Todd Bowles: Rachaad White Will Get More Touches
January 7th, 2025
Shut out Sunday.
Since the Bucs curb-stomped the Chargers in Los Angeles, Bucs running back Rachaad White’s touches have dropped each week.
And that brings Joe to Sunday’s division-clinching win over the slimy Saints. White logged 18 snaps on offense. He didn’t touch the ball once.
Look, the Bucs, especially after the Dallas debacle, had their backs to the wall. And there is no doubt who the team’s best running back is, Bucky Irving.
Even Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said he was going to get Irving more snaps. He almost had to. The Bucs had no room to hold back their best players.
Yesterday, either Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was having the back of White, or Bowles really does want White to touch the ball more, which means less touches for one of the NFL’s most dynamic backs.
“We have to get him more touches,” Bowles said of White. “The kind of way the game went in the first half, I thought the defense stayed on the field too long, didn’t give them many opportunities.
“The second half, I think we were trying to press some things, we backed up and made some plays in the passing game, but we have to get him more touches for sure.”
Why?
Irving is the guy getting the job done. It’s the playoffs. Guys who earned touches should get them. Irving has earned them.
Joe did find it a little weird that Sean Tucker had two carries for 16 (!) yards yet White didn’t touch the ball.
Joe believes that White had turned into a decent fullback type. Yeah, you read right: Fullback. He’s developed an ability to get a couple of tough yards between the tackles. That happened last year in a key game at Atlanta as well.
Joe is not anti-White, just more pro-Bucky. The Bucs should not be taking touches from one of the NFL’s most dangerous players.
This is the playoffs. It is win-or-Cancun. It’s not worthless preseason football.
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January 7th, 2025 at 9:03 am
White fumbled at Dallas. And some of his runs since have been pedestrian.
That’s the way it works: produce or ride the pine.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:09 am
I wonder if RW has been studying Buck’s film. Midway thru the season he was still in the 3’s per carry. Ended up at 4.3, which strikes me as pretty good until you see Bucky or Tucker
January 7th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Tucker is our main guy who needs more touches.
C’mon, Bowles.
Our best/2nd best RB gets no carries.
And when he does, he averages 10 yds/rush.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:18 am
White got 1 touch in Q2 with a run for about -1 yards, but it was called back with Palmer’s holding penalty and so didn’t show up in the box score. The Saints seem to really focus on Bucky in the short pass game and Washington may duplicate that tactic, so maybe try out White on the short passes if Bucky is blanketed.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:21 am
Good!
He may have been a more effective runner against the Saints who were all over Bucky before and at the LOS last game.
Anyway we have 3 excellent running backs each with a different style.
Mix it up and spread the ball around including ALL eligible receivers.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Agree with Bowles. Was thinking the same during the Saints game. A few more touches for White = more juice for Bucky. Ride that little guy too hard and you’ll be left with a dead legged back who can’t juke effectively. I prefer to have White or Tucker soften things up for the water bug as opposed to the other way around. Said it when they drafted him, Bucky is the second coming of Warrick Dunn. His quicks, vision and fluidity make it difficult for defenders to get a clean hit on him. That was Dunn’s forte too.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:31 am
“He’s developed an ability to get a couple of tough yards between the tackles.”
I don’t see this, at all. The surest way to get stuffed on short yardage has been to give the ball to White. He’s a slot receiver playing running back most of the time.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Jim Bob is correct. White did get a touch, lost a yard standing straight up and the Saints accepted a penalty instead.
I’ll be interested to see if White gets a screen pass out of a double backfield playing in the aforementioned FB role. Also see him in the slot. I’m with everybody else in that Tucker needs to be spelling Bucky if he needs it. And then let Sean fill the Riggins role in the 4th quarter when the Bucs are up by 13. Poetry.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:32 am
It can only go up. Getting the ball from Mayfield’s right arm rather than his left would be fine
January 7th, 2025 at 9:39 am
I don’t watch the ALL22 and grade players like some of our more sophisticated posters.
IF I did I would check out things like BLOCKING. Is RW a better blocker than Bucky. RECEIVING is equal. All three backs are great at catching the ball.
And the most important for a Coach like Dangerfield is ball security.
All of these guys have put the ball on the ground, Bucky and RW in a couple of horrible situations and it seems Tucker has a been bit shaky.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Who ever plays I just hope the Bucs win…. If not then all you couch GM’s and couch Coaches will tell us how it should of been done without any regard on what is really going on with the team.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:54 am
For awhile on Sunday I thought that maybe White and others could have been ill. There are a lot of sicknesses going around. The Saints were all over Bucky on Sunday. Held him back somewhat too. Looking forward in how they do this week.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:56 am
On one hand you guy will say you gotta play your best players and then turn around and be like, why? LOL. White is one of your best players, so yes, he should be touching the ball as well. Also, do you not want Bucky to get a breather? That’s the point of having a rotation of players who actually can come in and make some plays.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Joe’s pretty clear in the story that your best players should get the ball.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:10 am
I don’t know much but the one carry Tucker had when he hit that left edge-man, not many guys with the speed to turn that corner! And he runs physical as all get out! I’ve got a feeling we may see some more of him this postseason. That’s taking nothing away from White-he’s a stud. This Sunday night we should run a 2 man backfield most of the night. All 3 guys are great receivers too. If we run the ball more than we throw it against Washington we should be on to the next round!
