Greatest Change For The Bucs’ Offense
May 1st, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The 2024 Buccaneer highlight film naturally focused on a big-time offense full of big plays.
The Mayfield Gang was held under 20 points only once last season. The only hiccup came in Week 3, when the Broncos rolled into Raymond James Stadium and administered a humbling 26-7 setback.
Bucky Irving
Not many offensive changes are expected this fall. Josh Grizzard replaces Liam Coen as coordinator, but there’s another move on the horizon that might just elevate this attack into the league’s top unit.
Bucky Irving is moving up from a supporting role to leading man. And although Todd Bowles will guard against wearing him out, Irving is the straw that stirs the drink at One Buc Place … and everyone knows it.
Only once was Irving afforded more than 20 carries. That came on the road against Carolina and he responded with 152 yards on 25 attempts in an overtime victory. How’s that for capitalizing on an opportunity?
For the season, Irving was on the field for only 45 percent of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps. That may seem like a heavy load for a fourth-round draft pick, but Buc fans quickly realized No. 7 is a natural.
In contrast, Rachaad White boasted a 56 percent snap rate on offense. Those numbers started to change late in the season and it would be a shocker if White starts ahead of Irving in the 2025 season opener.
Assuming Chris Godwin is ready in Week 1 and rookie Emeka Egbuka doesn’t beat out Jalen McMillan in training camp, the only new offensive starter for the Bucs figures to be Irving, who provides the explosive plays that are largely absent in the passing game.
Saquon Barkley, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, led the NFL with 12 runs of at least 30 yards. Derrick Henry was second with nine and there was Bucky Irving sitting at No. 3 with seven carries that gained 30 yards or more.
What’s even more impressive, Irving had 138 fewer carries than Barkley and 118 fewer rushing attempts than Henry.
Dominant on paper and off, writes Ira Kaufman.
You could make a strong argument that Irving did more with less than any back in the league. He was the catalyst as Tampa Bay’s ground game vaulted from last in the NFL to No. 4. The three clubs ahead of the Bucs — Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington — all feature running quarterbacks that pad the team rushing total.
Irving had only nine carries in the Denver debacle as the Bucs fell behind early. In the playoff loss against the Commanders, Irving gained 77 yards in 17 carries. He likely would have topped 100 yards for the fourth time in his rookie year if the Buc defense had been able to get off the field.
Despite playing less than half of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps, Irving accumulated 1,514 yards from scrimmage. Only seven backs topped that total — and all of them had far more carries than Irving, who is also an exceptional receiver out of the backfield.
If Irving’s average load increases from 12 carries per game to 16, there’s a pretty good chance he can top 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore season. The only Buccaneer to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards in a single season is James Wilder, who accomplished the feat in 1984.
Yes, it’s been awhile. Tom Brady was in grammar school at the time.
Increasing Irving’s workload is a formula for success in 2025. Don’t wear him down, but the days of splitting time with White are officially over.
It’s Bucky’s ball now.
May 1st, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Tez and Bucky will be doing their thing. This season 2 ducks may have to fly to the field.
May 1st, 2025 at 6:36 pm
Love the optimism Joe. If he gets 16 carries a game and does that in all 17 games, he’d have 272 touches and he’d average 7.35 yards/play in getting his 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
Last season Bucky had 254 touches and he averaged 5.96 yards/play in getting his 1,514 yards from scrimmage. Providing that Bucky stays healthy for all 17 games, it’s certainly possible.
May 1st, 2025 at 6:44 pm
Rayjay1122 Says:
This season 2 ducks may have to fly to the field.
^^^^^^^
GO DUCKS!!!!
Next 2 years drafts will be loaded with Ducks! More incoming.
(I can’t believe their are 5 Fuskies on the team)
May 1st, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Why isn’t James Wilder in the ROH?
Anyway. Yes, Bucky is unquestionably the catalyst heading in to the season and should be fed the ball more often by ground and air. Be wary not to wear him thin. So mixing in more Sean Tucker to complement the workload would be wise.
May 1st, 2025 at 6:58 pm
Honestly, I’m still in shock about Bucky.
It doesn’t seem real we have a RB this good.
