Regardless of solely carrying the ball 16 instances as a result of Bucs trailing by two scores for a lot of Sunday night time’s loss to the Cowboys, rookie working again Bucky Irving continued to be environment friendly together with his touches. He averaged 4.3 yards per stick with it his solution to a 68-yard, one-touchdown efficiency in Tampa Bay’s dropping effort.
Now, Irving is as much as 920 yards on the 12 months and is just 80 away from changing into the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015. With two weeks to play, that clearly averages out to him needing solely 40 yards per recreation to achieve that mark.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: USA As we speak
Irving and the Bucs have a positive matchup to make that milestone occur in Week 17, because the Panthers come to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday with the worst run protection within the league.
Carolina is permitting 175.2 yards per recreation on the bottom and regardless of beating Arizona 36-30 in additional time on Sunday, the protection allowed James Conner to common 7.8 yards per stick with it 15 carries which equaled out to 117 yards. Quarterback Kyler Murray additionally averaged 7.9 yards per carry, working for 63 yards on eight makes an attempt.
And bear in mind, Irving simply had a profession day towards the Panthers again in Week 13, preventing by damage to hurry for 152 yards and a landing on 25 carries.
Irving is averaging 5.5 yards per carry over 168 carries this season, so if he matches that common over 15 carries towards Carolina on Sunday, he’ll surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his first season within the league – and with a recreation to spare. The 2024 fourth-round choose additionally missed a lot of the Raiders recreation, so his effectivity appears much more spectacular.
Bucky Irving Closing In On Extra Bucs Historical past
Not solely is Bucky Irving closing in on changing into the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, however he’s additionally seeking to grow to be the ninth Buccaneer working again to achieve 1,000 yards in a season. And it could be simply the thirteenth 1,000-yard dashing season in franchise historical past. Right here’s the checklist as it’s now:
Bucs RB Doug Martin – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
1. James Wilder (Two – 1984, 1985)2. Doug Martin (Two – 2012, 2015)3. Ricky Bell (1979)4. Errict Rhett (Two – 1994, 1995)5. Cadillac Williams (2005)6. Reggie Cobb (1992)7. Warrick Dunn (Two – 1998, 2000)8. LeGarrette Blount (2010)
Irving appears primed to hitch that checklist throughout the subsequent two weeks, and doubtlessly as quickly as this Sunday. As soon as he does, he’ll be seeking to stand up the ranks by way of Tampa Bay’s all-time rookie dashing leaders. That checklist appears like this proper now:
1. Doug Martin – 1,454 yards (2012)2. Cadillac Williams – 1,178 yards (2005)3. Errict Rhett – 1,011 yards (1994)4. LeGarrette Blount – 1,007 yards (2010)
Irving may very realistically transfer forward of Blount for fourth and Rhett for third, and a pair explosive performances towards the Panthers and Saints over the subsequent two weeks may even see him leap Williams for the second-most dashing yards by a Buccaneers rookie working again.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving Picture by: USA As we speak
If Irving can attain the 1,000-yard mark, he’ll inch nearer to ending with a High 10 dashing season in franchise historical past, too. At 920 yards, he already has the 18th-most dashing yards by a Tampa Bay again in a single season. With seven extra yards, he’ll go Michael Pittman (926 in 2004) for seventeenth, whereas 30 extra yards will transfer him forward of Mike Alstott (949 in 1999) for sixteenth.
With 59 extra dashing yards, Irving will go Ronald Jones II (978 in 2020) and Warrick Dunn (978 in 1997) for 14th, whereas 71 extra yards will give him thirteenth, forward of backfield mate Rachaad White (990 in 2023).
Irving solely wants 107 yards over the subsequent two video games to achieve the High 10 single-season dashing leaders in group historical past, as Warrick Dunn’s 1,026 yards in 1998 is at the moment the Tenth-best single-season mark for any Buccaneer working again.
It’s already been a particular rookie season for Bucky Irving, and if he can end sturdy over the Bucs’ ultimate two common season video games, he’ll additional etch his identify into franchise historical past. And because it normally is with the rookie out of Oregon, it needs to be enjoyable to observe.
