Fitness Limited Bucky Irving
May 21st, 2025
Eye-popping moment yesterday at One Buc Palace.
Candid running backs coach Skip Peete took to the media studio podium and fielded questions from reporters. One was about the rise of Bucky Irving, last season’s superstar rookie running back.
Fans were screaming for Irving to start ahead of Rachaad White and get more touches.
Why didn’t that happen? There were multiple reasons, and Peete brought an off-the-radar one to light.
“At the beginning, you know, I mean he wasn’t really in enough shape to play an entire game, or even three-quarters of a game,” Peete said of Irving. “So you had to monitor kind of how many snaps he took. But as the season went along I think he got in a little better shape.”
Remember when Irving was missing practices with a toe issue? Joe does. Head coach Todd Bowles, back in October, seemed to let his guard down for a moment and said Irving would probably deal with the bad toe all season.
That didn’t happen. Irving started practicing regularly and his workload increased.
Unreal, 1,122 rushing yards for Irving last season on just 207 carries — plus 47 catches. That’s damn special for a guy who was, as his coach painted him, not in prime shape.
How much better can Irving be this season?
May 21st, 2025 at 8:25 am
Bucky reminds me of a combination of Lesean McCoy and Fred Taylor.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:37 am
I think it’s possible for Irving to have a 1500 yard season. A lot of rookies have culture shock when they jump up to the NFL.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:55 am
Irving averaged just over 12 rushes per game in his 3 years (39 Games) in College. With 439 Rushes over 3 seasons I don’t think anyone could think he would be carrying a 300 carries his first year in the NFL.
If he were 5 pounds lighter people would be referring to him as a Scat Back.
There is Gibbs/Montgomery, Robinson/Algier, and White/Irving . Bucs don’t have a best running Back Combo in the NFC but enough to keep defenses guessing.
Then you have Barley/Shipley (another pretty good 2nd year guy) that will stuff the ball down the defense’s throat for 200+ a game.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:25 am
Hopefully his “toe” issue is healed and translates to more top end speed.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:33 am
He wasn’t in enough shape and then he got I a little bit better shape? lol just sounds funny to me glad coaches saw the light however it happened.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:33 am
I believe Irving will get better, the rookie in him was gone before the season was two thirds of the way through if not before. He was ready for the challenge long before though. He is like a Energizer battery powered Tonka truck lol !!: Go Bucs!!!
May 21st, 2025 at 9:34 am
Can we please have a strength and conditioning staff and coaching leadership that don’t accept substandard conditioning as an accident, and proactively demand their 21ish year old professional athletes be in game shape in August?
For as good as the Bucs are in HR, this kind of stuff is maddening.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:36 am
I believe Rachaad White is the best “3rd down” back in the league. Thought that when he was playing behind Lenny too. With all three of these guys in their proper roles, we have the best RB room in the NFL.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:41 am
Every time BI7 gets his hands in the ball, exciting things happen. Bring the n September!!
May 21st, 2025 at 9:42 am
Correction: Bring on September!
May 21st, 2025 at 10:10 am
Coach Pete needs to get more credit for the transformation of the running game. Those experts” down on the Buccaneers say they will miss “the snake, but The offensive line coach and the running backs coach are back. I don’t forsees a drop off.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:21 am
Bucky is better than Rachaad but that doesn’t make Rachaad bad…
May 21st, 2025 at 10:24 am
Could be a number of factors…..I doubt he was purposely not preparing but instead simply didn’t adjust well to Florida’s heat/humidity. He played in Oregon, guessing he’s more accustomed to practicing indoors or in cooler temperatures. He’s also not the biggest dude, so maybe he didn’t adjust well to the strength and speed of NFL players. I think he’ll be much better conditioned this year and will likely add some weight as he continues to physically mature. He seems like a pro at his craft.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:59 am
Bad toe and he made those cuts and showed that elusiveness and acceleration?
With a second year C and full health, this could be a monster year.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:02 am
He was from Pacific Northwest, coming to Hot and Humid West Central Florida. It takes time to acclimate and most have no idea how much it takes out of you. Hydration and electrolytes are the key in a.ounts most never have had to intake.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:21 am
Give Coen credit for switching from primary zone blocking to gap blocking too. I know we hate “El Serpiente” but his blocking schemes made a huge difference in getting us out of the running gutter.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:36 am
“He reminds me of someone I played with last year. Bucky Irving.”
