“We Know What We Need To Fix”
February 8th, 2025
“Keep scoring, Bake!”
So many NFL players descend upon the Super Bowl site every year, this time New Orleans, and wander through the media center where one can find radio row.
Bucs running back Rachaad White stopped in to chat with Baker Machado of Front Office Sports. There, White talked about the season that was and his look at the Bucs for 2025.
“Our expectations are high,” White said. “They were high this year.
“We let a couple of close games slip. We felt like we should have won. It came down to the wire.
“And then, obviously, we let the last game of the season slip. It came down to the wire. But you have to give credit where it is do.”
How much different would the season had been if the Bucs were able to take care of business in Atlanta and Kansas City, and even at home against San Francisco?
Joe still cannot blame players for the Kansas City loss in overtime. The Bucs were down Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and still had a chance for a game-winning score in their last possession of regulation.
“We know what we need to fix,” White said. “We need to build on [last season].
“We got new changes once again in our building. This is my fourth year with a new OC. But I’m pretty sure you can lean on Baker because of what he has been through.”
It stinks for White that Liam Coen left. White easily had his best season running the ball.
Can White build on that? Will new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard be able to reignite White’s strong skills in the pass game?
Time will only tell.
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February 8th, 2025 at 8:51 am
I wonder if White’s improvement had to do with watching Bucky film
February 8th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Irving is the entrenched starter and go to guy, I could see White looking for an opportunity elsewhere so he can get an opportunity to start.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Yeah hopefully they know what they need to fix. They need to get the D to be more consistent.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:23 am
White is not a FA.
We drafted him in 2022.
He is a Buc this year.
Grizzard sounded like he wanted to involve both Irving and White in getting more check downs.
That will be his bread and butter.
3rd down back through and through.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Crazy to realize, but if we took care of business in Atl, KC and SF at home we are still the 3 seed playing the Commanders.
Just with a better record.
February 8th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Very interesting tidbit DBF. Never realized that.
February 8th, 2025 at 11:13 am
But you have to give credit where it’s do cmon Joe
February 8th, 2025 at 11:46 am
Coen had something to do with White’s improved performance but it’s not as if White forgot what worked. I think the new OC is going to have an even better Offense than Duuuuval
February 8th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Need to fix the secondary, and pass rush. So far coaching wise Bowles is sticking with Ross, Rapone, and Edwards. I guess it was the players not the coaching that was a problem. Todd, and his defense need the most fixing.
February 8th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
True, Hodad. The things that mainly need to be fixed have nothing to do with White, they’re mostly on defense. Weird how the side of the ball that does all the hitting is the one that was the most injured. Can’t really blame that on the training staff. Just random bad luck.
February 8th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
White’s “best season running the ball” had a lot more to do with the quality of OLine play than Liam Coen….
February 8th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
“We got new changes once again in our building. This is my fourth year with a new OC. But I’m pretty sure you can lean on Baker because of what he has been through.”
A cool quote that tells me a lot about our team, and their culture.
It will be very interesting to see Gizzard use White, Bucky, and Tucker in “his” Offense. All can catch, all can run, and all have enough differences in their skills to make it another difficulty for Defense to try and stop.
How awesome would it be to have 2 850+ yard RBs and 1 600+ yard backs? Who can line up as a WR?
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Does anyone think the Bucs would have been seeded higher than third if they’d beaten the Chiefs? Even if they’d swept the Falcons AND beat the Chiefs they’d still have been seeded third. I get the second guessing the week after a game and all the armchair coaching/quarterbacking but the season is over. Focus on the playoff game if you must and what may have happened if the Bucs would have won that home playoff game. Those are hypotheticals that are somewhat entertaining. The regular season… welcome to the pros where anything can happen during any week. All those could ofs and should haves get you to the third seed of the playoffs. Oh wait, so did winning the ten games they won.
It was always about 2025 to me. SB or bust this coming season.
February 8th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
I’m glad the Bucs have White and hope they find a way to get him more touches.
