Bucs Plan For More Sean Tucker
April 1st, 2025
How good is Bucs running back Sean Tucker?
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse in 2023, Tucker was considered a top prospect in that year’s draft but a heart issue tumbled his draft stock.
He got a lot start with the Bucs and didn’t do much until last season, when he exploded onto the scene.
Tucker, still just 23 years old, carried 50 times for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 9 balls for 109 yards and a TD.
Small sample size but big production.
The Week 6 NFC Offensive Player of the Week got only 31 carries in the 11 games following his big game in New Orleans.
It wasn’t enough, Todd Bowles said today at the NFC Coaches Breakfast on Day 3 of the annual NFL owners meetings.
“Obviously, Bucky [Irving] will be the guy coming in,” Bowles said. “Rachaad will play a ton, too. Depending on how the game goes is how you rotate and use them. I think Bucky knows more now mentally so he can handle more at the beginning of the season, and Rachaad’s always known more. And I think we gotta get Sean in there a little bit more, as well. Because he’s a heck of a runner for us and we got to play him a lot more than we played him in the past.”
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht is a firm believer that Tucker could be a No. 1 running back in the NFL. He’s that talented.
It will be interesting to see just how committed the Bucs are to getting Tucker touches this season, especially with White now in a contract year.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:18 am
Tuck & Buc feels a lot like thunder & lightning (Alstott & Dunn). Hard to go wrong with that recipe
April 1st, 2025 at 9:35 am
nice thought but it would have to mean less carries for White, if not both White and Bucky. I think Tucker could start though, I’m that impressed
April 1st, 2025 at 9:38 am
I never understood why the snake buried Tucker on the bench.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:46 am
Todd Bowles has to be loving our improved running game, even though we’ve got several incredible receivers (Evans, Godwin, McMillan, Otton) & a very good QB in Baker (71% completions).
Since Todd took over as HC, our run-pass percentage has increased (significantly) every year. Our running game has improved every year, AND … our time of possession (TOP) has increased as a consequence.
Back in 2022 when Todd became HC the Bucs had a run-pass pecentage of 33.3% and we sported a TOP of 28:54 minutes. Once Tom Brady left & Baker arrived for 2023, we started running the ball more (which is what Bowles had wanted all along IMO). Bucs had a run-pass pecentage of 41.9% that year, and we had a TOP of 29:35 minutes.
Fast forward to 2024. Bucs ran the ball more times last season (487 rushes) than we have since 2000 when we ran it 490 times for Tony Dungy. We had a much higher run-pass percentage of 44.1% last year, and our TOP increased significantly to 31:41 minutes, ranking us #3 in the NFL behind Philly & Detroit.
This season I expect that the Bucs will run the ball even more, and be just as effective at it as we were in 2024 (5.3 YPC). Also wouldn’t be surprised to see our TOP increase by about 30 secs, up to around 32:20 or 32:30 for 2025. We could in fact lead the league with those numbers.
The key to making that happen won’t just be the offense, but it’ll be the defense as well. If our defense can get the 3rd Down Conversions Allowed down to 35% or less (it was 38.1% last year), and the 4th Down Conversions Allowed down to 45% or less (it was 63.3% last year), we’ll have a Top-10 defense.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:47 am
Tucker is the fastest RB and he’s consistently showed that. I was surprised with his power last year in finishing runs knocking defenders back. Tuck and Buck just need to keep improving their pass pro and ball security.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:53 am
I love Bucky, Rachaad is meh, & Sean Tucker is even better than Bucky with equal playing time. Guaranteed.
Tuck might be the best pure RB in the NFL.
April 1st, 2025 at 10:03 am
Absolutely perfect, you don’t want to kill Bucky. His body isn’t as big as Shawn’s. I hope the Buc’s really adopt this method of gaining yards.
April 1st, 2025 at 10:14 am
Sean appears to be able to do everything White can do, only far better.
Once again, Bowles defies logic. His fixation with White is unexplainable.
It even took several jaw dropping runs by Bucky before Bowles gave him more playing time. He is very slow to change.
Now we have a second greatness in Sean and Bowles says he has to figure how to get him more touches.
The answer couldn’t be more clearer. Make Sean #2 and relegate White to where Sean was last year, #3.
Why is this even an issue?
You’ve been gifted two great runners. USE THEM!
April 1st, 2025 at 10:23 am
Sean has a congenital heart defect. It was detected at the combines and doctors would not let him participate. The Bucs signed him with guaranteed pay not knowing if he would get cleared to play. He spent most of his rookie training camp wired with heart monitors. He was eventually cleared to practice at full bore and cleared to play. I’m guessing the doctors are still keeping a close eye on his heart condition. Lots of smart football people agree that he is potentially the best running back in the NFL. I think more Sean The way the Bucs have treated Sean speaks to how great the organization is. Loyalty is a cornerstone component to the culture. Go Bucs. Good luck Sean!!! TOP matters a lot.
