New Playcaller Praises Leonard Fournette “Attitude,” Craves Do-It-All Running Back
February 24th, 2023
Bucs fans everywhere are eager for every morsel of information that could provide clues to how players will be used in the Buccaneers’ new offense.
First-time playcaller and offensive coordinator Dave Canales paid a visit to WDAE radio and was asked about running back Rachaad White.
Canales didn’t pick an exact role for White or say he’d be the go-to guy, but he did acknowledge his hunger for an every-down running back and that White has that kind of potential.
“As a pass-game background guy, [I’m] just really coveting the opportunity to have a really all-down, like every down back to be able to attack the defense in the run game, the pass game and the screen game,” Canales said.
He added that his beloved Seahawks, from whence he came to Tampa, “always had two backs in Seattle that we gave the ball to.”
Enter Leonard Fournette. Canales said he likes “the attitude” Fournette brings, after previously nothing Canales’ priority is a Fournette speciality.
There was no mention of any other Bucs running backs.
February 24th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
If Lenny comes to training camp in good shape he could still be a bell cow running back.
February 24th, 2023 at 2:26 pm
Unload Lenny. Not worth the money, and we need speed and explosion. Lenny doesn’t run with violence anymore.
As far as the specialty — ball security can be taught.
February 24th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
I am thankful for Lombardi Lenny, but like many modern era RB’s his body is starting to break down from the beatings..especially his feet/legs. I think his best seasons are behind him, and that the Bucs can replace his production through FA (preferred) or the draft.
February 24th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Lenny is beat up and old. He will not last the season.
February 24th, 2023 at 2:54 pm
“I hate when people be on here just talking saying I’m out of shape etc.,” Fournette tweeted at 10:24 a.m. Monday.
“Do y’all understand I’m playing with a lisfranc (sic) in my foot every week can barley (sic) push off my foot but through the Grace of God I’m going to keep proving y’all wrong.”
February 24th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Unless he reports to training camp looking like a guard rather than a running back again…
Hey Lenny – get your act together or this will be your last in the NFL.
February 24th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Injury does not prevent criticism Dooley, it justifies it. If you can’t do something because your injured, you can’t do it. Don’t get mad when people say you can’t do it.
Just saying, Lenny is cool and all but kinda a LIL B ya know what I mean.
February 24th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Remember in the playoffs where Lenny ran right into the arms of Leighton Vander Esch? Didn’t try to cut inside or outside, just ran right to the defender. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder would be proud of his “vision”.
February 24th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Lenny is a winner. I won’t count him out until he’s out.
February 24th, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Its hard to know exactly the Lenny’s injury status since they were not reported by the team. Lenny is a proud guy who responded to criticism on another occasion that he was running on leg . But its sill a puzzle to figure out the extent of his injury.
February 24th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
Its hard to know exactly the Lenny’s injury status since they were not reported by the team. Lenny is a proud guy who responded to criticism on another occasion that he was running on one leg . But its sill a puzzle to figure out the extent of his injury.
February 24th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Dooley great point.
A lisfranc injury has got to be one of the worst injuries a running back can sustain.
Further, I doubt the Bucs could be allowed to cut Fournette without an injury settlement. I am pretty sure that his x-rays of that foot will suggest that it has not fully healed.
February 24th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Not sure why all the talk again this offseason, just like last off season, about cutting Playoff Lenny. He lead the entire team in yards gained and in touchdowns scored and I believe also was first in first downs gained. He’s not really that expensive this season, cutting him saves less than $3.5 million on the cap, and he’s only the 11th highest paid running back in the league, and one of the very best three down backs despite playing behind a horrible offensive line last season. He’s not over the hill either, and White is not yet to his level as a three down back, just as Canales suggested by talking about his “potential” as a three down back.
February 24th, 2023 at 4:36 pm
Now Lenny banged up, overweight & overpaid by NFL standards…
Players are a commodity. Individual valuation is fluid. Adjusts yr to yr.
In today’s NFL…You don’t pay big contract $$$ to RB. It’s bad business, unless that guy is a HOF caliber game changer. Definitely not in 2023 for a Meh-Sometimes Shows Up guy but had a big playoff run in 2020.
Positional value & team building/cap control matrix screams for 1 Day2 feature back + 2 DAY3 coin role filler RBs + a PS cupboard of 1-2 UDFA tucked away… vs a use-to-be want-a-be Bell Cow on big coin + Day2 pick + Doghouse Day2 pick + $1M coin cupboard guys…Like the Bucs currently have.
Bucs have $12.1M on 2023 RB room, as of today…That’s way too much for RB positional spending! (2.5-3x as much as is optimal.)
