In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers boasted one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL. An embarrassing 3.4 yards per carry is all the team could muster from a room where Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds and Sean Tucker combined for a paltry 2.9 yards per carry average.
That changed in 2024 with the addition of Liam Coen as offensive coordinator and Oregon running back Bucky Irving to the room.
Irving led all backs with 1,122 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, while White followed with 613 and three scores. More importantly for the Bucs, the yards per carry average went way up. Irving posted 5.4 and White registered 4.3. The team average was up to 5.3.
Enter Tucker back into the discussion. Tucker posted 308 yards on 60 carries. All three guys will be hungry for time with the ball in 2025, and new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard doesn't see that as an issue.
“There’s a spot for all three of those guys,” Grizzard said. “You can see, of course, what Bucky can do in his rookie year. What Rachaad brings to the table from a pass-catching standpoint and even in the run game. Really good route-runner, we all know he’s really good with the ball in his hands on screens, drop-back pass game. I don’t want to compare him to a lot of other guys, but he is close to if not as good as anybody we see in terms of pass protection in the NFL. That is a testament to what he can do from understanding blitz patterns, the communication with 'Bake' and Graham and the O-line. He’s done an unbelievable job with that and 'Tuck' as well.
"He had opportunities there in New Orleans and a couple of games down the stretch but he’s looked really good in the drills we’ve been doing right now. Hoping to see an increased role for Sean as well.”
After 2025, things could clear up a bit, as White is entering the final year of his contract. But the Buccaneers could decide to keep him if the three-headed monster works well next year.