Bucs Have A Running Back Problem
September 25th, 2022
Rookie running back Rachaad White.
The Bucs and other media have sold rookie running back Rachaad White as an explosive talent and a special guy when it comes to his maturity and readiness.
Joe didn’t buy it, because Joe didn’t see it in preseason. And it seems the Bucs now feel the same way.
Today, White didn’t get a rushing attempt or a pass thrown his way, neither did running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, active for the first time this season after leading the Bucs in rushing in multiple games last season.
It was all Leonard Fournette, as it’s been nearly all season.
Why?
Fournette was ok today (12 carries for 35 yards and 5 catches on 6 targets for 35 yards), but the Bucs could have used a spark out of the backfield. They didn’t even try.
It tells Joe that playcaller Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady simply do not trust White or Vaughn. And that’s a problem when it’s September.
It’s a long season and those backs likely will be needed.
Perhaps Leftwich and Brady are misevaluating White and Vaughn? Whatever it is, Joe can’t envision Fournette carrying the load all season without a running back to complement him. Giovani Bernard is on injured reserve with an ankle injury, if you missed that news last week.
This sure seemed like a great day to dial up a play or two for White. It never came.
Maybe someone was pissed at White for catching a Packers kickoff that was sailing out of bounds?
September 25th, 2022 at 8:01 pm
The Oline just can’t run block. Lenny’s getting contacted at the line of scrimmage on every play
September 25th, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Not sure I trust Leftwich to evaluate anyone.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:03 pm
White was touted as the next Marcus Allen. Maybe Leftwich sees what Joe sees. He’s just a overhyped back.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
SLOW Lenny has always looked slow
…..he benefited from great O-line these last two years….now he’s exposed for who he is….he’s a:
Big brusing runner than can catch the ball outta the backfield.
……what hell happened to White today anyways???? WTF???
September 25th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
White has not looked anything like it was said about him.
If Brady does not trust you, then you are getting in the Huddle, just ask Ronald Jones.
GO BUCS!!!
September 25th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Rachael is all talk. Needs her ego shrunken to the size of her play, which is about the size of a small raisin.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Once again….Blame Byron Suckwich for such a bad offensive game plan today.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Don’t worry Fellas!
Byron will figure it out.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Brian Robinson was there when we picked, He went to the Skins and won the starting job as he is a beast, then he was shot.
A true 3 down back.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
DAMN. I was hoping (expecting) Rachaad White to be extremely impactful for us this year, especially as receiving back. He’s known for his great hands. And he looks so damn good in his college highlight reels. So disappointing he’s a wash so far.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
It’s early yet….let’s see a larger body of work before judging…..
Darden made a catch today…..averaged 9 yards per punt return on 3
Packers only had 20 return yards on 6 punts (avg 10 on 2 returns.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
Peculiar situation Joe…..SoundsVERY weird to me the White case…..
Teams needs alternatives, if we keep on playing Lenny in every single down, he will not make it to week 17!!!!
September 25th, 2022 at 8:10 pm
I think they have a Coach problem. Today looked like a Ray Perkins and that Rutgers coach put it on.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:11 pm
Is it possible that losing an offensive minded HOF coach hurts?
September 25th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
1st and 20, BL calls a run play straight through the gut. What a genius ! Even a pee wee OC can come up a better play than that. tsk… tsk…. tsk…. smh
September 25th, 2022 at 8:17 pm
He’s a rookie and we don’t have to rely on him and right now he’s not better than Lombardi Lenny who can be an every down back. Bring white a long slowly, he will not make or break our chances at making it to a super bowl
September 25th, 2022 at 8:17 pm
You people are hilarious… panic much? This is the same offense that led the NFL the past two years… minus over half the offensive line and all the starting receivers. Any team that loses that much will struggle.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:18 pm
Yeah, we need someone to come in and relieve Lenny or he’s not gonna make it through the season. No chance.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:18 pm
You people are hilarious… panic much? This is the same offense that led the NFL the past two years… minus over half the offensive line and all the starting receivers. Any team that loses that much will struggle.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:18 pm
Do not confuse yourself, TB12 is absolutely involved on offensive playcalling!
