Cameron Brate Assesses Bucky Irving
December 3rd, 2024
So former Bucs tight end Cameron Brate was on the field for great running back play in his career, including Doug Martin’s mindblowing rookie Pro Bowl season (2015), the 2020 edition of Ronald Jones and the magical spurts of Leonard “Playoff Lenny” Fournette.
Now Brate gets to study Bucky Irving as a Buccaners Radio Network analyst, and he’s sounds like he’s hit a new level of impressed.
“It’s amazing, like his shiftiness, the first guy not only doesn’t tackle him; the first guy never gets a hand on him,” Brate said. “And then, you know, it takes two or three guys to bring him down and then he’s falling forwared, too, on that. So it seems like every single time Bucky gets the ball it’s not going to be a negative play.
“You’re going to stay ahead of the chains and he has the capability to then turn a 5-yard play into a 40-yard play.
“What I’ve been really impressed with is his contributions in the passing game, too, just very natural both as a blocker and a receiver. Yeah, just super-impressed with Bucky.”
Well said, Cam.
As Joe shared, Irving ranks second in the NFL in yards after contact at or behind the line of scrimmage, one less yard than Saquon Barkley. But there’s no “YAC” if you make a guy miss completely, which Irving is known for.
What a gem Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht found in Round 4.
Finally, finally, finally, this was the year that the Bucs were a team that annually finds a hit-the-ground-running RB that takes the league by surprise and by storm.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:10 pm
How long until all the praise for Bucky turns around like it did for the Muscle Hamster, and people are whining about the fact he only got 68 yards on a breakaway run, and not a TD, because he was ran down from behind.
The same people praising him now in the comments will by next year start talking about how he lacks ‘long speed’ and the Bucs need to draft a replacement.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:12 pm
And yet he’s been kept on the bench in too many critical situations. Even recently after he’s shown the world his magic . I know he was hurt yesterday, I’m not talking about that. See Niners game. See Chiefs game.
Would love to hear Cam do a breakdown on Coach’s zone pass defense .
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:22 pm
He said early that he always makes the first guy miss. Crap, second guy misses too. He’s frvking amazing.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:23 pm
“The same people praising him now in the comments will by next year start talking about how he lacks ‘long speed’ and the Bucs need to draft a replacement.”
No Rod, that’s you.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Love Bucky. I just hope he can hold up under a 15-20 touch per game workload cause that’s what we need right now.
We still need a power back in my opinion unless Tucker can be that. I’m fine with the 3 we got now but if Tucker keeps fumbling we don’t have anyone to hit the hole hard between the tackles and fall ahead for 3 yards. It ain’t White, which we all know by now, even though we love him and behind this line he has popped some good runs.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:23 pm
@Rod The Molly Hamster did everything to himself.
As far as Bucky he’s not a burner but I think he scores if he wasn’t injured. Also, IF he plays this week I’ll be surprised. Even more if he gets more than 12 touches.
Having two backs to get about 200-225 touches each is perfect in this modern era.
December 3rd, 2024 at 2:56 pm
@ Rod
Bucky does lack (pro level) elite long speed, and that’s fine since he’s still fast enough to be dangerous in space. As long as he keeps producing like he currently is nobody in their right mind will be looking to replace him in the draft. Now perhaps drafting a day three burner to compliment him in the run game, should White leave via free agency and only Irving and Tucker are left on the roster, wouldn’t be a bad idea?
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Rod Munch…..I hate you so much!
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:23 pm
You know, emmit smith was ‘slow’ in the 40 too, and I believe Walter Payton was as well. For the life of me I do not understand why Irving is even on kick offs, and does not get at least 25 touches every game. It only took the Bucs 12 games to figure the 25 touches part out.
Clearly there is a complete lack of talent awareness on this staff, and I just didn’t know that it was as negligent and as complete as it is. Holy schnookies.
So we have clock mismanagement, situational mismanagement, and chronic talent awareness deficits disorder on this staff. It’s a wonder this team has won any games this year.
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:31 pm
@Buc off
That made me laugh. Going “Cartman”.
“I hate you guys… I hate you so very very much” 🤣
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:34 pm
But he does lack long speed Rod. I know things like facts are an affront to your little sensitive sensibilities like a high school broad, but two things can be true. Yes he has elite vision, elite quickness, and yes he is a little slow-ish. So was some guy named Emmitt Smith. Productivity ultimately what should matter most, Obvious statement should be obvious
December 3rd, 2024 at 3:40 pm
He’s my NFL rookie of the year and Bucs 2024 MVP
December 3rd, 2024 at 4:31 pm
And the fans chant his name at home games…
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:02 pm
He runs well behind his blockers. He must be very hard for the defense to find him behind our big Oline. I think that’s why he has more success between the tackles then White. You don’t know what crack he’s slipping through. White is a big man who runs upright. He’s easy to see where he’s at, and going. Two different backs.
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:41 pm
Good point @Hodad
Coens diverse run schemes have helped our backs a lot and I think Bucky takes coaching well.
Definitely be hard to find him running up the middle.
Dudes so humble and team 1st too. Great draft pick 👍🏼
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:53 pm
@Buc1987 don’t forget road games…he’s so good they chant on the road too.
December 3rd, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Bucs claimed Merriweather off the Lions practice squad…. That doesn’t look good for Edwards playing Sunday… Also could mean Tykee will be out too again. Guess we’ll find out more tomorrow.
December 3rd, 2024 at 6:50 pm
Only thing holding him back is Todd Bowles. Just a couple weeks ago he said he was a situational back. How does it take 12 games of evidence to see what everyone knew in training camp
December 3rd, 2024 at 7:14 pm
A lot of you seem to be forgetting he’s injured.
They can’t give him 25 touches a game, he’s on a pitch count.
December 3rd, 2024 at 7:32 pm
@Hodad great point I was actually thinking about this earlier when watching highlights of both players. White is taller and runs upright whereas Bucky gets low and hides behind linemen.
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:21 pm
He is a treat we have been waiting for. Lov the way he plays and I hope they keep working him in with white. They are turning into a great combo. I worry about using him to much and him getting more injured. Our offense line is doing so great and him and white are learning to run behind it. Exciting.. rod eat some mushrooms and cheer up. Save your bitching for todd .
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:12 pm
bucky has the first defender constantly seeing a ghost…
as he jukes them into the amityville house of horrors…
bucky is a freakin’ nightmare
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Bucs signed Ryan Neal to their practice squad today…. I can’t. Stick a fork in the defensive.
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:47 pm
Defense*
December 3rd, 2024 at 9:52 pm
Mission and priority 1. Contribute and become a professional football player. Done. Now he’s playing like a pro bowler and I don’t say that lightly. That Pony package is lethal. Please feed Bucky more and more and more. Great pick.
December 4th, 2024 at 4:27 am
Good assessment by Cam. Yes, Bucky’s shiftiness is remarkable.
Mike has been my favorite since his days at A&M with JM. And here comes Bucky too. He is something else in humility and energy. I was worried about him toward the end of the game though and then saw and read he had a hip problem. Hope we hear more about how he is doing.
December 4th, 2024 at 9:39 am
Bucky and White are a natural complementary pair. Now, we’re finding out Bucky has decent hands. Once he heals (this walking-wounded-every-week is getting old), Coen needs to get really creative and start scheming more using this pair. And throw in a few QB bootleg options, Coen.