Bucky Irving No. 10
January 17th, 2025
Recognition.
Joe doesn’t think it is crazy to suggest that if not for Bucky Irving, the Bucs wouldn’t have made the playoffs.
Thanks to a couple of galling road losses, specifically the choke job in Atlanta where soon-to-be-benched Kirk Cousins charbroiled the rotten Bucs pass defense for an obscene 500 yards, the Bucs had painted themselves into a corner.
The Bucs pretty much had to run the table after the bye to make the playoffs or get help. After falling to the modern-day Jim Kelly, Cooper Rush in Dallas, the Bucs needed help. And they got it from of all teams, the Commandos, who returned the favor last Sunday night in The Licht House.
Along the way in the desperate stretch of Bucs wins, rookie running back Irving at times put the Bucs offense on his back. It was awesome to see.
Very few times has Joe seen a Bucs running back weave his way through defenses the way Bucky had.
Bucky was so good that former NFL running back and current NFL Network talking head Maurice Jones-Drew ranked Bucky as his No. 10 running back in the league. He gave Bucky credit for helping the Bucs get to the postseason.
Irving has been an exceptional playmaker for Liam Coen’s offense, one who got better and better as the season progressed. In fact, Irving had the third-most scrimmage yards (834) in the league in Weeks 12-18, behind only Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs. He’s a huge reason why the Bucs made a late-season push to earn their fifth straight playoff appearance. This rookie’s future is bright.
If a running back is putting up Barkley numbers, that is incredible. Way to go Bucky!
If the Bucs get Chris Godwin back in free agency — the free agency dinner bell rings in less than two months — what do the Bucs draft on offense? Anyone? If Godwin comes back, there are no holes on offense.
If the Bucs draft nothing but defensive players, Joe won’t lose any sleep over it.
January 17th, 2025 at 12:16 am
tyreke keeps posting about the bucs
January 17th, 2025 at 1:02 am
We absolutely need a pass rusher in FA! Then do what you do licht
January 17th, 2025 at 1:47 am
I can’t wait for all the idiots who complained about the Muscle Hamster lacking ‘long speed’ to show up next season and explain to us why Bucky really isn’t a good RB.
January 17th, 2025 at 1:52 am
Pryda30 Says:
January 17th, 2025 at 1:02 am
We absolutely need a pass rusher in FA! Then do what you do licht
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If your pass rushers are just dropping into coverage, they don’t do you much good. Also the Bucs got Yaya, who is legit, and we still don’t know about the Bama kid from last year as pass rushers generally take a year or two to develop. People writing him off already are ridiculous. Also your edge rushers don’t do you any good when you got complete trash at ILB if David retires.
Bucs need speed at ILB first and foremost, if they don’t get that, teams will just continue to work over the middle of the field, and it will be 10000x worse if Lavonte isn’t there.
January 17th, 2025 at 4:19 am
Bucky earned the no. 1 spot in the RB room.
Looking forward to seeing what he does next year, after a full season and offseason under his belt.
But, me thinks we need to everything we can to keep Rachaad and Sean in the room and on the field.
Give them both a few more snaps every game to keep them interested in staying here, and reduce the wear and tear on Bucky.
GO Bucky Go!!
RUN Bucky RUN!!
SCORE Bucky SCORE!!
January 17th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Fully agree about Bucky. He was a major factor this season in getting us to the playoffs. The sports media were so busy talking about Cousins and so many others to only watch Bucky become one of the best draft picks this season in the league.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Bucky was my favorite running back in college last season at Oregon. He showed great vision and anticipation along with decisive sharp cuts which immediately reminded most of Shaquan Barkley and for me his running style & confidence is also reminiscent of the late great Walter Payton.
Bucs hit a home run with this guy true competitor and scrappy warrior to help lead this potent offense for years to come.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:49 am
Bucky was my favorite running back in college last season at Oregon. He showed great vision and anticipation along with decisive sharp cuts which immediately reminded most of Shaquan Barkley and for me his running style, exceptional vision, sharp cutting ability & confidence is also reminiscent of the late great Walter Payton.
