Run Game Sneaky Good
September 8th, 2024
Bucky Irving ran for 6.9 yards a carry Sunday.
Joe didn’t think the run game was all that special today. It certainly didn’t live up to the hype fans heard and read about coming from One Buc Palace over the summer.
(Overheard in the press box early in the third quarter: “Guess you can’t blame Robert Hainsey any longer.”)
Oh sure, the Bucs had some good runs. Especially late when Bucky Irving looked like he was the Bucs’ version of Mariano Rivera. But overall, the run game didn’t seem light-years better than the last two years. If fact, the Bucs averaged 3.7 yards per carry, which sure sounds familiar.
But Joe looked at “The Book,” the NFL official box score of the game. The Bucs ran for 112 yards. A big reason for that was Irving who punished the zapped Commandos defense late. Irving ran for 6.9 yards a carry!
It sure seems like Irving might be that guy.
But the question Joe has about the run game is this: Is Irving the new closer?
“I don’t know, it looks like it,” Cody Mauch said flashing that toothless smile of his. “He played pretty well today. We’ll see.”
Joe seemed to think the Bucs saw something on film from the Commandos. Early on the Bucs were both passing and running to the right. The Bucs really didn’t resume running right much until late and the Bucs finally broke through.
Mauch said the gameplan wasn’t to go after Washington to the right. Instead, he likened it to a boxing match where a boxer is searching for a soft spot early.
“I wouldn’t say there was anything specific,” Mauch said of going to the right. “It was kind of, I guess, just the way the ball was [placed]. Definitely were testing them [to the right]. It’s how games play out. You see how things go.”
How things went on the ground for White wasn’t a whole lot different the past two years. He had just 31 yards on 15 carries. How it went for Irving on the ground in the second half was pretty awesome.
At least after one game, it feels like Buckyball is on the way.
September 8th, 2024 at 8:51 pm
Irving looks really good.
We have two (primary) backs, both valuable. Let’s use ‘em
September 8th, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Rachaad had 5 runs for negative yardage and 1 run for no gain.
Bucky had two.
That’s 8 negative run plays out of 24 carries for the RB’s. That means 1 and 3 runs went BACKWARDS. Not great, but it was still overall much better than what we are used too.
Hopefully they can clean it up. The Bucs will need to rely on their offense with all of the injuries to the defense.
September 8th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Bucky is HIM
September 8th, 2024 at 8:59 pm
A few times we were stopped at the handoff….8yards forward…4 yards back…White 75 yards in the air…12.5 per catch…..unreal
September 8th, 2024 at 8:59 pm
White is still dancing and not hitting the hole hard.
September 8th, 2024 at 9:03 pm
I actually thought that White ran hard today. That is a tough defensive front and he made the best he could. There weren’t a lot of holes.
Bucky is something else because he has this short quick acceleration so even if hole is very small, he can get through it and get chunk yards that White can’t.
Think they make a great tandem
September 8th, 2024 at 9:10 pm
Hopefully we start seeing some two back formations. Teams won’t know if we are running or passing with both Bucky and White back there.
September 8th, 2024 at 9:12 pm
Hot Rod…head reporter/writer at Teen People…would like a word!
September 8th, 2024 at 9:22 pm
I saw White smothered in the backfield three times, Bucky once. As in, someone (s) missed their blocks
September 8th, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Bucky is not him not until he stops getting run over like a kid when pass blocking. That is the reason he can’t take white’s job yet
September 8th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
My only fear is can Bucky hold uo over a 17+ game schedule. Bring him along slowly. Let him get majority of 2nd half carries like they did today. Use white early and finish teams with Bucky
September 8th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
We all know White dances at the LOS. That’s why he gets so many TFLs.
Bucky attacks the hole – fewer TFLs. He reminds me of Charlie Garner.
September 8th, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Beeej Says:
September 8th, 2024 at 9:22 pm
I saw White smothered in the backfield three times, Bucky once. As in, someone (s) missed their blocks.
I saw differently but have no interest and rewatching it to see who is more correct. I saw Washington run blitzing in that 4th quarter. We did not pick all of them up, but we made them pay enough for their blitz approach.
September 8th, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Eh, White had a few big runs too.
The main problem once again is guys getting blown up in the backfield. Happened to White and to Irving.
Leaky o-line is leaky.
