“One Of Their Top-2 Backs Is Not On The Roster Right Now”
August 19th, 2024
Surprise move at RB coming?
Now here’s a bold take that Joe doesn’t think is crazy.
Now before Joe gets rolling, this podcast Joe is citing here was published days before the Bucs played the Jags in the teams’ second worthless preseason game — and before Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker showed they should be given serious consideration for the majority of touches in the Bucs’ run game over the guy who was the No. 1 running back in the league’s worst rushing offense the past two seasons.
“For the most part they are coming off the ball,” Todd Bowles said Sunday about Irving and Tucker. “The running backs are making the cuts where they need to make them and they are getting positive yardage.”
Was that the second straight Sunday that Bowles, in a roundabout way, was sending messages to Rachaad White? Sure seems that way.
Joe isn’t sold on White being a dangerous running back. The guy has had 37 games to prove otherwise and he’s dominated just a handful of times on the ground. Joe could count the good rushing games White’s had on one hand.
Plus, White was the No. 1 back on the league’s worst rushing attack two straight years.
(Let Joe be very clear: White is a superb receiving back, likely the best the Bucs have had since Warrick Dunn.)
Joe senses something is going on within closed meeting rooms regarding White. The signs are there. Bowles indirectly taking White to task the day after the Bucs’ first worthless preseason, a game in which White didn’t play, was a red flag.
Derrik Klassen, formerly of Football Outsiders (RIP), seems to think something is up as well.
Now the co-host of The Athletic Football Show. Klassen sensed the Bucs had a wandering eye for a running back outside of the Tampa Bay area. When co-host Robert Mays asked Klassen for an “irresponsible player prediction” on the Bucs, Klassen dropped this bombshell:
“One of their top-2 backs is not on the roster right now,” Klassen said. To which Mays responded after chuckling, “I don’t think you are wrong about that.”
Joe isn’t convinced of this after Saturday’s night’s game when Irving and Tucker showed how a running back is supposed to run: Aggressive, quick reactions, making defenders miss, no dancing or Le’Veon Bell impressions.
Irving has been getting a bunch of carries in practice with the first team. Joe’s not going to suggest he’s the Bucs’ No. 1 back but he should be on the field quite a bit. And Tucker should be given a spin for more playing time as well.
Joe hopes Tucker has turned the corner but Joe has to see more than three or four runs in a couple of worthless preseason games facing dudes who next month will be assistant managers at the North Port Walmart helping retirees locate suppositories.
Not unrelated: Chase Edmonds is doing his best to be cut. He’s been in the tub since training camp started. Let’s be real: He’s not Eric Dickerson II. Hell, he couldn’t even start for the league’s worst rushing attack. What are we talking about here?
It’s easy for a team to save a roster spot for an impact player. Edmonds ain’t it.
After Edmonds, the Bucs are left with camp meat at running back.
So aside from White almost always struggling carrying the ball, the Bucs have Irving, Tucker and beads on a rosary. So yeah, Joe could see a move made for a running back, even if it is only sifting through the glut of cut players looking for work a week from tomorrow.
Plus, that’s cheaper than trading for or signing an edge rusher. So there’s that.
However, Joe isn’t sure how you take White off the field for chunks of a game. He is a real weapon in the passing game. Turning White into a one-trick pony means you’re tipping pitches by bringing him in, unless it is a clear passing down.
And on clear passing downs (third-and-long) do you really want to be dumping passes off to a running back?
The Athletic Football Show previewed the NFC South on the latest episode.
The Buccaneers mostly brought last year's division-winning band back, but @QBKlass says one of the Bucs' top RBs in 2024 is NOT on the roster right now 👀
Listen for free here: https://t.co/rJQPlRfWDR pic.twitter.com/XmlcL8SD5o
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) August 16, 2024
August 19th, 2024 at 4:31 am
Joe, you keep saying that White didn’t run well the last two years. That’s true but neither did Edmunds or Tucker. We know that the Oline he ran behind was not good at blocking the run and we know that Canales was not good at scheming run plays. So why not give White a chance and see how he does with a revamped offense line and an OC who knows how to scheme running plays.
I think White will run better than Buck or Tuck.
August 19th, 2024 at 4:45 am
Could be something going on Joe.
I don’t get to attend any practices these days so I do not have any first hand knowledge of White this TC.
Strictly relying on your most excellent camp reports. It was kind of screwy when you mentioned not seeing any runs from White at all. That was my first red flag. Now Bowles sending messages in the media twice in a week?
Do we have a new slot WR listed as RB? I doubt we trade for this mythical RB though Joe.
