Jump Ball Bucky Irving
August 18th, 2025
NFL All-22 look at exactly where Bucky Irving was when Teddy Bridgewater released the touchdown pass to him Saturday night.
Joe asked Todd Bowles about throwing a go-ball to Bucky Irving against the Steelers on Saturday and Bowles responded with a reference to a basketball player who retired 52 years ago.
“Bucky says all you got to do is throw it up to him, like he’s Wilt Chamberlain or somebody,” Bowles said of his 5-foot-9 running back. “But, you know, he has great hands. He’s a great competitor and, you know, those are things that can develop and may be another weapon for us out there.”
Chamberlain was the iconic NBA center for the 76ers and Lakers, and a man known for other athletic prowess.
Joe was equally impressed by the Teddy Bridgewater throw to Irving, who start of boxed out his defender in the end zone to create space for the touchdown catch.
Irving has been seen several times in training camp working on deep routes. He did not catch a touchdown pass in his stellar rookie season but ranked second in the NFL in catch percentage.
No, Joe doesn’t expect deep balls to Irving to be a significant part of the Bucs offense. But the film is out there, and it could tweak a safety (or defensive coordinator) enough to help create space for another passing weapon.
Teddy Two Gloves still got it 🧤🧤
Bridgewater connects with RB Bucky Irving who makes a terrific grab for the touchdown. pic.twitter.com/mahqhc093z
— Kenny Morales (@KennyMoralesTV) August 16, 2025
August 18th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
Nice new wrinkle grizz
GO BUCS
August 18th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
More like the 11/12 yard line but great play nonetheless, go Bucs!
No, slow down the film.–Joe
August 18th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
Buccaneer Irving
August 18th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
Hope Jmac is ok.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:06 pm
I saw Wilt up close along the baseline the last ABA, NBA allstar game before the merger. Biggest human being I’ve ever seen in my life.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Hodad breaking out the ol’ school stories. Good memory.
Agree with Bojim… great throw but doesn’t make up for JMac injury.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:26 am
You keep calling 15 yards “deep” and I’m not sure that sandwhich needs that much cheese on it
August 19th, 2025 at 3:13 am
Think you have it there at the end, Joe – if you put a year of film out there that your offense doesn’t throw the ball downfield you better show it in the next preseason.
August 19th, 2025 at 5:52 am
Hope that is not a go to for Grizzard….LOL
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Impressive!
August 19th, 2025 at 8:33 am
So Bucky lining up out wide and getting single coverage against the Steelers version of KJ Britt? No Brainer.
Sure Wilt the Stilt was a force in the paint but what you are seeing here is more like Chamberlain trying to cover Allen Iverson on the open floor. Bridgewater knew where he was going with the ball well before the ball was snapped. 100% you won’t see that in the regular season so although it was a pretty pass and catch I would not put much stock it. Dennis the Menace took advantage of Mr. Wilson. No surprise there.
August 19th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Bridge put that in a teacup. Not sue why he went into retirement.
August 19th, 2025 at 8:37 am
“Chamberlain was the iconic NBA center for the 76ers and Lakers, and a man known for other athletic prowess.”
The basketball court was not the only venue that Chamberlain was known for his “prowess”. The bedroom was too. Of course a lot of that information was probably just Chamberlain self glossing.
August 19th, 2025 at 8:41 am
The thing is, if they go empty backfield and isolate him on a LB, he’s going to have an advantage, so I like them giving him opportunities to make a play downfield like that. The LB’s are typically in catch up mode and don’t get their head around in time, so the QB can just chuck it up and let Bucky adjust and make a play on the ball.
August 19th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Personally, I think they need to create some passing options for Irving just so he isn’t facing stacked boxes on first and second down. Good idea by Griz.
August 19th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
“Mike Says” I agree with your take.
However if the LB had made contact with BE in the first five yards as he is supposed to(but almost always gets a flag these days, even though it’s legal )this play never happens. Then again, Bucky’d probably make him wiff and it would have been a walk in. Only thing I hated more in my limited experience as a LB was covering a back out of the backfield. Goes against every instinct to hit a ball carrier without the ball. Especially the guys Bucky’s size with a center of gravity in their ankles. If you miss, you look like a clown.
Just my two cents.