April 1st, 2025 at 10:41 am
Tucker definitely deserves more carries- maybe if our D plays better we will have more icing opportunities for the run game and pile up some carries
I love watching a 5-7 minute smash mouth drive to close out a game and I bet Todd does too
April 1st, 2025 at 10:43 am
love tucker!!!!!
i’d draft the RB m.johnson out of UF…white will be gone next year
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 1st, 2025 at 10:47 am
Lt. Dan’s prayers have been answered! Bucky, Tucker, White – in that order please.
April 1st, 2025 at 10:49 am
Let’s Buck, Tuck, White and Bake!!!!!
LFG!!!!!!
April 1st, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Run the wishbone….
April 1st, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Bowles giving White more playing time than Tucker is the NFL equivalent of a coach playing his son over of an obviously war more talented player instead.
No more favoritism, please! Play our best players.
This and the stupid zone pass coverage are the 2 reasons I have issues with Bowles as our main decision-maker on gamedays.
He sucks in those 2 regards.
April 1st, 2025 at 1:38 pm
*way more talented
April 1st, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Tucker won’t stay on the field until he improves in pass protection
April 1st, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Do they run the pony package with Bucky and Tucker? I just don’t see him getting a lot of snaps without an injury. Can’t play 3 backs but if Tucker was a better blocker white would probably be allowed to walk in free agency though
April 1st, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Eric with Pilot and Driver. Something here doesn’t meet the eye. I’ve watched Tucker at Syracuse and Bucsarg wasn’t stretching it about Sean’s potential. He had over 6 yards per carry and is a tremendous threat as a receiver. Something behind the scenes? I usually just trust the coaches on stuff like this. But a talent like Tucker should be playing. He’s one of those rare runners who explodes off the screen. Like Bucky does only Bucky isn’t as strong or as fast. Maybe someday we’ll find out how good Tucker really is.
April 1st, 2025 at 2:12 pm
Rashad and Tucker are in their final year.
We need to consider this.
The Ravens conserved Henry for the post season.
We should consider the same.
We have 3 good backs.
We need to divide their carries to be ready for the playoffs
April 1st, 2025 at 2:15 pm
White is best as a third down receiving back. Buc and Tuck should be on the field together much more. And when we draft Cam Scattebo (to replace the RB we let walk) in third round we will have the deepest RB room in the NFL.
April 1st, 2025 at 2:27 pm
More of the same nonsensical logic fragments from Bowles.
Just gotta do better is his mantra.
Unfortunately he never applies this in games that matter.
Like for instance, the playoffs……
28-27
April 1st, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Could be somewhat reminiscent of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris….
April 1st, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Tuckers speed is intriguing – but I’ve yet to see much power or elusiveness from him… Hopefully Grizz and crew will get him involved more and we’ll see what we really have with him. If he can learn to hold up in pass protection and not fumble I’d imagine he’s going to get a fair shot.
April 1st, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Earnest Graham II.
April 1st, 2025 at 6:49 pm
We have a three-headed monster in our running back room.
What we saw with Sean during that first game when Rachaad didn’t play last year due to injury, was the real thing.
Sean just needs to fine tune it a big and work on pass protection.
Not using that three-headed monster last year was lunacy on the part of Liam Coen.
I hope Josh Grizzard has plans to get Sean more involved.
Bucky is our No. 1, but his size concerns me. A solid rotation will benefit him and our W-L record. Rachaad may be looking to move on after this season, so it’s fair to expect he’ll be motivated to put some good stuff on tape. Sean will be looking for an opportunity to prove his long-term worth and value.
Cut that monster loose, Josh. Cut it loose…
April 1st, 2025 at 9:28 pm
Bucsarg Says:
“Lots of smart football people agree that he is potentially the best running back in the NFL”
LOL – Name ONE…..
April 1st, 2025 at 11:55 pm
Let defenses chase Bucky around, and cover Rachaad on Swing passes for 2-3 quarters. Then bring in the Hammer.
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:52 am
Excelent problem to have me thinks.
Three dudes who can all get yards. Which one gets the ball?
Go Bucs!
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:32 am
We should have traded Goodwin then moved White and Culp to slot. This would have been a lot more confusing to defend, provided trade capital for the defense and made room for Tucker.
Not as forward thinking as many of you project. BTW, it would have help a lot with the salary cap.
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Iv said it a million times…..make Rashad white a slot wr…..he will be like a second chris Godwin!!!!! Could u imagine this offense with him as a slot 3rd or 4th option at wr….wow
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:18 pm
They should move Tucker to the FB position and have Tucker and Bucky or White on field at same time.