Bucs' Bucky Irving All For Running Back Competition

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is beginning to find his stride in Year 1 and now might be ready to usurp starter Rachaad White after just six weeks.

The Buccaneers dismantled the New Orleans Saints 51-27, thanks in part to the run game, with Irving and Sean Tucker accounting for a combined 217 yards from 28 carries. However, this does pose the question of how the pecking order will work once White returns.

But Irving isn't bothered by the offense having three running backs who perform at a high level. He's ready to compete and help his team win football games.

“When I was in college, if you got a lot of running backs that compete at a high level and go out there and win football games, it's great,” Irving said . “It's always good to have guys going out there and doing their job at a high level. But, we competing, that's what we here for. We here to win games, and if it takes three of us in a room to go out there and compete, let's do it.”

Irving, through six games, leads the Buccaneers in attempts (58) and yards (328) and is joint-leader in touchdowns (two). In addition, he has 10 receptions for 70 yards, so Bucky is finding his role in Liam Coen's scheme rather easily.

But when White returns, it will be interesting to see how the pecking order shakes out, given that Irving only has one start compared to Rachaad, who has five in six games.

Related: Bucs' Offense: Coen and Mayfield Hitting Timely Groove

Then we have Tucker, who exploded against the Saints (136 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards, and a receiving and rushing touchdown).

So there might be an avenue where the Buccaneers use all three running backs going forward and if they don't, the player left out can consider themselves rather unlucky.