Ranking The Running Backs
August 23rd, 2023
Surprising ranking.
Look, Joe is in no position to tell a former stud NFL running back he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to current NFL running backs.
But man, this is weird.
Former Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew did his annual ranking of all No. 1 running backs. MJD, who now works for NFL Network and types for NFL.com, has Bucs RB1 Rachaad White ranked No. 24.
Joe thought that was a little high but MJD had pretty interesting if not smart points why he may have White ranked higher than most.
Simply put, MJD thinks with Tom Brady and Playoff Lenny gone, and Todd Bowles wanting to run the ball more, White is going to get more carries that will result in more production.
Here is what is weird. MJD has White ranked three spots ahead of Isiah Pacheco at No. 27, even though wile also as a rookie last season, “Ferdie” ran for damn near double the yards White did.
In short, MJD thinks Pacheco is riding the coattails of Superman Pat Mahomes.
A 2022 seventh-round pick, Pacheco carved out a nice little role down the stretch last season, averaging 13.6 carries, 69.2 rush yards and 84.3 scrimmage yards per game from Week 10 through the Super Bowl. He’s efficient, but the biggest factor playing against him is the Chiefs’ quarterback. When you have the league’s best player taking snaps, it’s hard to hand the ball off to someone else.
Joe would trade White straight up for Pacheco and pull the trigger in a heartbeat. But yeah, MJD makes a good point about White. He should get more more chances to prove himself without Brady and Playoff Lenny (and maybe get into a better rhythm running the ball).
With Baker Mayfield, Joe doesn’t think it is wise to regularly put the ball in the air 30+ times a game.
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:18 am
You guys did put out practice notes yesterday that sounded promising concerning White. I believe you guys invoked “Mike Alsotts” name… Yes?
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:20 am
And D Cone,
I went back and ran into our last correspondence…
YES 👍
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:24 am
RB’s need holes to run through. That is the question. White looks better this year but a brick wall is a brick wall.
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:26 am
Mayfild will face many 3rd and long. He will face top of the line pass rushers. Outlook not so good. Dinkin Doughnuts here we come. Need 9 get 4.
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:53 am
I understand MJD; when you think about the Chiefs OL, then of course Pacheco’s gonna look good.
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:56 am
I like white better than Pacheco. He is a more complete back.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:19 am
IMHO, I believe S. Tucker is better than R. White as a pure runner.I guess it doesn’t matter if the Oline doesn’t open up any holes.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:30 am
White & Tucker & Edmunds will be just fine… IF… The O line is improved and plays well, and there has been absolutely no evidence of that
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:44 am
Sean Tucker
He’s way stockier/thicker than he looked in college. He could be a #1 RB. He kept getting better and better as Game 2 went along, he can run and catch, defenders bounce off him when they go high, and he had HR speed.
I’m not sure what White has but ST is a solid option for the Bucs.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:22 am
If you have 4 running backs you don’t have any running backs.
August 23rd, 2023 at 7:40 am
I thought our running game was going to be fine when we were scammed into believing Ryan Jensen was coming back full steam. I remember the first day of training camp and who’s face was at the top of the article? Ryan Jensen walking into 1 Buc Place.
Now that we know better I changed my mind. Our run game will probably look similar to last year.
August 23rd, 2023 at 8:11 am
MJD … ‘When you have the league’s best player taking snaps, it’s hard to hand the ball off to someone else.’
And yet, Kansas City’s RBs gained almost 2000 yards last year (1970 to be exact) on 417 rushes (4.7 YPC average). Thus they ran the ball significantly more than the #32 rushing team did (that be the Bucs) … on 38.1% of their plays as opposed to only 33.3% for our Bucs.
And the Chiefs did it with a rookie running back (Pacheo) getting 830 yards in 17 games on only 170 carries by averaging 4.9 YPC. Our rookie RB (White) averaged roughly 25% less than that per carry (3.7 YPC). Why? PERHAPS it was the difference in OLine run blocking, play design & play-calling, not RBs? Oh and the Cheifs 2nd best runner last year? Yup, Patrick Mahomes with 61 carries for 358 yards … a very nice 5.9 YPC. Not sure though if that includes his 26 sacks for MINUS 188 yards.
August 23rd, 2023 at 8:19 am
Pacheco was solid but had a way better situation. Watching his highlights I’m seeing so many runs with amazing blocking and huge holes where it’s like any RB is going to get the 8-12’ish yards he got.
He also only had 13 receptions vs 50 for White.
The Chiefs as a team averaged 4.7 YPC on 417 attempts vs Pacheco at 4.9 on 170
The Bucs as a team averaged 3.4 YPC on 386 attempts vs White at 3.7 on 129
I guarentee White on the 2022 Chiefs would have had an insanely different season than White on the 2022 Bucs.
August 23rd, 2023 at 8:22 am
@Defense Rules.
I am pretty sure the sacks do not count against the rushing yardage totals. At least in fantasy football that’s how it’s always worked lol
August 23rd, 2023 at 8:24 am
And good points DR i should have added that as well lol since you brought up the same stats.
IMO you gotta look at the overall team performance relative to the back if you are trying to say a RB is special. Based on that I dunno yet with Pacheco.
Now back when young Jamaal Charles was on the Chiefs, that guy changed the entire teams running back stats/metrics whenever he got more touches lol. He was insanely more explosive and efficient than any other backs on the team. I don’t really see that situation with either Pacheco or White.
August 23rd, 2023 at 10:03 am
You keep harping on White and its getting old.
Its much easier to make a guy miss when you are a yard or 2 past the line of scrimmage running at full speed. Its much easier to make a guy miss when the defense doesn’t know its a run and everybody commits to stopping it. Its much easier to make a guy miss when you get into the flow of the game.
The RB’s got the complete opposite last year.
GIVE THEM A CHANCE
August 23rd, 2023 at 8:53 pm
The team needs three or four talented guys, then go with the hot hand. Chiefs never even got to Ronald Jones, but they had him if they needed him. I like all of the Bucs backs but am worried that only the rookies and the injury prone guy have flashed.