During the off-season, The Pewter Report documented Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving’s first NFL training camp. Irving played highly at Oregon after being selected by the team in the fourth round, showcasing the skills to earn the No. 2 running back spot heading into the regular season.
In the preseason, he ran 18 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.4 yards per run, and while he was efficient as a runner every game, he’s looking to further develop as a player in order to fit into Tampa Bay’s revamped offense.
Bucky Irving has an eye for detail and has mastered the Bucks playbook
Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen and RB Bucky Irving – Photo: Corey Perin/USA Today
Since being selected in late April, Bucky Irving and the Buccaneers’ 2024 draft picks have had four months to work on their adjustments. During that time, Irving has grown as an NFL running back and understood what will be different at the next level. He wants to show his speed and explosiveness on the field, but he needs to analyze it off the field first.
“Just the little things and mastering my playbook and being able to slow down the game,” Irving said. “When I first got here, the game was moving pretty fast. My mind was jumping all over the place, but for me, it’s just solidifying the playbook and understanding why it’s not working.” [we’re] Making calls and stuff like that. Overall, it just slows the game down for me.”
The difference in game speed was further discussed by the rookie running back.
“The speed of the game is so much faster now,” Irving added. “Everybody’s really [know] What they do and they are in the right gap [and] “Guys filling the right gaps and stuff like that. We don’t have a lot of guys that are misfits defensively, so I think I say it from that standpoint.”
Bucky Irving: ‘My game isn’t where I really want it to be’
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving and WR Ryan Miller – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Bucky Irving is getting acclimated to the league and the Bucks offense and is happy with the play of the players around him, and with offensive coordinator Liam Cohen at the helm, there are plenty of players ready to step up.
“I feel like this offense is explosive,” Irving said. [have] We have a lot of guys that can play a lot of different ways: wide receiver, running back, quarterback, guys that can block and protect up front … so we’re going to have a very explosive offense.”
Still, he doesn’t consider himself there yet.
“No, I’ve still got some work to do,” Irving said when asked if he accomplished what he wanted in the preseason. “I made a lot of runs that I think I could have gotten more yards on. I’ve just got to be a little more prepared and work on the things I can do better.”
After the team selected him, Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek said Why Irving With a team that “possesses a lot of the qualities we want in a running back.” Focus on recruiting players with high characterBut with Irving realizing he can get better and hone the finer aspects of his game, they appear to have found a new path.
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“I feel like I’m not playing at the level that I really want to,” Irving said. “There’s always room to improve. I don’t think anybody has the mindset of, ‘I can’t get any better.’ I always feel like there’s room to improve in different ways.”
At the end of the day, Bucky Irving is grateful to be a part of the Buccaneers.
Entering 2024 as a backup to starting running back Rachad White, he appreciates the trust placed in him and is looking to live up to the expectations the team had when he drafted him.
“I’m always grateful to my teammates, they could have picked another running back but they trusted me to come here. [they] “They hold me to a high standard,” Irving said. “Everything they heard during the draft process … I just want to be that guy they showed on tape and come out here and showcase my talent.”
