By james art This is Bucky Irving’s first NFL season in Tampa Bay. There’s still a lot to learn, but for a rookie, he’s definitely getting the hang of things.
Irving is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has more yards rushing than any rookie running back this year, boasting 395 yards on the ground. He also has the most rushing touchdowns, with three, and is useful in the passing game, with 164 receiving yards – also the most among rookies this year.
Irving has looked impressive all year. And for him, the game of football is already slowing down for him eight games into his NFL tenure.
“I think it slowed down a lot for me,” Irving said. “When I first got out there, it was pretty fast, but I feel like the more you play, it slows down a lot — it’s at any level you play … once you understand how defenses play, how fast things go , you just get a rhythm and everything slows down.”
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It’s not just up to him, of course. Although it took a while to get going, Tampa Bay’s offensive line was excellent in the zone-and-gap game and led to a lot of success with the help of Irving and running backs Shaun Tucker and Rachad White.
Irving realizes this. And the confidence he has in that front line has led to his success.
“My o-line is doing a great job. Every game, I trust those guys to go out there and get the blocks for me,” Irving says. “I just have to trust my track and keep things going. I just feel like I have to trust the process and good things will happen.”
It’s good that Irving is leading the rookie running backs and playing great football. But individual accolades don’t seem as important to him as the ultimate goal when a football team takes the field on Sunday.
“I don’t really set goals,” Irving said. “I want to win football games.”
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