SI: Rachaad White Most “Underrated” Bucs Player
June 27th, 2023
Bucs RB Rachaad White.
This is just ridiculous.
Look, Joe has high hopes for Bucs running back Rachaad White now that he will be the lone RB1 this fall.
But “underrated?” That’s how Conor Orr of SI.com tagged White in a recent column picking the most underrated player on each NFC team..
Within the context of how bad the Buccaneers’ offensive line was last season, could we possibly view White’s rookie season any differently? Perhaps this is as much of a projection as a statement: White will be Tampa Bay’s primary back this season now that Leonard Fournette is out of the way. White caught 50 of the 58 balls thrown to him during his rookie season. Baker Mayfield checked the ball down more than any quarterback in the NFL last year. This season may be a grind, but it could be a productive one for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL last year (Sports Info Solutions tracked their zone rushes as the least effective in the league). All of a sudden, 3.7 yards per carry doesn’t look so pedestrian.
Well, the first thing Joe thought of when hear “underrated” was Lavonte David.
Underrated doesn’t mean you have to beamong the lowest rated? White’s advanced stats were awful running the ball. And remember, few positions are seemingly as smooth to transition to out of college than running back.
Are people really believing White’s awesome game against Seattle was somehow the norm and not the exception?
Folks who think White is underrated must really love SpongeBob (sarcasm alert).
June 27th, 2023 at 12:08 am
SI: Rachaad White Most “Underrated” Bucs Playet
June 27th, 2023
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Playet?
Now that’s ridiculous……..
😃
June 27th, 2023 at 1:58 am
Perhaps he mean White’s underrated in regards to the fact that no one is giving him any hopes of having a good season. We’re hearing nothing but negativity from the outside. At least this article had a positive spin to it.
June 27th, 2023 at 2:11 am
Well, sounds like the line stunk last year. So averaging 3.7 on a terrible line and getting 50 catches on part time duty isn’t too bad considering the front.
June 27th, 2023 at 2:58 am
“Baker Mayfield checked the ball down more than any other QB in the NFL last year”
From Tom Brady to the king of check down charlies. Oh boy.
I saw the podcast coach was on and the follow up articles.
We just got done watching the greatest QB in NFL history ruthlessly savage defenses – absolutely rip their hearts out. Tom Brady is a bully. You see that NFC Championship game against Green Bay? Oh you’re the best thing since sliced bread Mr. MVP? I’m going to beat you with Scotty Miller. That throw was a better throw than Aaron Rogers made all year. Clutch.
Now you’re trying to sell me the check down charlie? Really?
Tampa offenses don’t throw the jab for 3 quarters and wait for a safety to get flat footed. They can beat you on any given play. The haymaker can come at any time – at will. That’s the new Buc Ball. Yeah there has to be subterfuge to fool defenses, but the last 3 QBs we had here were ambitious about big time throws and small windows. Our guys are going to beat your guys. Bucs has had single digit offense rankings going back to 2017 and we don’t want to go back to the days of Glennon and McCown.
It’s going to get real ugly if Bucs run the check down charlie guy out there and he gives us 200 ypg (I’m being generous) after what this fan base has been spoiled with in recent years.
This is why we’ve been advocating for Trask – the group of us that has been anyway. People talk smack about the 3 for 9 Trask had vs Atl. Its a ridiculously small sample size in garbage time – but what did you notice? Trask pushes the ball downfield. Look at the preseason games Trask has been in. He pushes the ball downfield.
Did McVey have Stafford run the boot checking down to the backs when he had Kupp, OBJ, Jefferson and Woods and went off for 4900 yards? No. Henderson had 29 receptions.
On its face getting the QB on the move isn’t about hiding deficiency in the offensive line – its about hiding deficiency in the QB. Its about getting Baker away from the check down safety blanket – or trying to scheme the short yardage pass into space and into the hands of a playmaker. If defenses sniff that out – which they will – they are going to blow that up big time. Then what? Go over the top? With Baker Mayfield?
Again, that isn’t the strength of this team. Tampa has Evans and Godwin. We’re not going to win this division with White getting 75 receptions and Baker throwing for less than 3500 yards. Not going to happen.
If your playbook strategy is “how do we mask these problems” then you are starting from a position of weakness. Its not just Baker talking either, there’s a lot of people helping him write checks his hind end can’t cash.
You don’t go with the check down charlie. You go with the guy who’s strength is the ability to see the field, see the defenders and make the special throws. That’s right out of the horse’s mouth too. Coach the kid up and get him ready in this offense. We have a division to win.
June 27th, 2023 at 3:44 am
“Underrated”
That’s a whole new level of “National Media” ridiculousness!
Go Bucs!
June 27th, 2023 at 3:50 am
Not a knock on R White but he hasn’t played enough to be rated at all…yet.
I have some confidence he will be fine however. He can catch and he is not afraid to take the ball and run North South, unlike like Lenny was last year.
Go Bucs!