September 8th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Watch the game tape. Some of rachaad’s tackles in the backfield I think was more on the play calling, cough cough, looked a bit canales imo. Bucky was a breath of fresh air in the 4th quarter, all I heard in the stands was BUCKY BUCKY BUCKY
September 8th, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Again, I don’t think it was the play calling. My gosh, we tried to run wide, and off tackle and zone sweeps. Washington called some run blitz’. Washington also got burned a few times.
Sure, we got caught in the backfield but that last Touchdown drive was over 7 minutes. We got the ball with 11 minutes and 7 seconds, and we scored with less than 4 minutes remaining. Really, you think the play calling was bad on a drive that took over 7 minutes and we got a TD?
I guess every play is supposed to work and the other team defense never has anything to say…
September 8th, 2024 at 9:58 pm
Running game is more important late than early.
September 8th, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Irving is so shifty and dangerous looking when he gets the ball. Great start.
September 8th, 2024 at 10:23 pm
112 yards rushing is way better than our average for the past 2 years. Irving needs to be the primary back though. Bring in White on 3rd downs. He has already proven at this stage of his career that he isn’t a running back
September 8th, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Wow 4 -t.d.’s scored just about Everytime we had the ball. Looked pretty damn good to me .now just the defence is going to have a tough time with injuries ,tackling has to get better .
September 8th, 2024 at 10:34 pm
White & Bucky like a great 1-2 punch.
The O line did great past protecting and was decent run blocking. They definitely had some mistakes though. There were several runs blown up in the backfield for 1-3 yard losses. That should get better as they gel.
September 8th, 2024 at 10:44 pm
i’d leave things alone. let the veteran start, keep everyone happy. bucky and everyone else knows he’ll be the bellcow eventuallhy
September 8th, 2024 at 11:48 pm
It seemed like when White was getting the ball in the 2nd half, defense run blitzed a ton and o-line was missing blocks.
The minute that White touched the ball, there was an immediate defender there.
Also noticed White seems to run better when Baker is under center, not in shotgun….
A ton of Bucky’s big runs came from Baker under center as well….Wspecially that draw/delayed handoff in the 4th when he ran right by the blitzers…
I thought White ran hard, but those blown up runs in the backfield really tarnished his run stats…
I think they’re a great 1/2 punch…
Similar to Detroit’s Montgomery/Gibbs duo…
September 9th, 2024 at 2:32 am
I’d like to see Bucs sign a skilled veteran CB on the outside opposite of Jamel Dean, but that’s just my opinion.
Patrick Peterson , or Xavier Howard as our 2nd guy could be in play. I’d keep an eye out. It would be one of those moves that makes or breaks us from being average to above average and contending.
I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a one year deal to some DL/OL to beef up our team at the LOS. Run game needs some work , so the front 7 needs help, then we also could use more stable pass blockers.
Granted they did hold their own, vs a solid front 7 led defense but we may not beat many good playoff teams with similar skill sets. Have to have that same energy and set the tone on game days. In about 4 weeks it could be too late to make a decision and we could just get stuck with what we have.
Have to keep an eye out and look for deals and opportunities.
September 9th, 2024 at 6:28 am
The line looked good at times and bad at times. Although I didn’t only focus on the line I saw big misses by Barton, Cody and even Wirf. If they had a good or great game both White and Irving will look like superstars! It did seem like running to the right was much better. Most of the pressure seemed to com up the middle also…
September 9th, 2024 at 6:38 am
As soon as Bucky starts reading blitzes its going 50/50 with White
September 9th, 2024 at 9:05 am
Damn! White=2.1 YPC
Might have to apologize to Joe… Damn!
Go Bucs!
September 9th, 2024 at 9:24 am
I am still not seeing our backs break tackles, I know Bucky is capable, he made a living on that at Oregon. The runs that were good were due to really good blocking and White continues to look for contact once getting through the hole
September 9th, 2024 at 10:22 am
I looked at this game like a 4th preseason game. First string had to shake off rust. DC may not be on the same level as Detroit, yet, but that rookie QB of their is quick, smart and he has a strong arm. They’ve got good players in that team. So do we and we won. Lions will be a rough one. Go Bucs!
September 9th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Bucky has elite lateral movement and balance. Plus you can’t see him until it is too late. White on the other hand is an elite receiver out of the back field. Nice combination to have.