After years of being near (and at) the bottom of the NFL in rushing success, the Bucs turned it around in a big way last season.

Everyone knows Bucky Irving dazzled with the ball in his hands. Rachaad White did a little bit of everything while spelling Irving, and Sean Tucker even exploded and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week against the Saints. It is clear that each back is talented, but how will offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard get the most production out of his backfield?

Grizzard and running backs coach Skip Peete made it known this past Tuesday that the scheme will allow whoever is in the backfield to have success.

Josh Grizzard: “There’s A Spot For All Three” Bucs RBs

There is a popular phrase that goes “this town ain’t big enough for the both of us.”

While Bucs running back Rachaad White might be starting to see it that way and appears to be heading out of town after this season, Josh Grizzard made it clear that there is room for all three of the running backs on the roster.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“There’s a spot for all three of those guys,” Grizzard said. “You can see, of course, what Bucky can do in his rookie year. What Rachaad brings to the table from a pass-catching standpoint and even in the run game. Really good route-runner, we all know he’s really good with the ball in his hands on screens, drop back pass game. I don’t want to compare him to a lot of other guys, but he is close to if not as good as anybody we see in terms of pass protection in the NFL.

“That is a testament to what he can do from understanding blitz patterns, the communication with “Bake” and Graham and the O-line. He’s done an unbelievable job with that and “Tuck” as well. He had opportunities there in New Orleans and a couple of games down the stretch but he’s looked really good in the drills we’ve been doing right now. Hoping to see an increased role for Sean as well.”

Irving, White, and Tucker excel at different things, and that is what could make Tampa Bay’s run game even more dangerous. Having a year in the offense to see what they can do could lead to even more favorable chances when it’s time to tote the rock.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It was getting to the point where the scheme was molded to fit what the O-line was good at, what the backs were good at,” Grizzard said about the run game last year. “That’s how we left the season, so we can now have a starting point for what we feel puts our players in the best position to make plays. You can always improve that; there are always new things.”

There is always a level of concern with a new offensive coordinator about how quickly the unit will hit the ground running, but there will be a heightened sense of innovation when it comes to Grizzard. Being a first-time offensive playcaller, he will be drawing from all of his experience working under offensive-minded coaches like Adam Gase, Mike McDaniel, and most recently Liam Coen. Being in different systems and staying hip to the college game suggests creative gameplanning is ahead.

“We were talking about the combine and the draft, but we spent a lot of time looking around the NFL for different schemes that we feel can be implemented,” Grizzard added. “We watched so much tape on the college prospects that we picked up 4-5 plays just watching Emeka’s tape or Tez’s tape on things we’ve already implemented. You can find it from anywhere.”

Bucky Irving And Rachaad White Are Very Similar To Former Cowboys RB Duo

Skip Peete has been an NFL running backs coach since 1998. Peete has coached for five teams during that span, including two stints with the Cowboys from 2007-2012 and 2020-2022.

Bucs RBs coach Skip Peete and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Why do I bring that up?

Because it was during his first stint in Dallas that he saw something play out that is very similar to what is happening in the Bucs’ running back room right now. In 2007, he coached a 26-year-old Julius Jones and a 24-year-old Marion Barber III. Jones had a bit more experience under his belt and was the “starter.” Despite that title, Barber out carried him 204-164 and made the Pro Bowl that year.

Bucky Irving remains the Bucs’ starting running back, but it also means that there is always room for touches to go around. Just because Irving is at the top of the depth chart does not mean Rachaad White and Sean Tucker won’t see extended run if they get the hot hand.

“The most important thing is we want to try and put these guys in a position to have success,” Peete said. “What they’re extremely well at doing, we want to try and put them in those situations to where they can have the success. Some games a certain guy gets hot. We might lean a little bit more on him, but it’s not because we don’t like the other guys; it’s just that particular game he’s hot so we’re going to let him roll a little bit. You don’t know who that’s going to be. It could be one of the three.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

“Everyone gets stuck on the starter, but the starter truly only means you take the first play of the game. You got to look at the snap counts. Yeah, you started because you took the first play, but the other guy played 70% of the game.”

White is more like Jones, who went from having 267 carries in 2006 to 164 in 2007. Jones then left in free agency for the Seahawks. Also entering his contract season at 26 years old, it is likely White remains closer to the 144 carries he had in 2024 than the 272 he had in 2023. Peete believes in making the most of your opportunities, no matter how many come around.

“I think they both blend together very well,” Peete said of Irving and White. “I haven’t even touched on Sean, he’s probably the guy that you would say got the short of the stick, but I think we all need him as well. There have been games where we put him in, and everybody has to have an opportunity to play. Sometimes you play count is higher than others, but I think if you look at it and take advantage of your opportunities it all kind of works out.”

Tucker is the variable in the running back rotation, as he led the trio with 6.2 yards per carry on 50 carries. Peete recognizes the value each of them brings to the table.

“We need them all.”