With minimal carrys. You guys got a good one here.
December 4th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
I only had to read caption to see Joe’s with that bs again. Let Bucky be Bucky.