Rachaad White No. 16
August 14th, 2024
Something brewing?
How dangerous is Rachaad White as a pass catcher? He almost makes former pros forget he led the NFL’s worst rushing offense the past two seasons.
Former stud running back Maurice Jones-Drew decided to rank the No. 1 backs of each of the 32 teams. White is such a weapon in the passing game that MJD believes White is an average running back, despite being unable to break out on the ground.
Rank 16: Rachaad White
2023 stats: 17 games | 272 att | 990 rush yds | 3.6 ypc | 6 rush TD | 64 rec | 549 rec yds | 3 rec TDs | 2 fumbles lostThe Bucs averaged just 88.8 rush yards per game last season (dead last in the NFL) and are hoping to get more out of White, Chase Edmonds and fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving. Despite falling just short of 1,000 yards on the ground, White’s pass-catching ability made him a big asset in Baker Mayfield’s revival. With new faces on the interior offensive line (free-agent signee Ben Bredeson and first-round pick Graham Barton), I expect White’s production to improve between the tackles.
The way Bucs center Robert Hainsey said the new running scheme really fits the skillset of the offensive linemen, that right there tells Joe that White should be better this year. But strange things seem to be happening and Joe doesn’t know if it is just a coincidence or if something is brewing in closed meeting rooms at One Buc Palace.
Early in training camp, it didn’t seem like White was running the ball much with the first team. He was, however, catching a bunch of passes and has done so throughout training camp.
In one particular practice, Joe saw White only run the ball once with the first team — but three straight times with the third team. Why was White running with the third team? Were the Bucs trying to send a message?
Well, the day after the Bucs played their first worthless preseason game, Bucs coach Todd Bowles had not-so-veiled words for White about needing to attack the holes and read his blockers better.
Gee, where have you read that?
On Monday, Joe didn’t recall seeing White run the ball once all practice. He did catch passes.
(Yes, Joe can miss a play while taking notes. So maybe Joe missed White running the ball.)
It almost feels like the Bucs are either trying to slowly phase White out of the running game or to limit his runs — or send some sort of message to improve or he won’t be the team’s bellcow back.
Ira Kaufman Talks Rachaad White Watch, Preseason Game Fallout & Fantasizing, Changing National Landscape, And More
August 14th, 2024 at 3:56 am
Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving both have me excited. White’s a receiving back not a running back.
August 14th, 2024 at 4:17 am
It may be they just want to limit his snaps this year. There were many articles written how he had a huge work load. It’ll be his 3rd year, and we didn’t know if Tucker would make a jump, Edmonds has been hurt a lot and Bucky is a rookie. So it makes sense that they’d save him a bit. I am curious why he made the decision to go from WR to RB tho. I remember he changed in college. ASU doesn’t scream WRU to me, but who knows.
August 14th, 2024 at 5:13 am
Regardless if he runs or just catches passes. He’s still a weapon in the open field sweeps outside pitches and short yardage receptions. He’s a beast and hopefully that’s what they’re going to use him for.
August 14th, 2024 at 5:52 am
He might be the new 3rd down back. I wouldn’t be mad at that.
August 14th, 2024 at 6:22 am
I used to love the 2-back formations we used see often with Mike Alstott & Warrick Dunn or Larry Csonka & Jim Kiick (with Mercury Morris added somewhat later for good measure). Quite standard actually until around 2000 or so. The options were almost unlimited & must’ve given defenses fits. BTW if you want to see an outstanding piece by NFL Films, just Google ‘Csonka, Kiick & Morris: The Perfect Backfield’.
I think the Bucs have the capability to replicate that to some degree this year with Irving & White. Rachaad isn’t as bad at running the ball as some make it sound (his problem is more getting to the 2nd level IMO, but that’s largely dependent on the OLine). Get him to the 2nd level of any defense & more ‘in space’ and he can do a lot of damage. Bucky’s still unproven far as I’m concerned, but he appeared to see the holes pretty well in our 1st worthless preseason game. IF the Bucs can get our running game to produce 2,000 yards & 15 or more TDs (with less than a 45% run-pass ratio), there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a Top-10 offense.
August 14th, 2024 at 6:46 am
The Bucs are keeping White fresh for the playoffs. He might be the starting returner too.
August 14th, 2024 at 6:46 am
Don’t know if they are sending White a message or not but, if they are, I’m sure they have a reason. It would be real nice if Irving & Tucker can bring some juice and punch to the running game and also be a threat in the passing game like White. That way we wouldn’t be giving defenses ‘tells’ based on who’s in on any down. I too, miss the two back formations and the problems they give defenses. I wonder if Coen has anything up his sleeve in that regard.
August 14th, 2024 at 7:39 am
So many options about Rachaad in preseason. Also agree with others commenting. Thinking the Bucs are all in on Rachaad and are keeping him as a surprise later on too. Don’t want to show all their cards up front. Rachaad is still young-25, and has proven himself.
August 14th, 2024 at 7:42 am
DR, I’d like to see the Bucs bring back the Pro Set formation.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:11 am
Maybe they’re taking your advice Joe and moving him to WR! Unlikely. I suggest the reason for his relative inactivity is to give Edmonds and Irving a chance to show staff to see what unique capabilities they bring. They will be used a lot, but they won’t replace White as RB1. If you only put White in when you’re going to throw him the ball, you’d be telegraphing the play to your opponents.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Reports of Rachaad White’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:15 am
I meant Tucker and Irving, not Edmunds.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:41 am
Hey now?
That’s progress! The talking heads have quit throwing darts at a board and started just ranking the Bucs dead in the middle at any position or team ranking! They must have run out of darts…Wow We are #16! 🙂
According to the esteemed retired Maurice Jones-Drew. What does Emmitt Smith say? I might agree with that dude.
