“The Most Uncanny Way Of Setting Up His Blockers”
November 16th, 2022
Rookie running back Rachaad White.
Is rookie Rachaad White a truly historic running back when it comes to his style?
One guy who’s been around the NFL as a player and coach for 30-plus years seems to think so.
That would be Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles.
“He has the most uncanny way of setting up his blockers and the letting the hole develop and then seeing the hole and scooting right through it,” Bowles said of White on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “He can do those things. He has a knack for that. You can’t teach that. That’s something that you have to get over time, or you either develop it in high school or college. And he has a very good knack of always creating the right space for the offensive line and creating a whole for himself to run through.”
What about that angry head slap to Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs on Sunday, Coach?
“He runs angry, so he learned something from Leonard [Fournette],” Bowles said.
Joe liked Bowles’ Fournette reference there. It’s obvious that White and Fournette have a mutual respect.
As for White’s ability to set up blockers, it’s uncommon, but Joe wants to see more. Before Sunday’s breakout, the Bucs’ rushing attack was miserable.
Regarding what the revived running game means to the offense and the passing game, the defensive coordinator in Bowles came out. It “makes defenders indecisive,” he said.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
He’s shifty and fluid. Def given us a spark in the run game.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Neither he NOR Fournette were getting yards before, I spent the whole game trying to figure out what they were doing differently
November 16th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
So did the Seahawks Beej
November 16th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Dude is a slasher with power and speed – hope we can get rid of Lenny’s contract, it was a waste of money
November 16th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Fournette dances around way to much before he hits the hole.
I’m starting to think white is going to be a better option going forward.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:22 pm
White looks for a hole…..Lenny hits what he thinks is a hole….but isn’t many times. There is the difference.
The key for White is having some kind of hole…
Hopefully, this is not a one-off…..
November 16th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Lenny needed a fire lit under his butt. He’s been way to inconsistent this season.
And yes Joe, let’s all see more. I like White’s style.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
I was impressed as all hell with White this last game and you could see that he has an ability to find holes that Lenny is lacking. I’m not comparing him to Emmitt Smith, but Smith came out during a time when running backs were worth their weight in gold and yet he still lasted until the 17th pick in 1990. Smith was “slow” for his 5’9 221 pound size and only ran the 40 in 4.53 seconds. Scouts focused more on his physical attributes than his vision which ended up being the best of any running back in the history of the nfl. If White just has a quarter of Smith’s vision, he’s going to be one hell of a player when you consider his size and speed.
Just a depressing side note. We were one of the idiot teams that passed on Smith with the 5th overall pick in 1990 in favor of Keith McCants.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Very smooth runner and he flashed some of his highlight capability on a few separate runs this past sunday. White was in on alot of the PA fakes for Brady in Germany as well and it’ll be interesting to see if that tendency develops into something more in the near future. Don’t have a favorite, not gonna pit Lenny vs. Rachaad, because I think we should be putting all 3 RBs we dress on Sundays to work.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
White is so much better than Lenny and it’s not even close!
November 16th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
White has always reminded me of L. Bell…
November 16th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
The first time I saw him run it reminded me of LeBron Bell who was great at following blockers.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Lenny must be second string now or the best man doesn’t win the job. That’s a tough sell to the team. If Lennys feelings get hurt send him an edible arrangement and a map of something other than the guards’ butts, which he clearly knows already
November 16th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
YES
Snoop is my nickname
November 16th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
It will take all three backs to be successful.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Damn spell check. Lol
November 16th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Successful at what Jmark? Last time I checked being unsuccessful 6 weeks in a row wasn’t the blueprint for success.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
They both are capable of exhibiting a physicality (Lenny’s chip block, White’s stiff arm/take down) that can get the entire team pumped.
I know, I know, holes yada yada, running style yada yada.
Those physical plays get the whole team going, not to mention the fans in attendance. Especially if the impact can be heard in the upper stands.
Set the tone. Make them think twice before making contact with you.
That’s why I’d like to see Keif, and occasionally Vea, in at fullback for at least a few plays.
