Former NFL GM: Watch Rachaad White Blow Up
May 23rd, 2023
Big expectations for 2023.
Last year in Munich, then-Bucs rookie running back Rachaad White tore up the Seahawks.
White ran and caught passes and for good measure pulled a Derrick Henry on Quandre Diggs with a stiff arm so lethal Diggs ate German soil.
It was beautiful.
Aside from that game, White struggled as the Bucs’ RB1b sharing time with Playoff Lenny.
How much did White struggle? Noted stathead and handicapper Warren Sharp had White rated as one of the worst backs in the NFL.
Rick Spielman thinks that is going to change big time this fall. The former Vikings shot-caller, typing for The 33rd Team, picked his favorite players to break out this year and Spielman thinks White is going to go crazy.
Rachaad White showed glimpses when he was a backup to Leonard Fournette during his rookie year. … … Quarterback Tom Brady retired, so they will either start Kyle Trask or Baker Mayfield. I don’t see either of those two throwing the ball 40 or 50 times a game as Tampa Bay had to last season.
… …So expect a big workload for White, not only in the running game but catching the ball out of the backfield. If he can replicate what he did in Munich, Germany, last season against the Seattle Seahawks when he rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries, you could see a potential Pro Bowl player.
Yes, White showed flashes They were few and far between. Why? Was White really that bad of a fit with canned offensive coordinator SpongeBob? Or did SpongeBob not know how to use him?
If White is a top-10 back like some believe he will be, the Bucs may just win the division and Todd Bowles will almost assuredly return for the 2024 campaign.
May 23rd, 2023 at 6:04 am
We have multiple QBs…who are going to kick a$$!
May 23rd, 2023 at 6:24 am
I stated this before, pick up White in your fantasy league. He’s going to blow up this year!
May 23rd, 2023 at 7:17 am
I think he will be much improved but I’m not sure he will be great. Does he have the breakaway speed we desperately need? We did not see it last year unless Leftwich simply kept it bottled up with the play calling. On the other hand, you can break a defense with a few 15-20 yard runs. If he can deliver that we will be in business.
May 23rd, 2023 at 7:31 am
I have a feeling Canales will put together game plans that will give White the best chance to show his potential. It’s the new o-line that is the big question. I think the talent is there. It’s just a matter of jelling. And once they do, look out! White will break out.
May 23rd, 2023 at 8:07 am
It will all depend on that revamped Oline…..I like how it is looking….but, we’ll have to see….
I am very confident in White if he has that line blocking well…
May 23rd, 2023 at 8:12 am
His stats said that he was one of the worst backs in the league because he averaged around 3 ypc. However, watching him play tells me that he was super talented to get those 3 yards when many times he was initially hit at or behind the line of scrimmage.
May 23rd, 2023 at 8:59 am
Everyone on Offense will be better this season without the former OC, who can’t get a job, being gone. I won’t bring up the fact that the QB played scared, wasn’t really bought in (remember the 10 days off and the yacht with the Dolphags owner) and didn’t want to get hit as a reason the Offense sputtered in year 3. Nope, I won’t do it.
May 23rd, 2023 at 10:08 am
ATLBuc Says:
May 23rd, 2023 at 8:12 am
His stats said that he was one of the worst backs in the league because he averaged around 3 ypc. However, watching him play tells me that he was super talented to get those 3 yards when many times he was initially hit at or behind the line of scrimmage.
This is observably not what happened last year. White averaged 2.4 yards before contact which was pretty league average and 1.3 yards after contact which was near the bottom of the league. No one who had as many carries was worse. Cope all you want about play calling and the offensive line last year, White was bad and if he’s going to blow up like people are predicting he’s going to have to play a lot better than he ever has.
May 23rd, 2023 at 11:40 am
We had a beat up o line, a distracted QB/leader, and an uninspiring coaching staff in both our OC and HC.
Per attempt White was better than Fournette so he should in theory be able to cover that loss of yards.
Will he be one of the leading rushers in the league? Probably not but will he and the team as a whole be better than last year? Hopefully.
May 23rd, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Simply switching to a West Coast offense will help considerably
I really think Canales is a smart man as well so that is going to yield dividends.
White is a special talent, and this year will show how bad Lefty truly was.
This team is not going to be all doom and gloom like people are predicting.
There is some serious talent influx that is evidently gonna surprise a lot of people.
May 23rd, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Watching White last year you could see a glimpse of greatness but the majority of times he was trying to pick a hole and they weren’t there. He does hesitate to wait for blocks, the line didn’t do much to help him.
His rookie season is one of promise and one of dissapointment.
Year 2 with better training and getting stronger will be one way for him to improve.
May 23rd, 2023 at 1:23 pm
If the other team knows you’re going to run and where you’re going to run it….
May 23rd, 2023 at 5:02 pm
@Jack Burton Mercer
Per the NFL 59.7% of his yards were after contact. He wasn’t even getting 2 yards before contact