By james art 
Learned to tackle NFL defenses.
Some NFL sages say that in December, rookies are no longer rookies if they’re starting.
That means a rookie with 12 games as a starter is now a veteran.
Although Bucs rookie Bucky Irving still has his rookie status, he admitted he doesn’t feel much like a rookie anymore.
“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.
“I feel like it’s at every level you play, like when you come from high school, it turns into college and then from college to the NFL.”
For Irving, there certainly is. According to NextGen Stats, he has the highest forced fumble percentage of any running back in the game. His specialty coming out of Oregon was making the first man miss.
He does that in the NFL too.
“Once you know how the defenses are playing, how fast things are moving, you almost get a groove and everything just slows down for you,” Irving said.
Irving also dismissed any tension with other Bucs running backs because Bucs coach Todd Bowles wants a triple attack at running back.
Irving said his Oregon Ducks have a three-headed running back attack and have no problems because all the running backs are tight and each wants the other to succeed and win.
“It’s always good to have three good backs in the room, and you just have to watch your brother’s back when one of us is in there,” Irving said.
And some think Irving should be there more often.