There are people who understand and can analyze the game, and then there are people who cannot.
Offensive Coordinator Coen (aka the guy who is actually running the offense):
“Bucky provides a spark where you can feel the difference, you know, when he’s in there in terms of the pace of play. And he just does some good things,” Coen told the Buccaneers Radio Network. “But both of them are going to be really good players for us all year long. We need’em. We need them both. We got to count on both those guys.
“And then as we go, ‘Ok, what do they both do really well?’ and start to kind of gear what we do towards those things — so we’re getting the right things out of both of them to get the production we need.”
I bet Coen was in street clothes when he said that
2023
White 81% of running attempts
19% to Edmunds/Tucker
LONG SEASON but 2024, so far
White 61% of running attempts
Irving 39%
“Drafted for his elusiveness and big-play ability, it was again on display in this one. With Irving (9-70) again outperforming Rachaad White(6-17), the time to make the rookie the No. 1 running back is drawing closer. It is not about making a competition where there is not one, it is about sticking with the hot hand and the more successful option”
Ive seen enough to start Bucky for awhile.“Drafted for his elusiveness and big-play ability, it was again on display in this one. With Irving (9-70) again outperforming Rachaad White(6-17), the time to make the rookie the No. 1 running back is drawing closer. It is not about making a competition where there is not one, it is about sticking with the hot hand and the more successful option”
Today’s results were interesting:
Bucky Irving’s 70 yards on 9 attempts (7.8 yard average). Bucky has gained a total of 154 yards on 25 carries, which is a 6.2 yard average for the season.
Rachaad White’s 17 yards on 6 attempts, 2.8 yard average. This is a little better than his overall average this year. He has 66 yards rushing on 31 caries.
If we’re in a game where we don’t have time to set up screens, then it’s pretty clear Bucky has played himself into a new role. He’s pretty good in the screen game too, but does NOT seem to have the mass needed to be an effective pass-blocker.
So I get why they’re not pulling the trigger, White is a bigger body and offers some additional QB protection, but it sure seems like it’s getting harder to make a case against starting Bucky.
“White loyalists will say that he hasn’t had great blocking and gets hit in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage too much. That’s all the more reason to give more carries to the smaller, more elusive Irving, who can squirt through the tiniest of holes at 5-foot-9, 192 pounds in a way that the 6-foot-1, 212-pound White simply can’t.”
PR Roundtable: #1 Thing to Fix Bucs offense:
Matt Matera: Start Bucky Irving At Running Back
Fixing the Bucs’ run game isn’t just a simple solution. But a simple adjustment that seems obvious to many would be to have rookie running back Bucky Irving start at the position, or at least get way more attempts in the ground game.
As someone correctly pointed out White is awesome in the screen game and has to be better in pass protection, but the running difference is dramatic, so far at least.
Which is why is was hilarious to see the football savant suggest White may be moving down the depth chart, even after seeing White in street clothes for the first two preseason games. Most people understood exactly what that meant. And then there's the football savant.
:-)
"most people"
Most of Bucky's big runs though are coming from unconventional running plays. There are more gadget type runs that involve White in the formation which creates some sort of delay reaction from defenses. I like Bucky too but I'm not ready to turn the page on White until they fix the iOL. We need to see Bucky producing on similar run plays when White is not on the field or being used as a decoy.Ive seen enough to start Bucky for awhile.“Drafted for his elusiveness and big-play ability, it was again on display in this one. With Irving (9-70) again outperforming Rachaad White(6-17), the time to make the rookie the No. 1 running back is drawing closer. It is not about making a competition where there is not one, it is about sticking with the hot hand and the more successful option”
Today’s results were interesting:
Bucky Irving’s 70 yards on 9 attempts (7.8 yard average). Bucky has gained a total of 154 yards on 25 carries, which is a 6.2 yard average for the season.
Rachaad White’s 17 yards on 6 attempts, 2.8 yard average. This is a little better than his overall average this year. He has 66 yards rushing on 31 caries.
If we’re in a game where we don’t have time to set up screens, then it’s pretty clear Bucky has played himself into a new role. He’s pretty good in the screen game too, but does NOT seem to have the mass needed to be an effective pass-blocker.
So I get why they’re not pulling the trigger, White is a bigger body and offers some additional QB protection, but it sure seems like it’s getting harder to make a case against starting Bucky.
Most of Bucky's big runs though are coming from unconventional running plays. There are more gadget type runs that involve White in the formation which creates some sort of delay reaction from defenses. I like Bucky too but I'm not ready to turn the page on White until they fix the iOL. We need to see Bucky producing on similar run plays when White is not on the field or being used as a decoy
All of them have.
When you take away all his gadget runs, he’s averaging well less than 4.0ypc.
Not to mention the 1st down run rate with Bucky in, is significantly lower than it is for Raachad.
Interesting stats thus far, White has been hit behind the line of scrimmage on 76% of his carries.
Im fine with giving Bucky the start. Let’s see how he fares with the same predictable play calling, 1st down run rate, and vanilla run scheme Rachaad has had. No gimmick plays.
If he’s night and day better, then so be it.
The reason to give Irving more runs is because of White, not Irving.
if the defense of White is that he’s getting contact behind the line then you’d want the more elusive Irving taking those snaps so as to hopefully reduce the negative plays.
For that matter, reverse their role. Give White the gap run “gadget plays.” Maybe he will excel at them. He may not. The possibility that he may not was a point that Josh Q sort of made recently. Bit if he succeeds in that role MORE than Irving man would the Bucs be in good shape.
This topic is a great example of the weirdness of some football discussion. Feeding the hot hand is a football maxim. The Bucs would be committing football malpractice lol to not keep upping Irving’s role, especially when the other RB is currently underperforming.
white is great but (Herm voice) “you play to win the games”
We need to see Bucky producing on similar run plays when White is not on the field or being used as a decoy.
Easy one because there are several in just one drive
3rd quarter we get the ball at our 41
PLAY 1 - Irving runs for 4 on the first play and its notable because its NOT a gadget play AND HE IS MET IN THE BACKFIELD by their safety (ie he succeeds where White has struggled)
PLAY 2 -Irving with a delayed release reception for 4 yrds (he can catch too)
PLAY 3- Irving runs for 6 yards behind SKULE (no less)
PLAY 4 -- NO GAIN (specifically included because he's not perfect but go watch the play Otton and McMillan are both beaten terribly
The "gadget plays" thing s to 2024 what "Mayfield's only succeeding because of Canales" was to 2023
PLAY 2 -Irving with a delayed release reception for 4 yds (he can catch too)
White probably takes this play further than Irving.
Thats what makes it tough. That and experience in pass pro(Irving can pass pro too but has less experience isn't as big etc)
