Bucs See Edgerrin James
September 2nd, 2022
Rookie running back Rachaad White.
Joe can’t recall seeing so much hype for a rookie running back that had a meh preseason — certainly not for a third-round draft pick.
But that’s the case with Buccaneers rookie running back Rachaad White, the 91st pick in this year’s draft.
It’s happening, in part, because White loves being interviewed and he’s a well-spoken dude, Joe believes. Call it The Kenny Bell effect. But unlike Bell, a lot of that hype is about real football. The Bucs think they found a gem.
Consider what Bucco Bruce Arians said in a Q&A with TheAthletic.com pay-per-view site.
Is there a running back that White reminds you of? We’ve heard a lot of lofty comparisons.
He looks just like Edgerrin James (who he coached with the Colts) as a rookie. He’s a little bit taller, but the same body type, great patience and burst. (Longtime NFL coach and now Bucs consultant) Tom Moore and I were both out there one day and I said, “He looks just like Edge,” and Tom said, “Looks just like him.” He has that patience you can’t teach, and his hands are unbelievable.
For younger readers unaware, James ranks 13th among the NFL’s leading rushers with 12,246 yards in just 11 seasons (1999-2009). That’s why he’s in the Hall of Fame.
Joe sure hopes Arians and Moore are right. But Joe would be fine with White just being a solid complement to Leonard Fournette this season and not fumbling. Joe is not seeing the next James at this point.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I like White and I’m excited to see him play, but comparing him to James so soon is just silly. Edgerrin was a monster!
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:10 pm
What a statement!
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:12 pm
His preseason was meh because the scrubs on the O line blocking for him. If he was in with the starters, would he a different story.
The fumble was his fault though, I’ll give you that.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Wow, what a compliment to White. If White can become even 3/4 of the player Edge was, we got a gem to watch for years to come.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Maybe not Joe, but I’ld bet these two coaches have seen a heck of a lot more up real close than any of us, so I trust them to know what they are seeing. like you I certainly can’t say I saw the same thing, but having a chance to watch him at ASU this past season, it was obvious more often then not that he was quite a bit better then the defenders trying to stop him.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Strong words. I was an Edgerrin James fan. Rachaad White is an intriguing talent, but this is premature.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Apparently, he’s got a fumble problem. And no deflated ball to help him hold on.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:28 pm
We have Vaughn too. Good depth!
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:30 pm
I’d say a more grounded comparison would be Latavius Murray with much better footwork
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:33 pm
C’mon, that’s a stretch. To be honest Laird showed just as much if not more than White did. I guess we’ll see.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Whenever I hear the name Edgerrin James all I can think of is the Saints draft.
The Saints traded every pick in the draft to move from 12 to 5 to draft Ricky Williams.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:44 pm
The nature of the newspaper sometimes is to tell you that your eyes are wrong.
Occasionally the newspaper is correct. Joe is on the side of the reader
I think the safest option is to let white prove it but root fir him to do so
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Edgerrin James was fun to watch. Was that back when we had Michael Pittman? That dude had pythons for arms.
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:59 pm
He and Lenny should be a dynamic duo. And Lenny’s appearance on Bussin with the Boys was great.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:12 pm
I only watched one preseason game, but came away impressed with HOW he runs. Very patient, sees the hole, then slashes through it. He reminds me of Leveon Bell during his best years with the Steelers.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:12 pm
He’s definitely well-spoken 💯
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:18 pm
He kinda reminds me of an Antonio Gibson type player (whom the Bucs really liked and it’s been reported they may have taken him if Washington hadn’t before us). Antonio does have fumbling issues and Rachaad had a couple turnovers in the preseason, but I think he’ll be fine there.
But both run well, have good vision, can be dynamic and rip of the big play, have return ability, can motion out of the backfield or just line him up at WR and can trust him w/ it. He’s also pretty decent in space. A lot of similarities and the Bucs really liked both coming out of College.
I didn’t think of that comp before, but I do see the “Edge” comparison in some ways now.
Note: Dameon Pierce as a 4th rounder might even have more hype though, but definite hype behind both
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:26 pm
It’s a lofty comparison to be sure. And from what I’ve read from the coaches I think it’s the hands that do it. James was an A as a pure running back. But he was in A+ as a receiver out of the backfield, much like Marshall faulk. Time will tell.
List, unless injuries become a problem Laird may never see the field enough to show what he’s got.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Man, that’s crazy talk! Does he have some gold teeth at least?
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Lenny is no slouch. I expect him to be dominant this year and win a couple of games by himself.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:39 pm
I see a rookie.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:40 pm
He’ll never see the field if he fumbles….Brady has zero patience for turnovers from role players. Just ask Rojo.
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:41 pm
I like the way Rachaad runs . He can catch the ball . Should be a nice replacement for Rojo
September 2nd, 2022 at 1:56 pm
They are NOT saying White looks like James, The Final Product and saying White will have similar numbers.
They ate saying his build, running style, patience, vision and soft hands reminded them of how Edge played.
That’s it.
It’s not premature, it’s fact.
That is their opinion.
I myself see Arian Foster.
September 2nd, 2022 at 2:02 pm
I have to agree with Arians here, saying Rasheed White reminds him of Edgerrin James.
Edgerrin James is from right here in Florida, out of Immokalee High School.
He was also a former Miami Hurricane!
I never saw him play in High School, but I saw plenty of Hurricane Games.
I can see some things White has in common with Edgerrin James.
I think we drafted a real Gem in White.
September 2nd, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Why isn’t
JAMES WILDER in the
ROH ?
September 2nd, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Compare him to Lenny Moore or what about O J!
