Against Bucky Irving’s Religion To Be Brought Down By First Tackler
April 27th, 2024
Bucs’ new fourth-round pick running back Bucky Irving.
The Bucs really do try to impress college football visitors.
Earlier this year when Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil visited One Buc Palace, he later said the Bucs made him feel like family.
Joe asked Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht about this at his pre-draft presser, and Licht said the Bucs want to make every visiting college player feel great when he leaves.
They made a helluva impression on Bucky Irving.
The Bucs selected the multi-talented Irving in the fourth round today. And it just so happened that Irving’s last official 30-visit was with the Bucs.
They clicked.
“I love the people,” Irving said via Zoom this afternoon at One Buc Palace about his visit with the Bucs. “I love the running backs coach [Skip Peete]. I love the GM, head coach.
“I felt the energy in the building. It was great. When I left, I was calling my close friends, my running backs coach Coach Lott [current Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn], ‘I felt the energy in there. It was there.'”
Irving is really good at making defenders miss, which for Joe is a complete breath of fresh air. Irving said it is in his DNA and core belief that defenders must not touch him.
“In my religion, I won’t let the first guy bring me down,” Irving said. “That’s just the mindset I have with the ball in my hand.
“I’m also trying to always make the crowd go crazy so I am trying to always make somebody miss when I have the ball in my hands.”
Irving, 5-9, 192, knows he doesn’t have ideal size for a major college or NFL running back. So he said he often studies smaller running backs who made their marks in the NFL. One is former Bucs running back Warrick Dunn.
When asked about Dunn, Irving broke out into a smile.
“Yeah, I’ve watched his game a lot,” Irving said. “I told ya, I’m up on all the small backs. They motivate me a whole lot.
“Warrick Dunn was like 175. I probably have him beat on the size.”
Joe is absolutely stoked to learn how serious Irving takes making defenders miss and breaking tackles. That is going to be so welcome in the Bucs’ running game.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Bucs have had a sneaky good draft so far and are flying under the radar.
Coen must have pounded the table to add a RB like Irving that can make people miss in space.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:48 pm
I was hoping he can be similar to Dunn. Let’s cross our fingers!
LFG!!!!!
April 27th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
The Dunn comparison may be a big point. Nice story.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Irving is decisive and compact. Having a center of gravity that low is a benefit if you have the frame he has.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Hope he doesn’t run to the sideline immediately.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:53 pm
Irving is decisive and compact. Having a center of gravity that low is a plus when you have the frame he has…
April 27th, 2024 at 2:54 pm
This guy can tap dance inside of a phone booth…
Amazing elusiveness and quickness.
I love this pick.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Can someone tell me if Trotter Jr has been drafted by any team yet ?
April 27th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Trotter Jr to Eagles
April 27th, 2024 at 3:02 pm
@ProudBucsFan… he just went #155 to the Eagles. Eagles really fortifying the 2nd and 3rd level of their D in this draft. Unless Sirianni has completely lost that room I think the Eagles will be the top of the NFC East again. That’s not saying much as the Giants aren’t close and Dallas is prolly going backwards. Washington has had a great draft, could be the Eagles biggest challenge in that division if Daniels is worth his draft status.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Eagles just took Trotter jr. …
April 27th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
I guess there going LB next year’s draft
April 27th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Little Bucky Irving likes to use his Stiff Arm to get extra yardage. Like that!! We must believe Tucker is ready to go
April 27th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Watching his highlights — and only based off that, not having read any scouting reports so far, my first thoughts are…
– Very shifty, has great agility
– Great balance
– Very good feet, can break out of shoestring tackles that trip up people
– Very good vision
– Seems to catch the ball well
Downside
– I didn’t see anything with him blocking, and he looks small
– While he is quick, he does not look very fast, so he’ll get chased down in the NFL
Overall that is a profile that tends to do pretty well in the NFL. I see people comparing him to Dunn above – I didn’t see that, instead he reminds me a lot more of Doug Martin, just without the power. I can’t wait for this kid to break a 70 yard run only to have the morons here complain that he got ‘chased down from behind’ like they’d do with Martin all the time.
Anyways, I think you can find RB’s pretty much anywhere and it’s a waste to spend a draft pick on one because of that, certainly when you desperately need ILB help (have you looked at the depth chart, it’s scary bad past David). But, he seems like a guy who can play in a rotation with White and they both give you something different.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
A solid draft so far, I don’t think any of the picks would be what I’d consider to be a boom or bust guy, these are all fairly safe picks in my opinion, all of them seem like guys that can play early, if not start early.
For a team where you’re still trying to win now – I think it’s been a very good haul.
The last two picks – I’d guess a LB and TE, but we’ll see, they’ll be a 6th and 7th, so I wouldn’t expect much.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Tucker from another mother
April 27th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
He breaks lots of tackles and makes more miss. He’s also a dual threat. Great pick!
April 27th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
For people who say he’s too small, remember that Barry Sanders was 5’8, 200. Elusiveness is a trait that’s hard to teach. Having as many broken tackles as Bucky did says something about him.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
He does win the award for pick with the best highlights. Was watching a few different highlights on YouTube and the dude is fun to watch. If he does a bit of this for the Bucs, he will become a fan favorite pretty quickly. He looks to have been a decent part of that Oregon offense.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
The small guys that do excel, usually have tree trunk thighs.
