One of a number of positives from the season, Irving named PR's Rookie of the Year
"Not only did Bucky Irving become the NFL’s leading rusher among all rookies with 1,122 yards, but Tampa Bay’s sensational running back finished as the league’s 10th overall leading rusher, too. Not bad for a fourth-round pick, who also led Tampa Bay with eight rushing touchdowns.
Irving was among the league leaders in runs of 20 yards or more with eight, including three runs of 40 yards or more, which was tied for the fourth-most in the NFL in 2024. His 5.4-yard average was in the Top 5, showing how remarkably consistent he was during his rookie campaign. Irving was exceptional at making the first defender miss while becoming Tampa Bay’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin last did it in 2015.
The former Oregon Duck supplanted Rachaad White as the team’s starter in 2024 and he added 77 more rushing yards to his rookie season in the Wild Card playoff loss to Washington. Irving was also dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 47 passes for 392 yards (8.3 avg.)."
All the better that he stands out when we also got great rookie play from Barton, McMillan and Smith.
I liked what I saw from Culp too and Brawell showed some signs of life toward the end. All in all a rookie class that goes into the record books.
I liked what I saw from Culp too and Brawell showed some signs of life toward the end. All in all a rookie class that goes into the record books.
well let's not get ahead of ourselves
how did Michael Clayton and Cadillac William look after their rookie years?
how about Justin Evans and Kendell Beckwith in the 2017 draft? that draft was looking pretty remarkable.
yes, early returns look like a good draft with Barton, Bucky, McMillian, and Tykee but let's give it another 2 seasons to assess
Licht's best drafts are between
2020 - Landed Tristian Wirfs and Antonio Winfield - two key players on Superbowl team
2018 - Vea, Ronald Jones, Carlton Davis, Alex Cappa, Jordan Whitehead - 4 starters on superbowl team
how did Michael Claytonand Cadillac William look after their rookie years?
Cadillac had the horse collar tackle that ended his career. He was set to bounce back. But yeah lots of injuries. Too bad, he was so fun to watch.
Michael Clayton was a strange one... But we also heard the same thing with Evans and he turned out all right.
With Bucky... He's a RB and he isn't super big so he shouldn't be run into the ground
pretty great to see
Bucky Irving Named to PFWA All-Rookie Team
Buccaneers’ rookie running back Bucky Irving was named to the 2024 All-Rookie Team, in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA)
"Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Irving forced the highest missed tackle rate among ball carriers with at least 150 touches (35.8%). Additionally, his 91 missed tackles forced were the fourth-most in the NFL this season. Irving sparked a Tampa Bay rushing attack, which ranked 32nd in the NFL the previous two seasons, to the third-most rushing yards and the third-highest per carry average in the league in 2024. He spearheaded the ground attack, quickly getting downhill on gap runs. Irving took the NFL by storm in 2024, powering the run game with rare lateral movement skills and lethal jump-cuts that left defenders reeling. He became the most challenging back in the league to take down on first contact."
and look at that . ..
"The 2024 All-Rookie team offense is made up of the Commanders' Daniels at quarterback."
how did Michael Claytonand Cadillac William look after their rookie years?
Cadillac had the horse collar tackle that ended his career. He was set to bounce back. But yeah lots of injuries. Too bad, he was so fun to watch.
Michael Clayton was a strange one... But we also heard the same thing with Evans and he turned out all right.
With Bucky... He's a RB and he isn't super big so he shouldn't be run into the ground
if we are being honest about Cadillac, he was never really that good or worth the top 5 selection. He had 3 games to start his career totaling 434 yards. That was the end of Caddy. After that, missed a few games to injury but played an additional 11 games totaling 744 yards. (so essentially still on pace for 1,000 yard season, even had 3 other 100 yard games in those 11.
the next season, we played 14 games, had just 798 yards with 1 touchdown a nd just 2 games over 100 yards. Clearly, even before the injury in late December, he was not the same running back
worth the top 5 selection
the Aaron Rodgers draft debacle, I think
worth the top 5 selection
the Aaron Rodgers draft debacle, I think
Gruden and Allen were absolutely terrible at drafting
Makes you appreciate Jason Licht.
Gruden and Allen were absolutely terrible at drafting
And, as is often the case, their damage to the team extended well beyond their days in charge. The price for a Super Bowl.
Thats the thing, almost every human is some good, some not so good. Gruden = Super B owl, but also post-SB destructive ego. Brady = Super Bowl but also equals all the 2022 dysfunction and the dead cap.
You want a Super bowl by bringing in Gruden as a last minute pinch hitter? Great, heres your SB, now deal with his ego after and watch him stage a revolt and take over the Front Office and then mostly drag the team down from there until you fire him
and think how things might have been different . .
Gruden was ultimately fired because he essentially "refused to draft a franchise QB." If Gruden drafts Aaron Rodgers instead of Caddy he has then drafted the "franchise QB" that he seemed to refuse to draft later, leading to his firing and the hiring of Dominik, Morris and even the drafting of Freeman and the lost decade of Bucs football
We might win another SB with Rodgers and Gruden may go down as one of the greatest coaches ever etc etc etc., but you cant have the "pound the rock" that wins the SB without all the other baggage
Yeah dont get me wrong, i'm a fan of Gruden....and let's not forget the decade after Gruden where we didnt sniff playoffs.
Gruden a top 5 coach all time for Tampa along with Dungy, Arians, McKay, and Bowles
Tucker was also really good when he got opportunities. Like him alot. Bucky was a highlight for sure.
