“That’s Who He Is”
February 25th, 2024
Bucs set at running back?
Before you start calling Joe a hater, let Joe be clear: Rachaad White is a very good and possibly elite receiving back.
As a running back, Rachaad White is still below average.
Yes, Joe knows White nearly had 990 rushing yards in 2023. He also had the most carries (272) for the Bucs since 2015, when former Bucs running back Doug Martin had 1,402 yards on 288 carries — the last time a Bucs running back busted 1,000 yards in a regular season.
White’s yards per carry last year actually was a hair less than it was in 2022, which is bad. And his yards after contact (YAC) is terrible, ranked No. 50 in the NFL.
Still, Kevin Patra of NFL.com doesn’t think running back is a priority addition for Tampa Bay this offseason.
White came on strong down the stretch as the Bucs found a ground attack to complement Baker Mayfield’s air game. White is a solid runner who can find holes, and his patience improved in the latter half of the season and into the playoffs, which is one key reason the ground game found life. Yet overall, he’s still an inefficient runner. He averaged 3.6 yards per attempt for the season. Even in the final seven weeks in which he improved, he averaged 4.05 YPC. At this point, it’s fair to say that’s who he is. It was enough for the Bucs offense last season. Tampa has more pressing matters this offseason — like hanging onto Mayfield, Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr., etc. — but adding a complement to White is further down the list.
This is simply nonsense! No, White is not a “solid” runner and he is pathetic at reading holes. The latter may be his worst trait. It is absolutely aggravating for Joe to see White slam into defenders when just to his left or his right is daylight. Dude has an awful case of tunnel vision.
White did run better later in the season, but he’s got a ways to go to be a good running back.
Joe continues to maintain White is a misplaced slot receiver. He is almost elite catching the ball out of the backfield. White also is a willing if not a good blocker picking up blitzes.
White is barely serviceable as a starting running back.
If Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht doesn’t sign (another) free agent running back, you’re damn right Joe will be looking at drafting a running back on Day 2 of the draft.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:06 am
He’s bad at pass pro. Willing is being far too generous.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:07 am
Absolutely.
Rachaad White is a serviceable running back – but Baker WILL need an improved run game next season.
Ray Davis would be nice.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:21 am
Shame we can’t get 20 year old RB Braelon Allen out of Wisconsin. He’ll probably go in the 2nd round and we do have bigger needs. Had a down year due to an injury. 6’2” 245 lbs. Still managed to go for 984 yards on 181 attempts for a 5.4 yard average with 12 touchdowns. Two previous years he went for over 1200 yards. I’ve seen every snap of his career. Seems like an exceptional player and man. Only caveat is he chose not to play in the bowl game. Didn’t like that. Since Bowles loves to run up the middle this is the guy to do it.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:22 am
Mort, I wouldn’t say he is bad at pass pro, probably average at best, but the way he catches the ball you have to have him out there. He is an elite receiver out of the backfield. Besides Christian Macaffery I don’t think there is anyone better.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:30 am
He’s actually projects as a 3rd round pick. With him as the workhorse and White as the 3rd down back and new players at Center and LG the running game would finally improve.
February 25th, 2024 at 1:30 am
Coach the man up. Bowles is accountability for his assistants’ lack of ability to improve player performance. Not shocking.
February 25th, 2024 at 1:40 am
White is horrible at picking up the blitz. Even worse than finding the hole running the ball. Elite pass catcher though.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:54 am
Potential Free Agents:
• D’Andre Swift
• Zack Moss
• Rashaad Penny
Potential Draft Picks:
• Trey Benson
• Braelon Allen
• Jaylen Wright
• Dillon Johnson
• Jawhar Jordan
Potential Line Depth Chart:
• Di’Andre Swift
• Rashaad White
• Jaylen Wright
• Jawhar Jordan
Honorable Mention: * Frank Gore Jr.
February 25th, 2024 at 3:26 am
Yay me and us LUV….our time to shine….
RB Audric Estime
February 25th, 2024 at 3:27 am
But I do love me some Bucky Irving also….
February 25th, 2024 at 3:32 am
Here’s the deal….Bowles forcing run up the gut and not getting away from it screams to the other teams DC, here it goes, dont have the proper chess pieces in place to make it succesful but here we come.
Jason, you better solidify a back who can do that to help spell White….you’re killing him out there!!!
February 25th, 2024 at 3:53 am
Yessir
February 25th, 2024 at 3:54 am
Audric is nice
February 25th, 2024 at 3:54 am
Bucky too
February 25th, 2024 at 4:04 am
Head Coach Todd Bowles, like many coaches, prioritizes a successful run game. He doesn’t seem overly concerned with the specific type of run—whether it’s a stunt, a dive up the middle, or a zone play to the right or left.
What matters to him is the success of the run, regardless of the method employed.
February 25th, 2024 at 4:09 am
Jason Licht must decisively confront the running game challenges and actively seek out some impactful additions.
