Bucky Irving Makes Defenders Miss
November 25th, 2024
Among league’s best.
One reason the Bucs drafted Bucky Irving from Oregon in the fourth round was his ability to make defenders swing and miss.
He’s doing that in the NFL.
Yesterday, Irving was a force. He had a career day of his short NFL life with 151 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown. Nice day at the offense.
But the crowd at NextGen Stats raved about Irving’s ability to force missed tackles. He forced six on his 18 touches against the Giants and he now has 55 for the season.
That’s seventh-most in the NFL. And Irving isn’t even a starter!
This is Joe’s biggest gripe with Rachaad White as a runner, specifically between the tackles, if he doesn’t bulldoze someone, he’s a dead duck. The guy can’t make a mailbox miss (he’s a completely different guy in the passing game — it’s so strange).
Since the Bucs have painted themselves into a corner as far as reaching the playoffs, each remaining game is just about a must-win. So why not have your best players on the field more?
Irving needs to be running the ball, not White. Even a dude walking around with a white cane can see this.
https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1860797415340810716
November 25th, 2024 at 7:35 am
I wish some people would pick a lane. I see people upset that we apparently “turtled” in the 2nd half. But at the same time yell “give Bucky the ball!”.
In case anyone didn’t watch the game, the first time the Bucs had the ball in the 3rd quarter they drove 90’ish yards for a TD with 3:45 left in the game. Todd has his faults, but if you think we should still slinging it up 30 with 18 minutes to play you just don’t know ball.
November 25th, 2024 at 7:37 am
Coen needs to do more two-back calls with White and Irving. Coen also needs to keep getting more creative cos it sounds like Irving may have decent hands. White is lethal as a receiver. That’s a big reason why he’s still here. He also blocks and doesn’t fumble much. I really like Coen spreading all the throws around. Keep at it, Liam. Go get ’em, Tampa Bay!!
November 25th, 2024 at 7:38 am
Todd Bowles is the head coach that’s why the best player is a back up. It’s cool to hear Bucky chants in an away stadium. Irving has over 200 yards more in rushing as a backup and almost as many receiving yards. It’s hilarious to say he’s situational for any reason especially a toe injury he’s always had
November 25th, 2024 at 8:03 am
Again nobody wants to give Baker credit. Baker made Canales and Cohen look good not the other way around. Next year Baker will get Joe Schmoe a HC job.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:03 am
Put White in the slot.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:06 am
Such a great game.
It’ll be interesting to see the game script going forward. Tucker still averages over 6 YPC on the season. I’d like to see him get a bigger piece of the rushing pie.
Maybe instead of 12/12/4 in carries for Irving/White/Tucker, something like 14/6/8 with White getting 4-5 targets in the pass game every week.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Coen’s death by running backs approach is working. Stick with it. Max out Bucky’s reps and watch his production plummet. All three backs are good and each does something better than the other. I know it’s unorthodox, but I say lean into it. Coen is clearly starting to find his grove. Our screen game is the best it’s ever been. Avoid the trap of riding Bucky too hard. That small, rookie body won’t make it to the playoffs with much juice left otherwise.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:29 am
Bucky is killing it right now, love that we landed another solid pick. I think the Bucs may be on to something here. Tucker isn’t getting the ball much but that should mean his legs are fresher as we get later in the season. Maybe this is all part of some workload management plan.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:33 am
“Irving needs to be running the ball, not White.”
Spot on, Joe.
November 25th, 2024 at 8:58 am
Change of direction. Elusiveness. Ankle breaker.
He’s proving he can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Bucky is RB 1.
I do notice the Bucs were running a few 21 formations.
November 25th, 2024 at 9:11 am
White up the middle calls is so damn maddening!! The fans see it, why don’t the coaches?! Go rocket backfield and give the defense fits!! STOP the White into a brick wall play calls!!!!
November 25th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Bucky looked great in the “Chris Godwin” screen role on offense. Bucky shouldn’t leave the field, even if White is in. One or the other needs to go to the slot and be motioned around. Jet sweeps, shovel passes, RPOs, any of that stuff. Heavy TE/RB sets with Evans, Otton, Durham, Irving, and White on the field, especially once Wirfs is back on the field.
November 25th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Rachaad White and Bucky Irving are exact same type player, scat backs. Bucky is more elusive, but he’s smaller. Too small really to be an every down back. They put a bunch of weight on Rachaad to try and make him an every down back, now he’s not as elusive. So Rachaad is clumsy and Bucky is tiny. It’s an akward situation. I would make Tucker RB 1, use Rachaad as a bulldozer and Bucky as the change up, the explosive big-play maker, always fresh and healthy.
November 25th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Spread out the snaps between the three backs to even the workload. Buck and Tuck need to work on ball security this week.
November 25th, 2024 at 10:40 am
@Cory no disrespect but White and Irving are nothing alike.
Irving is a difference maker when the ball is in his hands and it doesn’t matter if he’s running or catching. White on the other hand is a huge weapon in the passing game but is a liability in the running game.
November 25th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Man this organization deserves alot of credit. An OLine with Hainsey and Skule for depth and 3 running backs of this caliber. A QB they placed faith in when others wouldn’t. If our defense happens to get the average points against down closer to 20 ppg that swagger will return. Most of us don’t even realize what we’re watching unfold. Why don’t we just follow our teams lead and take it one game at a time. Enjoy each and every one of them. This team hangs together like family. And we all know it has nothing to do with how you start- it’s all about how you finish. See Philly 2023. Oh, I love Bucky and Rachaad – but Coen and Baker know what Tucker has and we’re all gonna know in the not too distant future.
November 25th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Count Bowles as a dude with a white cane. It continues to boggle my mind how slow we are to get young guys in the line up
November 25th, 2024 at 11:25 am
What a great thing to be complaining about. We’ve got three really good RBs with different styles and a play caller who knows how to use them. I think Coen is doing a fantastic job. Defenses still seem to be guessing what’s coming, and rotating the backs is definitely playing a key roll in that.
Since Godwin went down, Coen has been very creative and has gotten the most out of this group. We HAVE TO find a way to keep him around for a legit Super Bowl run.
November 25th, 2024 at 11:37 am
White’s moves aren’t fast twitch moves. He can set guys up in the open field, isn’t twitchy enough to escape a clogged line of scrimmage.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Some of y’all mesmerized by Buckys short arm and legs – lol.
I like Bucky!
He’s great but he’s our 3rd fastest back.
Keep using Bucky ! Keep using RW !
Y’all keep praising Coen …… Let him decide how to use the backs….. So far so good