New Uses For Rachaad White?
June 17th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Sometimes, not saying something is more of an answer than the response itself.
Take last week after minicamp concluded. Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked how the Bucs plan to use Rachaad White and rookie Bucky Irving at running back this fall.
Now Joe understands football coaches being the paranoid outfit they are won’t remotely give away what they consider state secrets. So this question Joe fully expected Bowles to dodge.
(The paranoia of football coaches really needs to be studied by an Ivy League psychological research team. Dwight Eisenhower had spies in his headquarters yet he still somehow pulled off Operation Overlord, something that was slightly more complex and a tad more risky than devising a pass play against a 54-front. Football coaches often have epileptic seizures if you try to find out who the third-string tight end is in August.)
Bowles’ response was interesting to Joe.
“It’s still early right now,” Bowles began. “We’ve got to get in pads. There’s still more to determine. We’ll get in pads and see who can do what as far as Bucky is concerned. Chase [Edmonds] is involved in that and a bunch of other [running] backs involved in that.
“He’s a talented guy, he’s smart, he’s here early every day. I look forward to seeing what he can do so we can see where we can use him at.”
Now that sounded to Joe that the Bucs haven’t finalized how and to what degree White will be used.
Joe is a big proponent of White in the passing game. And Joe would like to see the Bucs flirt with him as a receiver a little more, not just throwing to him coming out of the backfield.
Yesterday, Joe watched some of last year’s Washington State-Oregon game and heard ABC analyst Greg McElroy, the former Jets quarterback, remark how Irving rarely goes down right away when hit by the first man.
Doing that in the PAC-12 and doing that in the NFL is going to be a world of difference for the 5-9, 192-pound Irving.
So could it be that there is a real competition in training camp for the guy who totes the rock most in the run game? Or will White and Irving split duties carrying the ball?
June 17th, 2024 at 9:04 am
A 192 lb running back is never going to be the bell cow. Stop.
June 17th, 2024 at 9:09 am
What a difference a decent run game would do for the Bucs. Going from #32 in running the ball to maybe #18 to 20?! Wow, that would surely make Baker more effective too.
I am excited for this year. Except for providing an Edge rush, Jason knocked it out of the park again
June 17th, 2024 at 9:13 am
I actually got the impression from that and when you quoted it earlier that Irving may not be the number 2 running back for the Bucs when the season opens.
Bowles is not hating on his 4th round choice. You are just not seeing the praise that you see him giving his two (2) 3rd round choices.
I read that more that Bowles was comparing him to the rest of the running backs not the starter. Let’s see if he separates himself from “….Chase [Edmonds] is involved in that and a bunch of other [running] backs involved in that…” …”when the pads are on…”
June 17th, 2024 at 9:15 am
Where exactly did Joe write that?
June 17th, 2024 at 9:15 am
I am not comparing Bucky to Mr. Sanders here but just as an example….
Mr. Sanders playing weight was 200 and he was 5’8″.
Not sure his weight or height is really a problem if he can move at 80% of what Mr. Sanders could do, he should be pretty good.
June 17th, 2024 at 9:47 am
I think smaller backs are making a comeback in the NFL…Bucky Irving is similar in size to the Rams Kyrem Williams who is 5’9″ and 194 lbs.
June 17th, 2024 at 9:48 am
As has been observed by others, Rachaad had an Italian dessert calling runs up the gut for him most of the season – while having The Three Matadors waving D-linemen through like they were the bulls of Pamplona.
I’m happy to see Rachaad get another crack at RB1 with a more suitable scheme and beefed up interior OL.
June 17th, 2024 at 9:49 am
“A 192 lb running back is never going to be the bell cow. Stop.”
It’s more rare but possible.
Kyren Williams was a bell cow last year at 5’9 194 lbs. 228 attempts at 5.0 YPC.
James Cook is only 5’11 199 lbs
same with Jamyr Gibbs 5’9 199 lbs
Jamaal Charles was 5’11 199 lbs coming out and one of the most efficient RB’s in the NFL.
June 17th, 2024 at 9:56 am
TS_Bucs nailed it. I have no idea whether Bucky will be a star, but it won’t be his size that stops him.
June 17th, 2024 at 10:07 am
It’s pass pro lol you don’t need to be hit to show you can run a route or catch the ball in space, but you can’t gauge how good a RB is at keeping the QB upright in shorts and shirts.
June 17th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Hey Ricky! Walter, Barry, Warrick, lost your number!
Payton 200#, Sanders, 203# Dunn 189# all were “Bell Cow” backs.
Stopped, rarely.
June 17th, 2024 at 10:25 am
Warrick Dunn was 5’9 and 187
June 17th, 2024 at 11:08 am
Can we please get more of these RW articles?
“I gotta have more cowbell!” -Bruce Dickinson
June 17th, 2024 at 11:16 am
Don’t worry. Plenty more coming.
June 17th, 2024 at 11:24 am
You guys just watch Bucky go! Remember you read it here. Bucky is the real deal.
June 17th, 2024 at 11:29 am
It’s only a big secret until the first week of the season. After that it’s more of how you mix the plays in more than anything if they half way decent.
June 17th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
I was hoping for a bigger RB in the draft but I can see what the bucs are up to. I think they will be passing to set up the run…way more 3 wide 11 personal sets…probably have just as many rush attempts as this year just more efficient
June 17th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
In a League of 32 teams there are now very few bell cow backs. If Irvin can have a similar level of making people miss at this level, and obviously with an improved offensive line, the combination of him and white should do just fine. Even more tantalizing is with Irving as a good receiver, having him versus white in the game should give us the same flexibility. It won’t be a tell that a pass is coming or vice versa.