Especially with a wealth of potential pieces on the market, it’s crucial for him to take assertive steps to bring the team’s ground attack back to a point of strength.
The time is about ripe to fortify the roster and set this course right.
February 25th, 2024 at 4:17 am
Listen here if he could somehow acquire an additional mid-rounder, draft Trey Benson, and sign D’Andre Swift.
Potential RB Depth Chart:
• Di’Andre Swift
• Rashaad White
• Trey Benson
• Frank Gore Jr
With the combination of drafting Jackson Powers-Johnson in the 1st, lookout!
February 25th, 2024 at 4:35 am
The combination of these 3 free agents will help us out bigtime
• RB: D’Andre Swift
• S: Jordan Whitehead
• MLB: Kyzir White
February 25th, 2024 at 4:49 am
My man…..knows your stuff…and you know they see it and listen to us.
What sucks is when they get stupid and…….eh im not going there….scouts getting paid and we’re doing it for free because of the love of our team….go figure, lol
February 25th, 2024 at 5:48 am
You know yours as well.
They have to do something about it this year.
I
February 25th, 2024 at 7:18 am
Relax, White is good out of the backfield catching passes and they will get another RB who can run much better than White who is just average running the ball. It is just down on the priority list.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:05 am
Relax?
Unmasking Our Team’s Abysmal Rushing Performance (2023).
Advanced Rushing Stats: (2023)
• Rushing Yards: 1509 (32nd)
• Rushing Touch Downs: 8 (28th)
• First Downs Rushing: 79 (31st)
• Yards Before Contact: 900 (29th)
• Rushing Yards Before Contact Per Rushing Attempt: 2.1 (31st)
• Rushing Yards After Contact: 609 (30th)
• Rushing Yards After Contact Per Rush: 1.4 (31st)
The pitiful state of our rushing game is exposed in these damning stats: dead last in total rushing yards, a feeble touchdown count, and a woeful scarcity of first downs on the ground. Our offensive line’s inability to create opportunities is stark, evident in dismal numbers for yards before and after contact. The urgency for a radical shift in our rushing strategy has never been more apparent
Note: Powerhouses like San Francisco and Kansas City dominate the rushing charts with their commanding statistics, our team languishes at the bottom.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:11 am
Fixing our rushing attack isn’t just about more yards—it’s the secret to our play-action game. A strong ground threat makes defenses bite, creating prime opportunities for game-changing play-action plays that can make our offense more potent.
February 25th, 2024 at 9:31 am
That hir cut cost a fortune. How does he get it in his helmen?
February 25th, 2024 at 10:41 am
Rachaad White is a one trick pony. He is a metro rb who has no heart or vision and is afraid of contact. He is only good in wide open lanes when he doesn’t have to worry about immediate contact. Never seen anyone go down so fast from any contact with his legs. Look at his eyes, he has no passion or fire but sure loves the camera and mic. Most rbs love laying wood on dbs , breaking their ankles and leaving their jock straps on the field after juking them and he possesses none of these traits. #1 backs are supposed to be runners first receivers 2nd and he’s e reversal of that.
February 25th, 2024 at 10:42 am
Oh yeah when he said he wanted to cry on the sideline that sealed my opinion of him!
February 25th, 2024 at 11:06 am
Yall are overblowing this a bit.
4 yards per carry is okay. Not lighting the world on fire, but you can remain ahead of the chains with that.
His vision is not as bad as some are claiming either. Truth is there were not a lot of holes for him to hit. Our run blocking has been below average for several years, and the constant up the gut play calls didn’t do anyone any favors. His skillset has always been about getting him in space, so maybe the OC should call runs that actually do that.
And as I’ve said every year regardless of who the RB is, when you’re being hit by a defender the moment you get the ball in your hands, there not much you can do.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
It has more to do with our weak guards & invisible center. Feiler was the best of the bunch & he’s a free agent. Mauch was a rookie so he should improve. Hainsey is terrible and needs to be replaced. I do agree Whit is not the greatest blocker, we need a third down back.
February 25th, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Dylan Laube (New Hampshire) might not be bad.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:47 pm
I should have known Joe’s hating as wouldn’t give Rachaad White any respect. You casual fans don’t understand how important run blocking is for a running back to average over 4 yards per carry. Name one great running back not named “Barry Sanders” who could get at least 4 yards per carry while getting hit before he can even cross the line of scrimmage because our last two offensive coordinators decided to run up the middle behind the worst run blocking offensive linemen in the NFL on first and second down.
I’ll wait…
February 25th, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Respect is earned, not given.
February 26th, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Davidbigbucsfan99 i know that’s u David u keep changing u r post name Everytime u post something u r sh!tty personality shines thru u r the type of commentary is so easy to pick out of all other haters on this site
February 26th, 2024 at 7:58 pm
Who cares what jack Clark has to say? Not me