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2024 at 6:31 am
Bucky’s going to be the starter soon.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:02 am
Could the Bucs be looking to Trade White? He’s on the last year of his rookie deal, are they going to want to pay him next year? You know backs are going to go down during the season, or teams might want to upgrade before the season. White could be getting a lighter load to keep him as trade bait.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:05 am
@ATLBUC – You just came up with the name for our future No. 1 and 2 RBs. Buck & Tuck, I love it.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:17 am
New OC will help white in the run game. We shall see if the Oline can run block better with the change of a few players and scheme. White is a weapon. I like what Joe says about him being a missed place slot receiver. I know you gotta be able to run the ball but we are still built for passing.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:22 am
Joe ATLBUC is right. Tucker just didn’t learn how to run. He ran behind the same O-line that white did with worst results. Give White a chance with the new O-line.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:47 am
I said it before, White is the Bucs new third down back. That’s his role.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:55 am
This is more of the did the o line suck or did White suck. We won’t know until we get into the season and White, Bucky, and Tucker all run behind the same o line.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:58 am
How to best use White is truly a conundrum. So too is finding suppositories at WalMart. Hope those guys get back to their real jobs soon. 🙂
Seriously, mad respect for the guys trying one last time to find the magic. It’s got to be tough to be on the outside looking in, knowing that you’re just not quite good enough to make hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars playing a game you’ve played your entire life. Props for keeping their dreams alive. Most of Joe’s readers 40 yard dash times can be measured with a calendar. You can use a sun dial for mine.
August 19th, 2024 at 8:03 am
Joe, I just remembered that during the last part of the year and especially in the playoffs White ran really well with the bad oline so I think we are going to have three really good backs with White leading them.
August 19th, 2024 at 8:13 am
Talk about beating a dead horse………we could change that to beating a dead Running Back…
Ok, OK, OK……White has been a mediocre RB but great receiver……
I will remind everyone that White’s YPC average was higher than Lenny’s in 22.
Give him a chance with the new Oline & OC……
August 19th, 2024 at 8:34 am
“Beads on a rosary!” Good one. Love it. Feeling the need to splash some holy water now too.
Have always admired Warrick Dunn since FSU – on and off the field.
Thinking Rachaad is going to be much better this season. Buck and Tuck are right there too. It is a win-win-win!
August 19th, 2024 at 8:34 am
Tucker is not good , is slow, can’t catch and you may want to watch some tape , he left Lottsa yards on the field. He’s kinda like an Eric Rhett type with good error but less power. A real good back would have have a couple 25-40 yard runs with a few of the looks Tucker got .
August 19th, 2024 at 8:51 am
Nah…Tucker isn’t slow. He’s easily the fast back in the room..4.3 something 40. He is more Jerry Eckwood than Eric Rhett. @ Eckwood.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:10 am
It’s not the backs as much as a change in OLine strategy. No more mano y mano, and more outside moving zone.
The Bucs were hammered in their former high school man-on-man OL scheme, which had almost no second-level blocking. Now, with vastly more athletic linemen, they move the play more outside and get downfield.
White could have a big year with that scheme. Certainly, Tucker (who was blah last year) and Irving have benefitted.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Question:
Usfbuc Says:
August 19th, 2024 at 7:55 am
This is more of the did the o line suck or did White suck.
Answer: Yes (they both were bad).
August 19th, 2024 at 9:58 am
Joe can you seriously please give white a chance with this revamped OLine and new OC and if white sucks again then at that point it’s him but geez give the guy a chance.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:26 am
Behind the Matador O-Line, Marshall Faulk and Jim Brown would have had a hard time getting 4ypc average, particularly with Canalwater calling dive right every first down. Would expect to see Rachaad tote a few against Miami in scrimmage and in game against The Fish.
But of course, after remembering who the head coich is, never mind.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:27 am
hes the clear number 1 thats why he isnt playing yet in preseason.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:34 am
It’d already been coined before, Buddha… I know I used it awhile back (I think on here), & I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it a couple of other times! I actually, just texted it to a friend during the JAX game Saturday night!!!!
August 19th, 2024 at 10:39 am
OH BOY!
If you’re bagging on Tucker, you haven’t watched the preseason games and you didn’t follow his offseason. He’s legit. He’s a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Almost took to 60-80 yards. The more carries he gets the better he’ll be.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:56 am
IMO, if CE22 does’nt come back before the season starts and show that he is capable still, he will be cut. Then the Bucs may very well go grab another RB. But he won’t be a #2. BI7 probably gets the call and ST44 will get his snaps too.
August 19th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Hmm, would it please Joe, if White were to be part of a trade to get an edge rusher?
