Todd Bowles Declares A Starting Running Back
December 28th, 2022
This was the first Joe had heard an official declaration as to who is the Buccaneers’ starting running back.
When rookie Rachaad White got the start over Leonard Fournette against the Seahawks last month, Todd Bowles insisted the decision was only about what package the team wanted to roll out against Seattle.
Since then, the White and Fournette tandem has been characterized by the regime as a 1-2 punch — in no particular order. However, a different take was revealed yesterday.
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles was asked about the decision for running back playing time. He opened his reply as follows, “Rachaad’s the starter, we know that. And then we’ll put Lenny in after a couple of series, and then we’ll just ride the hot hand …”
White has started the past seven games, but again, this was the first time Joe is aware of White being named the unquestioned starter. It was an interesting take by Bowles after Fournette just finished a big, workhorse game against the Cardinals on Sunday.
On Monday, Bowles seemed a little surprised that White didn’t play much, which stunned Joe after hearing run-game coordinator Harold Goodwin talk last week about Fournette and calling him “lights out.“
Man, this Bucs offense has been hard to make sense of this season.
#GoBucs Bruce Arians back at practice on this Wed.#Panthers week pic.twitter.com/mismhtn3l2
— rock riley (@realrockriley) December 28, 2022
December 28th, 2022 at 12:43 pm
When you are dead last at historical clip… You need try to mix things up. Yes I agree. Bench Lenny but White is no better. He needs to learn to protect that ball. He’s too loosely and can’t see how he doesn’t have 10 fumbles right now
December 28th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Todd doesn’t know his arse from a hole in the wall. Saying that after Lenny had his best game of the season.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
WHY??? Lenny hears this and gets a hair across his arse. I hope it is in part of Lenny’s foot issue if not another shot at the locker room. The video clip sure doesn’t look like a team motivated to fight for a playoff spot. Joe wish you had a clip of Carolinas practice, I’d be willing to bet it would be a lot more exciting.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Bet they’re preparing to dump Lenny’s contract, wanna make sure
December 28th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Good for White. It was his stated goal in the offseason.
4Net played his best game last week.
Seemed to work.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:54 pm
BA ? Where has he been??
Sure would like to see some unfiltered comments from him
December 28th, 2022 at 12:54 pm
One legged Lenny is just that according to himself. I’d ride with White, and mix in Sneak. Save the scraps for Lenny and keep him on a short leash. Fresh legs can’t be overestimated, and I’m sick of this team playing hobbled vets over young, healthy and hungry players.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:54 pm
This is why I avoid reading post about our coaching staff as much as possible. Every time I read or hear one of these “coaches” speak, I truly come away feeling DUMBER. And that is a low low low bar for someone like myself.
Lets be clear, now that we just had our number two RB go off. EVERYONE needs to know, he is our number two for a reason.
How stupid do you have to be to say something like that AFTER a game like the one Lenny just put together?
Why not just continue to say what you have been saying. Which is, we will roll with the hot hand REGARDLESS of who starts.
Who feels more enlightened after Todds comments?
Who feels more dumber after Todds comments?
December 28th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
This is not going to go down well. Lenny is not going to be happy with the way Toilet Bowl phrased that answer.
BTW, the HC apparently doesn’t realize we have 2nd and 3rd string guys on the OL. I understand you need to run to set up the pass, but in crucial time, for the sake of common sense, don’t run 2-3 times in a row. We are not that good – even for 1 yard running straight down the middle. Maybe with Jensen, but not with Hainsey.
I would rather they make that a Godwin play all day long.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Lenny is displaying all the signs of an aging RB. He’s much slower in the hole, and has lost elusiveness. The line hasn’t helped, but if I’m Licht, this is it. Better to dump him a year early. I think the only reason he’s still upright, is because of the split carries. Lots of miles on those legs.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Not sure of the cap implications.
December 28th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
I’m with the TexasBuc on this one. No wonder the guys are screwed up with these genius coaches.
