Tucker and Irving Performances Call for Shuffling of Bucs' Backfield
Heading into the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers projected depth at several positions, namely receiver and outside linebacker. After finishing among the worst rushing offenses in 2023, running back was certainly not on the team's radar as a spot of depth.
However, Bucky Irving's emergence this season challenged that theory to an extent. Sunday, both Irving and third-string back Sean Tucker completely flipped that notion around.
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The Bucs achieved their most net yards in a game in franchise history with 594. Traditionally on their passing ability, Tampa Bay's offense did its best work on the ground against the Saints, totaling 277 rushing yards.
That mark is six less than the team's franchise record of 283 accumulated against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and the third-best tally in team history. Some Sterling Shepard carries and a few Baker Mayfield scrambles aided in the cause, but the running backs drove this performance.
With No. 1 running back Rachaad White sidelined with an injury, Tampa Bay split work between Tucker and Irving who together combined for 217 yards on the ground.
Irving showed much of what he has hinted at through the team's first five games, continuing to be a force in the open field and posting his second score of the year.
But Tucker's performance proved the greater revelation. The Syracuse product took the same 14 carries as Irving, turning those into 136 yards and a touchdown. Baker Mayfield would also utilize his talents through the air, tossing him three passes that ended in 56 yards and another touchdown.
Not only did they both outshine Tampa Bay's regular starter, but the third-stringer was the most effective offensive weapon on the field. Can the Bucs truly just go back to normal when White returns to the lineup?
While Sunday was only a one-game sample size, it gives Liam Coen and the offense something to consider moving forward. White is certainly a premier receiving threat in this system but has been shown up by both his backups as pure ball carriers out of the backfield.
The No. 1 spot may be hard for White to concede and this young crop may get more chance to prove themselves in the coming weeks. But the Bucs find themselves in a solid spot with multiple options to explore at running back, all capable of producing in a positive way.
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