Yet he did it again and again.
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and it never did.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Bucky gets 25 percent more rushes he’d need to get 25 percent more receptions also to break that 2000 yard mark in total yards. That way he’d still just need to average that 5.96 instead of 7.35 yards per touch. So it’s optimistic DR but certainly possible.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:04 pm
I think the Bucs should put a package together for Hendrickson more than ever. Next year’s 1st for a Super Bowl. Do it.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Bucky is an important part of our offense. 16 touches per game avg sounds reasonable.
I might question the following:
“Assuming Chris Godwin is ready in Week 1 and rookie Emeka Egbuka doesn’t beat out Jalen McMillan in training camp, the only new offensive starter for the Bucs figures to be Irving, who provides the explosive plays that are largely absent in the passing game.” </strong
Are you sure Bucky provided more "explosive plays" than our pass game has?
Pretty sure we had more pass plays over 15, or 20 yards than Bucky runs.
We need to be a pass 1st team… Bucky and the run game will benefit
May 1st, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Go Bucky GO!
Run Bucky RUN!
Score Bucky SCORE!
Pretty amazing this kid had the entire stadium chanting his name from the beginning of his rookie year. It was obvious from day 1 that Bucky has/is something special.
What a 4th round pick! From a “not so great” RB class no less….
May 1st, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Bucky had 47 catches last year so 25 percent more is 59 catches this year. 12 more catches he averages about 8 per catch. 100 more yards receiving he’d need close to 400 more rushing yards. At 5 ypcarry he’d need 80 more carries. He’d need 16 or 17 carries per game and 3 1/2 receptions per game at about this years 5.9 per touch to hit that. 20 touches per game. He can handle that I think but we should try to limit it there and see how he makes it through this season.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Not to be overlooked was the new center but the fact he is overlooked is a testimony that we may have gotten Tristan at center. The names Barton. Graham Barton.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:44 pm
Bucky needs to be protected!! No use bothering to compare him to either Barkley or Henry. Bucky 5-10 195lb Barkley 6′ 233 Henry 6-2 247!
Do we see any obvious differences there? Two are the prototypical NFL bowling balls built to not only move the ball but to PUNISH defenders.
Bucky is like Barry Sanders who at 5-8 203 is basically Bucky’s size after this years off season. They are great but not “punishing” runners.
The Bucs are blessed. Rachaad is a proven commodity and Sean Tucker is the most overlooked Buc in recent memory. I know some other posters have pointed this out but the numbers are pretty eye popping if limited. IE he DESERVES more touches.
After just two attempts in the first five games the Bucs were forced to use him in game #6 against the Saints. 14 carries 136 yards a 9.7 yd average !!!
Only ONE game I get it. But he came back with just 5 carries the next game and produced 29 yards a 5.8 avg. Against the Raiders 3 carries 47 yards 15.7 carries.
For the season Tucker averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 50 attempts.
Is he that poor of a blocker? I do not know. What else could be holding him back other than the two very talented backs ahead of him.
I DO NOT CARE ABOUT BUCKY’S STATS OR POST SEASON HONORS.
I care about having Bucky through the playoffs and hopefully a SB
As soon as the Bucs feel comfortable they should let Bucky take a seat!
White AND Tucker are now proven NFL backs. They can and should be used wisely to preserve Barry er Bucky. Sorry had to sneak in a little hyperoble.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Really, I don’t know if adding vastly more carries will help Irving’s averages. White is a very durable back. He has shown improvement to my satisfaction as a runner. Sean Taylor is intriguing. I say Irving starts, but they share the load.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Ira, you are the best. I know sometimes I’m hard on you but you are right and so freaking funny when you mention Bowles said “I saw something” (btw, I saw that interview of Bowles) I couldn’t stop laughing 🤣🤣🤣 that was amazing! The sage did it again 👍👏
May 1st, 2025 at 8:14 pm
An interesting take..
May 1st, 2025 at 8:24 pm
They waited entirely too long to make Irvin the starter. I got so sick and tired of watching White run for one yard on third and two.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:48 pm
Pretty sure there were more “explosive plays” via the pass game than via Bucky runs.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
Agree we are fortunate to have Bucky and he’s our clear #1 but let’s hope RW and Sean are effective enough to get that 3 headed monster everybody was talking about last year.
