Warren Sharp: All Hail Bucky Irving
July 6th, 2025
Baller.
It seems a Bucs rookie may have been the catalyst for one of the best offenses in the game last season.
If one believes a good run game opens up the passing attack, then Joe guesses one could argue that the most important player on the Bucs offense in 2024 was rookie running back Bucky Irving.
Irving ran for 1,122 yards yet he only started three games. But man, did he explode on the ground. Almost single-handedly, Irvin turned a moribund run game into a weapon.
In his “Sharp Football Analysis 2025 Preview,” noted handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp documented the dramatic difference between Rachaad White (as a runner) and Bucky.
In 2023, Rachaad White handled the workload almost exclusively, and he was terrible:
Out of 49 RBs with 100+ rushes, he ranked:
#48 in early down success
#47 in success
#44 in EPA/rush
#42 in explosive run rate
#42 in yards created after contact
#40 in YPCEnter Irving and a new philosophy from Coen about how, when, and why to run the ball.
A Bucs rushing attack that ranked #32 in success rate, #32 in yards per carry, #17 in expected points added, and #31 in explosive run rate improved in 2024 to #3 in success rate, #3 in YPC, #4 in EPA, and #3 in explosive run rate.
And it would have been even higher if the Bucs gave 100% of their carries to Irving, because he lapped White in efficiency.
Joe was OK with how the Bucs were a little measured in feeding Bucky the ball. Let’s remember, Bucky was a rookie and even though rookies do not like to admit it, they all have to deal with the famed rookie wall.
Also, Bucky isn’t exactly Derrick Henry. He’s a little guy. The Bucs knew they needed him for the playoffs. So they didn’t want to get Bucky burned out or beaten to a pulp, and flaccid in the playoffs.
Joe gets how Sharp gives all the praise to Bucky. But Joe thinks both former offensive coordinator Liam Coen and current offensive line coach Kevin Carberry deserve props, too.
Coen devised just the right offense and blocking scheme for Bucky. Carberry coached up his linemen to execute it. And we all saw the result.
But yeah, Joe thinks it’s fair to wonder if the Bucs would have even made the playoffs last year without Bucky.
July 6th, 2025 at 12:31 am
Bucky is better than White but it wasn’t 100% his fault. The run blocking made a huge change to more of a Gap scheme. White benefited from this as well.
July 6th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Too bad there weren’t “playoffs” but rather one playoff loss. Maybe if the Bucs make the playoffs again with the split halves coach/DC, they can force one punt, maybe by the end of the third quarter.
July 6th, 2025 at 12:46 am
White and Irving are an excellent tandem. The tandem needs to be expanded to make more room for Tucker. And, the Bucs need to find a way to keep White on the team after this season.
Yes, Irving had a thousand yard rookie season. But, when the Bucs offensive line was at its best, White was on his way to a thousand yard rookie season. Brady opted to get Evans another thousand yard season instead of getting one for the rookie White.
Yes, I would take Irving over White. But, I worry about Irving’s durability and I don’t want to see him overworked and broken down. I want to see more of what Tucker can do, but White should be a keeper even if Tucker sets the field on fire.
July 6th, 2025 at 2:26 am
So sad he’ll never probably make it to decent second contract.
Oh the throes of R.B’s in the NFL.
July 6th, 2025 at 6:41 am
Trade White. Make it the Buck and Tuck show this year.
July 6th, 2025 at 7:15 am
I am not an expert but very few RBs can do well wthout some help. Play calling/design, good blocking are huge!
Barry Sanders did well but the Lions had little else as I remember. Adrian Peterson could carry the Vikings too.
Bucky was amazing last year. This year he will be an All Pro!
Go Bucs!
July 6th, 2025 at 7:16 am
“rushing attack that ranked #32 in success rate, #32 in yards per carry, #17 in expected points added, and #31 in explosive run rate”
How is any of that ‘tops’?
July 6th, 2025 at 7:19 am
White is a solid back, he hurt himself from a thousand yards by falling short of the end zone a few games.
July 6th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Lt. Dan Says:
July 6th, 2025 at 6:41 am
“Trade White. Make it the Buck and Tuck show this year.”
I get the preferred players for a fan. We all have our favs.
But why suggest the trading of a player who provides important elements to the offense?
I agree, white shouldn’t be a starter…but that doesn’t mean he needs to go.
William Gholston was never starting material, but he served a purpose. So does White.
July 6th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Bucky is a stud. Tucker needs to run the ball more. He’s also a stud. White is a consistent stud with 2500 total yards and 20 touchdowns the last two years. Let’s hope White signs a team friendly deal and somehow we can keep him for his whole career.
July 6th, 2025 at 7:57 am
@ Bonzai: My thinking is this: The Bucs have Bucky, Tucker and Josh Williams from LSU on the roster, all on rookie contracts. White is coming up on that point where he will be negotiating a veteran contract. I say trade him to a running back needy team and recoup a player (ILB or Safety maybe?) and a late draft choice. So most of my reasoning is financial and somewhat….production.
July 6th, 2025 at 8:59 am
White’s stats improved as a runner when Coen came in as the OC, running for 4.3 YPC. He’s the best pass blocker on the team and is one of the best RBs in the NFL when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield. Why would you want to trade him??? We need the depth! The Super Bowl window is open! We need the depth at that critical position. I love Buck & Tuck, but if one of them gets injured after White was traded, we’d be down to 1 good RB, which is not good.
I get that he’s in a contract year and trading him would be beneficial financially and could acquire some draft capital for 2026, but it would be dangerous to reduce our proven depth at that position in a season when you’re attempting to throw another boat parade. The RB position is even more important during the playoffs, and there’s no guarantee that Bucky & Tucker will still be OK by that
point after 17 games.
July 6th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Lt. Dan Says:
July 6th, 2025 at 7:57 am
@ Bonzai: My thinking is this: The Bucs have Bucky, Tucker and Josh Williams from LSU on the roster, all on rookie contracts. White is coming up on that point where he will be negotiating a veteran contract. I say trade him to a running back needy team and recoup a player (ILB or Safety maybe?) and a late draft choice.”
Okay…you convinced me, lol.
If it come down to trading him or overpaying him…trade him. And if you are going to trade him, I suggest they do it sooner rather than later. Waiting until his contract is under negotiation would be unwise, so…you got me 🙂
July 6th, 2025 at 9:56 am
@Lt. Dan
btw…good on you for not taking the easy route and hurling insults like so many here. You explained and made a convert.