January 7th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Bakerfan; you’re welcome to ask any of us for help when you’re confused.
I’m sure it’s hard to believe anyone could have a valid, intelligent critique without a paycheck from 1 Buc. Just consider the possibility that out of the roughly 5-10k senior, collegiate players from Div III & up, most do not enter coaching as a profession but they do continue to have varying degrees of football expertise.
They also become fans of NFL teams and often participate in group chats, fan pages and message boards.
There are 134 FBS teams, 133 FCS, 162 Division II & 243 Division III programs.
I did have to look that up. Discovered there’s nearly another 100 NAIA programs.
This is collegiate football. The numbers are dwarfed by High School programs.
Yes, the quality, averaged across the board is lessened with each step down. Still, that’s an enormous industry, churning out a plethora of coaches on couches.
The number of people who make football their profession is significant. Most of us who’ve traveled along those paths retain a lot of knowledge, whether you can believe it or not.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:12 am
I wish Defense Rules would be here and help us get this sorted out!
January 7th, 2025 at 10:19 am
i think it’s the fumble against cowboys. held it like a loaf of bread for a moment and you can bet Bowles didn’t like that
January 7th, 2025 at 10:39 am
WanderingWallflower Says:
January 7th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Bakerfan; you’re welcome to ask any of us for help when you’re confused.
===============================
Quit being sanctimonious. BakerFan wasn’t referring to anyone in the actual coaching profession. He was referring to amateur, “make believe coaches” who watch TV and say later what should have happened.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:40 am
He does not need more touches.
Sorry not sorry.
Irving>>>>>>>white
Trade bait. Get what you can for him.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:43 am
White is a good pass protector, good pass receiving back and good at short yardage. There is definitely a place for him in this offfense. I’m thinking 3rd downs and short yardage situations.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Why? While White is not as good of a runner as Bucky, Bucky may not be as good of a receiver or short yardage guy. And, you don’t want to run Bucky into the ground. Tucker should get more touches, but he is not as good blocker and that is important as blitz pickup is a key element. You don’t want to tip your hand or put a liability on the field. I would hope White and Tucker get better. Having too many backs is a good problem to have.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:06 am
stpete, you’re killing me with the Dangerfield act. 🙂 Well, good!!! We’ve got 3 decent RBs. Tucker is that little guy who had the big run on the left side, correct? I hope the O and Bowles hopped all over Coen to get more CREATIVE with 2 back sets. White can catch and block. Bucky can catch. Can Tucker? The Offense has to bring their A+game Sunday Nite. Why? Cos the D is still banged up, and we’re facing a fleet gazelle/possible OROY named Jayden Daniels and a DC team which is rapidly improving. Even a fan like me knows it. Sure wish CG14 was playing, but them’s the breaks. GOOOOO BUCS!!
January 7th, 2025 at 11:23 am
White does decent, Tucker seems to have a lot of potential and Bucky is absolutely the man. I would rather see Bucky start and Tucker spell him a little more and forget about White completely
White is the worst runner of three (slow take off, no juke), his hands and running after the catch abilities are no better than Bucky’s and Bucky has less drops, and if you look at carry to fumble ratio, White has issues.
I don’t hate the guy or anything, but I do know he gets a bigger contract next year and I doubt it will be with the Bucs. He’s not worth spending any money on when you can draft a third string RB next Spring for cheap. We need to save cap space for the defense, primarily inside and outside linebackers & CB. We get one or two of these defenders in free agency. The draft should be used for the same.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:25 am
And I do realize that White is probably the best blocker and blitz pickup guy in the bunch but Bucky is coming along and the type of back we need to target in the offseason is a larger power back type of RB You can’t give a bunch of money to a guy who mainly catches balls and blocks.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:38 am
screen game to white is his specialty…
and if here next season, bulk him up and be a bit more of a fullback type…makes sense
January 7th, 2025 at 11:38 am
This is good news. The run game clearly did not look the same without Irving splitting with White.
Outside of the fumble against the Cowboys, Rashad White has looked really good this season.
There’s a reason why the coaches coach, Joe. You’re not supposed to make a rookie running back a workhorse in the NFL especially one who’s not built like Derrick Henry.
January 7th, 2025 at 11:40 am
@Kenton Smith:
what happened to Defense Rules…?
miss his posts…was asking about the dude last week on here too…he disappeared into thin air…hope he didn’t pass away or something
January 7th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
I think there’s a way to use all 3 running backs. Especially since the Bucs only have 2.5 legit receivers.
