“Good Start”
August 25th, 2024
Turning the corner?
While this video mainly highlights Graham Barton specifically, something else caught Joe’s eye.
The following absolutely enraged Bucs fans last year: Joe — perched high up in the press box — way, way too often saw Rachaad White either not running to daylight or not reading his blocks.
Drove Joe absolutely nuts. And for a team with the worst rushing attack in the league, it was unforgivable.
Joe sure caught the hate from fans. Joe saw what he saw — multiple times. To be fair, fans rarely saw this on network broadcasts because they don’t follow an offensive line after the snap.
And this month, direct and indirect messages from Bucs coach Todd Bowles confirmed what Joe had seen.
Well, in the video below from former 11-year NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger, watch White run to daylight. He zigged and zagged his way through traffic, taking advantage of run lanes, and getting production.
Hallelujah! Finally.
Joe gives White a ton of credit. Coaches have been hard on him for not hitting holes hard and not running to daylight and, specifically, dancing in the backfield. You saw very little of that Friday.
Another thing in the video below worth mentioning: On the screen pass to White to the left side, look at the convoy blocking for White. When your right guard (Cody Mauch) is running 20 yards downfield looking for a teal jersey to hit, you just ran a well-developed play executed just about perfectly.
.@Buccaneers @grahambarton53 and the entire O-Line looks much different; much better with Barton at center. This can be a very goid offensive line in all phases of the game #bucball #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/uyRQXzpzJa
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 24, 2024
August 25th, 2024 at 10:37 am
White’s second run, once at the second level he cuts left into defenders while there was space off to his right. But he had holes to read which is different from last year’s matador show.
Great footage of the Bucs run blocking and the perfectly executed screen pass.
Welcome Liam Coen. Canalwater will be holding the clipboard for Tony Robbins next year.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:43 am
Bucs looked and sounded tight and crisp in all 3 preseason games. I know it’s preseason, but so what? I’ve followed them for a long time, and I don’t see this kind of discipline too often this early in the season. We have a new OC, too. Coen is much, much better than Canales!! I hope Coen calls QB rollouts. With the players we now have on offense, that will be fun to watch! Mr. Feisty BM should have a ball with that call. Looking forward to the start of the season, even with the peak of Hurricane season staring us in the face. Go Bucs!!
August 25th, 2024 at 10:45 am
The only thing I saw with that screen play is it looked to me as if Barton was two yards downfield.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Yes, this looks like a different o line. They are much more physical. I think White took to much blame for the poor running game. Yes he needs to hit the hole quicker. However when linemen can’t move people their is simply no where to run. I think some of White’s dancing as it has been called was a combination of him being to slow to adjust coupled that there simply was often no place to go.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:52 am
I’m not able to follow the OL improvement like Baldinger, however, to a fan it is obvious. Just concentrate on Barton and you see things you did not see last year. I see an improvement in RB, WR, and DL (big time). However, I see a fatal flaw ahead. With the pre-season over it is obvious the DBs that have played so far can’t cover ANYBODY! Time after time completions are made with no contact until the receivers possess the ball and takes 2-3 steps or many more before being touched by our DB. That this happened with 3rd and 15 or more and the Fins still complete wide open passes. Not being an “expert” like the Joes I can’t tell why. I suspect it’s primarily that Bowels tells them to play off. Third and short and they still play “off’. EX-peasy completions. No big year if this is typical for the regular season.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Dave Pear, Carolina wiped the Bills in their last game. Canals may have hired the right people. Their QBs looked very good as well.
August 25th, 2024 at 11:01 am
The line did great! Got a feeling that Bucky would have done better Our O is looking really good. Great WRs, good RBs, solid O line, solid TEs, – much better play calling and aggressive approach. Happy
August 25th, 2024 at 11:02 am
That was an outstanding breakdown
August 25th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Oregon nails it. Todd’s bend and eventually break pass defense is the team’s Achilles heel.
