Rookie running back Bucky Irving continued to be effective despite carrying the ball only 16 times as the Bucs were down by two points for much of Sunday night’s loss to the Cowboys. He showed a certain touch. In the loss to Tampa Bay, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry and had a 68-yard, one-touchdown performance.
Irving now has 920 yards on the year and is 80 yards away from becoming the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015. With two weeks left, obviously on average he only needs 40 yards per game. To reach that mark.
Bucks RB Bucky Irving – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Panthers come to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday with the league’s worst run defense, giving Irving and the Bucs a favorable matchup to reach that milestone in Week 17.
Carolina is allowing 175.2 yards per game on the ground, and despite beating Arizona 36-30 in overtime on Sunday, the defense is holding James Conner to an average of 7.8 yards per carry on 15 carries. , which equated to 117 yards. Quarterback Kyler Murray also averaged 7.9 yards per carry and ran for 63 yards on eight attempts.
And remember, Irving just had a career day in Week 13 against the Panthers, coming through an injury to score 152 yards rushing and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Irving is averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 168 carries this season, so if he matches his average of over 15 carries against Carolina on Sunday, he will surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his first season in the league. -And with one more game left. The 2024 fourth-round pick missed most of the Raiders’ games, making his efficiency even more impressive.
Bucky Irving explores Bucks history
That’s not all bucky irving He’s closing in on becoming the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, but he’s also looking to become the ninth Buccaneer running back to reach 1,000 yards in a season. And it would be the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season in franchise history. Here it is list Like now:
Bucks RB Doug Martin – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
1. James Wilder (2 years old – 1984, 1985)
2. Doug Martin (2 – 2012, 2015)
3. Ricky Bell (1979)
4. Eric Rhett (2 – 1994, 1995)
5. Cadillac Williams (2005)
6. Reggie Cobb (1992)
7. Warwick Dunn (2 years – 1998, 2000)
8. LeGarrette Brandt (2010)
Irving appears poised to join that list within the next two weeks and could join as early as this Sunday. If that happens, he will look to rise up the ranks as Tampa Bay’s all-time rookie rushing leader. The current list looks like this:
1. Doug Martin – 1,454 yards (2012)
2. Cadillac Williams – 1,178 yards (2005)
3. Eric Rhett – 1,011 yards (1994)
4. LeGarrette Blount – 1,007 yards (2010)
Irving could realistically surpass Blount at No. 4 and Rhett at No. 3, and a couple of explosive performances over the next two weeks against the Panthers and Saints could make Williams the Buccaneers’ rookie running back. There is a possibility that he will surpass him to record the second-most rushing yards.
Bucks RB Bucky Irving Photo courtesy of USA Today
If Irving can reach the 1,000-yard mark, he will inch closer to finishing with a top-10 rushing season in franchise history. With 920 yards, he already has the 18th most rushing yards in a season by a Tampa Bay player. Seven more yards to pass Michael Pittman (926 yards in 2004) for 17th place, and 30 more yards to pass Mike Alstott (949 yards in 1999) for 16th place.
With 59 more rushing yards, Irving will pass Ronald Jones II (978 yards in 2020) and Warrick Dunn (978 yards in 1997) for 14th place, and 71 more yards will put him in line for backfield mate Rathard White. (990 yards in 2023) for 13th place.
Warrick Dunn’s 1,026 rushing yards in 1998 currently ranks 10th in a single season for a Buccaneers running back, so Irving will be next in line to reach the top 10 single-season rushing leaders in team history. He only needs to gain 107 yards in two games.
It’s already been a special rookie season for Bucky Irving, and if he can finish the Bucks’ final two games of the regular season with positive results, he could further etch his name into franchise history. And, as always with the rookie from Oregon, it should be fun to watch.
