Warren Sharp: Let Bucky Irving Run
September 24th, 2026
Run Bucky, run!
If it was up to noted handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp, the crowd at The Licht House on Sunday would constantly chant a deafening roar all game long, “Buh-KEE! … Buh-KEE! … Buh-KEE!”
That’s because, Sharp said, the Bucs need to feed Bucky Irving on Sunday and let him eat.
Against a really good defense in Week 1, Bucky averaged 5.6 yards a carry. He had but eight carries. Last week in that disgrace against the hapless Browns, Bucky again averaged five yards a carry, specifically 5.2. He had 17 carries.
Sharp believes the Bucs lost the game against the hapless Browns because they quit feeding Bucky the ball.
“The runs were working,” Sharp said.
That’s because the Bucs as a team averaged 5.5 yards a carry against the Browns. That was the second best in the league last week.
The success rate of Bucs’ runs ranked eighth in the NFL for Week 2. The Bucs had the fifth-most explosive plays on the ground as well. (Explosive plays vary per team as it is an unofficial stat, but Zac Robinson defines an explosive play as one that gains at least 15 or more yards on a pass and 12 or more on the ground.)
Sharp also said the first-down rate (26 percent) on Bucs runs was the third-best last week. So in other words the Browns were just begging to be beaten by a ground-and-pound offense.
Before the lightning delay, the Browns’ defense was gassed. Big-time gassed. But instead of running, the Bucs wanted Mayfield to throw one-yard passes to dudes five yards behind the line. Madness!
“I don’t know why [the Bucs] were giving [Bucky] so few rushing attempts,” Sharp said.
Neither does Joe. All Joe knows is that the Bucs couldn’t have had a better gameplan to allow the pathetic Browns to beat the Bucs at home.
Aggravating as hell!
Cleveland played with light boxes at the #5 highest rate…
Bucs led almost all game…
Tampa Bay runs gained:
5.2 YPC (#2)
+0.03 EPA/rush (#7)
10.5% explosive rate (#5)yet for some reason they posted the #10 highest pass rate…
12.9 air yards (#1 deepest)
gained 5.4… pic.twitter.com/QJHSXNJkD8
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 22, 2026
September 24th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Great idea!
Let’s “pound the rock” with our 190 lb RB…
You know the one that missed all last season with several different injuries.
So dumb.
September 24th, 2026 at 6:40 am
It’s difficult to compare anyone to the legend that is Barry Sanders but I swear thats who this guy reminds me of. The stop and the quick burst of speed, the elusivness etc.. The Bucs would be foolish to waste him by using him so little. He can also open up the passing game by freezing linebackers and safties. He he is generational talent and should be used accordingly.
I think players have success in the NFL when they are paired with the right coach. Mayfield has had his ups and downs. He had success under Dave Canales and Liam Coen. His game has fallen off under Gizzard and Robinson.
Offensive coaches should be featuring Irving a lot more than they have.
September 24th, 2026 at 6:44 am
Gainwell had 18 yards in the first game and 15 yards in the second game.
Gainwell strikes no fear in opponents on kickoffs.
Complete misallocation of resources by Licht , just like Anzalone. Paying Top Dollar for this complete lack of production.
September 24th, 2026 at 7:07 am
Between Bucky and Gainwell, they need to get at least a combined 25 carries per game. Maybe sprinkle in a little Tucker too.
September 24th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Bucky got 38 yards on one carry, but averaged about 3.1 yards on the rest of his carries. He did produce some good runs in that stretch also, but I think he should not be a bell cow back carrying 20 -25 carries a game.
September 24th, 2026 at 7:53 am
I appreciate Bucky, but I don’t want to kill the guy. He fights for yards. Gainwell is an oxymoron. Use Tucker instead.
September 24th, 2026 at 7:58 am
And zero carries for Tucker.
Or only back above 200 pounds.
September 24th, 2026 at 8:06 am
Bucky is being used perfectly. They need more carries, but with a second commentary back. Tucker, maybe. Gainwell, maybe.
September 24th, 2026 at 8:07 am
“Complimentary”
September 24th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Maybe instead of the handful of passes behind the LOS, we can just hand it off to him so the 5 yards actually counts as 5 yards and not having to worry about gross yds vs. net yds w/the negative YBC factoring in.
Currently, Robinson is doing what Grizzard started doing to start last season.
September 24th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Thing is Bucky will run out of healthy body parts.
I LOVE Bucky but he’s not a NFL # 1 body type running back.
He needs to be able to be Bucky in the last game of the season.
September 24th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Why pound the rock with Bucky, Gainwell, Tucker
When you have a wannabe Michael Vick as your QB?
September 24th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Gainwell wasn’t effective against the Bengals, 3 ypc. But against the Browns, he did better with 5 ypc. Both Gainwell and Tucker should be getting touches.
The OL pass protection was horrible, but the run blocking was decent. We need to prevent the 3rd and longs against the Vikings excellent pass rush.
September 24th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Robinson is stealing paychecks if he can figure out how to use all this talent on offense.
September 24th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Our horrible pass blocking offensive line is much better a run blocking.
Our Running back room is waaayy better than our over rated and mediocre WR room.
Why aren’t we running the football?
Zack Robinson. He thinks RBs are for outlet passes. He doesn’t think that you run, until the passing game is clicking.
That’s why he’s a bad OC, and keeps getting fired.
With our horrible pass blocking, weak WRs, and ineffective Te’s- establishing the pass ain’t gonna happen.
Again. Identifying the problems are easy, if you understand football.
But this Coach, OC, GM, and Team won’t be able to fix them.
In June, I predicted 5-12. Not one person agreed with me.
Now, I think I might have been too generous.
Repeat after me. It’s gonna be a loooong season.
September 24th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Lakeland buc said it best
September 24th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Gainwell needs more touches
September 24th, 2026 at 9:36 am
@marine..James Cook is the same size as Irving, has at least 10 more touches! When the playmaker get the ball good things happen!
September 24th, 2026 at 9:39 am
IF BUCS want to ground and pound, then they should feature Tucker and Gainswell, with some Bucky in there (25-30 carries a game). Thaat will open up the passing lanes for our WR’s as well.
Hey Zac, are you reading and listening. Give me your email so I can drop you some clues.
September 24th, 2026 at 9:49 am
The Bucs need to be run FIRST. Force the linebackers and nickel in. That opens up the pass game by taking pressure off Mayfield and opening up the flats and short ins. That opens up the deep ball.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:33 am
I’m a huge proponent of running the football. It may seem antiquated to some but, good football teams have successful rushing attacks.
As I have said previously, they continue to complicate an uncomplicated game. I thought the play-calling was horrendous in the run-game, way too gimmicky and predictable. AND, as always, they abandoned it when they needed it the most.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:08 am
@ Steve V
5’10” – 190 lbs
2025 stats
Games played: 10
Games missed: 7
Rushing yards: 588
Rushing touchdowns: 4
This is your “bell cow RB”?
Come on man!
I have a bridge to sell you homie…
September 24th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Better than watching this O Line pass protect.
Now that’s something they ARE Top 3 in.
Sacks Allowed.
Only good news is 3 teams in the NFC South are in the Top 3.
And you wonder why people call this Division trash.
September 24th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Bucs going to bottom of division quickly.
September 24th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Lol Marine! Your such an ole fart! Bell cow really! The days of czonka,riggings, Earl Cambles,Christian Okuyes are over !