Where Was Bucky?
December 24th, 2024
Vanished in final 10 minutes.
Joe loves listening to former Michigan State, LSU and Alabama coach Nick Saban. Every time Joe hears him, Joe learns something about football.
Joe has heard the following story from Saban several times. It’s better to hear him detail it. But to summarize, Saban learned in high school the best strategy in crunch time is to get the ball in the hands of your best players.
So with the Bucs down 11 points Sunday night, and with Chris Godwin and Cade Otton unavailable, who would you say was the Bucs’ best skill position player on offense aside from Mike Evans?
Most people would say running back Bucky Irving. Joe would agree.
So where was Irving late in the game?
Per the NFL Official Gamebook of the Bucs-Cowboys game, the last time Irving touched the ball came with 10:01 left and the Bucs trailing 26-17. Irving ran out of a shotgun for no gain.
So outside of Evans, the Bucs’ best weapon never got his paws on a football for the final 10 minutes. That’s borderline malpractice.
Yesterday in his day-after presser, Bucs coach Todd Bowles noted Rachaad White is the Bucs’ two-minute back (yet it was the full final 10 minutes that Irving never saw the ball).
Bowles also noted one reason White was on the field was for his blocking, which Joe gets.
Yes, Joe knows the Bucs rallied and had a chance to win the game when White fumbled. This battle plan seemed to be a repeat of the loss to the 49ers.
When the Bucs drove to try to win the 49ers game late against San Francisco, the Bucs had to settle for a field goal on that drive to tie the game.
The only time Irving touched the ball on the Bucs’ final drive against San Francisco was the second play of the drive when he recovered a Baker Mayfield fumble. On first- and second-down and goal, White tried to punch it in twice from the eight but collectively didn’t gain a yard.
Given how the Bucs are now 2-5 in one-score games this year, maybe it’s time to rethink who should be getting the ball in crunch time?
If the Bucs somehow backdoor their way into the playoffs, it’s a safe bet they may be in a close game.
Joe’s pretty sure Irving would get the ball if he was playing for Saban.
December 24th, 2024 at 7:18 am
I can only hope that we have seen the last loss with Bowles!
December 24th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Imagine where our run game may be had we started Bucky day one.
December 24th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Please cut White. It seems to be the only way coaching malpractice will stop. We continue to be this little league team where everyone needs equal playing time when one guy is clearly a lot better.
Bucky should never leave the field except when he needs a breather. Hell does Wirfs come out of the game? Does trask get 15 snaps a game?
I can never recall emmitt smith being out of the game because it was third down or 2 min left, or we need his backup to get a couple of series as a change up
I’m so sick of this specialization BS that doesn’t work, breaks the flow of the offense. Unless Bucky just broke of a 60 yard run and needs oxygen he should be on the field
Stop putting this bum in the game and put the best player on the field period
December 24th, 2024 at 7:41 am
Speaking for the Dallas game alone I noticed in the first quarter they ran Bucky so many plays in a row he was hunched over in the huddles he was heavily breathing out of his mouth. they might have slap wore the rookie out. Between exhausting Bucky during the game and White’s ability to block it makes sense how they use white in the 2 minute. but when they have Tucker as well I don’t know why they don’t spell him during the game to give the other two guys more of a breather. For the love of it all I’m not saying put Tucker in at the end of the game he has fumble issues of his own definitely has blocking issues. But after you gain a couple first downs you’re on a good drive (2nd,3rdqrt) throw him in there for two or three plays without leaning on him
December 24th, 2024 at 7:45 am
So how is it that Coen is a genius when we win, but when he screws up in crunch time it’s Bowles fault. Why isn’t Coen’s staff teaching better ball security with our RB’s. Why isn’t Coen teaching Baker when to throw the ball away rather than take the sack or throw game killing Int’s. What is Coen doing to solve the 2nd quarter melt downs on offense. Right, since he reports to Bowles, it’s Todd’s fault.
December 24th, 2024 at 7:49 am
That’s right. We all know more than the coaches. We should just take a fan vote for every play.
The Bucs don’t even need a HC. Just let the fans and media direct everything.
Who knows why Bucky didn’t play? Bowles and Coen and some others. You think they are going to tell the truth on that? THAT would be coaching malpractice.
White blew it. So did Shepard and Russell. So did JTS, the invisible man. So did the OL who had penalties at bad moments.
So did the pine riders they played in the Defensive Backfield. They can’t cover a baked potato with aluminum foil.
This was a complete team loss.