June 17th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Lets get the pads on. Bucky will prove his worth. He’s already our top RB even before talking a single snap!
June 17th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
It may start out as split duties between White and Bucky, but if Bucky becomes a running back for the Bucs like he was in College, White might be used more as a receiver with Evans and Godwin.
No matter what happens it’s a win-win for the Bucs.
June 17th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Hey Joe,
A good side-by-side study of Warrick Dunn and Bucky Irving college films would give generational Bucs fans something to pin our hopes to (or not).
I think that you would want at least a half-dozen comparison vignettes, and an editor with some talent and a passion for the project might keep it interesting with over a dozen comparison vignettes:
“This is Warrick on a break-away run, and this is Bucky.
This is Warrick busting through a hole up the middle, and this is Bucky.
This is Warrick after contact in the hole, and this is Bucky.
This is Warrick when the hole isn’t there, and this is Bucky.
This is Warrick after contact in the backfield, and this Bucky.”
Pass protection, motion, receiving, …
Just the basic content would be of interest to Bucs fans. Add hype and production values, and you have content for a pre-game show and sports network preseason team reviews. If Bucky is successful, you have something that could be reworked to run all season.
June 17th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Warrick Dunn played at under 180 in an age when MLBs were 260. Buckys fine.
June 17th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Warrick Dunn was one of my favorites at FSU and on the Bucs. Awesome guy on and off the field. If Bucky is anything like Dunn, we have won the lottery! Can’t wait for the pads to be on.
June 17th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
If the revamped O-line can do their job, all of our RBs will look impressive. It’s about creating some space to run through.
June 17th, 2024 at 4:49 pm
Bucky Irving quoted this week. “Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds have been great leaders for me and have helped me with the playbook and with things that I needed to know. I am pretty much leaning on those guys, and I will fill whatever role the coach needs me to play. I don’t necessarily have a role yet; I am just going with the flow until my number is called.”
Along with Bowles:
“It’s still early right now,” “We’ve got to get in pads. There’s still more to determine. We’ll get in pads and see who can do what as far as Bucky is concerned. Chase [Edmonds] is involved in that and a bunch of other [running] backs involved in that.”
All that sounds to me that early reviews are not suggesting that he will be our number 1 option running the ball. Not sure that he will be even number 2 when the season starts.
June 17th, 2024 at 5:18 pm
OMG, this Joe’s non-stop White bashing, going on two years now, is just unrelenting. It doesn’t matter who is in that backfield, if the run blocking continues to be terrible, none are going to be productive in the run game – unless you can somehow build a time machine, and go back and kidnap 1997 Barry Sanders, then bring him to the future, and somehow force him to play for the Bucs – a very unlikely scenario.
June 17th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
“All that sounds to me that early reviews are not suggesting that he will be our number 1 option running the ball. Not sure that he will be even number 2 when the season starts.“
Doesn’t it feel good to not have to force rookies into taking roles they probably aren’t ready for?
My fellow Buc fans, there’s a player pipeline in place and we’re in a weird position where, guys have to show us they’re actually good in order to see playing time and not because we’re thin from a talent perspective. It’s the table this team will eat off of IF this team can maintain some semblance of success from season to season.
We weren’t rebuilding after 2022, we’ve been “renovating” since 2021
June 17th, 2024 at 7:01 pm
Warrick Dunn 5’9 187 lbs
June 17th, 2024 at 8:20 pm
Can’t wait for everyone to start comparing Bucky to Warrick Dunn. If you didn’t look at the name or school, you wouldnt be able to tell their numbers apart coming out of college.
JUST SAYING!!!!
June 17th, 2024 at 9:37 pm
Joe wrote:
“Now that sounded to Joe that the Bucs haven’t finalized how and to what degree White will be used.”
Huh? Bowles was talking about Bucky when he stated that he needs to see what he can do; Bowles obviously knows about the great capability of Rachaad who, count on it (although you’re hoping otherwise), Rachaad is clearly RB#1 by a mile.
The competition for RB #2 & RB #3 is between Chase & Bucky.
June 18th, 2024 at 10:04 am
Wow now that is a stretch Joe. Even for you. LOL
Go Bucs
June 18th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
That’s weird how people keep quoting Warrick Dunn’s height and weight, at the combine he weighed in and measured exactly 5 ft 8 and 176 lb.. GTFOH at this 5’9 187. If he was 5’9 187, I guess that makes me 5’9 200 lbs.. and I’m not.
June 19th, 2024 at 11:57 am
Sounds to me that the coaches haven’t decided on ANY of the backs at this time. As usual, underwear football brings out the looney takes. I agree with coach here, let them get pads on, let them start running more semblance of the offense before jumping to conclusions. And to be honest, I think we’ve all seen Whites ceiling as a back in the NFL. It’s time for a talent infusion at RB1
June 19th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
Rachaad’s “ceiling” is reached with the worst O-line in the NFL last year?
By that “logic,” with a greatly improved interior O-line the ceiling would lower?
Rachaad had 990 yards rushing and more that half that again in receiving yards in the NFL; countless 1st downs since signing.
Bucky’s an untested college player.
Who exactly is: “jumping to conclusions?