Breaking Down The Rushing Numbers
September 27th, 2023
Running back Rachaad White.
The Bucs looked pathetic running the ball on Monday night. Should there be air raid sirens as a result? Joe isn’t sure.
For example, the Eagles have yet to give up more than 76 yards in a game this season. That came in Week 1 against the Belicheats. The Bucs got 41 yards on the ground against Philadelphia. Minnesota was held to 28.
But here is where it doesn’t appear the Bucs struggling to run against the Eagles puts them in terrible shape. Handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp calculated the percentage of rush attempts per team with running backs running for zero or fewer yards.
The list teams with worse percentages — and slightly better ones — than the Bucs is interesting.
Pittsburgh (!) leads the NFL at 29 percent. The Bucs are the eighth-worst team in the league at 22 percent. The Lions are No. 6 at 23 percent.
Teams just below the Bucs tied No. 9 at 21 percent include Baltimore, Cleveland and Seattle. Those five teams have a combined record of 10-5.
So good teams throughout the league are struggling with consistent running. It isn’t just the Bucs.
% of RB runs to gain 0 or fewer yds
29% – PIT, ARI
28% – LAR
27% – NYJ
26% – LV
25% – HOU
24%
23% – DET
22% – TB
21% – BAL, CLE, SEA
20% – KC
19% – GB, NE
18% – NO
17% – IND, MIN, NYG, CAR, ATL
16% – LAC, DAL, MIA, CHI
15% – DEN
14% – TEN, CIN
13% – JAX
12%
11% – WAS
10% – SF
9%…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 26, 2023
September 27th, 2023 at 7:33 am
successful runs on 1st and 2nd down would be a more useful stat.
The Bucs probably have a lot of 1-yard, 2-yard runs.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:34 am
Trask for Breece Hall straight up. Everybody wins.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:36 am
This makes sense. Running is just generally hard for all but a couple of teams, is less effective than passing, and is not the key to winning in the modern NFL anyway.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:44 am
Inside the tackles, the weakest part of our O-line, isn’t working for us. Imagine that?
Why are we attempting the majority of our runs between the tackles?
Shake it up a little Dave! Up the gut just ain’t happenin right now!
September 27th, 2023 at 7:48 am
Not understanding how NOT being the worst in the league at having your RBs gain nothing (or less) is good news. It’s terrible news in our case because this year’s offensive scheme calls for a reasonably ‘balanced attack’.
So what exactly are we accomplishing here? Balancing out 0 yard or negative runs with 1, 2 & 3 yard runs to average 2.4 YPC for the whole Eagles’ game? That’s not a formula for winning ballgames.
Obviously Rachaad White got the lion’s share of Monday night’s carries (14 runs for 38 yards … 2.7 YPC). His longest run was 12 yards though, so on his other 13 runs he averaged 2.0 YPC. Not impressive, but he did OK catching the ball (3 targets, 3 catches, 24 yards … 8.0 YPC). MAYBE we should’ve tried a couple less runs and a couple more passes?
September 27th, 2023 at 8:00 am
Rewatched some of the game, the run blocking wasn’t all that bad. One play was blocked to perfection. All Tucker had to do was beat one man the safety, and he’s taking it to the house. Tucker couldn’t make him miss. He gets taken out by the feet. White does not hit the hole with speed, or power. Look at his fumble after catching the short pass before the half. What’s he doing turning inside into traffic where he gets creamed? Just keep running straight to the sideline AWAY from traffic. Surprised he never got hit by a car crossing the street. None of our backs have it. The O line isn’t great, but backs need to run better than what our two are doing.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:03 am
Jonathan Taylor?
September 27th, 2023 at 8:03 am
White has no burst and cannot make second level tacklers miss. White was projected as a RB3 by NFL.com after his combine and that is a correct judgment. ROJO has burst and makes second level tacklers miss and breaks 20 yard plus runs-LICHT needs to sign ROJO for league minimum and make this roster BETTER.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:16 am
Well Chicago/Minn give up an average of 120 yards per week through 3 weeks and Philly is at 48
We are part of those numbers, and based on that we should be averaging ~96 yards per week and we’re at 78.
Mostly the eye test shows we suck at running the ball and White is not an above average RB1. It’s frustrating to play fantasy, and every year we see mid to late round drafted RB’s backs blow up and none are Bucs.
You’d think we’d get lucky one year lol.
These all would be upgrades-
Devon Archane (3rd round), Brian Robinson Jr (3rd round – drafted after White), Zach Moss (3rd), Jerome Ford (5th), Pacheco (7th), Kyren Williams (5th), Raheem Mostert (undrafted), Tony Pollard (4th)
And there’s Breece Hall / James Cook / D’Andre Swift / Chubb – 2nd round
And it’s a mix of these talented RB’s doing well on both bad and good teams.
We do not know how to to scout/draft that position for some reason. Or we don’t move up or take the good ones higher when we need to.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Rashaad White looks like he’s 67 years old in the pic Joe uses lol.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Don’t forget we had 3 kneel downs in each of the first two games…..that’s 6 for minus yards……not meaningless.
The way I see it, we are not using our TEs & RBs enough in the passing game….and, vs Eagles….I can’t recall even 1 WR screen….
We also didn’t attempt an end around……those have been successful for us thus far.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:23 am
white is not a starting nfl running back. Weve seen enough. He is a nice change of pace back to catch passes and give a guy a breather. Unfortunately, we aer stuck with what we have this year.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Ok now run those stats again but with the longest runs teams have had. You’ll find the bucs at the bottom, because they’re also last in the league at 2.79 yards per carry.
