Bonded pair.
The Bucs keep scoring points against good teams. So it’s easy to forget how much Bucky Irving and Mike Evans mean to the Tampa Bay offense when they’re on the field, which they haven’t been for the past two games.
On the running backs front, Rachaad White has filled in very well, as Joe expected.
White had to be salivating for the chance to the top-dog back when Irving went down with foot and shoulder issues. White, 26, is in a contract year and he wasn’t getting a lot of touches.
Still, White wants Irving back on the field. And he swears he isn’t just saying that for show, per his recent comments on Fan Duel Sports Network.
> “It’s cool, but, you know, I miss Bucky. I’m going to just be real; I’m not coming over here giving everybody the answer they want to hear,” White said.
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> “I think we both bring a lot of different things to the table. You know, I say this all the time. ‘There’s nothing wrong with having two good backs.’ I think we both keep the defense on their heels and toes because our running styles are different.”
White went on to say he and Bucky are uniquely different players but also effective.
Joe wrote and said this offseason that chatter about White being traded during NFL Draft week was borderline lunacy. The man scored 9 touchdowns last season and is durable and inexpensive. Good teams don’t toss those players aside.
This year, White has 4 rushing touchdowns on just 54 carries, one of the best ratios in the NFL. Irving has zero rushing yards in the red zone despite 7 attempts. (Yes, that’s a real stat.)
Joe loves Bucky. He’s electric. But White has matured into an extremely valuable and versatile player. Hopefully, rookie playcaller Josh Grizzard figures out how to maximize both backs when Bucky returns.