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:04 pm
I guess he’s going to lead the league his rookie year huh
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Edgerrin James fumbled 8x’s his rookie season, and fumbled 3 or more times in 9 out of his 11 seasons during his career. White seemingly will have less opportunity than James did his rookie year, but as I hope the rook doesn’t embody that trait from the HOFer.
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:11 pm
I think what the guys are saying is that they see many of the same things they saw in James his rookie season in White. But of course, where Whites career goes from here is totally conjecture. I think it means something… but I wouldn’t overstate or over internalize it.
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:14 pm
I’m happy with wr and rb depth..
Qb depth is big drop off…
Online blah
Te ehh
Kicker is aight
Dline decent
Lb good except rainbow 🌈 boy
Cb talented if healthy not fan of dee Delaney but hopefully he won’t play much
Safety we are strong at assuming Neal is healthy soon.
Special teams poorly coached n staffed
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Jeff your source tell you to you troll boi
September 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Seeing is believing !! LFG!!
September 2nd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Yes, he speaks well, comparatively. I am usually astonished how these college-graduated players say “you know” and “um” so often. Especially with this malady very easy to cure. They get training in etiquette, why not in public speaking? One just has to be aware of doing it. It would take about a 15-minute class. Hey LaVonte, are you listening? Bruce?
September 2nd, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Let’s see him actually play in a couple games first. To me he looks like our #3 or #4 running back.
September 2nd, 2022 at 4:29 pm
And if I know why are you telling me?
September 2nd, 2022 at 5:11 pm
not impressed by him.
September 2nd, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Is it just me? I think he may be ok, but he runs way too upright for me and his lack of ball security has lead to two turnovers. Can we wait until he does something before we don him the next Leveon Bell? Honestly, Vaughn has been more productive.
September 2nd, 2022 at 5:44 pm
brady will mold him…if he’s given any playing time…
i do see a little edgerrin james in him…a little…
if he can legit run, he will be a star…because he has a mouthpiece, a grill and a smile…add in a bit of tude and you have a face hanging on the side of ray jay…
but first and for most he’s gotta get busy running the ball
September 2nd, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Why is he #4 on the depth chart? Maybe the fumbles knocked him down.
September 2nd, 2022 at 7:17 pm
Can’t wait to see how this class pans out over the next 3 years
September 2nd, 2022 at 8:21 pm
He is #4 on the depth chart because he is a rookie. And did not make a huge show in preseason. He will have to produce big time every chance he gets in order to get significant playing time.
September 2nd, 2022 at 8:44 pm
You can see the type of potential he has with the ball in his hands. But we all know what potential means. Let’s just hope this kid pans out.
September 2nd, 2022 at 9:31 pm
He looks like this guy named Rashaad White. I know it’s probably too early to compare him to Rashaad, but I think he has that greatness in him. And the way he fumbles, just amazing. Looks just like White.
September 2nd, 2022 at 9:36 pm
Kinda reminds me of Ladanian Tomlinson . I saw the patience . He waits for a hole and i also good vision and cutback ability . Can you imagine him turning out to be the next Edge . If true defenses are gonna have BIG problems stopping the Bucs . Its a scary thing to even think about . Goodness !! Imagine if the bucs have a pair of backs put up 1k yards . Not likely becaise they like to throw but if that happened Bucs literaly would be unstopable. . pair that woth a peojected top 5 defense and my goodness.
Im here and now giving the Bucs Defense the nick name :
. 🏴☠️THE RED TIDE DEFENSE . 🏴☠️
Red tide suffocates . Bucs defense will be suffocating
September 2nd, 2022 at 10:17 pm
He is overhyped but it’s only rookie year. He’ll make some strong runs up the middle be he also gets stuffed up the middle plenty. Give Ke’ his chance and that’s a great one-two punch.
September 2nd, 2022 at 10:44 pm
I thought he was down on that fumble. I’d bet that would have been challenged in the regular season and overturned. White fumbled 2 times in 227 Carries in college. I’m not too worried about it.
September 2nd, 2022 at 10:54 pm
We have Vaughn so we have good depth…..This man deserves funniest comment of the day
September 2nd, 2022 at 11:50 pm
Oh come on. I watched James come up in Immokalee, play high school ball, then on to Coral Gables. Followed his career with the crappy Colts. They franchised him repeatedly to his disgust. He had to go out every year risking a career ending injury while Peyton and Harrison got huge, guaranteed, long term contracts. I’ve seen White play and he’s not in Edge’s league
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:58 am
Alvafan, getting franchised means being paid top dollar for your position. I doubt James was too upset.
September 3rd, 2022 at 10:01 am
Vaughn impressed me much more in preseason. Think they should give him more touches this season.
September 3rd, 2022 at 10:31 am
Cricket.. I plead guilty to having done the same thing, though I am much older than these young guys. Had to hear myself speaking a few times to really get the message and weed it out. And what is funny is that “you know” really doesn’t mean anything.
September 3rd, 2022 at 10:50 am
@Alvafan I think he resembles him, but doesn’t have the same power as Edge did.
September 3rd, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:58 am
Alvafan, getting franchised means being paid top dollar for your position. I doubt James was too upset.
I disagree Bonzai San. With the high probability of a career ending injury, all players want a guaranteed contract after their rookie contract expires. While it is true teams will franchise a player for a year as they transition their payroll to accommodate a long term deal. This is seldom done for more than a year especially to a player of his talent. I followed the articles and heard quotes from Edge in the offseason and he was pissed off about not getting a contract and asked to be traded numerous times while the Colts were doing this. One interview in Fort Myers he was asked what teams he would like to go to ad he answered “Tampa”
September 4th, 2022 at 9:16 pm
I can see that, although, my initial thought when I first saw him play was that he looked like Le’Veon Bell.