June 27th, 2023 at 6:09 am
Don’t get me wrong i mean R. White showed some ok flashes as a rookie but i didn’t exactly see LT or even saquan Barkley out there lol…can someone explain to me what am i missing. I’m beginning to think this is really good marketing by bucs PR in a year we are cap strapped. But i mean to not even draft a RB??? This guy better have some pro bowl type year or they’ll have a lot of questions to answer this whole year by ira and media
June 27th, 2023 at 6:54 am
A quote from the article, “Baker checked the ball down more than any other QB in the league.” Will fans keep that same energy they had for Brady when they complained about his dump offs?
June 27th, 2023 at 8:32 am
People believe Bakers awesome game against Pitt is the Norm. So yeah, why wouldn’t they think the same of White against Seattle.
Everyone has their cake and eats it to these days.
June 27th, 2023 at 9:24 am
White & Vaughn were both drafted from programs who used zone blocking as the basis of their run game, and both of those guys were good enough in those schemes to be drafted. It’s not outside the realm of possibility, nor would it be some huge shock if a change in the scheme accentuates/compliments either of those RBs skillsets to the point they perform better.
Don’t think Canales is going to be strapped to picking a “bell cow” because just looking at how Seattle mixed their RB rotation up the last 5-6 years shows a commitment to the committee approach is likely what we get w/Canales. So we don’t need a solitary world beater at RB, we’ll probably see our run game propped up on the shoulders of the entire RB room. Which makes judging guys like White in a vacuum totally pointless, as he’s just a part not the entire run game.
June 27th, 2023 at 9:55 am
I thought the same thing JOE when you hear underrated and Bucs player first one that comes to mind is LVD and has bin his whole career even after winning SB and shutting down the best TE in most likely NFL history he still gets no credit. Saying it’s ridiculous is an understatement. I’m so sick of the disrespect he gets. You never seen him complain even when he was on the worst team in the nfl for most of his career and NOOO he was not part of the problem. He was the lone bright spot.
June 27th, 2023 at 10:00 am
Go White!
Go Bucs!
June 27th, 2023 at 10:21 am
FYI – Good Morning Football, yesterday (Mon) predicted White as the breakout player of 2023. Sara Walsh made the announcement.
June 27th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Having a QB with the Highest Check Down rate in 2022 White should be excited about getting the ball thrown to him.
Unfortunately having a QB with a Passer Rating of 79 under pressure(4th worse in 2022) the ball might only get to him half of the time.
Got a feeling TB defense will get plenty o Tip Drill Practice during training camp.
June 27th, 2023 at 10:38 am
I said it long ago last season. I put no blame on any of our backs last year. Constantly harassed as they were getting the ball in hand. Was it the offensive line? X&O’s? Sponge Bob? Well 2 out of 3 are replaced and the 3rd is attempting upgrades. We shall soon see if the problem is fixed, even without Brady.
June 27th, 2023 at 10:57 am
The backs were hit behind the like of scrimmage almost every play. Leftwich is that bad. The defense to include a 37 year old who’s football experience ended in high school (me) could predict the majority of the run plays and where they were going. White will be good this year.
June 27th, 2023 at 11:29 am
Vaughn will emerge as the starter before this year is finished.
June 27th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
if you give white the holes that i see other RBs getting in zone schemes, he’ll go bananas. he’s used to creases because the bucs didn’t try to fool anyone. give him holes, and i think he’ll show us that upside. advance stats are often significant, but i don’t think you can use any stats under leftwich to say anything about any individual player. they never had a chance
June 27th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Agreed most guys who hate on White only see stats and TDS etcetera.
White will go bananas this year.
His running style is perfect for zone runs when blocked well.
I’m guessing 8 100 yd games and top 10 in yds.
June 27th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
The OL will be dramatically improved this year!!! If Jensen is healthy there is an immediate and MAJOR upgrade at Center. Not just talent wise but Jensen is the only MEAN OL the Bucs had.
So do we really doubt that Wirfs won’t be a MAJOR upgrade over injured and aging Donovan Smith? I liked Smith when he was younger and healthy, he was a good if not great LT. But not last year! Feilers is a major upgrade…
So just on those three positions alone…Wirfs..Feiler..Jensen the line will be FAR better. Licht has been great finding gems for the OL…if Mauch is the lastest then there are two MEAN redheads who in Jensens words will F people up.
What a MAJOR difference in attitude.
Canalas…no more Brady…and a huge MEAN and nasty OL..look for some road grading!!! I’d love to be White!
June 27th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
“Baker Mayfield checked the ball down more than any quarterback in the NFL last year.”
This is exactly what I saw on tape watching his ‘highlights’ from last year. He’d have a guy open 12-yards downfield, and instead would check it down to a RB for 3-yards on 3rd and 10. Some really cowardly QB play. But you don’t become the worst QB in the NFL over the last two seasons without reason.
June 27th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Rod Munch said “This is exactly what I saw on tape watching his ‘highlights’ from last year. He’d have a guy open 12-yards downfield, and instead would check it down to a RB for 3-yards on 3rd and 10. Some really cowardly QB play. But you don’t become the worst QB in the NFL over the last two seasons without reason.”
Man, if I didn’t know you were talking about Mayfield, I could swear you were talking about Brady last season. Brady was so scared of getting hit, he decided before the play started who he was going to throw it to, chucked it in record time and there were wide open receivers downfield he didn’t even look at.