Barry Sanders, Tyreek Hill.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
The Bucs return game just got dangerous. Great pick to fill a big need.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Odd that his NFL.com analysis says Bucky would rather run through a brick wall than around it and it also says he is nowhere near NFL ready to pass protect.
As far as comparing him to Warrick Dunn , that is like comparing a Yugo to a Ferrari- Dunn was explosively fast at 4.28 in the 40-Bucky is 4.55. Not sold on this one at all.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Tip !
Study WD’s pass protection, it’s not simply size it’s 100% timing and technique
April 27th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
BucsFan – his long speed doesn’t look great, but he’s very explosive, very agile, has good vision, etc. Long speed at RB doesn’t normally mean all that much unless they’re unusually slow, and he’s not. Rarely do you ever get break away chances, and if he does, he’s going to be like Doug Martin and get you a 50 yard run, then everyone can complain that it wasn’t a 60 yard run.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Warricks size, but not his speed.
3rd or 4th string back
April 27th, 2024 at 3:53 pm
NFL.com described it as a concerning lack of explosiveness
April 27th, 2024 at 3:59 pm
I wanted a RB, just not that RB
April 27th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
@BucsFan – that’s because it’s true. He appears explosive because he’s playing in the crazy fast and spread out Oregon offense with large holes and a ton of space to use his good shiftiness.. but bottom line is extremely undersized and not even fast. This pick is a waste unless you value a back up to our 3rd down back(Edmonds). Taking him over Ray Davis was a shame.
April 27th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
We must be bringing Derrick Brooks & Shelton Quarles back because we haven’t drafted any LBs.
April 27th, 2024 at 4:30 pm
This pick is one to wait and see on. I trust Licht and his staff so I will keep an open mind. Still waiting on any news on Sean Tucker.
April 27th, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Pepsi- If his college coach was ok with passing over Davis for this kid then ya gotta go with the brain trust. Coen knows a lot more about David than anybody on this site. Relax. There are reasons for everything. Well—except Bowels hoarding timeouts like they are gift certificates to Bern Steakhouse! Trust in Licht and the coaches my man.
April 27th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
Buckey’s gonna be breaking ankles this fall.
April 27th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Well here is one that I feel I can comment on with some confidence. I saw a lot of Bucky Irvine in the past two years. He is quick. He bounces off tacklers ALL THE TIME. He certainly isn’t a bruiser but he still can get that must needed 1-2 yards. He is elusive but will challenge a tackler who often can’t get him down. I predict he will play in 2024 which I can’t say about all the picks. Never saw him on kick returns because the Ducks were loaded. He should be OK there also.
April 27th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Was hoping for Cade Stover Ohio State tight end. Also wooul have liked Zak Zinter G, Michigan. Might be able to come up with some big bodies for O line in last few rounds. There is enough O line talent in this draft that Licht might be able to pick up some undrafted G help?
April 27th, 2024 at 5:15 pm
This kind is going to push Rashad White for playing time. I’d love to see plays with both Bucky and RW in the back field.
April 27th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Joe,
Jordan Somerville from Oregon is the Bucs assistent QB coach…..I suspect his input had a great deal to do with the pick.
April 27th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
I believe all of the accolades being thrown Bucky’s way. I can’t wait to see him bouncing off would be tacklers, breaking ankles in space, and dancing his way for break out runs. I just would like that impose your will 3rd and 1 guy who moves a pile, provides a devastating lead block, and keeps D’s earnest to the run as White screens out. With that said, I’m excited to see how Coen uses Bucky, Jalen, White, and Godwin when, or if, these guys are all on the field together. Intriguing
April 27th, 2024 at 7:09 pm
I like him. It was noticeable in the highlights how much open space he had to work with. Hopefully it translates without as much space. It’s interesting to me we didn’t get a pounder. A guy that wears down a defense by running over you. Would’ve taken estime, but it’s true what we don’t know is their personalities, which the Bucs pay close attention to.
April 27th, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Everyone seems to forget that there’s still a hundred or 2 UDFA that are free to sign with anyone. I’m sure JL is all over that right now , as there was quite a few good players who went undrafted. Now we can find some gems
April 27th, 2024 at 8:23 pm
Bucs had a very solid draft. I really liked the Georgia Safety that the Bucs will turn into a CB . He’s a steal. I would have liked to see a LB or true LG , but that’s why I’m just a fan. I don’t get paid millions to make those difficult choices. If anyone on this site, including Joe, made all the picks for our Bucs, it would have been the worst draft in the history of the NFL. Excluding the Raiders drafting JaMarcus Russell with the 1st pick all those years ago. Worst pick of all time. Go Bucs
April 28th, 2024 at 9:17 am
dunn had the A train
we need a big guy like Mike
April 28th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Dunn is exactly who I thought of when I saw his reel. Didn’t realize Dunn was smaller. Would’ve chose Davis but he’s a Buc now support him till I can’t
April 28th, 2024 at 10:31 am
You guys should have been around in the 1980s and early 1990s. Stinko drafts, teams, etc. This sounds like a decent draft. That one pick can play LB as well as edge rush. LVD and the coaches are on the same page re: retirement. Now, it’s UDFA time, and Lights-Out Licht is ready. 🙂