Bucs hit a home run with this true competitor and warrior to help lead this potent offense for years to come.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Will we have any LESS tied-up cap money in ’25 vs ’24? I recall that Shaq and Godwin comprise most of it
January 17th, 2025 at 7:11 am
We need a balance between someone or two who can get to the quarterback. Then, we need someone to complement McCullom. Jamel Dean can’t keep up with recievers anymore. They fly right by him all the time. Free agency or the draft.
January 17th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Couldn’t agree more. DE, ILB, CB and throw in one of Licht’s small school O-linemen for depth in Round 7.
January 17th, 2025 at 9:44 am
@Joe: If the Bucs get Chris Godwin back in free agency — the free agency dinner bell rings in less than two months — what do the Bucs draft on offense? Anyone?
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Possibly a QB to replace Trask should he leave.
My preference though is to pick up a back-up QB via free agency. That way we can get someone with some NFL experience.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:29 am
While I’d lean towards improving the D, there is merit to the idea of strengthening a strength. Another top flight WR and Evans can’t be double teamed for a half. A RB that can dominate short yardage situations would have helped against Wash and SF.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:30 am
All defense huh, ok Joe I’m down with that. The defense looks like swiss cheese and other than everyone being on the same page a little more the offense is pretty good. Coen!! We need him to stay somehow. Think there was to much to overcome at times with a lot of guys hurt. Go Bucs!!!!
January 17th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Don’t get me wrong. I think Bucky is great and going to get better with age. But I also think that White would have had an exceptional year had he stayed the full time #1 back. The credit for the vastly improved running game goes to the improved offensive line.
January 17th, 2025 at 11:35 am
Bucky is fantastic!
BUT- it’s not a coincidence that we stopped using Rachaad over the last 4 games, and 3 of those games had 3 of our 5 lowest scoring totals the entire season…
But at least the fans got what they were asking for?
January 17th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Yeah, I was really expecting RWhite to be ‘heavily’ involved in the passing game going into the Washington game & had him as our X-factor/secret weapon… Had him in EVERY one of my DFS Lineups on DraftKings ($5000) at that cost, & I RARELY EVER do that. I’ll usually, at least ‘hedge’ a bit in maybe 3 or 4 different lineups, but yep, went ‘all-in’ on him at $5000 in 20 outta 20 total lineups. I was disappointed and very complexed… I was really hoping for looks his way on the jet weep/fumble drive. Felt-like that was THE perfect timing and opportunity there to FINALLY, get him goin.
January 17th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
As others have pointed out…. The single hero crowd called for more Bucky and less Rachaad and got it. It hurt our run game and overall offense but run bucky run.
Love Bucky but the O-line and Carberry deserve major props for the run game and Bucky’s success too.
January 17th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
He avoided the rookie wall at week 12/13 by not starting earlier in the season. If that’s what they meant to do, good move, if not, still…
January 17th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
We already have Pratt on qb contract
January 17th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I think the D played good the last few weeks of the season
January 17th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Do results mean anything here?
Bucky had the results as well as an amazing ability that rivals Barry Sanders. Too soon for a “serious comparision” because of Sanders amazing career including a 2000 yard season and just missing another. My point is that Bucky is a “special” player!
“We absolutely need a pass rusher in FA!”
Really? That’s a priority when the D is totally lacking ILB’s,unless LVD returns but that’s just one and the Bucs need three more, another starter and at least a couple mediocre backups. The defensive backfield is another major project.
Zyon has developed…great…Winfield hopefully can get healthy..great..but after that…Dean lacks that basic ability (availability) the others are young.
One great cover corner and one great ILB to take DW45’s place…the DW45 who played in the SB not the ego who messed up his career.
Then more depth for the D!!! The O is set with the possible exception of QB depth. If they resign Trask fine but who knows if Trask is willing to settle for little playing time or if he wants’ his own team which believes in him as a starter.