Rachaad White Makes Baker Mayfield Better
July 19th, 2024
Produces (in pass game).
Joe is a big fan of Rachaad White, the receiving back.
Joe is not a fan of Rachaad White, the running back.
As a receiving back, White is one of the best. Maybe elite. He certainly knows how to make guys miss.
In the running game, White has led the NFL’s worst rushing offense in back-to-back seasons. What more needs to be said?
In the passing game, White makes would-be tacklers miss time and again. In the running game, White couldn’t dodge a mailbox (with the exception of one beautiful stiff-arm against the Seahawks in Munich). His advanced stats in yards after contract and success rate are downright terrible.
But Joe doesn’t see a way the Bucs can pull White off the field much unless he has a specific set limit of snaps for load management.
By having White sit out likley run plays, it’s tipping pitches when he is on the field for pass-only plays. Most coaches don’t like tipping pitches.
White really raises Baker Mayfield’s game when he’s targeted, which might be the biggest compliment you can give a player. Warren Sharp recently ran stats on Mayfield when he throws to running backs and when he throws to receivers and tight ends.
When targeting RBs last year, Baker had insane numbers.
Out of 35 QBs, he ranked:
#2 in completion rate (87%) (career high)
#4 in EPA/att (+0.15)
#6 in YPA (6.8)
#10 in success rate (44%)When not targeting RBs, he ranked:
#17 in EPA/att
#21 in success rate
#22 in YPA
#30 in completion rate
Just for a little background, Mayfield last year targeted White 70 times, third-most of all Bucs players. The next most targets to a running back was 17 to Chase Edmonds. Sneak Vaughn and Sean Tucker each had two targets.
So based on how well Mayfield threw to White, and the production White normally got on those plays, Joe doesn’t know how White isn’t the first-choice running back, no matter how bad his running is.
July 19th, 2024 at 12:42 am
He’s lethal out of the backfield in the passing game. Lethal.
And I imagine they revamped the o-line to help improve the run blocking… even if some people think it’s only the fault of the RBs for our poor rushing attack.
July 19th, 2024 at 12:52 am
I agree with those who have suggested that it is hard for a RB to hit a hole when two interior DLs are hanging off of him snarling when he takes the handoff. That kind of whiffing by El Matadors Grande’ might make Barry Sanders question his own vision.
Before we get out the embalming fluid on Rachaad’s running career, let’s see if authentic IOLs can help him get an extra half yard. Also what might help is when the defense expects a run between center and right guard, you run it somewhere else. Radical, I know.
July 19th, 2024 at 7:23 am
These stats for Baker are eye-opening.
July 19th, 2024 at 7:58 am
Chaad bailed Baker out a ton in the pass game and helped him get paid too if we’re all being honest.
What needs to be addresses is the non-RB target production, gotta get those numbers up cause that is partly why people don’t believe in us and it’s exactly why Gardner-Johnson felt bold enough to basically call Mayfield mid before that game last season. That’s the doubt people have in this QB.
July 19th, 2024 at 9:52 am
I’m a firm believer that it has more to do with the game planning than the QB just choosing to check down. Bowles stresses his D to get turnovers but that also means he doesn’t want the offense turning it over either. This style of play could also be the reason Godwin isn’t getting the ball as much as he should.
July 19th, 2024 at 9:57 am
^^^
Everybody but Baker, huh? lol
July 19th, 2024 at 10:01 am
Joe, I think White is going to surprise you this year. With a improve offensive line and a offensive coordinator that will be more creative in the run game.
July 19th, 2024 at 10:44 am
True that George R. Rachaad is only 25 years old and this could be his breakout year!
July 19th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Obviously Baker was better with Rachaad. Any QB is helped by check downs or RB passes.
White is going to be fine this year … Very valuable for us this (as he was last year) and I predict, if the OL improves, he’ll get that Xtra 1/2 yard or so per carry to satisfy the people (here and elsewhere) who seem to think statistics are the only way to measure success.
And he’ll continue to be a threat in the pass game.
Depending on how the rookies and Tre perform there could be more mouths to feed on offense so Rachaad may see less total yards but hopefully he’ll be more efficient= his goal for the year.
July 19th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
It’s not so much the sheer number of Rachaad White articles, it’s that they all same the same thing.
White ran the ball well down the stretch.
July 20th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Absolutely. Having a relief valve is priceless. Gonna be even better with an OC who knows how to use the TE position. Otton and Durham will thrive