Bucky Irving Theatrics
The Buccaneers' run game has reached new heights in 2024 as Bucky Irving continues to take the NFL be storm with his shifty feet, elusive moves and vision. Against the Cowboys in Week 16, Irving forced a season-high six missed tackles in the first half with 38 yards after contact. He amassed 68 yards on 16 totes and a touchdown (4.3 average) and added three receptions for 24 yards, totaling 92 yards from scrimmage. With his seven rushing touchdowns this season, Irving tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie running back in team history and now trails only Doug Martin (11 in 2012). Irving currently leads all rookies in rushing touchdowns (seven), yards from scrimmage (1,240) and rushing yards (920). He has thrived in the Bucs' gap-heavy scheme running behind pullers with a downhill charge. On Bucs Total Access, right guard Cody Mauch dished on the logistics of blocking for a slippery back like Irving.
"You have to be on your toes and hold your blocks a little bit longer because I remember – I think it was against the Broncos – he was going wide out to the left and I am just trying to keep my guy in the middle of the field and all of a sudden, he made a guy miss and was cutting it back to the middle of the field. Then, I thought, 'Oh my gosh I am in this play. I need to hold him a little bit longer.' He very rarely gets tackled by the first person and he just does such a good job in space making guys miss. It is electric the way he runs it, and it is so much fun to block."
The Impenetrable force that is Vita Vea
Vita Vea, the Bucs' one-man wrecking crew, is having a dominant year in the interior of the line. He routinely sheds double teams with ease and collapses the pocket. Vea, who has 6.0 sacks in 2024 and 29.5 across his career, intimidates at the point of attack. He has rare pursuit for his size and clogs holes in the run game. Vea is lethal on bull rushes and casts aside grown men like rag dolls on Sundays. Mauch has had to face Vea on multiple occasions during practice and is glad he is not in the cleats of opposing linemen on gameday. When asked about the menacing nose tackle, Mauch described what it is like to anchor against one of the most destructive forces in the league.
"When you are blocking him in training camp, it is just get my hands in and pray. Just sit here and lose slowly because he is just so strong and powerful. That is really what it is. Honestly, a lot of the time that is the coaching point – get in, anchor as best you can and hold on. That is really all you can do. He is just such a strong, explosive dude and athletic, too, for how big he is. He moves really well for how big he is."
Self-Evaluation
Mauch, originally a second-round draft selection out of North Dakota State, has come into his own in 2024. He has helped solidify the line and has been effective on pulls in the run game, spurring Irving and Rachaad White. The 6-5, 302-pound Mauch started 39 consecutive games at left tackle for the Bison and in 2022 was named the FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year. He flipped to the inside when he got to the league in 2023 and placed an emphasis on hand placement this offseason. With outstanding drive block skills, a competitive disposition, finishing mindset and redirection skills, Mauch helps set the tone. On the team's weekly radio show, Mauch gave a rundown of the transition process from left tackle to right guard.
"I am so much more comfortable now. The thing about the transition last year, especially pass pro-wise, was you do three years at left tackle and you are so use to throwing your outside hand with your left and now you are on the right side at guard and everything happens so much faster. It was so dumb because last year I knew what I wanted to do and what I had to do but my body just wouldn't do it. Finally, I got after it a little bit during the offseason and figured some things out. The biggest thing is on the inside you can throw your hands and you have a way better shot…Now, my body is listening to my head and I am more confident."
