Rachaad White Became A Feared Back
February 15th, 2024
Climbing the charts.
Well, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs will be drafting a running back on Day 1 of the draft in April.
Despite almost running for 1,000 yards this season, universally accepted as the benchmark for a good running back, Joe still isn’t sold on Rachaad White as a top-shelf running back.
As a receiving back, White is phenomenal.
Despite White’s jump in rushing yards, he also had a massive jump in attempts. His advanced running stats are cringy. But that’s a story for another day.
This here post is about White’s accomplishments.
White had a strong season in the passing game, so much so that defenses must account for him there. Of the league leaders in yards from scrimmage, which also includes receivers, White finished last season tied for seventh with star Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown — 1,539 yards.
Is St. Brown a top-shelf player? Hell, yes. So you can see why defenses now respect White.
After White lit up the Packers with a touchdown and two catches for 50 yards, his receiving numbers decreased in each of the final three games of the season. Is that because defenses were keying on White when Mayfield went back to pass? Joe would certainly bet on that.
If the Bucs can find a way to spring White open more in the run game, he could be a very dangerous back. “This Joe” still believes White could be a dangerous if not lethal slot receiver.
February 15th, 2024 at 12:07 am
A little more push from the interior (better C/LG) and another year in the same type of running schemes should result in a more respectable YPC.
February 15th, 2024 at 12:16 am
If we beef up the line he wil get 1000 no problem next season
February 15th, 2024 at 12:31 am
White is a great screen receiver and runner. The OL seemed to block screens well and White had great YAC yards. I hope Coen runs a lot of screens to White next year.
White had a huge number of rushing carries this past year so he had over 900 yards. If you look at his yards per attempt and other advanced stats he was poor. Licht needs to find an RB1 who can run the ball and use White in the passing game.
February 15th, 2024 at 2:13 am
I don’t know what most of you were doing this season but I watched a lot of all 22 film and are problem is not at left guard. Stinnie is not pro bowl level but he is definitely above average and he is very good at run blocking. Hainsey is the main problem and it’s not his technique or footwork he has no power and is consistently getting over powered and pushed back and it’s collapsing his gaps. He got a little better towards the end of the season if that translates into next season we won’t know yet
February 15th, 2024 at 4:07 am
Funny that most everyone focuses on Rachaad getting 990 yards rushing because he had the 2nd-most (272) rushing attempts, giving him a mediocre 3.6 YPC. Why doesn’t anyone mention DURABILITY in there? Didn’t miss a game in 272 rushing attempts AND being targeted 70 times in the passing game.
Bucs had 1007 rushing & passing attempts (disregarding sacks) in 2023. That means that Rachaad, with his 342 attempts in rushing & receiving, was the target on over 1/3rd of our plays. He surely took a LOT of pounding in that amount of playing.
I’m confident that the Bucs learned that we need to improve our rushing TD numbers in 2024 (we had only 8 rushing TDs in 2023, ranking us #28). I have every expectation that we’ll grab a ‘big back’ who’ll help us improve on those numbers. Would dearly love for that back to be free agent AJ Dillon, but time will tell. In any event, with another quality back to pair with White, he shouldn’t be getting nearly as many rushing attempts in 2024.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:39 am
White’s approach between tackles is cringeworthy. That’s really all there is to it. I don’t think it’s fear, I think it’s processing and I would have the same exact problem. He needs to be allowed to play fast and that’s coming out of the backfield, sweeps, and absolutely in the slot. Good player, just not going to get you 4 yards in a cloud of dust.
February 15th, 2024 at 6:27 am
First round Center.
Wirfs deserves a Pro Bowl level Center in that huddle.
Wirfs is already one of the greatest Tackles to ever play the game.
We MUST invest in a 1st round or 2nd round Center. Period.
After seeing the success of the Bucs with Jensen, I will forever believe that after QB, the second most important position on offense is the center.
The center sets the tone.
When we had Jensen, teams feared us. They respected us.
Jensen led us out of the tunnel. Because he’s a Warrior.
Defenses are filled with pyscho-killers (Talking Heads reference).
Defenses are filed with killers who want to hurt our QB and WR’s.
We must have some psychos on the offensive line.
Goedeke is a pyscho killer. Mauch is a psycho Chucky doll.
Wirfs is a very sweet man.
Hainsey. Has no hamstrings or quads. His leg strength is abysmal.
We need an upgrade at center if we want to win the NFC.
Stinnie is fine for 1 more gap year. Then, draft a LG in round 1 next year. Or draft a LG in the 2nd round this year.
We must find an OLB in free agency. A proven OLB. Not a college boy who lacks “man-strength.”
We need a OLB, NT, and DE also.
Gaines, Gholston, O’Connor, and Senat all need to be upgraded.
I’m down with finding a huge NT in round 3.
And a project DE in round 4.
Project free safety in round 5.
Big RB round 6.
A stud who dropped because of a senior year injury in round 7. or a speed demon CB.
February 15th, 2024 at 6:29 am
Invest in the trenches rounds 1-4!