I’ll see your cherry picked stats selected to spin a narrative and raise you the full picture.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:27 am
Play calling? 1st & 10 to go. Which play will the Bucs attempt? You guessed it – up the middle for a 1 yard gain or perhaps a 2 yard loss. Seems like Byron is still calling the pays. Bowels needs to go!!!
September 27th, 2023 at 8:29 am
In fairness to White, he in fact doesn’t make second level people miss because he never gets that far
September 27th, 2023 at 8:30 am
yes AI has aged rachaad white heavily in the above photo lol…
he looks 38 in the pic and ready to retire
September 27th, 2023 at 8:42 am
ok regarding mr. white….
he very well might be working his way to being the bucs 3rd down back next year…because that might really be precisely what he is…he can drop the extra bulk he added, get quicker, catch the ball – which he does well, and thrive as a 3rd down dude…
it might just be who he is – and he might be so good in that role, that in the future, we might even resign him in his role…he’s no bowling ball built rb…he doesn’t hit the hole hard like rojo did…he just doesn’t do much in his current role…
and running thru the tackles and hainsey at this point is clearly not the answer…he might really be more of a 3rd down back type that’s currently in an rb1 role – start sweeping him outside past the tackles and blockers for a handful of yards – it’s probably a better route for yards – and rachaad has a nice stiff arm move that can be used when he turns the corner…
i think you gotta switch up the play approach for him – as he’s simply not much of an “alstott up the gut” type runner…
but if you want to leave things as is for now going into new orleans and the bye, that’s fine…but make some changes for after the bye if the “up the gut” moves once again stall out at the superdome
September 27th, 2023 at 8:43 am
White is a #2 RB at best. Honestly, I had never heard of the guy until the Bucs drafted him and he had one good season at ASU against PAC-12 competition, and the total stats don’t tell the whole story. He struggled when playing lesser opponents in half of those games. That tells me all I need to know about RW. I think the Bucs coaching staff’s expectations don’t align with the talent.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:44 am
and running thru the guards and hainsey at this point are clearly not the answer
September 27th, 2023 at 8:44 am
*
September 27th, 2023 at 8:47 am
Bucs got too far behind.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:01 am
i’m not a film study dude, but from watching every pro game of rachaad’s pro career live, i seem to recall the bulk of his successful yard gaining plays seem to be outside the tackles and between the sidelines…whether rushing or receiving…
so why try to bulk him up and come crashing up the gut – it’s simply not working…
stick to what works and have him rock n roll on the outside
September 27th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Despite what many believe, you HAVE to have the threat of a rushing attack. The statistics do not lie. The percentage of TOs increases exponentially after 30+ pass attempts, regardless of the QB.
If White cannot stop dancing in the backfield, call plays that put him in motion or to the outside. Inside runs need to be instinctual and violent. The minute he hesitates, it’s done.
Adjust!
September 27th, 2023 at 10:54 am
The team will either get better, or worse from here.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:25 am
We need a better o line.
Look at the dolphins scheme. The running back aren’t even touched for 3+ yards. It’s share backfield space with the defense.
Swift had holes big enough to drive a truck through untouched. We need to improve the scheme and maybe get the backs on the edges as our guards and center are not making homes.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Holes
September 27th, 2023 at 11:43 am
white is doo doo, better off going out and getting forunette back on the team at this rate, take that stupid #1 from him as well, the bucs had a #1 back in the 90s losing era that was doo doo too, think it was michael morton
September 27th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
The GM is a failure in the RB dept.
He had two great backs- Jones and Fournette
September 27th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Can someone please tell our coaches that our great punter ran a 4.5 forry yard dash at the combine last year. If I was the special team coach I think I’d have some fake punch in my play book. Don’t waste that kind of speed just letting him punt. With his speed he could win us a game or two keeping drives alive
September 27th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Before you go on a buying spree, take a look at what you already have in the cupboard.
Bucs former 3rd round pick KeShawn “Sneak” Vaughn has exactly 0 carries after 3 games.
Try Sneak as #1 RB and White as 3rd down back for a half-game and see what you have.
If it is not much, then sub in Sean Tucker as #1 RB for the 2nd half to see what he can do.
September 27th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Well, at least Bowles can stop the other team from running.
Oh, wait.
September 27th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
We have two years of experience with White and we know what he can and can’t do. We need to give Tucker and Sneak much more meaningful touches and see what they can do.
No matter who is in the game, we need to throw more to the RB’s where the back swings out and is running forward while catching the ball. Let’s see which RB can make people miss in space. Both Tucker and Sneak are quicker than White and could do well with wide pitches – we’ve had some luck with those.
September 27th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you have to have a rushing attack. Whoopee. You also have to mix it up with stuff like screens, sweeps, and even a very rare bootleg option. That takes the pressure off a new OLine and QB. Why? Cos it’s UNPREDICTABLE! The opposing defense is caught off guard. Then with the receivers we have, bam, you nail the opposing team with a passing attack. Peewee football 101. ME13 and CG14 had a game day off MN. Yeah, Evans dropped that one ball but he was shocked that BM threw it to him.
September 27th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
“Im Rick James B!tch!”
Kobe Faker
September 27th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Rashaad “Cha Cha” White is a huge disappointment. I’m not saying we have a fantastic offensive line or anything, but Cha Cha is Dancing With the Stars. There is never an initial burst and he doesn’t break many tackles, outside of that Angry Run last year against the Seahawks. There is no chance we have a #1 running back on our current roster.
September 27th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
I am not thrilled with Mr White as our bell cow. He hasn’t really shown much. He’s been terribly hyped just like that DE of ours Tryon who completely disappears in games.
September 28th, 2023 at 12:54 am
definition of insanity
September 28th, 2023 at 9:47 am
Wow that was lot of words and stats to prove …What point exactly?
Go Bucs!