Maurice Jones-Drew Thinks Bucky Irving Is A Top-10 Back
July 9th, 2025
Former star NFL RB reacts.
So yesterday Joe brought word that a gaggle of NFL suits and coaches don’t think Bucs running back Bucky Irving is worthy of being tabbed as a top-10 running back.
This despite Bucky finishing with the 10th-most rushing yards as a rookie (1,122 yards), tied for 8th-most touchdowns on the ground (eight) and ranking 7th in yards per carry (5.4), a stat that includes quarterbacks.
And dudes (and women, too, Joe assumes) who collect checks in the NFL didn’t think Bucky was a top-10 back in 2024? What nonsense!
Maurice Jones-Drew also thinks that’s nuts. The former Jags star back and current NFL Network personality decided to pick his top-10 backs.
And you guessed it, MJD has a different opinion. Bucky as his No. 10 back.
Bucky Irving
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024 stats: 17 games | 207 att | 1,122 rush yds | 5.4 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 47 rec | 392 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lostThe fourth-round pick was one of the biggest surprises at the position in 2024, eclipsing 1,100 rushing yards despite starting just three regular-season games. In Year 2, Irving should assume a huge role in the Bucs’ offense — I expect his carries to increase — despite the front office’s continued focus on furnishing the passing attack.
Just because the Bucs have arguably the best passing attack in the league, Bucky still will get his touches. You can bank on that.
Joe’s only concern is overusing Bucky. Let’s be real: He’s not a big guy. It’s going to be a balancing act to keep Bucky on something of a pitch count so he doesn’t get beat up, but still win games and have Bucky be somewhat fresh for the playoffs.
If the Bucs offense can blow some teams out, Bucky could then rest his bones while the Bucs enjoy a big lead.
There’s nothing wrong with a big lead. Nothing at all.
Bucky Irving pic.twitter.com/jFGAYnewFw
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 3, 2025
July 9th, 2025 at 7:49 am
He has great space awareness knowing who is where, what angles they may have on him, those are natural instincts.
July 9th, 2025 at 7:50 am
Hopefully Bucky is the featured back this year with a steady sprinkling of Sean Tucker in the mix. White should be used as a steady third down back.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Let’s hope he’s top 10.
I know he is the more talented RB in Tampa, and I certainly think he needs more touches than White, but what worked great last year was a blended attack that we managed to go away from towards the end of the season. As much as we laud this offensive line, this idea that we arrogantly are going to bully the other team and run what we want to run will be our demise. Creative play calling, keep defenses guessing and winning on 2nd down is how “I think” we get it done. Grizz has a solid pedigree in both book smarts and football smarts. Hopefully he recognizes and appreciates he might never coach a group talented as this one.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Training camp can’t get here soon enough.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Barry Sanders, 5’8″ 200 lbs played 10 seasons with Detroit. He rushed over 2000 yards in his 9th year and rushed over 1500 yards in his final season. I am not saying Bucky is going to stay health for 10 years but when you have something special as Bucky, no point in holding him back just because your afraid of over using him.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:16 am
Lt. Dan – Absolutely agree.
Buck, Tuck, and White. The trifecta.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Man, what a fun compilation of Bucky’s touches. I think I counted 53 jock straps on the field along the path of his runs.
July 9th, 2025 at 8:44 am
go bucky go
run bucky run
score bucky score
🙂
July 9th, 2025 at 8:50 am
wow the clip…
bucky really has elite field vision…you can’t teach that, it’s more innate…
the video was great and what made it even better was the old school highlight music that went along with it…
it was classic nfl films or hbo music that just oozes football highlights
July 9th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Griz has a “pick your poison” to work with against DC’s.
He’s clearly a very bright man, he has the talent, the real test comes when the DC’s react to Griz’s offense and Griz has to make modification and correct calls to succeed against the super talent that exists in the NFL.
So I always lover hearing…”they run to set up the pass”…or “they pass to set up the run”.
WHICH will the Bucs be doing. They have so many choices! There will be lots of caterwauling over those choices here.
As for me I save my caterwauling for results…show me the money…er WINS!
July 9th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I’m with Joe on the overuse issue and why I’d rather go by what coach Peete said about being the starter just means you get the first crack in that game. We don’t need to “Cadillac Williams” Bucky.
Bucky indeed did not finish the season even remotely healthy, got knocked out of the Raiders game week 14 and it’s not like we have to force him as if he’s the only option.
I still find it criminal on Coens’ part after Tuckers’ week 6 eruption of 192 yards & two scores on 17 total touches that we couldn’t get him more involved. The 4 games afterward Tucker had a combined 14 touches for 70 yards and no scores.
Run’em all, first guy that can’t be stopped you keep going with him then rinse & repeat for the next gameplan. Keep it simple, keep’em upright and healthy.
July 9th, 2025 at 9:34 am
If Barry Sanders and Bucky Irving never played football they remind me of each other. Quiet. Humble. Genuinely nice. It means alot and makes me think Bucky Irving is the real deal. Dang this team is good.
July 9th, 2025 at 9:40 am
I could watch him juke all day. Great vision & better movement, Bucky is tough to bring down. Keep him fresh for the playoffs and give Tucker plenty of reps too. They’re the closest thing we’ll ever see to resembling WD-40. History does tend to repeat itself.
July 9th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Who cares. What does it even mean to be considered Top 10? Does he get extra money? No. Does Top 10 mean the Bucs will win more? No.
Do it on the field. Not in the media.
Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, but was consistently Top 10 in QBs of his era.
July 9th, 2025 at 10:23 am
The classic NFL highlight music makes that Bucky highlight clip so much better.
July 9th, 2025 at 10:37 am
More of a Video on how not to tackle. Horrible.
We’ll see how productive / durable he is when defenders start putting a shoulder into him vs trying to chase a chicken around the barnyard.
Many of the those Runs were against the worst of the worse in rushing defense in 2024.
Better teams can live with 77 yards of Irving Rushing ala Commanders if they hold the team as a whole down in total yards. In the Wild card game Bucs had 284 total yards of offense which would have them ranked tied for dead last in the league with the Bears @ 283.5 yds / game rounded up.
Everyone in the Top 10is a treat and command attention. Irving was an afterthought in 2024 and it will be different going forward.
Honorable Mention is something to be proud of as is making a Pro Bowl as an Alternate.
July 9th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Only 3 starts with those numbers. Enough said.
July 9th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
I feel like he has some Barry sanders in him
July 9th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Great highlight reel. Bucky sure has an ebb and flow, a good weave to his runs. Weavin’ in-n-out of traffic.
I’m gonna call him The Weavin’ Wabbit.