Todd Bowles’ Goal For Rachaad White: “Get Better”
March 30th, 2023
Bucs running back Rachaad White.
Do the Bucs have a good running attack? The cold hard facts say no.
Last year, then-rookie Rachaad White was the team’s RB1b. He split time as the top back on the league’s worst rushing attack. So what are we talking about here?
Sure, at times White look like the guy (the win over Seattle springs to mind). Then, when all the dust settled, he was on the league’s worst running game.
So when Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked during the NFC coaches’ breakfast at the NFL Annual Meeting in Arizona about what he wants to see from White this fall, the second thing out of Bowles’ mouth was about White putting the ball on the ground.
True to his defensive DNA, Bowles is triggered by turnovers.
“To get better,” Bowles said of his expectations for White this fall. “We talked about it, becoming more of a complete back.
“I know the ball went on the ground a few too many times. We talked about [that issue], him holding the football, No. 1. Taking care of the football.”
That doesn’t mean Bowles has soured on White. With new offensive coordinator Dave Canales installing a more run-oriented offense, Bowles believes this will allow White to blossom.
“With the new offense I look for him to continually accelerate,” Bowles said. “He can continue to get better in all phases to be a complete three-down back.”
White will have more of an opportunity with Playoff Lenny gone. So it seems White will have the table set for him to show he’s a dominant back.
After being a big cog in the league’s sorriest running game, if the Bucs are to be a playoff contender with a revamped offense, White will likely play a big role.
Is he up to it?
March 30th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Until they fix the line, you could stick emmitt Smith back there and it wouldn’t matter much. I like white. He has good vision and a nice burst. Not sure if he’s a bell cow type, but I think he’s good enough with a decent line and an OC who actually knows how to call plays.
March 30th, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Is the o-line up to it? Not right now.
March 30th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
I agree White can get better, but Bowles, he should’ve had Leftwich give him more snaps. He was clearly more explosive than Fournette. So sure, he can get better, but justice would’ve been handing him the ball more often than not last year. That’s Bowles fault.
March 30th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Getting better requires good coaching.
March 30th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Fix the O-line, and we’ll see what White can do. The pic above demonstrates he does have untapped intangibles because not many RB’s are able/willing to “throw guys outta the club.” I think and hope he will improve this year.
March 30th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
TB should take his own advice
Say ? What is his career record as a HC in the NFL?
Gonna be a miserable phuck’n year! Miserable!
March 30th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
White has got it, he’s gonna be good! Hendon Hookers pro day is today ! Draft Hendon Hooker! Also good profile on him on NFL NOW
March 30th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
He should take his own advice…getting better starts from the top…good luck with that.
March 30th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Hope that wirfs can move to LT and then the bucs draft the UT RT and then the line improves, of course with the new OC and his philosophy on a zone scheme compared to whatever the heck leftwich was running, the run game should instantly get better
March 30th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Do more than run up the middle on every 1st down, and watch as White gets you 1500 yards and another 700 yards receiving. Just give him the ball, and in particular, throw him the ball, he’s a fantastic WR.
From White’s side, the big thing he has to do is make sure he holds onto the ball – but he did improve there as the season went along so hopefully those early fumbles are a thing of the past.
I’ve said from the time we drafted White, that he so very much reminds me of a young Le’Veon Bell.
Bell, his rookie year, averaged 3.5ypc and had 45 receptions – and he’d become the best RB in football.
White, in his rookie year, averaged 3.7ypc and had 50 receptions.
If White gets the ball, and doesn’t fumble it, I think he’s going to explode this year, even with a bad QB.
March 30th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
What world do you guys live in where the backup RB is responsible for having a league worst rushing attack? How many times have you guys written that Leftwich was way in over his head? Why is that on Rachaad? The play caller and the guys up front have always had more of an impact on the top line numbers – that’s a huge part of why RBs don’t get huge paydays any more. JV level analysis.
March 30th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Brian Says:
March 30th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
White has got it, he’s gonna be good! Hendon Hookers pro day is today ! Draft Hendon Hooker!
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The last mock draft ESPN had up on their front page a couple of days ago had Hooker being drafted #5 overall.
Now BSPN is called that for a reason, but if he’s getting that kind of hype, if that was based on buzz, then he’s going to be gone way before the Bucs pick. But who knows.
March 30th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
I agree to a point about the OL needing improvement. I think there’s a lot to say about play-calling too.
In typical Fanman fashion this is where I interject my point about improving the run-game by…using a FULLBACK!!!!!!
Is it such a foreign concept?!
