Rachaad White Is Too Soft, Says Bucs Running Backs Coach,
November 20th, 2023
Rachaad White
In August, Rachaad White explained that being a tough-guy, relentless running back in practice was foreign to him and his Bucs position coach was drilling into him the value of training that way.
Fast-forward to last week. Bucs running backs coach Skip Peete visited the Buccaneers Radio Network and had a quick answer to a question about the coach’s focus area for improving White.
Violence, violence, violence, Peete explained. White needs to get nastier.
“I’ll sit here and tell [White], ‘Listen, think about it, you as a runner, every time you carry it, what are they trying to do? They’re trying to tackle you? No, no, no, no;, they’re trying to kill you,'” Peete said of talks with White. “
‘I say, so you got to play this game with violence. And when you run, you have to run with violence. And when you pass protect, you have to pass protect with violence. …So we got to play with a little more nastiness in my mind.”
Peete went on to say White is too inconsistent when it comes to playing to a level that strikes fear opponents.
“I think once he totally understands [playing violently,] and utilizes that with the skillset that he has, he’ll become a very, very talented running back in this league,” Peete said of White.
This is all very interesting to Joe considering White was being taught to play harder 3 1/2 months ago, and that White ranks 40th in yards per carry among full-time ball carriers (80 rushes or more).
Peete also went on to say that he’s on White to play faster and “not wait, hesitate and then try to accelerate. “
Frankly, listening to this interview, White sounded like a project player at One Buc Palace. Peete praised White for his hard work and said he’s proud of him.
Joe didn’t type this up last week to see if White might have a breakout game Sunday against San Francisco. After all, it was a year ago that he did just that in Germany.
It didn’t happen.
November 20th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Rashad White just doesn’t run through contact……cant have Charles Sims 2.0 as your workhorse RB
He’s an excellent RB2 but it’s the GMs fault for not adding a true RB in the off-season or at the deadline.
After many months of realizing the Bucs have a RB problem, all Licht has to show for is a failed wavier claim on Jets 3rd string malcontent Michael Carter.
November 20th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
White will make a great third down back. Bucs need to bring in a true RB1, and get better blocking from the interior of the line.
November 20th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Soft as butter on a hot day.
Just like the HC.
7-10 at best.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Not sure about violent but he juked SF safety Talanoa Hufanga so bad the he tore his ACL and is out for the year.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
White never runs full speed to the hole, always has to get a dance step in.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
So this is the idiot coach trying to ruin White and turn him into Michael Pittman, running into the back of his offensive lineman on every play.
What a jack—.
No, what makes White a good runner, is that he’s patient. Compare his production to every other back on the roster, and White is over a yard per carry better.
Fire this moron coach, immediately, if he’s not going to be smart enough to watch some tape and know what type of RB he has.
Also stop taking White out of the game on every 3rd drive. I don’t care about fairness and Chase Edmonds is a vet and we promised him snaps, keep White in the game until he’s collapsing from exhaustion.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
I don’t give a crap if he catches 85 passes a year, he’s not a RB that can succeed running the ball. Make him a WR. Be done with it.
FIRE BOWLES.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Right on Rod!!!
Vaughn, Edmonds, Tucker and even “Playoff Lenny” couldn’t run behind this line…White makes the best of it…..and yes, he would be a fantastic 3rd down back for years…..
Ad a road grader at center and left guard….and sure, pick up a power RB and that will get the job done.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Add
November 20th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Dewey Selmon Says:
November 20th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Not sure about violent but he juked SF safety Talanoa Hufanga so bad the he tore his ACL and is out for the year.
———
We don’t need no twinkle toes back breaking ankles, WE NEED A MAN WHO PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN AND RUNS FULL SPEED INTO THE BACK OF HIS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR 0.2 YARDS PER CARRY!!! GRRRR!!!!!!
November 20th, 2023 at 2:25 pm
He’s worthless as a RB and serviceable as a WR. That’s about it. Dude has no fire. Another lifeless Bucs player.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Where did he say he was too soft?
November 20th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
No argument from me. He has great agility (he juked a guy so bad it caused an injury), but agree he needs more physicality in his game.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Thats not true. The RB caoch never literally said White was too soft. So come on guys, don’t lie on the man.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
I agree with Peete’s assessment (not Joes title)
November 20th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
Okay, so my two cents:
The Bucs have not had a true running game since WD-40. Why is that?