The wrecking ball style of running game.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
For some reason – White reminds me of Gary Anderson when he was with the Bandits. Quick, shifty runner who could find the holes. Great player back in the day.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
Lenny was a full MPH faster at the line of scrimmage last year. Once a defender gets within a yard, Lenny has the 9th worst yards after contact of any back, since next gen started tracking it in 2016. I don’t think it’s speed per say that Lenny has lost. It’s his elusiveness. The line is clearly part of the problem too. Their most success in the run, came against two awful run defenses. I’d stick with White, even with a healthy Lenny. He has more burst and better vision right now.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Rick. Yes I agree. Anderson was one of my favorite players as a kid. He played for the Bucs for a few seasons too
November 16th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Jensen update??
November 16th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Yes, please dig for some update on Jensen. I know they didn’t have to report the injury, because it occurred in camp. But, this is rediculous. I’m hoping for an early to mid December return.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
He looked smooth and fluid and put his foot in the ground and turned up field when needed. Made his blockers look better in many cases.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
It’s because he’s patient and smooth but when that hole opens, he’s explosive. Not trying to knock Lenny, but he’s patient only to a degree. He tries to force it too much. He’s always looking for contact which probably cost him yardage.
November 16th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
It’s one game. Take a deep breath.
November 16th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Cobraboy,
I agree, he reminds me of Leveon Bell, but with speed. This guy is humble and with BA no longer the head coach, Fournette will test the waters of Bowles. He did so in the Rams game when he had an attitude but REhite took himself outta the game for Fournette to come in. I guess Bowles was trying to stroke Fournette ego when he said RWhite learned the stiff arm move from Fournette. Let’s get rid of the cancer before it spreads. Trade Fournette for a 5th round. RWhite is the man, the more he touch the ball the chances of a break for a long run is likely.
November 16th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
White deserves 75% of the workload at this point. Unless something changes, he is our RB1 moving forward from this point.
Sorry, Lenny. We appreciate all you’ve done since coming here, but the kid is fire.
November 16th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
LOL, The Hell with how he sets up his blocks, I like the way he sets up his stiff arms better!
That stiff arm he threw went viral, and was played all over the media for quite awhile.
Imagine having the strength to literally throw a Man as big as you to the ground, using only one hand ? White is truly one bad azz MoFo
November 16th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Suh.
Gronk.
Jensen status.
More White (but we will need all 3 RB’s).
Any questions? LOL
November 16th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
LOL, The Hell with how he sets up his blocks, I like the way he sets up his stiff arms better!
That stiff arm he threw went viral, and was played all over the media for quite awhile.
Imagine having the strength to literally throw a Man as big as you to the ground, using only one hand ? White is truly one bad azz MoFo
There went the duplicate content filter again, it would not let me post, so if this post duplicates, simply delete it
November 16th, 2022 at 5:06 pm
The JBF bench list. Brady, Donnie, D White, ME 13, Hicks, Vita, Julio, Gage, Lenny. Who’s head are you morons going to call for next. This sight seems to draw the most Toxic Buc fans or maybe your just a bunch of trolls.
November 16th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Anyone who can assault the defender the way he can is good in my book. He said b!otch please
November 16th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
O J White …I say that because of body type and he is that damn good! Let’s get this run game to clicking so we can use them both as Thunder N Lightning ….as a tag team, they worked it across the pond! We have the use of two good running backs, you can call them kid and play, mix and match, hell you can call them dumb and dummer!…just stop the whining while we winning!
November 16th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
Regardless of what Lenny has done this far this year he has been great since acquiring him, and earned a moniker like playoff Lenny for a reason. Having him as a counter to White will behoove us come playoffs, and I would love to see Vaungh get his share as well, he is fresh and looked good in preseason
November 16th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
It’s that Le’Veon Bell running style that White has, that I saw on tape after we drafted him, that, and his ability to naturally catch the ball is why I said he’d be a star in his 2nd year, and I stand by that timeline.
Also, I’m not a humor on predictions, watching the tape of Vaughn, I had zero idea why the Bucs took him that high. His Illinois tape was better than his SEC tape, but he still didn’t look like a 3rd rounder.
But after reviewing the tape on White, I was shocked he lasted that long, since he looks like such a natural, and he’s the style of runner that can become a star.
With all that said, calm down a bit Bowles, it’s been one game.
