Chase Edmonds And His Late-Season Surge
March 18th, 2024
Mr. December?
Bucs backup running back Chase Edmonds was an afterthought for much of last season. That may have been a good thing given the poor rush game of the Bucs.
Something, however, clicked for Edmonds in December. No, he did not overtake Rachaad White as the Bucs’ No. 1 back. But Edmonds’ yards per carry weren’t bad at all.
Only in one December game (a blowout win over the Jags) did Edmonds run for less than four yards a carry. It also happened to be the only time Edmonds had double-digit carries.
So what clicked for Edmonds? Last week speaking to the local pen and mic club, he thought his December success was a combination of both his health and that he got more touches.
“Early on in the season, I [knew] they were going with ‘Tuck’ [Sean Tucker], and early on in the season, I understood what my role was going to be. I figured they were going to give the younger guys the opportunity to play, to maximize their play. I was kind of doing it as a special teams role, and I had no problem with that. …
“[T]he last five [or] six games, it started to click, and I think we really clicked as a whole offensive unit. You know, those were our best games as an offensive unit, outside of the Carolina [Panthers] game to clinch the playoffs. I felt we were really getting our rhythm going, we were getting our momentum going, we were starting to find our identity, how we wanted to call plays, [and] how we wanted to really orchestrate plays off of plays.”
Did Edmonds do enough to dissuade the Bucs from adding a backup running back in the draft or free agency? Edmonds isn’t worried.
“So, for me, man, I’m just going to pride myself on getting my explosiveness all the way there, and whatever the team does [with the] draft, or bring someone else in, I don’t really care,” Edmonds said. “Focus on yourself, focus on your job. But, that is my plan, to really come back with a spark, come back with a different level of acceleration, different level of juice, and just prove myself right, man.
“I know I [have] it, I know I can do it, [and] I’m still capable of about 2-3 more good years in this league. I’m a hell of a player, a hell of a teammate, and I’m going to go out [and] prove that.”
Well, it would sure help if the December Edmonds is the real Edmonds. Rachaad White had a tremendous amount of carries, probably too many. That’s not a knock on White.
Running backs have short shelf lives as it is. The Bucs put a whole lot of tread on White’s tires last season. So if Edmonds can carry over the good yards-per-carry into this fall, that would be a big help all around.
March 18th, 2024 at 2:58 am
Dude looked more explosive in December. Maybe with a run blocking group that actually knew their assignments, it would be even better. Wish the coaches would focus on defect reduction.
March 18th, 2024 at 5:18 am
Not to nitpick, but last season, the Bucs did not “put a whole lot of tread on White’s tires”. Rather, they took a lot of tread OFF of his tires.
Bucs need another RB to split the load with D. White. In addition to a change of pace guy like Edmunds. Could be Tucker, could be a rookie, but pass pro will likely be an issue.
March 18th, 2024 at 5:39 am
Let’s be honest, you can call Baker Mr. December as well. It’s amazing how we forget what life was like at 4-7 when we were all thinking the same damn thing. Put Trask in and see what he’s got, potentially blowing this whole thing up.
I get our alternatives this season were limited, again without potentially going into tank mode, essentially wasting the last remaining good year(s) of guys like Evans and David, but I hope Baker lives up to the contract he just signed. Looking forward to seeing this kid put up back-to-back solid seasons without the apologist blaming everyone but Baker if we can’t manage to either win our division or get a wild card spot. I really am hoping for the best but would not be shocked for the worst.
March 18th, 2024 at 5:42 am
edmonds looked really good down the stretch last year in relief of white…
he’s a much different back than white – and probably has better vision between the tackles – he’s a good nfl running back – reliable
March 18th, 2024 at 6:24 am
Zoocomics says, it might get dark tonight or cold in the morning, or it might warm up and get cold in the evening.
Stepping out on a 2mm limb is a start. Way to go
March 18th, 2024 at 9:10 am
It’s all about staying healthy for Chase. He’s got the vision, burst & wiggle. Focusing on himself & not worrying about the competition is wise.
March 18th, 2024 at 11:18 am
And he’s rocked up.
He’s solid muscle. He has evolved during his career.
Don’t forget. Brady ran a faster 40 time at 46 than 23.
Evolution is real.
Vita Vea, never evolved. He was complacent.
Josh Freeman didn’t evolve.
Ronde Barber evolved. Jordan Whitehead evolved. LaVonte David evolved.
I want players who work harder in the off-season.
I think players win or lose their careers in the off-season.
Fournette and Tyler Johnson let their off-season eating habits destroy their careers. For example.
March 18th, 2024 at 11:43 am
White is great catching it, better than Edmunds, but running the ball I feel that White left a lot of meat on the bone. Edmunds didn’t get enough carries to really get into a rhythm but seemed like he had better vision to find holes. I like White as a 3rd down back but not as RB1.
March 18th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
I’ve never seen Rachaad miss an opening in the line through which to run; and no one has pointed-out an example of when it has occurred. It never happened. The run-game deficiency was solely the responsibility of the depleted O-line.
Chase Edmunds did well throughout the “5 of 6,” season-ending winning-streak, and Rachaad was no less than awesome: the O-line did well during this stretch, and that’s the reason for the success.
The Buccaneers are loaded on #1 and #2 receivers, and #1 and #2 running backs; Rachaad’s also an elite receiving-RB
with only McCaffrey for competition.
Be happy it’s as un-complicated as that: upgrade the O-line through the draft.
March 18th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
I like the player white is becoming, but he left some plays out there as a running back that could have been huge gains. White needs better vision as a runner. There were 2nd level , past the line of scrimmage, plays where he chose the wrong path on plays where the run blocking was executed to plan and he had 8 yard runs that could have been 30,40 yard runs