Center, Guard, NT, DE
Free agency: OLB
February 15th, 2024 at 8:15 am
Rachaad White flies like a bat out of hell in open space and when our offensive line opens up a hole for him to run through. Not even Christian McCaffrey could average 5.0 YPC running up the middle on first and second down behind our sorry as offensive line. All you guys forget that in the first half of the season, our run blocking was so bad that Rachaad White was getting hit before he could even cross the line of scrimmage. All Rachaad White needs is good run blocking and a good play caller who doesn’t waste first and second down running up the gut.
February 15th, 2024 at 8:54 am
teacherman777 … Since your wish list has no QB, WR, S, ILB or K on it I ASSUME that you’re counting on Bucs being able to re-sign Mayfield, Evans, Winfield, LVD AND McLaughlin before the draft happens.
And since you’re drafting a NT until Rnd 3 and a ‘project DE’ in Rnd 4, I ASSUME that Gaines & Gholston wouldn’t be re-signed.
And since you’re looking to sign a ‘proven OLB’ in free agency, but not drafting one, I ASSUME that you’d sign one early-on in FA, AND create the necessary CAP space by releasing one of our own OLBs with a substantial CAP Hit to save money to pay for the add.
Oh ya, and since you’re not adding a ‘big RB’ until Rnd 6, I ASSUME that you’re not expecting to get a true ‘difference-maker’ (odds of finding one in Rnd 6 are probably quite low).
Every time I run through a similar exercise what I end up seeing is an awful lot of ASSUMPTIONS on my part. Change just a couple of assumptions and you can flip the list on its’ head. For instance, what happens to the list IF Mayfield signs with someone else (say the Falcons just for fun)? Could we still re-sign Evans or would he bolt? What IF LVD opts to retire?
February 15th, 2024 at 9:08 am
“As a receiving back, White is phenomenal.”
Yes so find a monster RB…somebody here mentioned Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen.
The 2024 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings don’t project any first-round running backs, but Allen ranks as the top prospect on the board, edging out Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Clemson’s Will Shipley. At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, Allen boasts a physical frame with the muscle to take on an all-purpose role at the next level.
So if he drops to the 2nd I wouldn’t even mind seeing the Bucs trade up to grab him. Imagine a backfield with White and a 245 lb Bruiser to complement him.
Could it be the return of “Thunder and Lightning”? That may be a stretch but you get the principle.
D.R. correctly brings up “durability”. How much longer and better would White be able to produce with a 245 lb beast to take off some of the most physically demanding part of the job.
February 15th, 2024 at 10:05 am
We better be thinking about adding a much better running back for first and second downs. White is a good third down back but is way too indecisive on inside runs. He never just hits the hole hard. Always dancing around hoping something will open up ultimately ending with him being tackle near or behind the line of scrimmage. How many times a game do we have to scream at the TV saying “hit the f…ing hole”.
February 15th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Ray Davis in the 3rd or 4tj would be nice…
February 15th, 2024 at 10:17 am
BUCman … ‘How many times a game do we have to scream at the TV saying “hit the f…ing hole”.’
Yup, do that far too often myself BUCman. And after all these years I came to one conclusion …
‘The TV don’t f…ing listen’. Obviously need a new TV.
February 15th, 2024 at 10:19 am
@ProudBucsFan – 100% correct!
I also watched the All-22 for each game. Hainsey is a huge liability – it’s like he’s on roller skates. Yes, Mauch got mauled sometimes, but mostly held his own. Goeddeke improved vastly, and Wirfs eventually settled in at LT. Stinnie was better than Feiler, but I would still look for another LG eventually. Otten at times is a liability as a blocker – he can get better though.
February 15th, 2024 at 11:08 am
Didn’t we trade away our 4th round pick?
At 26, I would NOT mind trading back and picking up a 3rd or 4th.
With a possible 6 QBs, 6 WRs, 4-5 DE/OLBs, you are looking at a capable C falling into the early 2nd.
I agree with DR that trying to decide what we focus on is futile until we know more, but C has to be upgraded early regardless.
Maybe that happens in FA, but I hope not.
I think a proven edge in FA is more important because Im tired of swinging and missing on them in the draft.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:31 pm
@defense rules
Yes. Your assumptions are correct.
Gholston and Gaines are gone.
Mayfield, Evans, Winfield, McLaughlin, and David will be re-signed.
OLB in free agency is a possibility with salary cap manipulation.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Pacheco for the Chiefs was a 7th round RB.
Algiers. The big RB for Atlanta was a 6th round pick.
Running backs are available in rounds 5-7.
That’s where their value is these days.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Im a fan of Rachad for sure, but I’d like to see him in the weight room this offseason. Focus on more leg power.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Proud Bucs fan, I saw the same thing with Hainsey. I don’t know how many times he would get blown up and we had instant penetration up the middle. You can’t have that if you want to be a Super Bowl team.
February 15th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
D.R.
‘The TV don’t f…ing listen’. Obviously need a new TV.”
Yeah both of my TV’s suck!
February 15th, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Unfortunately if RW gets that many touches on a yearly basis he will have a short career. I love when he gets the ball in space he’s lethal. Pair him with another back and get him some road graders.