“That New Kevin Faulk For Tom Brady”
May 18th, 2022
“Jason, is this kid really that good?”
Joe doesn’t recall this much hype for former Bucs running back Ronald Jones.
Perhaps that’s because when Jones was drafted the Bucs had a bad team, a bad coach and a quarterback about to be handed a three-game suspension from the NFL after he accepted the league’s sex offender label.
Yes, Joe is so glad The Lost Decade of Buccaneers football has ended. Now Tampa Bay is under everyone’s microscope.
BSPN TV was all over the Bucs having their first spring (OTA) practice that permitted a bunch of football work yesterday, albeit in shorts and without pads.
NFL Live broadcasted video of practice and former Pro Bowl safety Ryan Clark was barking about how rookie running back Rachaad White, the Bucs’ third-round pick, will be “that new Kevin Faulk for Tom Brady. Clark said he’s seen White at Arizona State and liked what he saw.
And Clark was adamant that Brady will prefer Todd Bowles’ demeanor to style of Bucco Bruce Arians.
Clark, who played with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich in Pittsburgh, told the nation that Brady will like his new autonomy in the Tampa Bay offense without Arians around. And he said Brady will appreciate having a head coach who won’t routinely blame him or blast his game publicly.
Joe was intrigued by Clark thinking White could step in and be a trusted weapon for Brady quickly.
Faulk spent 13 years as primarily a third-down back for the Belicheats. He won three Super Bowls with Brady and is in the Patriots Hall of Fame.
White sure has a lot of fans among college football observers, including former Bucs QB Shaun King. Joe’s not sure White is better than Ke’Shawn Vaughn, but that’s the beauty of the upcoming running backs competition.
May 18th, 2022 at 10:26 am
If Burger King likes him, that’s a big red flag. Mr “Mike Evans is Past his Prime” should just keep his mouth full of fried food and refrain from commenting on the Bucs.
May 18th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Rachaad White has the vision and patience of Le’Veon Bell but is more elusive than Bell was. Check their college highlights back to back and tell me if you see the similarities.
I believe both White and Leonard Fournette are capable of having 1000 scrimmage yards each this year.
May 18th, 2022 at 10:50 am
It will take some time for Brady to be in synch with White. It did for Lenny. That’s OK. It’s a long season. Joe, will spcial plays be designed for White? Speed in space?
May 18th, 2022 at 11:18 am
I could see White taking on more of a Dion Lewis type role in terms of being a “change of pace” RB if we’re talking past NE RB comparisons.
May 18th, 2022 at 11:42 am
Goodness, Joe, could you at least add a trigger warning before rehashing the 2018 season!?!? Here I am having a nice morning when… BAM!
May 18th, 2022 at 11:43 am
I don’t think either ROJO or Vaughn were the Bucs first choice at RB the years they were drafted. This year I believe the Bucs got their man. I really like White…but only time will tell!
May 18th, 2022 at 11:47 am
White is going to be better than Faulk.
May 18th, 2022 at 11:58 am
I know that the runnng back position doesn’t get the same emphasis as it used to, but it’s still one of my favorite positions and I’m excited to see this kid play. He’s got nothing special in front of him on the depth chart, so maybe we can be one of those teams that finds a Curtis Martin type runner in the third round?
May 18th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
I think white could be better than Lenny definitely looks more natural catching the ball than Lenny with more elusiveness as well
May 18th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Everyone compares White to Bell, Bell was close to 240 in college before he slimmed down to 226 and had more power to his game than White shows, you want to see an exact replica of Whites style in college, look up Demarco Murray, they every look the same when they run
May 18th, 2022 at 12:40 pm
And that’s why it won’t take as long as Lenny to get in sync.
He is a “Natural” ball catcher.
How many times have you seen Lenny get hit facing backwards after the catch when he gets hit?
How you gonna make a move, moon walk past them.
White turns and catches while his body is moving forwards.
The difference is only a second but changes the play drastically.
May 18th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
His tape looks too much like Rojo. I’ll believe it when I see it.
May 18th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Catching balls in college is vastly different than the pros. Everything is much much faster. Like Biff said, it’ll take this kid time to adjust to the speed. If this kid is as good as the hype l, I’d love to see more shotgun split back formations. It’s a personnel grouping Brady and the Patriots used to great success. It makes the read incredibly easy. If the box is light, run it and take five yards. The formation has the added benefit of holding backers and safteys, without manipulation from the QB.
May 18th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
@Guzzie- Good look! Demarco Murray is a closer comparison than Bell. No doubt.
May 18th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
ROJO was an elite college rb. I am biased due to living in so cal, but there was a lot of hype for his pro potential coming out of college. Sadly, he went to a team that needed a guy you can trust as a blocker first (koetters words), and he proved that he couldn’t mentally overcome adversity. I think a change will do him good, he proved to be a solid runner, just not good at pass block or pass catch, something our team needs from it’s backs
May 18th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Whoa there “A Bucs Fan”..White compares to Bell and a 1000 yard season as a rookie. Way too early for that but…man! I hope your right sir!
May 18th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
@godlovesbucs
That 2016 USC trio of QB Sam Darnold, WR Ju Ju Smith, and RB Ronald Jones was pretty special for college football and played the 2017 Rose Bowl against Penn State’s 4 offensive weapons of QB Trace McSorley, WR Chris Godwin, RB Saquon Barkley, and TE Mike Gesicki.
All 7 of those guys were drafted with different success but it was one of my favorite college games that I ever watched without being a fan of either team.