Because they changed the formula that gave them success and they never went back to it.
No one was more violent than Alstott. Dunn was an okay RB, but #40 made the dream work.
If you want a violent running game you need to have a combo that fits that mold.
We don’t, so we won’t.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
There’s got to be an option on one of the practice squads of 31 other teams who can hit a hole . But Todd won’t tell Jason to go get him. Todd has the sense of urgency of a tortoise and is more stubborn than a dead mule. Poor ingredients to be a head coach.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
I will say, he has been running much harder than he was at the beginning of the season, but he’s def not all the way where he needs to be yet.
He does have that skillset. But you gotta come with all the goods if you want to be and stay a starter in this league.
Bucs have been too graciously patient thus far.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
White: a third down/ scat back/ slot receiver on any other team, RB1 inside runner on the Bucs. Do bowles, Licht, or Canales have eyes? This guy is never gonna be a bruiser (altho I agree with Skip that he plays soft in general). What happened to the option game we were gonna run with Baker & him? Or like Bonzai said, get him a fullback at least (Ko would be serviceable there, but don’t expect miracles, his blocking is overrated). Just another example of bowels not playing to players’ strengths. I’m totally over it. While this roster is weak, almost any other coach could do more with it.
#FIREbowlesNOW
November 20th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
“Dunn was an okay RB”
HA! Yet another bozo statement by Bonzai
Apartently the 23rd rushing leader of all time just passes as “okay” by Bozo Buccaneer
November 20th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
White could be a Charles Simms-type. Solid 1B/2nd running back but not meant to carry an offense. Running back should be a priority in the draft and free agency.
The o-line, especially the interior, needs to improve but I’ve seen enough of white/Vaughn
November 20th, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Maybe he is possibly a great player being used wrong. He seems to be more of a wingback/slotback. If you’re old enough to remember Tom Landry, he would make hay with this guy. Now it’s also true that that position might not be in Canales’ offense and that’s a problem of not having the right players for the scheme. White isn’t a washout, that would be someone who does nothing right. White has a sweet spot that he excels at. The Bucs need to take advantage of White’s niche.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
It’s 2023, you win by passing the ball, and you have a top receiving runningback, and an offensive line that is much better at pass blocking than running blocking…
So, what do you do?
A) Continue to run it up the middle, sooner or later it will work
B) Realize it’s not 1970, and you win by utilizing the forward pass
C) Fire Todd Bowles
D) B&C
E) A&C
F) All of the above
G) None of the above
H) tl;dr
I ) This is too stressful, let AI answer the question
November 20th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
I agree with this. Too much finesse and not enough power.
It works when he’s out in open space, but then he needs to finish with violence at the point of contact.
Did you see Fred Warner pretty much single handedly toss White to the ground yesterday even though he was running full speed? Embarrassing.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
The last back we had who was violent and elusive and truly a 3 down back was Blount. I miss him
November 20th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
@Dewey – remember that Blount “couldn’t catch or run block” though… until he went to the Belicheats of course and became a true 3 down back and terrific pass catcher, and even started returning punts. LOL
This organization is so good at wasting talent I swear…
November 20th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
We’ll be drafting 2 violent RBs. White can play on 3rd downs.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
We’ve already discerned that White is a misplaced slot receiver, and not an RB1.
He’s just filling in till the Bucs find their guy.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:07 pm
Once again, I ask this, and it goes unanswered every time – can anyone show me the plays on the ALL22 where White is missing holes consistently – where he’s making bad decisions, where he’s not getting yards that otherwise would be there?
I’m sure, like every running back, you might have a play here or there where he does something wrong, but when I watch the tape, I see him getting 4 or 5 yards on plays where there is nothing – and he does it by hesitating a second, then exploding through the hole. However, the overwhelming vast majority of the time, there is literally no hole, there is nowhere to go with the ball. Then if you watch tape of guys like Vaughn, who is much more of a straight ahead runner who will run into the back of his offensive lineman and doesn’t let lays develop, well, he averages 1.7 yards per carry in this offense while White has double that average.
Also, it is worth pointing out that the Bucs were running the ball early, and getting yards, slowly, and moving the ball, slowly, until Mayfield fumbled it. That’s what happens when you’re doing 17 play drives because every play is a short play, mistakes will happen.
This team was made to pass the ball, so quit wasting downs running it if it’s not working.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
We’ve also learned, that Bucs RB2 and RB3, are in reality, practice squad players.