We shall see very quickly if the starters can tighten it up versus WFT in the opener.
August 25th, 2024 at 11:12 am
That running to traffic to the left instead of running to daylight to the right as I’ve said in another post it’s what takes the shine off of that play because it shines a light on his lack of tight traffic vision which will always be a hindrance to extra yards for a 1st down or a score. Football is a game of inches and that could be the difference between a win and a loss. How much you wanna bet Bucky or Tucker would’ve cut to the right???
August 25th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Maybe the 2 OL coaches that left has something to do with all this.
August 25th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
It was a convoy! White did great! The whole team had it together.
August 25th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
It will only surprise JBF if White turns out to be a damn good running back, as we’ve all witnessed with this regressive and/or rebuilt offensive line these past 2 years. No other Bucs site has covered White’s running more than this website, and why? Because JBF has to prove how right “they” are when they make a statement that most of us don’t agree with and then we reply, just like this writeup (if it posts), and JFB digs up more stuff, more quotes, etc etc etc., in attempt to say “here, I told you so”. My god man, just let this one go. Even if White goes off for 1200 yards this season, does that make the fans right? Does that make you wrong? No, why? Because this isn’t last year’s line, it’s not 2022’s line. It’s not Leftwich calling plays, or Canales calling plays. All this matters in this discussion. We call it context. Only 1 guy remains from the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Wirfs. Lmao, throw-in 2022 as well, since Goedeke was at LG when he did play that season. The one consistent aspect we can point to for the last 2 seasons, is Robert Hainsey, and no, it’s no coincidence we burned a first-round pick on his replacement. Give the kid an even freaking break man, this upcoming season will actually be his 2nd full year as the lead RB, that completely gets overlooked when you boys start tearing into this guy on your Ira podcast. Leftwich abandoned the run, and Canales was still trying to figure out how to call the offense. Coen is going to get this right, and none of us should be surprised if both Bucky and White have stellar year on the ground this season.
August 25th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Thanks Baldy for the breakdown. So far so good!
Blah blah blah RW sucks as a runner (AGAIN) by Joe.
August 25th, 2024 at 2:28 pm
Well, maybe, just maybe if Rachaad White demonstrated he was a good running back and not the leader of the worst rushing attack the past two years who can’t read blocks and doesn’t know what daylight is, maybe Joe will change his mind!
Just because Joe wants him to be good doesn’t make him Barry Sanders.
What next, Jaelon Darden was a good receiver, but the problem was Tom Brady didn’t target him enough? Please!
August 25th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
Hey Dave Pear and DavidBigBucsFan99…I don’t know if you gentlemen have ever carried the rock before but I have. There’s a thing called leverage that every rb tries to use in their favor when reading blocks. Go back and watch the video and pause it at 26sec. You’ll see the safety free to roam and make the tackle had RW1 cut right while the corner is in pursuit over the top of Mauch, Goedeke and the Ryan Miller to the left. Since said corner is blinded by the scrum in front of him, RW1 saw the leverage was in his favor weak side and went left. RW1 is to the third level of the defense untouched if Goedeke and Mauch managed to finish those blocks versus cutting right into the open zone with the safety and backside corner in pursuit as well as the strong side safety more than likely. RW1 made the right decision.
August 25th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
How many articles bashing White has daytime Joe published in the last week? I’d say at least 10, right? Am I forgetting some?
August 25th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
No clue. Don’t count. But once he shows he’s a good back and can read blocks and see holes, guess what? Joe will stop typing about him being a bad running back. Imagine that?
Never have so many gotten so bent about a bottom of the barrel running back like this Rachaad White. Geez.
What next, people are going to come after Joe because he points out JTS doesn’t get sacks?
August 25th, 2024 at 3:47 pm
1500 yards from scrimmage. Excluding QBs he’s our biggest yardage producer last year with Canales calling plays and and a horrible IOL. He’s explosive in the open field, has a Team 1st attitude. Seems willing to learn and improve. For God’s sake he’s a bargain basement CM if he improves stats a little.
