“Hype Bunny”
June 13th, 2023
New offseason honor?
Joe thinks Bucky Brooks is pretty accurate with this.
The NFL defensive back turned NFL Network podcaster and analyst typed a column recently for FOX Sports where he identified the top “hype bunny” players. They are players who really haven’t done much in the NFL but are getting major hype this offseason.
One is Bucs running back Rachaad White.
Despite playing for the worst rushing offense in the NFL in 2022, White is a strong breakout candidate following a solid rookie campaign littered with impressive flashes. The 6-foot, 214-pound back is a “slasher” with outstanding vision, pitter-pat and power who excels running between the tackles and catching balls on the perimeter. As new offensive coordinator Dave Canales installs a version of the Sean McVay offense that turned Todd Gurley into the 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, White could become the focal point of a Buccaneers offense that is more running back-centric in 2023.
While Joe likes White and is impressed with his maturity, Joe really can’t believe one good game with a highlight play (that’s singular) means White will put up Warrick Dunn numbers this fall.
White has pressure on him. The way people both inside and outside of One Buc Palace are boosting him, if White doesn’t run for 1,000 yards and score, say, eight touchdowns, it will seem like a disappointment.
If White does ball out, Joe thinks it will be pretty obvious that former offensive coordinator SpongeBob had no clue how to use White.
June 13th, 2023 at 1:05 am
Warrick Dunn wasn’t all over hat productive in his career. Great person though.
June 13th, 2023 at 1:14 am
I think he only broke 1,000 yards 5 of 12 years?
He really wasn’t that good at all.
June 13th, 2023 at 1:30 am
Currently has the 23rd most rushing yards (10,967) in NFL history. Better than Tiki Barber, Eddie George, Marshawn Lynch, O.J. Anderson, Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell and Roger Craig.
Joe would say that’s damn good production for a career.
June 13th, 2023 at 1:52 am
Warrick Dunn burst on the seen in 97. Never forget the play against Miami on TNT Sunday night. Warrick caught a pass in the left flat from Dilfer and turned a 3rd and 15 into a 58yrd Highlight special TD zig zagging his way through the Dolphin D. And there is many other highlights from Dunn in his rookie season. White has not shown anything like Dunn so far. Hope he does though.
June 13th, 2023 at 2:22 am
I can’t lie. I have a really good feeling about Canales and White. I understand it may be shooting high to board the hype train but better than being pessimistic all offseason. So sign me up!
June 13th, 2023 at 2:27 am
I remember that game and that play well August 1976 Buc. Had a great view of Dunn coming right at me from the lower end zone.
5-0 BABY!! ’97 was such a special year. First winning season in 14 years…..
Bonzai – you are either getting senile fast – or you just weren’t watching Bucs games 25 years ago.
Dunn was an absolute STUD.
A little guy – who was fearless. And slippery. And incredibly effective running the ball between the tackles as well as outside. He was a threat to break a TD from anywhere on the field. And a very skilled and effective receiver as well.
You seem to forget that although he was a very good runner – Dunn was more “dual threat” than pure RB. And the first half of his career was spent splitting caries with another pretty good runner. A guy you might have heard of named Mark Alstott… LOL
FYI – Warrick Dunn is #26 all time for NFL yards. 15,665 yards in 12 seasons.
Ahead of names like Edgerrin James Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Jerome Bettis, LeSean McCoy, James Brooks, Ricky Waters, Franco Harris, OJ Simpson….
June 13th, 2023 at 3:08 am
With no starting QBs on this roster, means no threat of the passing game. Stacked boxes will be very tough for the Bucs.
June 13th, 2023 at 3:13 am
I watched the 2001 Bucs game vs the Ravens today.
Alstott and Dunn ran all over that defense with Ray Lewis.
When they got tired of chasing Dunn, Alstott ran over them.
That was a football team that imposed their will on a historic defense.
I haven’t seen a football game like that in a long time.
Everyone in the stadium knew they were running the ball, but they were still getting 6 yards a clip at a minimum. Johnson only threw for 90 yards in that game.
Then in the 4th quarter they started pulling Coleman and kicking out Walker and running Alstott and Dunn (more Alstott by the 4th) behind Cook and Moore. Some crazy stuff. Some big bodies pulling left and by 4th or 5th time they ran that play they had the defense winded and Alstott broke the 30 yarder to ice the game 22-10.
They were 4-5 that season heading into late November and ripped off 5-2 to make the playoffs.
Offense in Tampa always came at a premium until Tom Brady arrived. I think we’re going back to that at least for a little bit. We got a taste of what having an offense is like – I can’t go back 100 yards passing and 30+ run plays for 165 yards trying to win football games. Those Buc ball type of games are a part of history. That was an entertaining physical game, but the NFL isn’t played like that any more.
Bears ran for 3000 yards last season and went 3-14. Ideal offense today is 100+ rushing 250+ passing minimum.
Bucs have to try to finish strong this year – if they are going to have a successful season they have to be above .500 on all games after 11/18. You have to assume early struggles with a new QB and a new OC. If they can gel and how quickly will tell the tale of this season.
June 13th, 2023 at 3:51 am
Hope White can be the Hype!
If he can be as versatile as Dunn and hit a few of those highlight reel runs we have a keeper.
Dunn wasn’t all that great? Geez… Why do people insist on making comments that make it apparent that they never watched said player or are just not living in reality.
Dunn was small and could absolutely take a run up the gut and somehow pop out the other side for some really nice gains. And I am a Gator fan, just so you know.
Go Bucs!
June 13th, 2023 at 5:16 am
I’m more excited about the potential of our UDFA RB from Syracuse.
June 13th, 2023 at 6:23 am
Sounds to me that they should sign that they’re Dunn fella.
June 13th, 2023 at 9:24 am
Man, those Buc Gators are talking out their ace again. So, the RB with the 23rd most yardage all time, was not that good?? Yeahhhh–ok. We call that revisionist history.
June 13th, 2023 at 9:31 am
I remember the Lions’ defenders referring to Dunn as “Baby Barry.” Quite a compliment, especially considering the disproportionate amount of Barry Sanders highlight reel coming from games against the Bucs.
June 13th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Nice baiting, Bonzai!
Dunn was probably the second best back in Bucs history and top five in Falcons history. I wish Gruden would have kept him around.
June 13th, 2023 at 2:28 pm
I miss Lightning and Thunder.
June 13th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
WD-40
June 14th, 2023 at 12:29 am
Joe really can’t believe one good game with a highlight play (that’s singular) means White will put up Warrick Dunn numbers this fall
Stop looking at the stat sheet and open your freaking eyes bruh. Devin white’s numbers were just fine but did you think he had a good season nope. I know the games were hard to watch last year but you can’t be downing a big storm beer whenever he has the ball how can you see?