Rachaad White Thinks He’ll Be Better With Less Touches
August 3rd, 2024
“Stop dragging, Rachaad.”
This answer surprised Joe because most running backs have an unwavering attitude that goes something like “give me the damn ball all the time and put the team on my back.”
Today after practice, Bucs No. 1 running back Rachaad White was asked if he’d be better in fourth quarters “if you’re not dragging the whole run game on your back.”
White ranked second in touches among running backs last season behind Christian McCaffrey. It was a big load but not some form of historic overuse.
He had 272 carries and 64 receptions in the regular season.
“It would help out a lot,” White said of other running backs taking some of his workoad. “I be out here [at practice] sometimes and I feel like I’m dragging.”
White jokes about getting old after 379 touches last season (including playoffs) but he was clear that rookie Bucky Irving and veteran Chase Edmonds spelling him in games would be critical. He also said his big goals for big stats probably require 300-plus touches, though rest and body maintenance are very important.
Man, Joe had to take pause.
White does a lot of interviews and speaks freely with media. So after listening to so much White chatter the past two years, Joe thinks there’s a kernel of truth to White saying today that he sometimes feels like last year took a toll on his body.
That’s a scary proposition for Bucs fans. Tampa Bay is not deep at running back and White was a below-average runner last season with fresher, younger legs.
August 3rd, 2024 at 7:42 pm
All of the all time great backs said “give me less touches.” Remember when Barry Sanders and Emmit Smith were arguing about how they wished their backups got more carries? Me neither. What a clown.
August 3rd, 2024 at 7:44 pm
Well hey, you’re not paying a RB their second contract anymore, if you’re going to spend a pick on one, the idea is to get as many carries out of them as you can – then let someone else pay them. I like White more than just about anyone here, and I’m still OK with.
Anywho, nothing wrong with giving him a few plays off – but make them first down runs up the gut, leave White out there and on 2nd and 3rd downs when you’re passing the ball.
August 3rd, 2024 at 8:11 pm
As much as White likes to chat with the media, White should Write for JBF down the road! 🙂
August 3rd, 2024 at 9:16 pm
Maybe White anticipates getting to stretch his legs a bit more on longer runs this season. I hope that is the case. New run scheme and blockers, guy was probably just tired of 2 yards and a wall of 275 lb men.
August 3rd, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Joe, any news about Chase Edmunds? Bucky and DJ are getting Chase’s reps so could Chase be expendable if Bucky plays well in the preseason?
August 3rd, 2024 at 9:36 pm
If Irving and DJ Williams impress the Bucs enough, Edmonds could be expendable. Unless you are an established starter or a star — Edmonds is neither — it’s never good to miss this much time in July and August. Every time a young guy(s) get to touch a ball, it’s another chance for them to make a case to be on the 53.
As Bill Parcells famously said, “Your best ability is your availability.”
August 3rd, 2024 at 9:37 pm
It’s always about the Super Bowl. White gets it.
August 3rd, 2024 at 9:40 pm
I’d be shocked if Edmunds ends up on the team at this point – he is so injury plagued. He’s still a good player in the few snaps a year he stays healthy, very good 3rd down back, still looked quick last year – but we shall see. The one thing he has going for him is Tucker doesn’t sound very good – and while I haven’t seen DJ, I doubt anyone will be taking the roster hit to grab him off waivers, so likely he’d go to the practice squad with no issues. Then again, if DJ can have some big highlights in preseason games that will force the Bucs hands.
On DJ after seeing him show up a bunch in practice threads I went and watched his college highlights, and he did not look like an NFL RB or have NFL quickness. Obviously very limited on what I saw, but he looked like a super basic north/south runner. I thought Sean Tucker, who I was never impressed with, had better college tape than I didn’t he looked like an NFL runner either (the 4.3 speed or whatever is claimed, I never saw it on tape and we certainly didn’t see it last year). Anywho, not rooting against DJ at all, and it’s great to hear he looks quick – again I just saw some highlights and maybe the person doing them doesn’t understand what makes for good highlights – it’s not just running up the middle for a one yard TD.
August 3rd, 2024 at 10:04 pm
Well he just confirmed what I’ve always said, look at his eyes no fire. He’s scared of contact and has no heart. Probably realized he wasn’t good enough to see the field as a receiver so became a running back who can catch well.
August 3rd, 2024 at 11:14 pm
Rod Munch…who’s DJ?
August 4th, 2024 at 4:50 am
Have so much respect for Rachaad. He is being honest about his body at only 25 years old. Not being an alarmist, but maybe he needs a full physical too. I mean blood-work, everything. Could be dehydration, could be from last season, could be anything. Looking out for his health, not just about football.
August 4th, 2024 at 5:19 am
My man Bucky about to blow it up….you’ll see why i was calling for him.
Stay on it Mr. Irving, show em
August 4th, 2024 at 8:04 am
Maybe white wants to have a few Xtra yrs in the NFL with a few less carries it makes sense to me to include more years = no money smart in my book
August 4th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Considering how he’s not a good inside runner and can’t break tackles, this makes sense. I know the inside blocking hasn’t been the best but at a certain point the RB has to make magic happen. It won’t be blocked perfectly all the time.
With his RB coach wanting him to be more violent, it seems he’s doing his best to avoid contact…as a RB! Not mad at that per se but that means the Bucs really need a legit starting RB. Like Lenny was a starting RB and I never heard him say something like this.
Just put this guy in the slot already and spend a premium pick on a young bruising back.
August 4th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Yes Bee, they need a blocking sled shaped like Hainsey ‘s butt so he can practice running into it more violently. You know, more like game conditions.
August 4th, 2024 at 4:36 pm
James Wilder had 492 touches in 1984. Just sayin’.
August 4th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Buc1987 – D.J. Williams, out of Arizona (and originally FSU). Not to be confused with the many many many other DJ Williams. But his college tape is fine, looks like a decent college runner, but I didn’t see an NFL runner, or NFL quickness. But it sounds like he’s having a good camp, so, like I was saying above, maybe the few minutes of ‘highlights’ was just poorly done. Anyways, RBs are a dime a dozen, you can find them just about anywhere, so it wouldn’t shock me if he ends up on the team – it will likely depend on how he does in the games, if he doesn’t stand out then he’ll almost certainly be on the practice squad.
Speaking of which I still don’t understand what Ronnie Brown did last year to not even get on the practice squad. He looked better in games than Tucker, and his college production and highlights were insane, and his workout numbers were great. No idea why the kid got the shaft. Maybe he was difficult behind the scenes or something, but from what I saw, he looked like a much better project player than Tucker, who it sounds like is unlikely to make the roster.
August 4th, 2024 at 6:44 pm
The only debate about Rachaad White (with a decent O-line) will be: who’s the most valuable for their respective team, Rachaad or McCaffrey.
Either these clueless criticisms, based on zero to back-it-up, are Joe’s “sock puppets,” or from posters of whom one wonders even have access to a TV.
August 4th, 2024 at 8:41 pm
Badbucs
Lol