100 more yards for the season and he’s averaging 4 YPC and has 1k + yards running the ball. And stat heads all of a sudden would think he’s great?
Nothing wrong with you (Joe) not liking him, his performance, whatever.
Just seems like an obsession of yours to put the guy down every chance you get.
Article about the O line improving – let’s add some RW put downs.
Article about other backs looking good – RW shade.
QB calls new back a stud – RW put down.
Waiting for you, if you haven’t already, to find a way to crap on RW in an article about the defense.
I’d like to see people give the guy a chance in the new system and judge him after. And maybe appreciate what he did for the team last year. He busted his ass, he’s very talented, and some of y’all trying to write him off in favor of Bucky or Tucker based on how many carries in a couple preseason games.
Reminds me of the Trask worshippers. You actually make it harder to like the other guys in the backfield by constantly tagging on RW
Don’t you have other dead horses to beat? What about Reddick?
August 25th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Am I the only one who saw RW miss two holes on those plays?
August 25th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
“Never have so many gotten so bent about a bottom of the barrel running back like this Rachaad White. Geez.”
I hope I’m here to see you eat these words at seasons end 🥳✌🏼
August 25th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
@Dewey Selmon said
“Maybe the 2 OL coaches that left has something to do with all this.”
I’m thinking it might have a lot to do with it 👍🏼
August 25th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
So is Joe. If White turns out to be as good running the ball as so many people have fabricated he is, the Bucs ought to have had a very good season.
August 25th, 2024 at 4:04 pm
I feel like the tape here showed two things. First, as others have said, a missed opportunity on the second run, where White had daylight to his right and missed it.
The other thing that I appreciated though was finishing on 3rd and 1. How many times last year did our line get stuffed on 3rd and short with us not being able to pick up anything or white getting hit in the backfield? Didn’t happen this time, however, which is a good thing. It was a 2nd string defense though. We need to pick those up against the real deal. Washington in 2 weeks, I’m excited to see the new o-line and running game.
August 25th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
He’s an excellent receiving back. Should Joe dig up his advanced stats that have him in the 50s as far as running back rankings? Two years leading the worst rushing attack in the league. Two years. When has that ever put a guy in discussion as the next Eric Dickerson?
August 25th, 2024 at 4:48 pm
Well…. @ a certain Joe! You have have talked about “Playoff Lenny” as I call him “Low Ball Lenny”, and you bring up Canales trying to run the ball with Lynch…. The last year that LBL ran in the same backfield as RW, RW had more yards per carry! That’s a fact! The OL sucked, and most of us could see that! This certain Joe is just trying to get us fans bent out of shape. That what he does. I mean let’s go back to Johnny Football, placing JW’s face on Jesus, “You don’t let a QB that passed for 5k walk away”, get a team friendly deal for AC when he didn’t do spit….. You seen 3 maybe 4 holes that took place when RW ran the ball and wasn’t hit behind a piss-poor OL. It’s actually rather comical how you go about posting. I’m gonna say it again! I’m truly glad that you are not our GM. Now maybe you need to quit drinking bourbon so early!
August 25th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
Last year the OL didn’t block well and White had little vision in the run game. This year our first team OL handled the Fins BACKUPS. White looks better than last year, but last year he was one of the worst runners in the NFL, so not hard to improve behind an improved OL playing against BACKUPS. I’m hopeful we can play against the Washington STARTERS. I want to see our OL maul Washington and get into the very good Washington ILB’s.
August 25th, 2024 at 6:05 pm
Well thank goodness Joe we drafted bucky and tucker has looked great wouldn’t surprise me in the least if one of the two was starting before seasons end
August 25th, 2024 at 8:46 pm
Vs Miami backups:
Avg YPC 3.7 yds
White had how many carries?
