Todd Bowles With Strange Reasonings Behind Kick Return Team
September 8th, 2022
Discusses kick return.
So when the Bucs’ depth chart for Week 1 came out, it listed rookie running back Rachaad White as the team’s No. 1 kick returner.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked why he chose White. His answer seemed odd to Joe.
“He’s secure with the football, No. 1,” Bowles began. “He’s big enough to absorb hits and he’s athletic enough to go out there and make some yards and see the holes.
“He has very good feet and he’s a quick guy that can get to the hole real fast, so we like where he is.”
Joe thinks this is the defensive coach coming out in Bowles. Too often, defensive coaches tend to play it safe as head coaches as they consider turnovers to be on the same level as rabies.
Joe wanted to hear Bowles say, “Well, the kid can house the GD ball, that’s why he’s out there,” not that White doesn’t turn the ball over.
Is this really what Bowles wants in a kick returner? He’d prefer a guy who doesn’t fumble as opposed to a guy who can make a play and get across the 50, or better yet, score?
In college, White returned two kicks for a combined 47 yards.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:10 am
I trust Coach Bowles…. You, not so much. We would have played Jonny Football if they had followed your gut! 🙂
September 8th, 2022 at 12:15 am
Bring back Mickens!!
September 8th, 2022 at 12:24 am
I think RW will be good as a return guy. He seems to have good vision and patience.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:39 am
I would prefer a backup running back over a tiny wr who cant break any tackles or a wr with some stoutness in the lower body to be able to break some tackles. Ill take the guy who is consistent over a guy that maybe once a year takes it to the house but cant get to the 20 yard line most of the time. Look at c patterson body type or back in the day michael pittman. Some people always want the homerun that never happens..ridiculous. Put your qb in good field position pass the 25 yd line. It kills teams when the ball isnt past the 20 and changes play calling strategy. I think 2 of your backup rbs and or a stocky/tough wr should be on your roster for k/off returns.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:39 am
Wish we still had Ryan Smith (Chargers). He was a crappy backup but a awesome gunner.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:51 am
Darden is a target waiting to get blown up–dude crashes without contact even initiated. I want some one to catch the ball and not spill the ball out–any thing after that is gravy.
September 8th, 2022 at 1:07 am
In other words, Bowles is a fine red one away from ending the DardOn experiment. The only reason he’s still a Buc was to be the returner. Now he’s not even that.
Maybe he’ll be a gunner on the punt team.
Mick was solid and reliable, and showed up in the Super Bowl. And a better receiver than DardOn.
Show me I’m wrong, Jaelen, everyone would be ecstatic.
September 8th, 2022 at 1:11 am
Oh please… J03 is making a narrative out of one comment. Every coach will emphasize that the return guys have to catch and secure the ball first. And it’s not as if he didn’t mention the other traits of effective returning: “He has very good feet and he’s a quick guy that can get to the hole real fast…”
Catching the ball is the return man’s first job. If you can’t catch it and secure it, you’re worthless.
September 8th, 2022 at 1:24 am
He cannot possibly be worse than Dardung.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:26 am
I’m not convinced about Rachaad as a feature back, but as a kick returner, it allows him to showcase his few strengths. He needs to be in open field, where his high long striding can be of value. Guarantee he will look to jump over tacklers and blockers on every return, risking injury.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:37 am
I don’t know if White is going to be any good or not at kick returner, but I know he isn’t worse than Darden. Which again makes me wonder why Darden made the team if he’s not even going to be returning kicks. They should have kept Tompkins around in that case, at least he looked good returning kicks, unlike Darden.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:40 am
DoooshLaRue Says:
September 8th, 2022 at 12:24 am
I think RW will be good as a return guy. He seems to have good vision and patience.
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I’m big on White as a RB, I think he’s going to be one of the top RBs in football in the next 2-years. But as a returner, I don’t know, those guys don’t always translate well. White sort of hesitates as a RB, which is good, he’s patient, but on kick returns, you generally need to run at full speed as you pick lanes, etc. I’m not betting against him, but in general, his style of RB doesn’t translate to being a good kickoff returner. With that said, he could just be average and be a huge upgrade over last year.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:45 am
Thomkins is on the practice squad. Not sure if he’s one of the protected players.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:52 am
Mickens was fearless.
Darden was fearful.
We had Scotty Miller and Cyril Grayson.
I will never understand the Darden pick.
We needed another CB, OG, ILB, OLB, DT, DE, S or TE.
Trask and Darden were moronic picks.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:58 am
I was finally getting used to Julio Jones #85. Now he’s #6. Why doesn’t Blaine give the man his number #11. Blaine would look fine in #6.
September 8th, 2022 at 3:17 am
Terrible article, ball protection is king are u kidding me Joe , terrible read
Gobucs! Obviously, protecting the ball is critical. But meanwhile White is not an experienced returner and he fumbled in the preseason in limited action. –Joe
September 8th, 2022 at 5:00 am
when he gets hurt on a 15 yard return this is gonna look really shortsighted
September 8th, 2022 at 5:30 am
Anybody can’t be any worse, than Darden. I would still like to see Miller give it a honest shot, as long as he dont wind up dead
September 8th, 2022 at 6:26 am
For the limited amount of touches he got in preseason, didn’t he fumble a few times?
September 8th, 2022 at 7:37 am
Now we just have to get Darden replaced on punts–Whte, Scotty, Gio…anybody.
September 8th, 2022 at 7:50 am
White looked good on the kickoffs he took. He had acceleration and this is one move I heartily agree with
September 8th, 2022 at 8:02 am
In today’s NFL, 80% of kicks aren’t returned anyway.
September 8th, 2022 at 8:03 am
First real sign he is fixing some problems. Darden runs scared and to honest practice squad player at best. Great move, put him on punt returns to.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:54 am
about a wk ago darden was kept over tyler johnson because johnson’ skillset couldn’t be used o special teams … now darden won’t be as utilized as much on special teams ?
i don’t get it … seems like a legitimate #5 receiver (in this group of receivers-probably 3-4 for other teams) would have more value than special teams mid-performer (being generous to dardon)
i know … what’s done is done … move on; but beieve this decision will be questioned latter in the season.
jimm
September 8th, 2022 at 10:32 am
Our returners are Darden and White, 2 guys who have zero success in that role… Hmmmm yea this should go great. Lol.
September 8th, 2022 at 10:46 am
I like Captain Dan he smart
September 8th, 2022 at 11:49 am
Gotta secure that ball first. Nothing changes the momentum in a game like a turnover in the return game.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
It’s an admission that they aren’t going to waste any time trying to improve the kick return game. The ball is better off in Brady’s hands than any of the rest of these clowns that might want to be a hero on a kick return.
September 8th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Todd’s comments on White are a direct indictment on Jaelon Darden. I suspect Darden will be gone with an injury or gone after the season anyway. The dude literally can’t take 2 steps on a kickoff without getting clocked or tripping over himself. Darden has no athleticism, he’s all speed and that’s it. So, if they can use him to take the top off, fine, but don’t get cute with his route tree.