Buccaneers' Bucky Irving 'Hard To Ignore'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is making everyone in the organization stand up and take notice of his performances through the first three weeks.

With Irving, for the most part, playing second fiddle to Rachaad White, the rookie has flashed repeatedly as both a runner and pass catcher when he has gotten his chances.

While White remains the starting running back for now, offensive coordinator Liam Coen says Bucky's form is getting hard to ignore.

“It's hard to ignore,” Coen said . “I mean, he touches the ball, typically some good things have occurred. So that's why in that last game, [we] tried to get him the ball and try to get him the ball in space and dial some things up for him. He's just continuing to get better and better, and his role will continue to go as he goes, and as much as keeps producing, and he keeps doing all the right things like he has been, [the] more he'll get.”

Irving is the Buccaneers' leading rusher with 154 yards, while White (66) is less productive. What is striking is that White has had six more rushing attempts than Bucky.

So Irving is doing far more with fewer reps. He only totaled 18 snaps against the Denver Broncos , however that was due to game script with the Buccaneers forced to throw to get back into the game and White is a better pass protector.

Related: Should Buccaneers Trade Rachaad White?

But going forward, as Coen states, if Irving keeps producing as he has done through the first three games, his number will get called far more often.

He isn't the starting running back just yet, but if Ivring's arrow keeps trending upward, we can feel it's only a matter of time.