Why? Bad Coaching. Lack of talent. Poor Motivation. Road Fatigue.
So what of it? Lose one of the last two and we may see some serious changes.
December 24th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Liam is responsible for this but shade never gets thrown his way. Why always Bowles fault?
December 24th, 2024 at 8:04 am
I agree it’s Coen’s fault. 3 fumbles and an INT. Don’t forget he allowed CeeDee to get 105 yards.
December 24th, 2024 at 8:05 am
Can’t win when you get outcoached on both sides of the ball by a lame duck.
December 24th, 2024 at 8:06 am
Also, Bucky had the ball in crunch time against the falcons and also fumbled it away… so which argument are we going with here?
December 24th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Buckys mannerisms are one of a guy who is severely in pain. I don’t think he’s got more than a couple touches in him per game. The coaches know this and adjust strategy.
This isn’t Madden folks, have any of you ever had a back injury that healed in weeks? Spoiler alert – they don’t heal that fast, they take months to heal
December 24th, 2024 at 8:19 am
I was wondering too
December 24th, 2024 at 8:30 am
If you’re in a constant throwing situation, Bucky has no advantage over White, AND White is a better blocker. One of Baker’s sacks came from an unblocked guy from the far left of the D line, Bucky picked another target to block
December 24th, 2024 at 8:49 am
BucVoyager Says:
I agree it’s Coen’s fault. 3 fumbles and an INT. Don’t forget he allowed CeeDee to get 105 yards.
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3 fumbles and an INT??
I didn’t even see Coen carry the ball a single time or throw any passes.
December 24th, 2024 at 8:58 am
Adjust or Dir Todd! And please get someone who knows what they are doing to manage time outs
December 24th, 2024 at 9:19 am
So you’re saying that it’s a coaching problem?
Many of us have been saying that since Bowles blew the final minutes of the Rams playoff game in 2021.
He needs to go on January 6
December 24th, 2024 at 9:20 am
It should’ve never came down to White’s fumble. We were outcoached, and out played across the board. Why does Bowles get the blame?, he’s the head guy that’s why. As H.C. coach he can say close the game with Bucky. He’s the one who called the timeout before the end of the half saving Dallas time on the clock. That’s why Todd gets the blame for the offensive side of the ball too. It’s Todd’s job to make sure his players, and coaches are ready to go, last Sunday they weren’t. That’s on Todd.
December 24th, 2024 at 9:29 am
Wow, more and more stuff keeps getting piled on the Todd Bowles OOooppss list. And I still want to know how you beat or hold good teams to a few points but the bad teams are this much of a problem. Tech, fundamentals, release, I mean every week we have to deal with his excuses. If you are a headcoach at the end of the season, still talking about the same things holding the team back you have failed your team sir. Other than excuses what’s your job? To see to it that these issues are at least worked on and ended by this time of the season. And who’s supposed to see to it that Bowles ain’t screwing it all up??
December 24th, 2024 at 9:31 am
Oh Toddy Potty Toilet Bowles, can you just be good?
December 24th, 2024 at 9:41 am
The Bucs were overdue for a bad game it’s just that simple. That’s what happens to average teams that are on a winning streak. The only positive is if they can get on another run maybe they can do some damage. My guess is they were still exhausted from the Chargers game and had to get on a plane and travel again to Dallas. Jet lag, injuries, exhaustion, and bad luck all caught up to them. Let’s finish strong and see what happens in the end.
December 24th, 2024 at 9:55 am
Those were 2 tough road games but with 2 at home wins and a little good fortune our guys won’t have to leave the Tampa Bay Area at least through Jan 13 , so 2 home games left , a opening weekend home game or just golfing home that weekend the travel is done for now
December 24th, 2024 at 9:56 am
There is a fundamentally flawed leadership issue with game prep as this team traditionally plays down to its opponents. Both sides of the ball underperformed against a lesser opponent, again.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:04 am
If you are gonna be calling run plays at all, Bucky has to be in there in crunch time. It’s ludicrous. White is great but not between the tackles. It’s not like we have a bottom 10 OL and need to be relying on our RB stonewalling on blocks.