Best way to kill our run game is a conservative/conventional “run 1st” offense. Our greatest strength or advantage on offense is going to be our pass game IMO.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:02 pm
Such a refreshing great written piece by a absolute great in his craft man how times have changed
May 1st, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Nice work Ira
May 1st, 2025 at 9:08 pm
I thought the offense hummed loudest when all three backs got carries.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:34 pm
What about Sean Tucker? Bucky spits off a 7 yard run, on first. 2nd give Tucker a shot. Maybe good maybe not. 3rd down if not. Screen to white. And that’s all just RB. We have 5 WR’s that have/will be clutch if needed. #1 OFF this year
May 1st, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Should be a fun Madden team this year
May 1st, 2025 at 9:45 pm
Call me crazy. But if Chris is healthy… He’s in the slot, ebuka is #2 , Mike is #1 and then McMillan takes the #4 CB and gets touchdowns all day like Chris Carter … I’m ok with that
May 1st, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Ira, I remember James Wilder and 1984. Wilder was a rare bright light in a very Dark Age of Bucs football. Heck, that was when if the Bucs won all 4 preseason games, we thought they won the NFL Championship. It was that dismal. Fast forward to 2025 and a genuinely talented Bucs Offense. Unreal. Irving had over 1500 yards as a rookie? Wowsers! Plus, all the RBs can catch and White is a good blocker. Don’t forget the OLine. They’re jelling, too.
May 1st, 2025 at 10:08 pm
Good time to be a Bucs fan 👍🏼😎
May 1st, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Ira, you were early on Bucky’s bandwagon. I remember. I feel bad it took me longer. stpetebucsfan compared him to Barry Sanders. I felt offended. He fumbled against Atlanta and I blamed him. For the loss. I felt vindicated. Then I watched how he responded. I did a 360 on this kid and we do have a star here. The straw that stirs the drink you say Ira. Wait. That’s going too far. Your example at Carolina he had his only game over 20 carries with 25 carries for 152 yards in the overtime victory. 2 weeks later we beat the same team to death by about 40 points with 5 TD passes. We can’t forget the straw that stirs the drink Ira! It’s a big stick led by Mike Evans and his happy ass band of pass catchers. Complemented by a great running back and more.
May 1st, 2025 at 10:24 pm
Forgot to mention Baker. He likes to throw it to Bucky. And hand it to Bucky. And pitch it to Bucky. I think we’ve got a good plan though. And with these 2 additions in the draft we could easily be the best NFL offense in 2025-26..And I ain’t kiddin!
May 1st, 2025 at 11:23 pm
2000 yards in 1984. A mere 3 years later, James was demoted to playing special teams for the Skins when Doug Williams got MVP in the Super Bowl win over the Broncos
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:14 am
Kenton, sounds like you did a 180 not a 360 😉
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:43 am
I think you met you did a 180 kenton…360 you stay going in sane direction .180 means you going the other way on him now…
Bucky is my bew caddie..I live the kid..another year like the last and im buying his jersey.
I look at this offense and I think hmm what could take it over the top…
And honestly I think Otton catching fire and becoming a solid target will take us to the unstoppable phase.
We should still be shopping dline MLB and safety comp…
Defense can create short field and we can do it all and have a hell of a good kicker.
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:47 am
Explosive plays are largely absent in the passing game?? 🤔
May 2nd, 2025 at 2:04 am
Durango 95 Says:
May 1st, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Why isn’t James Wilder in the ROH?
1000% spot on!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2025 at 4:53 am
Hell yeah! As we say Down South. That is why you are indeed The Sage Sir.
Bucky with White sauce and a sprinkling of Tucker sounds yummy!
I sure hope that there is a legit battle for snaps between McMillan and Egbuka. Can only make both better.
Now, about that defense…
Go Bucs
May 2nd, 2025 at 5:40 am
I did mean a 180. Thanks Steven007 and BucKing! Buc King we still could use help in the middle of this defense and Otten is a stud. And maybe the best kicker in the league. We’ll lose some games this year. But not many.