–
@ChaseEdmonds22
with high praise for Broncos rookie RB RJ Harvey
May 21st, 2025 at 11:38 am
Plus white ran order when he got his touches.
Bucky is clearly has the biggest back buzz since 40.
May 21st, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Let’s not forget about Sean Tucker ! Dude can run .we have 3 good backs .white is really good catching and then running . Bucky is well bucky lol.and Tucker plows through people .😁
May 21st, 2025 at 2:12 pm
If Bucky stays healthy, I expect he has a real chance to have over 2,000 yards of offense even with the deep running back room the Bucs have.
May 21st, 2025 at 2:19 pm
All the praise well deserved for Bucky and Rashad, but yeah we got Sean Tucker too! After his monster game in Nola was offensive player of the week, and people were talking about the “Buck & Tuck” show, which was disrespectful to White. Fact is we’ve got three really solid running backs at the top of the depth chart. PS if I remember right I’m pretty sure Tucker is actually timed as the fastest, even though his thighs are as big as some people’s waist. if you’re old enough to remember think Mike Allstott. And Allstott was not just a Bruiser, when he got in space he was downright fast! Go back and look at some of his highlight reels, and see if that doesn’t resemble Tucker.
May 21st, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Aqualung
You read the article differently than I.
I read the article that Bucky was unable to do the normal running back conditioning because he had a very bad toe that they did not want to escalate into a worse long term full season injury. After the toe healed, the amount of running and conditioning increased.
It seems you read it like the training staff was somehow letting him slide on conditioning apparently because he was not the main running back on the team.
I guess both hypothesis’ are possible. Not surprisingly, I will go with mine over yours.
May 21st, 2025 at 2:47 pm
WestPhillyBucsFan Says:
May 21st, 2025 at 8:25 am
Bucky reminds me of a combination of Lesean McCoy and Fred Taylor.
—————————————-
He reminds me of Barry Sanders
May 21st, 2025 at 2:55 pm
A crowded room of good dudes is a good room.
May 21st, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Everyone has to remember these nfl rookies. Don’t really get a break between College and the NFL. After the college season they immediately start pre-draft/combine workouts. They don’t get much rest or relaxation. These teams need to realize 2/3rds through the NFL rookie season these guys hit a wall. Running backs especially need a snap count. We want Bucky to play longer than a year or two.
May 21st, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Hopefully it’s not turf toe. That never really goes away.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:05 pm
If he has another year like that get ahead of it and give him a new contract. David leaving and id bet either Evans or Godwin could be gone next year creates cap. And besides mayfield or Reddick coming back they don’t really need to pay anyone right. Gedoke and mauch maybe?
May 21st, 2025 at 9:06 pm
“said Irving would probably deal with the bad toe all season.”
Sounds like turf toe to me….
Something I’ve lived with since my mid 20s….
It never goes away. Gets better – then gets tweaked or stressed and its a problem again for a period….. Rinse and repeat – rinse and repeat….
Bucky will have to learn to live with it and how best to ‘manage’ that toe throughout his career – and life….
May 21st, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Pewter colored glasses on but Bucky is one of the better RBs I’ve ever seen tote the rock – and I’ve seen Barry live many times as a Bucs fan since the beginning. Dude has all the moves and runs hard. Elite speed missing but whatever. Dude is a stud. Stay healthy young man.
May 22nd, 2025 at 1:45 am
Not buying what Bowles or Peete are selling here. Irving played an entire college season out of shape? Or got out of shape somehow between the end of his college season and camp? Not likely. Toe injury got him out of shape? Come on man!
White got a chance to redeem himself as a runner and, well… he did better but tended to revert to his dance routine. Believe it. That drives Bowles nuts. See Fournette.
Go Bucs!
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:52 am
This toe issue will ALWAYS be a problem for little Bucky. Bucs need to ensure they have depth at RB. And they do for the most part.
May 22nd, 2025 at 11:02 am
If Griz and Baker run the offense right they should average about 32 PPG.
The issue with predicting stats is so many weapons: Evans, Godwin, McMillan, Egbuka, Bucky, White. Otton. I see people mentioning Bucky for 2000 total yards. I hope not. Spread the ball, stay fresh and healthy late into the season