March 30th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
More on White, not that anyone cares…
Last year, the big thing White showed was that he can run with power. I didn’t really see that power on display in his college tape, and it’s good to know he can do it, but he’ll have a longer career if he learns to avoid unnecessary contact.
Also last year, White show less patience running the ball than he did in college. This may, or may not, be a good thing – I don’t know, but I’m guessing Bucs coaches were telling him to speed everything up, that he can’t wait, he has to hit the hole immediately. This is NOT true. Great runners can hesitate to see holes develop, then explode through them. White, in college, did just that. I hope the new Bucs coaches tell him to slow things down just the tiniest amount to see what develops. This is why I think White can be special, I think he has the ability and the burst to do this.
March 30th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
the difference between power running and zone running schemes
White is definitely more suited for zone, so is Vaughn and probably Edmunds
Lenny is the power back mold and now, he is gone
March 30th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Re-watching footage of Lenny from 2021. He was a differet back, that foot injury really curtailed his burst. Still think very highly of him and believe that he will land on his healthy feet (no pun intended). He sure never put the ball on the ground. I just hope he doesn’t sign with the Saints, rather see him in the AFC.
March 30th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
If our new OC can make some viable schemes together, White will improve.
Last season was such a horrid run season because even I knew when they were going to run. That means that everyone knew it.
Chuck some surprises in and let the good times roll.
March 30th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Craig Says:
Last season was such a horrid run season because even I knew when they were going to run. That means that everyone knew it.
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Exactly. Also nearly all the issues with running the ball disappeared when they’d run on 2nd and 3rd down (not counting obvious situations like 2nd and 1). After that Ravens game, their website put together a video package that literally showed a Ravens player saying the Bucs were just running the same plays over and over again just from different formations, and laughing at how stupid the Bucs play calling was.
The running game will improve dramatically if they are less predictable, use play action passes more, and, oh right, are less predictable. I said it all last year, the Bucs could run the exact same plays they’re running now, just switch up the order, and the team would have had a lot more success. When fans, sitting at home, can call out plays before they happen, what are NFL defensive coordinators doing?
March 30th, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Bowles brought in his offensive coordinator from a run first team. The run game will improve! If not, it will be a very sad season. Very sad!
March 30th, 2023 at 3:59 pm
@Cover, the reason running backs dont get paid anymore, is because the league figured out they are a dime a dozen. Unless you have Barry Sanders or earl campbell, you can get largely the same production from late round, or even udfa talent. Personally, I would never draft a back with anything higher than a 3rd rounder. The league also uses them up like TP. Very few even get second contracts. When they do, it’s almost always wasted money. Very few exceptions
March 30th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
He needs to get faster. White is not a home run back. Could be pretty good but I would love to have a great running back again. Haven’t had that for years.
March 30th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
I’m with Redeemer on this one. Last RB we took with a first round pick was Doug Martin. He gave us two good seasons and a substance abuse problem. In 2012, Bucs were 7-9.
In 2015, Bucs were 6-10.
Trenches, trenches, trenches.
Trenches.
Trenches trenches.
March 30th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
GF, If you can run block, you can run. To me the back is ancillary. Jerry Jones has even come around on this. I think zeek is the last high pick he’ll ever use on a RB. You’re exactly right about the trenches. If you control the LOS, you control the game. I can tell you played the game, unlike many here who bloviate about it.
March 30th, 2023 at 5:05 pm
I think White is going to be really good. Hopefully Canales can get the most out of him.
March 30th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Rashaad was my favorite pick in the last draft. I hope he lives up to my opinion which I posted here.
March 30th, 2023 at 7:11 pm
I couldn’t run behind that line and I’m a beast.
March 30th, 2023 at 8:36 pm
Joe what’s the difference between white being part of the leagues worst rushing attack n calling him out vs LVD being apart of the worst defense in NFL history? Not just one players fault. White was often hit before the line of scrimmage same with Lenny. Both did terrible. That’s on the online for not opening holes n on leftwich for being terrible play caller. Also it wasn’t LVDs fault he was on the leagues worst defense he had some terrible teammates swaggy baker n terrible coaches lovie n mike smith.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Goals for Toad Bloweszo: Win more games than you lose. Pretend you don’t even have an offense so you won’t mess with it. Teach your Back 7 what their coverage assignments are on each of the 2,385 nuanced blitz packages and disguised zones you run, verify that they know those assignments, or lighten up their learning load. Teach everyone to tackle, even the wait staff in the cafeteria. Tackling is for everyone. Oh, and fire Keith Armstrong.Also — bet to hedge your bets. Buy a pilates studio or something. Life after football coming soon.