They are also temporary.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Bucs running back depth?… Knee high to a frog.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
The team picks up the personality of its head coach, Todd’s team is just like Todd, lifeless, no urgency, lost in space, it’s like they all know Todd will be gone after this season and going through the motions.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
I’ll stand by Rashad. He’ll be fine. I just imagine him standing back there on a run play and knowing how the holes are supposed to develop then watching it all collapse after the ball is snapped. Yeah if hesitate as well. And we can all toughen up some.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Rod Munch … ‘It’s 2023, you win by passing the ball, and you have a top receiving running back, and an offensive line that is much better at pass blocking than running blocking…’
And that’s precisely why we got whooped yesterday by a SF team (27-14) that ran the ball 30 times & passed it 25 times. And why we got beat by an Eagles team (25-11) that ran the ball 40 times & passed it 37 times. One of those 2 teams has a pretty good chance of playing in this year’s Super Bowl. Oh wait Rod, ‘YOU WIN BY PASSING THE BALL’, I forgot. My bad. Let me scrounge up 2 other examples for you.
Reality IMO that you win by scoring more points than the other guy … period. How you get them doesn’t mean diddly; all that matters is gittin er done. Miami has the #1 scoring offense right now (305 points in 10 games) and is running the ball on 41.1% of their plays … ever so slightly MORE than the Bucs are (40.1%). And yet they’re averaging 7.0 yards/play, while our Bucs are averaging 4.9 yards/play. And we both have the same number of plays, imagine that. The difference between their 7-3 record and our 4-6 record? Probably not too hard to figure out huh.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you CANNOT teach violence on the field, you either posses it internally or you do NOT and this young man does NOT.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
“I say, so you got to play this game with violence. And when you run, you have to run with violence. And when you pass protect, you have to pass protect with violence. …So we got to play with a little more nastiness in my mind.”
Ummm… can he tell that to our offensive line so they can run block better? 😂 Was the legendary, hall of fame running back Barry Sanders a violent running back? No, Barry Sanders was a finesse running back better at making people miss tackles in the open field than just running straight through them. This is another case of trying to force a square peg through a round hole. Rachaad White is ranked #1 in the league at making defenders miss tackles in the open field with 16, yes he’s better than Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara. So Canales needs to start using Rachaad White like how Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara are used.
During the 49ers game I noticed how Kyle Shanohan was designing run plays for McCraffrey to basically run towards the sideline (i.e. outside of the tackles) until he saw an hole open up and then sprint straight through it. That’s what Dave Canales needs to start doing that and design more pass plays for Rachaad White to catch the ball in open space while Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are getting double teamed down the field instead of just using Rachaad White to run the ball straight up the middle where our run blocking is the weakest. Rachaad White is no Jerome Bettis and never will be but there’s nothing wrong with that because he can be Barry Sanders, which imo is better. The only people soft on our team are our edge rushers (especially JTS) and offensive linemen’s run blocking.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
White is fine with me. We got much bigger fish to fry, like this 2 worthless cornerbacks that got fat Mac daddy pay raises, and for what? For starters.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Rod Munch Says:
November 20th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
So this is the idiot coach trying to ruin White and turn him into Michael Pittman, running into the back of his offensive lineman on every play. What a jack—. No, what makes White a good runner, is that he’s patient. Compare his production to every other back on the roster, and White is over a yard per carry better.
^^^^^
😂😂😂😂😂 We must continue spreading the gospel of Rachaad White!
November 20th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Rod Munch … ‘Can anyone show me the plays on the ALL22 where White is missing holes consistently – where he’s making bad decisions, where he’s not getting yards that otherwise would be there?’
Since I don’t get ALL22 Rod, can’t answer that. Will say this though. Watching the game yesterday, I was amazed several times at SF’s run-blocking. The hole opened up a split second BEFORE the RB hit it, for substantial gains I might add. In each case, their RB trusted that the INITIAL hole would be there. In those cases it was. In a number of instances, it wasn’t though, and their RB got stuffed just like White gets stuffed all too often.