I trust 100% TB12 and BL!!!!
Evidence on the last three seasons is eloquent !!!!
September 25th, 2022 at 8:19 pm
Buc Ball circa 1990’s is not what people expect with the GOAT as QB.
At the same time, the o line is a massive work of progress, and 3 of the top 4 WR’s are watching from the side line, and No Gronk.
This offense is a massive work in progress.
Buc Ball circa 1990’s is on full display.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:19 pm
I love Licht and he’s the best right now, but drafting running backs has been his kryptonite.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:20 pm
The run blocking is trash.
Simple as that.
Lenny is making chicken salad out of chicken chit, much like Doug Martin had to many moons ago.
And I saw nothing from White in preseason either. We were sold a PR job on him. Just like Darden. And JTS…
September 25th, 2022 at 8:20 pm
When you have no receivers you have no run game.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
THE ENTIRE OFFENSE HAS A PROBLEM.
LEFTBITCH NEEDS TO GO
September 25th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
No really, the O line is gonna be just fine…..
September 25th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
The continued running on first down was so predictable. I feel you’ve got to mix it up on downs more. IMO that’s Leftwichs fault.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
There is a lot of criticism for BL, I believe this team runs to keep Brady from getting pummeled when the line is still young.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:35 pm
|Joe didn’t buy it, because Joe didn’t see it in preseason.|
One of you Joes was telling us how good white was in the preseason. How good his hands are and how good he finds the hole.
That was said at times in training camp, not in preseason because it didn’t happen in preseason. –Joe
September 25th, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Fournette was back to tippy toeing behind the line again today. There was a couple times when he could have kicked it outside and decided to just bury his nose in an offensive lineman’s rear and ride him out. The Dallas Cowboy game Lenny must have seen his shadow and decided to sleep for the rest of the season.
Impossible to tell what the rest of the running back stable looks like because one of them has seen a half dozen carries and the other has zero.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
Offense line needs veteran players , to many injuries!!!!
September 25th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
This coaching staff is uncreative, poor at adjustments. White is overhyped and cocky. No reason Vaughn didn’t get more work.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:42 pm
They might just be being patient with White. He had a good number of chances 1st two games and his best play went for 3 yards, for a 1st down.
He might need to show a little more Monday-Saturday to earn the looks on Sunday.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Was there ever any clarification on Jensen’s injury? Did they amputate?
September 25th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Some of these fans need to go it’s like you are all on a mentral cycle it’s fine down a lot of players on offense it’s a long season when bucs starters get back to it, it will be business as usual calm down. Out five starters on offense. What team is going to dominate like that and it was still a close game people act like we got blown out.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
Bucs have no dynamic playmakers. We look old, and slow. Even Brady is looking more like an old goat, then the goat. That ain’t going to change anytime soon.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
I hate when joe speaks like he knows everything. The overreaction is strong with whichever Joe this is. It has been many years put your names on articles you publish and not just your podcast.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
Bad run blocking all around. White is a rookie, anyone who expected much out of him this year doesn’t understand football. They aren’t going to take Lenny off the field, unless it’s in a body bag. Once they get some recievers back, lanes will open up. Just hope they don’t go crazy pass happy.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:02 pm
The Bucs drafted White and Vaughn — high picks. Let’s think about that in the next “Licht is God” post.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
The play calling was terrible on office. The run was abandoned, the run plays are telegraphed. The reverse flea flicker is that killed this game!
September 25th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
Redeemer
Take a look around the leauge, Apparently you dont understand that rookie running backs are supposed to be ready to play right now.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:14 pm
Tbbucs3 Says:
“Apparently you dont understand that rookie running backs are supposed to be ready to play right now.”
.
.
