Bucky Irving is back, but where's his game?

TAMPA, Fla. — The frustration was at full boil, spilling over onto the sideline last Sunday when running back Bucky Irving began jawing with the Bucs offensive linemen after another stalled series against the Dolphins.

That’s when Tristan Wirfs stepped in. The Bucs Pro Bowl tackle was inactive due to a toe injury, but he sent Irving away before emotions got too overheated.

“I think my role was to calm him down a little bit,” Wirfs said. “Just de-escalate because obviously, he’s frustrated. We’re all frustrated. Little tiff. That’s my little bro, so I’m just trying my best to be the mediator.

“I think me and Bucky are great. We’ll always be great. You know, (winning) one in your last (eight) is tough. It’s something a lot us haven’t done. So frustrations were a little high and that’s all right. That’s going to happen. ... The video did look funny. But we’re all good.”

But the fact is Irving hasn’t been very good this season. Since returning to the lineup in Week 13 and starting five games, the former Oregon star has only rushed for 266 yards on 91 carries for a 2.92-yard average. He had 19 yards on nine carries in Miami.

He’s failed to average even 3.0 yards per rushing attempt in any game he’s played since returning.

Irving has spoken openly about his mental challenges off the field that resulted from his injuries. But he’s never struggled this much to simply run the ball. On the season, Irving has 503 rushing yards on 147 attempts, a 3.4-yard average, and a touchdown. As a receiver, he’s done well, catching 29 passes for 264 yards and three TDs.

“He’s been through battles this year,” offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said. “There’s been explosive plays and then there’s been some where it could be a small detail of being more efficient when it comes to that. … I can help him out with some of the scheme. We can block it better at times in terms of executing what’s there. You see a couple of those runs in a game where it goes backwards, and ultimately, it’s not really on (Irving), You can put it on me."

Also, the offensive line is short-handed. Wirfs missed the Miami game with turf toe. He sat out the first three games of the season recovering from knee surgery and missed another game with an oblique injury.

Perhaps more importantly, the Bucs have played much of the season without either starting guard. Cody Mauch sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 at Houston. Ben Bredeson has been in and out of the lineup all season and was finally placed on injured reserve when he injured his knee in Week 14 vs. the Saints.

Despite his size at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Irving may be a better inside zone runner than he is getting the edge.

Regardless of the play call, Irving hasn’t resembled the back who rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, more than fulfilling his promise as a fourth-round pick out of Oregon last year.

Granted, the Tampa Bay rushing offense isn’t what it has been. A year ago, the Bucs were fourth in rushing with 2,536 yards, and their 5.2-yard average was third in the league. They have plummeted to 21st with 1,807 rushing yards and are averaging 1 yard fewer per attempt.

As for Irving, there have been times when it didn’t look like he was willing to take on full contact. Case in point last Sunday: The Bucs faced third and 1 at midfield early in the second quarter. Irving took a swing pass from Baker Mayfield in the flat and went out of bounds short of the first-down marker.

Ultimately, the Bucs punted after trying but failing to draw the Dolphins offside at midfield.

Meanwhile, since Irving has returned to the lineup, running back Rachaad White has made the most of his few opportunities. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry against the Saints. He had only one rushing attempt the next week versus the Falcons but it went for 20 yards. At Carolina two weeks ago, White ripped off a 39-yard run but finished with only 45 yards on five attempts.

“I thought he’s played well,” Grizzard said of White. “The way he’s conducted himself and stayed even-keeled and taking opportunities when he gets them. What he’s able to do for us in pass protection. I’ve said it ad nauseam in here: I think he’s as good as there is in this league on third down. ... He’s truly a three-down running back and has really done a good job.”

But if the Bucs are going to win Saturday’s regular-season finale against Carolina, Irving will need to be productive again. Wirfs will need to be leading him through the hole, not chasing him to the other side of the bench.

“When you see that on a sideline on game day, that’s just passion,” Grizzard said. “It’s funny, they were actually just joking about it. It just comes down to the heat of the battle where everybody wants to win. Frustrated, in-game, we had a couple of good hits early, and then ultimately went backwards on a couple of them. … So, he gets frustrated, the offensive line gets frustrated. Again, it’s because they want to go out there and put something good on tape and ultimately win the game."