SF ran 30 times yesterday for 115 yds (3.8 YPC). But 2 of those were kneeldowns for -2 yards, so they really RAN it 28 times for 113 yds (4.0 YPC). Not great; not bad. But look at HOW they ran it:
o 1st qtr: 1 run (-1 yd).
o 2nd qtr: 11 runs (8,9,8,2,-4,13,2,6,3,3,-2).
o 3rd qtr: 7 runs (1,12,-4,6,3,5,3).
o 4th qtr: 11 runs (2,-1,12,-1,13,6,2,1,6,-1,-1)
In their 28 runs (disregarding the 2 kneeldowns), SF had 4 runs of 10 yds or more, 8 runs of 5-9 yds, 10 runs of 1-4 yds, and 6 runs where the RB didn’t get back to the LOS. More important than the 4 YPC though, the 49ers had 12 runs that gained over 5 yards (in my book that’s a respectable running game). It also ‘set the table’ for the passing game (our defenders had to honor the THREAT of a run on just about all plays, and that’s a huge asset for the passing game).
Oh and BTW, those 4 long runs of more than 10 yards (plus I added 1 run of 9 yards as a freebie).
o McCaffrey 9 yds (around right end) … on 1st down.
o Mitchell 13 yds (around right end) … on 1st down.
o McCaffrey 12 yds (around right end) … on 1st down.
o McCaffrey 12 yds (up the middle) … on 3rd down & 19.
o Purdy 13 yds (around left end) … on 2nd & 11.
Seeing any trends there? Me too.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Leave White out of this. It’s the pathetic Oline and the pathetic coaching. If they don’t want White than find someone else. There has to be RBs on other practice squads. White may be soft but the coaching is a lot softer. Peete needs to be talking about the soft HC. The soft O line and the soft offensive game plan.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Violence is when Leonard Fournette blew up Micah Parsons on a chip block…
November 20th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
The fact that the coach is putting this out tells me it’s something they’re growing frustrated with. This isn’t the first public response from his position coach, I highly doubt White responds any differently in his play than what he’s already done. It’s who he is, Fournette was the same, always looking to bounce outside even in short yardage he would rarely hit the hole with authority.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Violence!!!!!
November 20th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
This is Crazy. the Bucs are ranked dead last at 1.9 ypc before contact.
the second worst is NE at 2.3 ypc before contact.
Rachaad White is at 2.1 ypc before contact.
The best is AZ at 3.6 ypc before contact.
We have no push in the middle. The other thing is run play selection. Before yesterdays game.
Direction of run-% of run plays-ypc
Center- 37.93%- 2.97 YPC
Left Guard- 18.23%- 4.03 ypc
Right Guard- 13.30%- 2.15 ypc
Right Tackle- 9.85% -3.10 ypc
Left Tackle- 8.37% – 1.12ypc
Outside left Tackle- 6.40% – 4.54 YPC
Outside Right Tackle- 5.91% – 3.92 ypc
We run inside the tackles 87.68% at freaking 2.90 ypc
We run outside the tackles 12.31% at freaking 4.24 ypc
of 203 rush attempts not including scrambles 120 were on first down. only 14 were outside the tackles.
So our only strength with running is outside the tackles and we never do it.
we run 69.46% of the time to the center or guard and 30.54% to the tackle or outside
AZ 46.66% inside 53.34% tackle or outside
Mami 38.28% inside to 61.72% tackle or outside
Lions 40.45% inside to 59.55% tackle or outside
Was 51.67% inside to 48.33 tackle or outside
These are some of the best YPC teams in the nfl.
How about Canales changes things up.
November 20th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Andrew Fish … ‘Of 203 rush attempts not including scrambles 120 were on first down. Only 14 were outside the tackles. So our only strength with running is outside the tackles and we never do it. We run 69.46% of the time to the center or guard and 30.54% to the tackle or outside.’
I’m impressed. 70% of our runs inside the Guards where we have the worst run-blocking. And only 12% outside the tackles where we get the best yardage, even though none of our RBs are particularly fast. Kinda leads one to the conclusion that our play-calling isn’t particularly effective?
November 20th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Only in Tampa…..
November 20th, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Couldn’t agree more Buccaneer Bonzai!
November 20th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
rod munch; OJ, Simms or Sayers couldn’t run behind this damn OL. What is needed is replacement of every coach-seriously man.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:14 pm
The last Buc to avg 5yds per carry is on the street right now and available and his name is ROJO.
Make Rojo the workhorse RB and use R White like a Marshall Faulk-type receiving back…
November 20th, 2023 at 6:16 pm
We would all be pi$$ing ourselves right now in excitement if we had a RB out there averaging 5yds/rush…
Rojo can give us that!!!