Depends on the offense. Not very many college running backs can pass pro in the NFL without coaching and time. We require that.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:16 pm
The Bucs do not have a RB problem, they have a very stupid OC problem, a guy who has ZERO feel for the game, has no idea when to call what, and is terrible at his job. Just mix up the play calling order and the offense would improve. Been saying that when times were good as well – they could have been better, but talent saved Leftwich’s lack of ability. But now, with talent an issue, we see what a poor OC Leftwich is.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Please 🙏 if we are going to run the ball in obvious run situations. Like for example with this team 1st down. Let’s maybe give these kids a chance? Have a lead blocker to take out the first defender like a fullback. Or maybe have a tight end block. I don’t feel we have a back than can break one for big yards except Lenny. . So this team needs to do something to give these guys a chance.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
I love the draft, use to really study it in the past. Just watch college football. In fact, just draft RB from these three the last five years, OSU, Bama, and UGA. Loved Robinson this year, but we passed. Liked Cook, and thought White was good value, but we passed. Just a hint, the kid from Texas is good and OSU will have Williams and Hendersin coming out in one or two years. RB should be fairly easy to scout. Size, speed, hands, blocking, lots of use, little use, experience, scheme….
September 25th, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Ok, everybody step back from the ledge. The Packers did not believe we could threaten them Very much through the air consistently. It seemed they were just playing a shallow coverage most of the game. If you can’t pass you have to run and the Packers sold out to stop the run. It really hurt us today to not have Donovan Smith and Mike Evans in the game. When we get Evans and Godwin in the game together this is a totally different team. We just have to get healthy and we will be ok.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
@Tbbucs3, apparently you don’t understand that when they paid Lenny 21million, 12 guaranteed, he’s getting the freaking football. White was another wasted pick from licht. You don’t draft a back in the third round, when you can get similar value in round 4-5. White will do squat this year.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Agreed Joe! I said after game one that Bowles cannot expect this team to be built on defense and a running game as so many defensive minded coaches would like. A) This team has no depth at running back and an uncanny ability to acrue soft tissue injuries.
B) This team has the greatest clutch and passing QB ever and to squander that weapon would make zero sense ( Of course that was before all our starting Recievers were injured or suspended).
September 25th, 2022 at 9:56 pm
I don’t understand so many people complaining about not getting White in the game. What about Vaughn? He’s been with us for a year now. He should be ready to take snaps.
September 25th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Most NFL schemes have at least 2 Running Backs getting carries throughout the game….thats the norm. Look at the Packers, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon both got at least 10 carries.
What the Bucs are doing force feeding Lenny all game is not what teams do….nor is it working.
September 25th, 2022 at 10:04 pm
Tbbucs3 Says:
“Look at the Packers, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon both got at least 10 carries.”
.
.
And they were actually on the field together on at least a couple of plays. With our receiver depth being tested, would be a great week for a two-back set.
September 25th, 2022 at 10:12 pm
Vaughn
September 25th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
When and how we run the ball is too predictable. All GB had to do was memorize the tape of our first two games and they played like they knew every move of every offensive player for every run play as soon as the ball was snapped and many times seemingly pre-snap.
September 25th, 2022 at 11:51 pm
Dirk Koetter had better playcalling than this, and that’s saying something!
September 26th, 2022 at 1:18 am
I’LL JUST SAY THIS…
A LOT OF POSTERS AND JOES WILL BE EATING CROW ABOUT RACHAAD WHITE.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.
September 26th, 2022 at 1:28 am
what if:
gisele is secretly the offensive coordinator…
piping commands directly to byron and loudly into tom’s helmet…
#SomethingsWrongWithTheOffense
September 26th, 2022 at 1:29 am
i can’t believe they didn’t at least mix in one other back to change the pace…
not one carry for anyone but lenny
September 26th, 2022 at 8:03 am
With Lenny and Rojo we had a huge contrast in styles. If one wasn’t working, chances are, the other one was. We never see that now. Instead of an explosive one cut hard charger to complement Lenny, all we have is Lenny plodding forward and running hard but no creativity or ability to change direction. Lenny is very limited as a runner. We need to have a change of pace back.
September 26th, 2022 at 9:13 am
They have a coaching problem with the RB room !! Give Vaughn 15 touches and all will be well ……. Vaughn on first down , Fournette after ,,,, sounds a lil weird but it can be a better performer !!
September 26th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Haha. The new kid looked great in underwear football. Can’t get past the line of scrimmage now.