The Buccaneers have experienced a resurgence on the ground in 2024. Tampa Bay has rushed for 100-plus yards in 8 of 11 (72.7%) games this season after doing so in 9-of-34 (26.5%) games over the previous two seasons. The Bucs currently rank fourth in the NFL in yards per rush (4.9) after finishing 32nd in that category in each of the previous two seasons. Tampa Bay's 4.9 rushing yards per attempt this season is the team's highest average through 11 games in team history. An attributing factor to the ascension is rookie running back Bucky Irving, who has provided a spark.
Irving ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per touch (5.4) among players with 125-plus touches this season, trailing only a trio of Pro Bowl running backs. His 40.7% forced missed tackle percentage leads the NFL, and he consistently makes defenders miss. Irving is tough to bring down with elite contact balance and lethal lateral cut.
"There are so many elements that go into having a successful running game," noted Chris Godwin. "There is scheme, there is the offensive line, there is receivers, there is running backs trusting the path of the play and it has been really cool to see this come together this year and honestly I think last year we saw a little bit of improvement. The scheme was so different than anything we had done in the past with the mid-zone and for offensive linemen it is tougher because the angles are different and the intent is different. I do think that what we did last year helped us transition with the offensive line play and their understanding, the running backs understanding the angles and the receivers understanding where the cutback lanes will be – it all plays together."
Irving's decisiveness downhill is a tailor-made fit for the Bucs' use of counter gap runs and outside zone. He has 579 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, while backfield mate Rachaad White has tallied 343 yards and two touchdowns. Both make an impact off checkdowns, creating after the catch. White is adept in pass protection and runs with patience, letting his blocks develop. He can stack cuts to maneuver around linebackers and Sean Tucker has added 189 yards and two touchdowns to the mix as a change-of-pace viable option in the running back room. Tucker has an instinctive feel for creating space from defenders and is effective on stretch plays. The trio in Tampa Bay have helped resurrect the Bucs' ground game in 2024 to one of the most formidable in the league.
"This is the most balanced offense I have been in," stated Baker Mayfield. "You talk about the scheme we are running in and how we are executing in the run game now, and just the different personnels that we have been forced to get into and learn and grow in with injuries that we have had, so it is fun to see. It is fun to see the different packages and stuff that we can do."