November 16th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
I think Lenny is still terrific. We need him AND White. Don’t knock a guy that got a touchdown and runs through people. Maybe White is more patient but Lenny definitely makes hard-nosed plays.
November 16th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
It would be great if they use both backs and whoever is matching up better gets a few more carries.
There’s no reason to throw Fournette in the trash can right now and go all in on White. Use both.
November 16th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
If seeing White throwing Diggs out the club doesn’t get Gronk back nothing will!
November 16th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Tom Moore, and Arains have compared him to Edgrin James who they had in Indy. If that’s the case, and he might be that good, he needs to start. I love Lenny, and what he did to help us win a S.B., but it’s a young man’s game. He has that gear that Lenny just doesn’t have. he needs to start getting the lion’s share of the carries.
November 16th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
All these comparisons. Edgerin James, Leveon Belle, Emmitt Smith. What did they have in common. 3 great offensive lines.
November 16th, 2022 at 7:17 pm
Kentucky Buc
Exactly, he had one good game.
Darin, look around good teams have multiple backs contributing. Look no further than Cleveland. Or Philly, Green Bay, Washington….Love Rachaad, but it will take more
November 16th, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Mindless minions please remember this; ‘they don’t call him playoff Lenny for nuthin’!
Live, learn, and remember.
November 16th, 2022 at 8:01 pm
I think White’s success in Germany definitely caught Lenny’s eye & I’d like to think
it brought out the best version of Fournette we’ve seen all year. Definitely do
need to utilize all 3 backs, & using Keif as a fullback is a good idea but ultimately
we need the O line to win in trenches and Leftwich to run more creative plays.
The latter of the 2 is what I’m worried about most.
November 16th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Vlad and his good friend, the commenter Howard Cosell, saw RW29’s excellence coming from a mile away.
That said, lets not get comfortable and go all Gerald McCoy and break out the soft serve.
Bowles is notorious for being a sub-par motivator. He needs to fix that now! He needs to channel his inner Bill Parcells.
He needs to be a straight up @sshole if necessary. Popularity contests do not win championships.
NO NOT let softness set in on this team AGAIN!
Arians was good at being an @sshole if necessary. Consult with him on how to LIGHT A FIRE under these boys.
AGAIN…do not get too happy. DO NOT get too comfortable. DO get back to work tomorrow and pretend like you’re 1-9.
Please Todd, for the love of God, get these guys motivated
November 16th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
Also,
We need Playoff Lenny AND RW29 both!!
We need them to accept each other and work together.
These are two awesome backs in Vlads opinion.
Lenny is a proven commodity and RW29 is a fearless and talented rookie.
These two together could be very special
November 16th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
I have to go.
The Ottoman Turks are entering Wallachia again
November 16th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Gary Anderson didn’t do much when he played for the Bucs. (90-92) But then neither did USFL star and future NFL HOFer Steve Young who was 3-16 as the Bucs starting QB…. Ahhh – the Leeman Bennett years. (85-86) Man those teams were terrible.
November 16th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
In all fairness Seattle’s run defense hasn’t been confused with being elite this year.
November 16th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
We only need 2 backs, And We have them. Vaughn is a good back up in case injury.
November 16th, 2022 at 10:35 pm
His style reminds me of Leveon Bell and setting up blocks is really important. It’s nice to see a back wait until he gets a commitment from the defender and and blocker before putting his foot in the ground and making his cut.
November 17th, 2022 at 10:42 am
White should be the focus.
Lenny is a solid and dependable sub.
November 17th, 2022 at 11:20 am
I think the main difference in the running game, aside from White’s performance is cohesion and communication with the o-line now that Luke has been out of the mix. They’ve obviously been having productive practices and working on better blocking schemes.
Lenny was no slouch in Munich at 4.1 yards per carry. Having 2 backs with different styles who can also both be used in the passing game is a great formula to do what Bowles said “make defenders indecisive”. When you bring in a “3rd down specialist” like Gio, you know 75% of the time (or more) he’s not going to run the ball so you don’t have to stack the box and can play coverage.
It’s only one game (2 if you count Dallas) but I think the tide is turning. Finally!
November 17th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
“Hole”
November 22nd, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Going to take all hands on deck to get another title. We need both of those guys at their best. I like the fact that they have contrasting styles.
Stresses a defense even more.