Go Bucs!
August 14th, 2024 at 9:30 am
Well, Edmonds is showing the Bucs his great ability to get in and out of a hot tub. Don’t think the guy has made it through five practices in training camp.
If he doesn’t get out of the tub soon, he may not make the final-53.
August 14th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Hope we’re better this year and last Saturday looked good. However, from what I’m reading is that Bengals fans fear that they may have the worst rushing D in the league this year. Don’t want to temper our enthusiasm, but there is clearly more work to be done.
August 14th, 2024 at 9:48 am
@Jack B: PS Game #1 proves nothing, for Cincy or the Bucs..
August 14th, 2024 at 10:12 am
Maybe he will take on a Cordarrell Patterson like role? Imagine Irving, White, Evans, Godwin and Otton in a base offense? Pick your poison!!
August 14th, 2024 at 11:43 am
Just give White the damn ball against Jax. Put him behind Barton and let him run. Kind of like not rushing Braswell, not running White behind a new OL and new scheme is puzzling. Todd the masturmind going for well-roundedness and all, but that includes practicing pass rush and rushing the rock.
August 14th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Buckydo … ‘Imagine Irving, White, Evans, Godwin and Otton in a base offense? Pick your poison!!’
See now THAT’S what I’m talkin about. But save it for when we play the Panthers. Have them spread the defense out, then run a delayed QB draw up the middle. Barton would love it. Mayfield would love it. Bowles would love it. Canales would go ballistic.
August 14th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Hmm – if Evans can run some routes and David can cover some grass in practice…White should be able to take some handoffs. I guess we’ll see, but it does seem as though the Bucs are taking a peek to see if they “can” move White to a 3rd down / 2min back. Meaning, do we have the horses to handle 1st and 2nd down without him…
August 14th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
3 dog sled, run’em all
August 14th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
RW1 is still the #1 until he’s not! 😎
August 14th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
The new OC is going to play the RB that works well in his offense, if hard running is required then Whites not the right guy.
August 14th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
One possibilitiy that nobody has mentioned, the Bucs are taking it easy on him because they are working out a trade for a quality edge rusher..
August 14th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
I love the idea of a 2 te set with a 2 RBs in the backfield. A pwr rush look, only to motion White to the slot…. so many choices passing or rushing. Even some foolery…I believe both Mauch and Goe have TE experience. I don’t really know, but I feel there is hope moving beyond canales’s vanilla offense
August 14th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
Maybe they know what they have in White and want the rookie and seldomly used first year man to battle it out for backup.
August 14th, 2024 at 6:28 pm
Bowles is lying to save his own a$$.
It’s he and the “yes man” Canales who “produced” the worst-by-stats run-game in the NFL last year, not Rachaad White (who, standalone had great individual-stats), who had to carry-out every reckless, Bowles/Canales, strict order to run “up-the-middle” with the worst interior O-line in all of football.
I and many other fans actually watched the games. If there was a hole, Rachaad hit it. There were virtually no holes to hit, begging the question of how a RB can “miss holes” that aren’t there; especially holes, that: “opened late” or whatever that crazy nonsense is that “Joe” is spewing about, again.
This forum-blog is the only place you’hear this criticism of Rachaad White; the game-announcers are continuously stating that it’s amazing how Rachaad turns zero run-support into positive-gains.
Show the tapes!
Show the tapes backing-up these bogus claims of holes-missed (that never happened). Bowles and Joe can’t, because it doesn’t exist.
The fact that Rachaad had close enough to a 1,000 yards-rushing season last year; with the worst interior O-line, demonstrates elite quality. Bucky is an u”un-proved” college player. Yet, Bowles thinks nothing of insulting a player (Rachaad) who saved his (Bowles)-job and, further, is now using Bucky as a straw man against Rachaad.
It was -the team- that had the winning the year; it was despite Bowles’ sub-coaching performance.
The worst interior O-line imaginable, and where does Bowles and Canales run the vast majority of their plays? That’s right: “”Up-the-middle!”
Bowles wants to blame Rachaad White though. What a bum. No integrity, no loyalty and appreciation of a player who was singley half the total offense in many games last year.
The holes produced in the pre-season game were obviously produced by the strong play of Graham Barton, OC Coen, an improved O-line in general, the bench-level of the opposition.
Note well: Rachaad White never set-foot on the field in the opening pre-season game/never ran-a-play; i.e., Rachaad couldn’t defend himself in that sense: is it that Bowles wasn’t about to allow Rachaad the opportunity to show how he (Rachaad) could do with some daylight in the O-line for a change?
Maybe that’s what the Todd-fraud was probably counting-on…
August 14th, 2024 at 8:37 pm
@Ed McSherry
To be fair I don’t think Todd has thrown RW under the bus as much as Joe has taken his words and “read between the lines” to back up one of his pet narratives.
Now, apparently you have other “issues” with Todd so hate on but let’s not blame him for blaming Rachaad for our poor run game. Credit for the drama goes to Joe and the other reporters looking to create content to keep clicks coming. At least that’s how I view it.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Well, gonegator. One could say you have “issues” with characterizing everything of which you don’t agree as “hating on.”
My opinion of Bowles’ coaching stands, based on his own actions.
Continue “sucking up.”
August 14th, 2024 at 10:28 pm
The issues with Rachaad’s vision were compounded by the numerous times he had hungry horny Rottweilers hanging on him when he received the handoff. He did miss some obvious “bounce outside” runs, and also missed a few holes that closed before he was ready to hit them. The 3 Matadors, three ex-coaches later…..
Let him run against Jax. Let’s go.