Top 5 line, mobile QB… I’m sure Irving can do the job well enough.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:23 am
White is a bigger back with more game experience and likely a better blocker. He’s still pretty lethal catching passes out of the backfield, and the Bucs were in obvious passing downs to try to get a quick TD and FG. I can find fault in plenty of other things the Bucs coaching staff did, but keeping White on the field in the situation they put themselves in made sense to me. The Cowboys pass rush was getting to Baker far too often, so perhaps the coaches were worried 195(ish) lb. Bucky (who’s playing injured) would get himself and/or Baker crushed trying to block the defenders making a jailbreak at the QB? Had it not been for the fluke fumble by White we might have been looking at a 1 point victory, first place in the South, and not second guessing the decision to not play Bucky in dilemma the Bucs put themselves in.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:49 am
Irving is a great pass catching back period! He has more moves and quickness than White so he should be on the field always in passing situations. Keep White in there at same time as he picks up blitzes and does block well but you can still throw it to Bucky on screens and check downs while White is there also.
White did exactly what Hubbard did vs Bucs. He didn’t secure the ball and Bland knocked it out. Great play by Bland.
Bucs have lost a lot of games where they had the ball to drive and win a game and havnt executed. That shows that they don’t have the poise to come from behind. That is on coaching not getting enough prep in with the players on assignments, alignments and most of all protecting the ball and on the quarterback to be taught to throw the ball away instead of taking sacks.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:49 am
Yea well I guess the real issue is you gave up 23 points to cooper Rush in the first half.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:49 am
We should have been running the 2 minute offense to begin the 4th quarter! Our offense couldn’t get into a rhythm and it would have put pressure on their defense. Why wait until the actual last 2 minutes to catch up? And yes, Bucky should have been out there.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Bowles doesn’t do enough to manage tight games. He looks on TV like he is watching instead of planning. It’s his responsibility to manage tight games and especially to have the coordination to settle down the players in tight games so they are focused on securing the ball. Whether it’s defensive players not making plays on the ball or drops. He doesn’t put his players in the right position nor does he game plan properly.
It was brought up that the Bucs are 0-6 this season in games where they don’t score first. That tells you that this team doesn’t adjust quickly enough to early scores by opponents. Cooper Rush was seriously on fire completing 9 of 10 and keep the Bucs offense off the field the first half.
A better game plan would to be tighten up coverage instead of giving up easy completions.
You have a very immobile quarterback like Cousins, you can’t let them get into a rhythm. Stopping the run is worthless if you give up 6-8 yards every possession on first down because no one is covering the short pass.
December 24th, 2024 at 11:22 am
This game is all ion the players letting the other team repeatedly take the ball right out of their hands like their dad.
December 24th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
2 more weeks.
December 24th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Coach Repus Bowls was saving Bucky for the playoffs!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
December 24th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
This isn’t difficult Joe.
Bucky can’t pass protect.
And he was getting stuffed for no gain / 1 yard repeatedly throughout the night.
December 24th, 2024 at 2:01 pm
WTF is Sean Tucker when we need him?
Our personell decisions in the heat of the moment are killing this team!!!
Play our best players!!!
December 24th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
I swear people can’t grasp how important blocking is to the game of football. Baker getting harassed by the Cowboys pass rush all game and it’s somehow a mystery to some individuals why they would keep their best pass pro back in the game.
Bucky isn’t good at pass pro yet and he’s playing hurt (back, hip, toe). That’s why he’s not out there as much as anyone would want.
December 24th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
This $hlt again?
We were playing from behind.
He was probably still banged up/hurting.
White is still our best recieving (and blocking) back.
The coaches (Coen specifically in this case) play the players that THEY think gives them the best chance to succeed. Not Joe’s, or his commenters favorite players. There’s no conspiracy or coaching malpractice going on just because you think you know better.
December 24th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Toilet Bowles not only is stupidas a coach he backs it up by talking. Sharing his hideous mentality and decision making
Hate to want Bucs to lose but we might need to Get Bowles outta here 7+ yrs as a head coach…not even .500% gotta go.
December 24th, 2024 at 6:29 pm
7 years. JETS and Bucs
December 24th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
So tired of Emo-Bowles. Licht must not be happy wirh this coach. Its time fir him to go get his guy nit Bruce’s guy. The line built by Lucht spits fire and fights they are in your face. Emo Bowles is quiet and reserved. Pirates aint quiet and Buccaneers brawl and fight for fun while singing yo Ho yo Ho bring another beer and female dog to me.
December 25th, 2024 at 1:58 am
Glazers should fire everybody…you guys are the geniuses…easy to coach after the game boys….sitting on your couches polishing off your 10th bag of dorittos
December 25th, 2024 at 2:44 am
bowles lacks the balls t o commit to one main RB
he’s scared to anger any of them
todd is trash