I’m very optimistic about the new coach’s, new scheme, new I-OL additions BUT I think we need to “tap the brakes” on the run game til we’re a good 3-4 games into the season. By then we’ll know what’s up.
August 25th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Hey Diesel – very cool analysis and from the perspective of one who’s done it. So, first, more of that from you please! We have a lot of us who watch a lot. Your take is different.
So I went back and watched RW’s second carry again, and, man, it still seems like there was room to the right that may not have required leverage but instead one of the many open space moves he demonstrates.
Thanks for the education and well written perspective.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:02 pm
Hey Diesel I know what leverage is and it’s a language White can’t read. When his blocker has his man to the right he’ll run right instead of left or on the left he’ll run left instead of right or into the back of his blocker. He is an open space runner because he is scared of contact. He makes one cut and after that he runs pretty much like he’s looking at his feet, and that’s exactly how he was running when he hit that scrum. I guarantee Bucky and Tucker would’ve taken that green space with a few good cuts instead of running straighr into that scrum. There would’ve been fewer players to have to get around. He is a receiver pretending to be a receiver so that he can get to play. I’ve never seen a running back as blind as he is.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Our line will face Real defensive line very soon.
Our Tackles and center will shine.
Bredesen and Mauch both started last year, and were two of the worst ranked Guards in the league.
Mauch may show improvement. Hasnt so far.
Once again- hope will be our strategy at guard.
August 25th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
Bullsh!t
The networks follow the halfback on every run-play and Rachaad didn’t miss a hole last year if one was ever even there before the last six games..
Now that there is run blocking, Rachaad is achieving big gains on the drives.
Very simple. Joe’s been vividly demonstrated to be wrong about Rachaad’s rushing ability.
Move along, nothing new to see here, folks.
August 25th, 2024 at 11:36 pm
Stop the conspiracy stuff. Seriously. And the more huffing about it, the more clicks for Joe.
Some are so easily baited and triggered.
Jamus Crinston
August 26th, 2024 at 2:38 am
Nice try David but you’re wrong. And you’re contradicting yourself so you obviously don’t know about leverage, and that’s fine. What you’re not seeing on the screen is the strong side corner and strong safety making their way to that space you think is open. Meanwhile, the left is open the very second he gets around that so called scrum you speak of. Now could he have cut right and possibly got another 5+yds, sure. But it’s off to the races if Mauch and Goedeke managed to finish those blocks. But give credit to the lineman making a play, it happens. This run still netted the team 5-6yds allowing for a very manageable 3rd down. And we know how that went. Our oline getting to the second level was almost unheard of last year so this is already a wonderful sight to see. The coaching is taking effect already.
There is room to the right Dave but that weak side safety is ready to crash down if RW1 goes right. Going left leaves the safety being blocked up by Ryan Miller and the corner in pursuit over the top is none the wiser. By the time he realizes what’s going on it’s too late. Only thing stopping that play from possibly being 6pts is the lineman fighting off the block. Kudos to him
August 26th, 2024 at 7:03 am
Could have predicted this if my mind worked that way. Insert Joe’s White is awful here. Never mind all the new and different components from a year ago. It was all on White. LOL
New OC
New OL coaches
New play calls
New O line interior I will say Mauch looks new and improved (see tape)
New attitude about blocking from Otton. Blocked some instead of whiffing or getting shoved back into the ball carrier.
When a RB of any sort gets hit in the backfield a split second after receiving the hand off it is rarely, if ever, the RBs fault! When he is immediately staring down a couple of unblocked 300 pounders who want to hug him, it is equally not his fault!
Although we have always agreed that White has done way too much dancing Joe. This is one reason why I would put Tucker on the 53 man roster as RB2.
If White reverts to Fred Astaire as he did late last year, insert Tucker. He does not appear to own any dancing shoes. Ironically White originally got reps because Lenny was doing the same thing.
Go Bucs!