December 28th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
After this season, the cap implications of Lenny’s contract are:
– Released prior to 06/01: $5M in dead cap – $3.5M in cap savings
– Traded prior to 06/01: $4.5M in dead cap – $5.5M in cap savings
– Released after 06/01: $3.5M in dead cap – $5M in cap savings
– Traded after 06/01: $1.5M in dead cap – $7M in cap savings
I highly suspect that Leftwich is fired, Brady retires and we cut or trade Lenny after 06/01. There should be some decent QB’s on the market this offseason – Mayfield, Jimmy G., Geno Smith, Mike White, Minshew, Heinicke and possibly Daniel Jones to name a few. I would mention Lamar Jackson but I doubt he’s going anywhere and we don’t have the space to sign him anyway.
Hire a new OC from outside the org that can be creative in using our guys vs. the bland offense we see from Leftwich each week. If we do all that, I can be talked into giving Bowles another year because defensively it’s been fine.
December 28th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Clueless Todd. “We know that.”
What an idiot.
December 28th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
How on earth did Bowles last 3 seasons in New York? I suspect the miracle 10-6 season bought him time but he’s borderline brain damaged.
BA needed to be all in ( preferred) or all out this year…now he’s trotted out like Weekend At Bernie’s/Brucie’s. He sure boxed the Bucs in with his chess moves/timing…leaving the options of Dumb & Dumber as head coach/coordinator. Too late to swap Lefty for Super Bowl winning coach Doug Pederson?
December 28th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
bowles has been instructed by BA to lose games and be mediocre …8-9 or 9-8…so to waste bradys last season, and more so to waste his time — because everyone knows tom’s time left in the nfl is limited…
behind closed doors BA and his henchmen can high five as to wasting one of tom’s 23 seasons this year…
a lot of stuff seems intentionally idiotic…
just ask the football Gods
December 28th, 2022 at 1:45 pm
the moment lenny has a big game, they’re gonna pull or regulate him…
even when bowles wants to be a run first team…
the proper statement by bowles should go something like this:
“when lenny produces like that, you can’t ask for much more, and it’s good to see a veteran team leader producing in december, when we need it most…he’s definitely making a justified cause to be our starter, but we currently run a 2 back system and we’ll go with the hot hand”
^^^ said in the todd bowles voice – did i nail it or what? 🙂
December 28th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Ride the hot hand?? He talks like it’s been easy for our offense to do anything we want. LOL, that’s the exact opposite of what’s been happening.
December 28th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
….Bowles seemed a little surprised that White didn’t play much
—————-
Again, proof that Bowles has nothing to do with the offense. The disaster that is the offense is 100% on that idiot Leftwich.
December 28th, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Good job, adam. I agree with your personification, but you forgot to add in somewhere, “We understand…” LOL.
December 28th, 2022 at 2:44 pm
If White hadn’t been pulled from last weeks game he would have larger numbers than Lenny got out of it. Just because it was Lenny’s best game of the season doesn’t mean it was a good game. He got stuffed too often and that stopped drives, not what a runner should do.
December 28th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Bruce got the death jab.I hope he doesn’t die…All the people that listened to orange man.
December 28th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Clueless. Stubborn. Inept.
December 28th, 2022 at 4:01 pm
Rod, you do have a point as much as I hate to admit it. I still believe it is a system Bowles wants to run, BL is just implementing it and he’s not very good at it.
December 28th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Offense hard to make sense of but every defense in the NFL has figured it out
December 28th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Glad Bruce Arians was up to it. He’s been having serious health issues.
This is one ring induction game I’d like to win.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:51 am
In addition to this being yet more evidence that Todd Bowles is the worst locker room manager and psychologist in the NFL….it doesn’t matter. Rachaad and Lenny are two of the same. Slow-mo guys who don’t process quickly or explode, who are poor in tight spaces and don’t get out of them, and who aren’t powerful.
Both better in space, and should be third (not first) options, and primarily used as receivers.
This is an offense lacking in speed and explosiveness. These guys aren’t the answer.
December 29th, 2022 at 5:27 am
White seems to be ok at best. Very slow on his first step. Doesn’t have any real burst of speed or edgy moves. I do agree with mixing the rotation up but fournette is the most quality back on the team. Lets no be silly!
December 29th, 2022 at 9:14 am
Lenny runs like a grown ass man. He does miss some holes and opportunities but the whole team is pressing and it’s clear week in and week out. If these guys get into a grove, they can bring home the trophy this year. I believe that!
December 29th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
So much bad analysis by our fans. You guys truly don’t know the first thing about evaluating a RB.