Lenny may have to take less to stick on a roster…A lot less to keep playing in Tampa, if no trade partner can be found Post June 1…The FO should ask him to take the pay cut vs roster cut, in JUNE – after establishing an exit strategy of cheaper younger options… After acquiring another RB or 3 in draft/UDFA for camp & striking out on Camp Trade scenario attempts.
Trading Lenny post June 1 would be preferable – would save ~$7M/yr in 2023/2024 cap, but FO may be unlikely to find a taker for that contract…So, cutting Lenny Post June 1 may be best option & still saves Bucs $4.9M in 2023 /$7M in 2024 Cap…That pays for a full RB room full of rookie contracts + UDFA PS RB & then some towards another hole on the roster.
(Day3 coin $900K or less, UDFA coin <$800K, White <$1.2M, Vaughn <$1.5 = ~$4.4M…Meaning 4 RB options + leaving $500K to throw elsewhere just from Lenny's $4.9M cap savings!)
He's 28, with a Lisfranc concern & on a Big $$ deal…Didn't have a great 2022. No guarantee to have a resurgent 2023 & FO is in a cap crunch…Writing is on the wall!
Nothing personal…It's business & business is ruthless.
But it should also be noted that Vaughn could be in Lenny's shoes in camp, Post JUNE 1, if he doesn't ball out! Bucs can cut & save $1.2M on cap = $400K towards another hole after signing on another replacement level RB3/ST type for ~$800K
It's part of the consequences of "run it back" type deals chasing a 2nd SB w/ TB12…Kicking void yr money into the future hurts & the system is set up for it to hurt… Bills are due & some guys will not be back because if that reality. Lenny one of them.
February 24th, 2023 at 4:47 pm
@CrackWise
I imagine you’ve never had a foot injury being just a regular person, never mind a world class athlete with job duties that are physically demanding, ArmchairMD
February 24th, 2023 at 6:43 pm
No sir, just making the point that SOME criticism is justified. He should not have been playing if he was hurt.
Those snaps should have been used to get other guys XP and him healed up. But he probably was worried about people calling him fat and lazy.
Shake me down however ya want. Bottom line is he UNDERPREFORMED.
February 24th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
@CrackWise
That’s your opinion, you’re entitled to it, but players playing with nagging injuries is commonplace in the NFL especially when they’re players that team rely on like Leonard Fournette. To say he underperformed, when he was our 3rd leading receiver and played through obvious pain is kind of ignorant on your part. I get it, you form an opinion and no matter what that opinion will remain because what’s the point of trying to be empathetic or understand regardless of what you think Fournette suited up and shined on a few different occasions with a lisfranc injury. Here you are trying to make him the bad guy for it lol woooow
February 24th, 2023 at 8:14 pm
Seems you formed an opinion of me. I just said, Injury doesn’t prevent one from being criticized. Thus, him crying about an injury that was not reported does not mean a hill of beans in a results driven environment.
Maybe he is the cause of the WORST RUNNING ATTACK in the league is a FAIR question. Because of his injury? Perhaps but who cares. He was the lead back. He should have sat and got healthy. AND NOT CRIED ABOUT BEING HURT!!!
Poop or get off the pot.
Otherwise, I really like Playoff Lenny. But that don’t mean he aint a B
February 24th, 2023 at 9:02 pm
White has shown he can do it all.
Lenny has run his course here because he’s too expensive. Making draft a running back in the fourth or fifth round to compete with Ke’Shawn Vaughn for #2.
February 24th, 2023 at 9:36 pm
Ke’Shawn Vaughn is a dud and has been since he joined the Bucs. It amazes me how many people think he will ever be anything but an emergency back that only plays when nobody else can carry the ball. Any running back the Bucs pick up in the 6th or 7th round would beat Vaughn out for the job.
February 24th, 2023 at 9:42 pm
I think some of y’all forget that Lenny is still a good player and 7m isn’t exactly breaking the bank. Getting rid of him just adds yet another hole to this roster. NO THANK YOU. We already need two corners, safety, an MLB, edge rusher, DT, left tackle, left guard, and kicker. And those are just starters. We need a crap ton of backups too.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:06 am
White is overrated- these coaches are clueless
February 25th, 2023 at 4:22 am
Crackwise there are 11 men on the field at once, blaming Fournette for the worst run offense in the league with ALL the factors involved is kind of irrational, but sure poke MORE holes in the boat.
February 25th, 2023 at 6:30 am
Move on from Lenny.
February 25th, 2023 at 6:42 am
One of the worst value/production players in the NFL.
February 25th, 2023 at 8:49 am
#lasagnalenny