August 19th, 2024 at 11:13 am
And pickup a veteran RB and cut Edmonds.
August 19th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Was it only last year that Coach Moore was describing White as the next Edge James? Hmm
Real question is who the new RB1/2 will be. Pretty good chance we’ll see him a little bit on Friday night. Lots of RBs on that roster running Coen’s system. One or two good backs will not be on that roster in two weeks.
August 19th, 2024 at 11:41 am
I remember the running backs coach saying he wanted White to run the ball like a man. I do believe that with the online helping him to the next level, like where he is catching and having that space, maybe he can get it going. Go Bucs!!!!
August 19th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
I could see us adding a RB at some point.
But valid points have been made about the oline. No RB could run with the oline the way it was.
August 19th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Here’s your daily bashing White story.
Keep running these Joe, eventually it will happen then you can claim you called it before everyone else!
August 19th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
I think it’s pretty safe to say that White is on the hot seat and will start as #1 running back until he proves he’s not worthy of that position. Will he get all the snaps? No. Will he improve this year? I think so. Speculation abounds until we can actually see him on the field. Regardless, he’s a good back and we have two more behind him, hopefully. I know you love that word Joe
August 19th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
This is so inane. Bowles hasn’t played White in the preseason yet because he doesn’t want to get his first string back injured or hobbled by getting him nicked up. 17 games is a long season, why waste him on “meaningless games” as Joe often refers to them as.
August 19th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
@drdneast et al. Do you guys recall the Joe’s writing about White barley getting reps with the 1’s in training camp. Very telling as to his status as RB 1, 2 or 3. No?
August 19th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Lt. Dan Says:
August 19th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
@drdneast et al. Do you guys recall the Joe’s writing about White barley getting reps with the 1’s in training camp. Very telling as to his status as RB 1, 2 or 3. No?
———
I remember this daytime Joe writing a new article nearly every for years saying how the Bucs need a new RB. Literally years, literally every single day, as if the blocking and scheme and predictable playcalling haven’t been the issue, it’s the RB. Meanwhile, while this Joe is hyping 1.6ypc Tucker as the starting RB, the guy who performed best, by far, out of the Bucs backfield he’s trying to run out of town.
Really makes no sense, no idea what the hangup is, but short of Barry Sanders, there isn’t anyone that was going to make the run game look good the last few years.
Then again – it’s 2024. Pass the ball. The team was made to pass the ball, won a SB passing the ball, the offensive line was made to pass the ball and you got two ALL-PRO WRs, so pass the ball.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
Agree, Joe. The RB room is not clear-cut, at all. There’s evidence galore, as you’ve shown in previous posts: Lack of first-team reps for RW1, an injury to the initial RB2, the 4th round rookie flashing, and last year’s priority UDFA RB who this season seems truly ready to make his mark, AND two other rookies who look like they belong in the league.
also,
“… on clear passing downs (third-and-long) do you really want to be dumping passes off to a running back?
I’d take RW1 as a fifth option in that scenario; who better? When he catches the ball, he usually makes the first guy miss, and if he makes a second guy miss, he’s gotta be getting close to the first down marker by that point, in my estimation.🍻
August 19th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
White has enjoyed the combination of his draft status + lack of talent/depth. That seems to be changing as Tucker runs with authority and Irving is elusive. Pretty good 1-2 combo if they can do all the other stuff well like pass protection. I’m guessing they let White walk next year
August 19th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Can’t believe I’m going to say this but I agree with Rod Munchs take on this.
Joe seems to be trying to create a story out of 1 sentence Todd spoke about our rushing attack in a preseason game. Oooh, but he must have meant that as a Rachaad criticism. Oooh, he’s letting us know he likes Bucky better. But he didn’t say that did he?
Rachaad was a trooper last year. Trying to run into holes that play design called for only to find Hainseys or Stinnies big asses there instead made him look bad. Wonder where the team would have been without his 1500+ yards from scrimmage last year?
Hopeful on Bucky and Tucker and the O-line is looking improved too but I’m not ready to throw RW under the bus. Not sure how Coen will use him but I expect he’ll be a valuable part of our attack and an asset again this year.
August 19th, 2024 at 6:08 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TUCK AKA TUCKER NO. 44 MAKE THIS TEAM AND GET THE BALL IN THE REGULAR SEASON.
August 19th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Also Joe,
Why So much Rachaad White hate?
Clearly he’s a great receiving back and can make some great moves in open space. I have no problem with him being RB1
Did you see his game against the Saints in NOLA last year?
Rachaad White is a weapon!!!!
Not a liability