Can Rachaad White Handle The Punishment?
December 9th, 2023
Guess who is tied for the fourth-most touches in the NFL?
That would be Rachaad White.
Veteran running backs Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs are used to a massive workload. They and Jaguars RB Travis Etienne are the only running backs with more touches this season than White, who has 222 in 12 games.
Yeah, Joe realizes running backs used to take more of a pounding decades ago, but White’s total is significant. And it’ll be interesting to see if he can handle the pounding the Bucs plan to give him as this season enters the stretch run.
Anything over 300 touches in a season is a big number, and White is on that pace.
For perspective, in the two years former Bucs running back Doug Martin hit 300 touches (2012 and 2015), his body broke down the following season.
Old school Bucs fans remember a running back/fullback named Mike Alstott. He never had more than 269 touches in a season (1999). Warrick Dunn only twice broke 300 touches twice — late in his career with the Falcons in 2005 and 2006.
If the Bucs find their way to the playoffs, it’s likely because White has risen up to give them solid days hammering away on the ground between the tackles (not Joe’s choice, but you know it’s coming) and four to five good efforts a game as a receiver out of the backfield.
Joe is very interested in seeing whether White can handle the punishment, which will continue tomorrow on the Falcons’ fake turf field.
December 9th, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Cue the next Social media Frenzy
Palmer’s mom posting that based on yard per attempt production if White can get all those touches her son should be getting double digit targets. She will pair that with the usual vacuous claim of “ceiling” because Obviously Palmer has a higher “ceiling” as well.
I don’t know why but more so than any other stats this one just seems the most insane.
December 9th, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Hope he does not get a turf toe. His coach has turf brain syndrome though.
December 9th, 2023 at 8:51 pm
Tony if that’s true Palmer needs to immediately tell his mom to STFU.
Palmer has show POTENTIAL…he’s also had some bad drops. The 191st pick..second selection for the Bucs in the sixth round, should just thank his lucky stars for any opportunities he receives. IF HE’s whining about touches already that’s red flag for sure. No more prima donnas. AB was enough for the rest of my lifetime.
Now in fairness if it wasn’t Palmer and just his mom then I cut him slack…he can’t be expected to control his mom.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
spbf – that didn’t really happen. Tony was just amusing himself with creative imagining….
I said before the season started that White would put up 1500+total yards – honestly thought the OLine would be better than it has been but 1500 yards is actually still on the table if Rachaad has a strong finish to the season.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:08 pm
Like I said in the last post, the coaching staff is going to push to get white 1000 yds this season so expect even more run plays.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
Can the fanbase handle that much punishment, is the question.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:20 pm
Larrd I think so, with a lot of alcoholic beverages.🍻
December 9th, 2023 at 9:38 pm
If he can’t grind from now until the end of the year, then we know he is a glorified RB2/3rd Down Back. The team has trusted him a lot. If he isn’t producing, then go after a cheap proven back in the off season. We shouldn’t be caught up on finding a running back with the structure of this team right now.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:46 pm
“Touches” that are unproductive and ineffective are useless. He is not a feature back, no matter how many “touches” he is fed.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:47 pm
Pickgrin
You’ve been around here for quite awhile and I’ve always valued your opinion.
During the draft JW #1 debate, originally I wanted MM because of JW’s “character” issues. All the FSU guys assured me he had grown up so by draft day I was on board with JW. MY mistake.
I remember a couple of posters here who actually got that debate correct and said trade down for all the draft capital to fix several holes at once.
I wish to give credit..am I mistaken or were you one of the guys who favored trading down? It was the right decision.
December 9th, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Pickgrin Says:
December 9th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
spbf – that didn’t really happen. Tony was just amusing himself with creative imagining….
Thanks PG . I thought that was obvious. I said Cue “as in get ready” not that it actually occurred.
Now though thats unlikely to happen with Palmer consider the track record if Godwin now starts getting major ball – Right or wrong – it worked so I would not be surrpised if the media is used similarly by other players.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:21 am
Why is this statistic unimpressive? Oh, that’s right. It’s 222 runs into the backs of the O-line.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:33 am
spbf – I was all in on Winston….
JWs talent is/was immense. But as Licht has said more than once – when you miss on a player with a high draft pick – the problem is rarely the “talent” – its almost always what’s going on (or not going on) above the shoulders.