Bucky Irving Really Good At Getting First Downs
June 25th, 2025
Better than Saquon Barkley?
Joe bets that if just about any Bucs fan were asked who would they take straight up, Bucky Irving or Saquon Barkley as your go-to back, they may pause a moment to think about it.
Well, the open-minded may have their mind closed after learning of this: Did you know that Bucky has a better percentage of hitting a double as Barkley? That’s right.
Per The 33rd Team, nearly 13 percent (12.9) of Bucky’s runs went for 10 yards or more. Barkley was at 12.6.
So in other words, Bucky had a better chance of getting a first down than Barkley. For Joe, that’s pretty damn impressive.
Pro-Football-Reference.com shows Bucky and Saquon had nearly an identical stat for average yards per catch. Barkley had 8.4 yards a catch. Bucky had 8.3
It’s pretty wild to Joe that the Bucs have a running back who is equal to or possibly better than Barkley.
June 25th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Sorry Joe, Im still laughing at “Unique compensation demands”
Rachel did you hear Joe?
June 25th, 2025 at 7:26 am
I would take Bucky as the stats are similar, and he is 4 years younger. Less miles on the clock for a RB is important
June 25th, 2025 at 7:40 am
I’m taking Saquon. I like Bucky and all, but not enough to make bad decisions on purpose and certainly not based on this one stat. It’s impressive for our guy, but let’s not be silly.
June 25th, 2025 at 8:06 am
It will be interesting to see what kind of stats Bucky puts up this year. Last year, he was kind of an unknown. You better believe teams will be game planning for him this year. If he puts up comparable numbers in 2025 (hopefully better, because barring injury, he will start all 17 games), then I’ll be a true believer!
June 25th, 2025 at 8:22 am
Honestly come, the stats are similar and Saquon has had some major injuries. You look at his stats, with a bit of a roller coaster in last season was a huge anomaly. The Eagles run way more than they pass and they ran the crap out of him. I don’t think I would want to run my RB 345 times if they want to have him for the long term. I feel like they’re getting what they can out of him before he falls off a cliff. They better hope he’s the second coming of Adrian Peterson durability-wise. Another team could lure him away from the Eagles. He’s on contract to play through the 2026 season and they’re paying him pretty well, highest paid running back, but are they going to have anything left for 2026?
June 25th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Scratch the “Another team could lure him away from the Eagles” part. Saquon is being paid well and I feel like after 2026, running him as much as they do, there won’t be much left of him at 30.
June 25th, 2025 at 8:32 am
@SB hahahaha
June 25th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Watching Saquon live, he doesn’t look that impressive on most of his runs.
Bucky looks more impressive to me on more of his runs than Saquon.
I’d take Bucky.
And the funny thing is, Bucky prob isn’t even the best RB on our team.
That would be Tucker I think.
June 25th, 2025 at 8:53 am
And my Kia is better than a BMW best it has a better radio.
Sure Irving has got off to a great start and excels in certain areas but to say he may be better than Barkley based on this alone is another one of those stretches.
Henry, Gibbs, and Cook all had the most rushing TD’s last season but when you look at the Big Picture Barkley had 403 rushing yards on his 13 for an average of 31 and many being over 40 and on the opening drive or first play even.
Ask any Bucs fan and they would pick Irving but everyone else in the real world would pick Barkley hands down. Irving is a nuisance and will get yards while defenses shut down the weapons. Barley is a Threat and a weapon teams try to shut down and still goes for 200.
June 25th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Anyone saying they’d take Bucky over Saquon based on last year’s results isn’t being serious. I love watching Bucky play, he’s magnificent at finding open space. But Saquon can do things Bucky can’t, like having an extra level of speed to outrun anyone.
June 25th, 2025 at 9:59 am
“Barley is a Threat and a weapon teams try to shut down and still goes for 200”
Not too fast, we did a pretty darn good job limiting Barkley last season. Let’s not gloss over that. I know it’s commonplace to rag on our defense, but 12 touches for 115 combined yards and no scores? that’s pewter lining playbook
June 25th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
GO Bucky GO
RUN Bucky RUN
SCORE Bucky SCORE
June 25th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
The RB numbers also reflect their OL’s blocking. The Bucs OL improved a lot last year but they aren’t opening some of the huge holes that Philly created for Saquon. I think our OL will improve this year and will be in the same catagory as Philly and Detroit. For me, Bucky is the best RB in finding a tiny crack in the D and getting a good run on a so-so blocking play by the OL.