November 20th, 2023 at 6:57 pm
Worst rushing team in the league.. maybe he needs to look at himself.. poor coaching everywhere on this team..
November 20th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
If they don’t bite when they are puppies they aren’t going to bite… – Bill Parcels
November 20th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Is White FAST enough (like CMC) to run outside of the tackles? No idea
November 20th, 2023 at 8:42 pm
Defense Rules Says:
And that’s precisely why we got whooped yesterday by a SF team (27-14) that ran the ball 30 times & passed it 25 times. And why we got beat by an Eagles team (25-11) that ran the ball 40 times & passed it 37 times. One of those 2 teams has a pretty good chance of playing in this year’s Super Bowl. Oh wait Rod, ‘YOU WIN BY PASSING THE BALL’, I forgot. My bad. Let me scrounge up 2 other examples for you.
————
What running team has won the SB in the last couple of decades? I’ll eagerly await your answer…
Also those teams were able to run the ball because they’re facing a complete incompetent and impotent Bucs offense that doesn’t put up points.
But, I do agree, you win by scoring more points than the other team – not by telling your QB their top job is to protect the football, and certainly not by taking your pass first team and saying we’re not a running team when you don’t have the personel for it.
November 20th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
Andrew Fish – Thank you for posting the stats, that’s good stuff.
Interesting that running directly behind Wirfs doesn’t work, but run it right outside of him, it does. I wonder what is going on there.
Where are those numbers from?
November 20th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
@Andrew Fish, Fantastic research. That’s pretty damning for Canales.
November 20th, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Defense Rules Says:
Since I don’t get ALL22 Rod, can’t answer that. Will say this though. Watching the game yesterday, I was amazed several times at SF’s run-blocking. The hole opened up a split second BEFORE the RB hit it, for substantial gains I might add. In each case, their RB trusted that the INITIAL hole would be there. In those cases it was. In a number of instances, it wasn’t though, and their RB got stuffed just like White gets stuffed all too often.
———-
OK, fair comment. However I’d argue that is exactly how Vaughn and Tucker (earlier in the year) run, they just run full steam into where the hole is supposed to be, Vaughn is at 1.7ypc and Tucker hasn’t even seen the field in like 2 months.
BTW, for someone that loves stats and dissecting plays as much as you do, you really should get the RedZone / ALL22 / Replay package. It’s like $100 for the year, and lasts you until preseason the following year, and you have access now to like 13 years of games – something like that. Also, having RedZone on Sunday is by far worth the money. 7 hours of commercial free football, that is one all the time on one screen, then the Bucs on another. Not being smarmy with that, legit surprised you don’t have, it’s by far the best value in all of sports.
November 21st, 2023 at 1:06 am
Tbbucs3 Says:
November 20th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
“Dunn was an okay RB”
HA! Yet another bozo statement by Bonzai
Apartently the 23rd rushing leader of all time just passes as “okay” by Bozo Buccaneer”
.
Wow. Do you think you just called me out?
I said he was okay, yes. Big deal, lol.
He chose to leave the Bucs for a division rival, and it cost him a ring. He’ll never deserve a gold jacket, and he’s sliding down that list.
Who scored more TDs? Him or Altott? Dunn did okay for himself in Atlanta, but he would have done much better if he had stayed in Tampa.
And anyway, I was specifically talking about his first years in tampa.
November 21st, 2023 at 1:14 am
His original 5 years in Tampa, Dunn averaged 840 yards a season. That’s ‘okay’.
November 21st, 2023 at 1:29 am
Draft better run blocking OL so there’s a hole to run through. You use 1st round draft picks on defensive lineman every year, but haven’t drafted an OL high since Wirfs.
November 21st, 2023 at 2:35 am
Our running game has been in the bottom of the league for a decade.
We havent been able to run the ball long before White got here.
That means the problem isnt the players.
Stop blaming the pawns. The problem is a team philosophy that obviously doesnt work.
November 21st, 2023 at 3:06 am
We had a strong running back play off Lenny and you cut him like every good playerscotty Miller come on guys ,Bucs overhead is weak
November 21st, 2023 at 9:30 am
As someone who played the game it is hard to believe that anyone who has the Physical attributes to make it to the NFL has not been well versed in playing the game in a violent manner. Wow coach Peete!
Go Bucs!
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:19 pm
I’ve been saying he’s soft to my wife since I first watched him. He’s a dancer. A man his size should bring the wood. He brings the cupcakes