Bucky is the man but as someone else pointed out, managing Bucky’s work load will be a critical assignment for Grizz the Wiz. R White makes it a lot easier and Sean Tucker has also shown a lot of promise in limited opportunities.
Bucky’s stats matched Barry’s rookie year but will Bucky be the next Barry or the next Cadillac?
February 8th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
The offense needs to clean up the too frequent mental mistakes, as well as turnovers. Situational awareness, especially end of games – two hands on the farging ball! Hoping Grizz backs off calling too many “cutesy” plays.
The defense has been discussed ad nauseum. Most people recognize the pass defense is a dumpster fire and a full time defensive coordinator is necessary to fix all the defects.
February 8th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Bucky is awesome but he will need load management.
I agree with pickgrin that the OL improvement is the big reason for run game improvement. The scheme was better as well obviously but the OL should be even better this season. Holes will be there.
If Godwin isn’t resigned, we need White out there more running routes.
As far as those mentioning that even with those wins we are 3 seed … those wins would have been massive. The reason is obvious… you learn to close and you learn to win tight games. Could have come in handy in a 3 pt playoff game. It would also help if the HC had any confidence in his guys on O and put the game in their hands more often. Maybe that would instill confidence in them and they wouldn’t be as prone to crunch time screw ups. Crazy thought I know!
February 8th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Had we stuck with Bucky AND Rachaad being used more, instead of trying to make a Pony into a Clydesdale with Bucky, I think we’d have had more success down the stretch.
For whatever reason the nimrod running the offense at the time turned us into a single (featured) back team with Rachaad delegated to being a decoy or occasionally to give Bucky a break.
Hopefully Grizz will do more to maximize ALL of our backs this year as runners and recievers 🤞🏼
February 8th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Beeej Says:
February 8th, 2025 at 8:51 am
I wonder if White’s improvement had to do with watching Bucky film
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It probably had to do with not being asked to run the ball into the middle of the defensive line 10 times a game.
February 8th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
I am a fan of all three of the Bucs RB’s. The Bucs waited a bit long to feature Bucky. But, once they did, I became concerned that they were overusing hi I’m, and woefully underusing Tucker with White getting about the use that he should.
And, White looked very good lining up outside for sweeps.
February 8th, 2025 at 7:09 pm
toopanca
I agree with you completely about load management for Bucky.
The beauty of it is the Bucs need to find a way to use Tucker and especially RW.
RW has great hands. His 40 time is .06 slower than CG14 BEFORE his ankle.
IE they are the same speed and Tucker is not that far behind.
They all have talent. Griz the Wiz will have to find a way to employ ALL that talent. From the beginning I’ve wondered where Griz will get enough footballs to feed everybody. NO need to wear Bucky out and make him the next Cadillac Williams although a freak hit can take out anybody I guess.
Still Cadillac rushed 290 times his rookie season, Bucky just 207
Cadillac rushed 225 his second season sadly he blew out his knee in year 3 and only carried it 54 times.
So great depth at RB at least but nobody’s comforted me when I ask who is Baker’s backup? Baker’s style requires a “solid” backup able to step in if/when Baker gets hurt.
I remember Baker’s first season when he started against the Panthers with an injury that should have kept him from even dressing out. Baker has courage but he is a human being.
February 8th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Bucky is small guys.
We need White.
Bucky can’t last 20 games getting crushed all the time.
We need White and Tucker for a Super Bowl run.
And we need a LG in the 2nd round. A plug and play stud!
February 8th, 2025 at 11:38 pm
White sure gets a lot of airtime !
He’s going to be the best water boy by the end of next year !
February 9th, 2025 at 12:17 am
Need to fix the communication issues on defense. Just ask bowles. Takes a while when you’re not usually a talker coach says. Give em another five years glazers
February 9th, 2025 at 4:34 am
White’s 4th year with a new OC. That is a biggie too, and our offense is doing well. Thankfully Gizzard was here this past season and played a big part with our offense. Can’t wait to see what they do next season.