January 7th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
White is better at blocking and more elusive in open field. Additionally, Tucker is a great addition. Bucky is not big enough to carry the ball between the tackles more than 10 to 15 times a game.
The best rushing game was against the Saints, game 1. The bug yards came from Tucker. He has earned 10 touches a game. If you ride all 3, it will take a lot of pressure off Baker and the passing attack.
They should also play all 4 tightends. All 4 of them are extremely talented and need snaps.
January 7th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
So misguided.
White is still the best pass blocking back we have.
He’s dynamic in the passing game, and has been a huge part of some improbable 3rd and 4th down conversions, as well as touchdowns.
Lastly, he has multiple games this year with more rushing yards and/or a higher YPC than Bucky.
I love Bucky. He’s our best pure runner without question. But White brings different elements to the game and we need both of them in the post season (and Tucker). Use the 3 headed monster!
Our offense was completely stuck in the mud during the first half last weeek and there’s no doubt that not using White at all was part of that.
January 7th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Also our 2 RB formations have been deadly all year.
Let’s see more of those and less passes behind the LOS that opposing defenses have been keying in on the 2nd half of the season.
January 7th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
I agree with some of the other posters – Bucky is your #1 back with Tucker as your #2 back….White is your 3rd down 2min back. If you want to get creative and use him other ways great.
Go Bucs!!
January 7th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
What @unbelievable said !
January 7th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
We can’t ride Bucky too hard and expect to go far.
Our overall offense and run game is better when RW is on the field and getting touches.
All hands on deck!
January 7th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
@unbelievable The games where white had more yards were the games he had 4 times the touches. Bucky was second fiddle nearly all season and not a single game, Aside his injury, did white beat his ypc. When Bucky got the same touches White did early in the season he posted 150+ yard games. So no…benching white is not misguided.
January 7th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Saints were sitting on all the screens probably why you didn’t see much from white you take what the defense gives you.
January 7th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
White was in on a 2 back set where Bucky went left and White went right. Baker threw to Bucky and he lost like 6 yards. Had he thrown to White, he’d still be running.
January 7th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
I think it’s smart for Bucky to share the load with someone. That could be RW who is obviously a good blocker and receiver. I wouldn’t mind seeing if it’s Sean Tucker, though…
January 7th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
You are just wrong.
Week 4 vs PHI:
White: 10 rushes, 49 yards, 4.9 YPC
Irving: 10 rushes, 49 yards, 4.9 YPC
Week 5 vs ATL:
White: 10 rushes, 72 yards, 7.2 YPC
Irving: 9 rushes, 44 yards, 4.9 YPC
Week 7 vs BAL:
White: 10 rushes, 40 yards, 4.0 YPC
Irving: 9 rushes, 23 yards, 2.6 YPC
Week 8 vs ATL:
White: 6 rushes, 29 yards, 4.8 YPC
Irving: 9 rushes, 44 yards, 4.9 YPC
Week 9 vs KC:
White: 3 rushes, 19 yards, 6.3 YPC
Irving: 7 rushes, 24 yards, 3.4 YPC
Week 13 vs CAR:
White: 11 rushes, 76 yards, 6.9 YPC
Irving: 25 rushes, 152 yards, 6.1 YPC
So yes, claiming White should just ride the bench is misguided when both are extremely productive, and even moreso typically when they both get some snaps in the game.
January 7th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
No no and he’ll no. Bucky carries the rock only. The offense takes off with bucky. It goes nowhere with white
January 7th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
WanderingWallflower Says:
January 7th, 2025 at 10:11 am
I am talking about you damn idiots Monday Morning Coaching…. Some good fans on this page but their are some real idiots thinking they know football. If they did they would have a job in football.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Joe is not anti-White
———–
That is one of the most fake news statements I have ever read. You, or at least one of the Joe’s, literally posted an article a day about how bad White sucked for years, despite him being by far the best RB on the roster. Come on…
January 7th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
White looked like he was in SLO mo when he came into the game after watching Bucky accelerate.
More Buck less white
January 8th, 2025 at 5:43 am
As good as bucky is you got to remember he is a rookie hitting his exhaustion point has already happened. Plus now under the playoff lights we know Rashad white has experience and knows how to show up to these games. I think it would be wise to get white some more touches as a leadership type situation. I don’t think he(bowles) at all ment that were white was going to get all of the touches and take Major League away from the other two backs. More touches is just more touches if you compare it to the final game of the season even five touches would be more touches so nobody’s saying bowles is going to take everything away from Bucky just going to mix white in a little bit more. Let’s go Tampa playoff Bucs!!
January 8th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Rod Munch says: Joe’s is not anti-white. Rod you could not be more right on your comment. I know that I don’t comment alot, but I know in the last 3 years. I have read numerous stuff that Joe has written about White. 85% in my opinion is exactly what Rod posted. Quality content on that one Rod. Totally fake statement for sir. “Come on Joe”