Bucs Killed Defenses With Running Back Screens
July 21st, 2025
Rachaad White kills it in screen passes.
Joe would have thought the Bucs’ bread and butter pass plays were to Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. But it seems, it was a different sort of target that the Bucs gouged defenses with in the passing game.
Per NFL humorist/data guy Mike Tanier, typing for Aaron Schatz’s FTN Football Almanac 2025, the Bucs were lethal last year throwing running back screens. So much so the plays nearly averaged a first down with each call.
The Buccaneers were second in the league behind Seattle in how often they used running back screens, and these plays were insanely positive: 9.3 yards per pass with 102.2% DVOA.
Obviously Bucky Irving helped. But Joe thinks a doff of the cap is in order for Rachaad White.
Joe has long harped that White is subpar running back but an outstanding receiving back. And this is yet another example.
White can make dudes miss, unlike when he takes a handoff. Get White into open space and he makes plays and gets YAC. He was a receiver in college. Maybe that’s where he belongs in the NFL?
Since this play worked so well last year, Joe hopes new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard doesn’t try to fix something that’s not broken and get away from screens.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:02 am
White could be one of the top slot receivers in the game if the Bucs used him that way.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:03 am
You take what the defense gives you. Defenses were afraid of Evans, Godwin and Bakers big arm. DCs were,well aware of Bakers,s long ball ability. In fact in the 2020 season he was the most accurate long ball thrower. So opposing defenses took away the long ball. So you would think fans would be happy just to move the ball any way they can. Nope, they complained Baker could not throw a ball past 10 yards,and had a weak arm. Whaaaaaat? Granted it was a few loud mouthed fans who were predisposed to hating Baker and were looking for,any criticism they could find. Still it was,comically incorrect. In his first season here,against Buffalo I recall a hail Mary that would have been a walk off TD. Baker launched the ball over 70 yards,and the ball literal the rolled right next to Godwin who looked a second too late. I think Chris got a band on it but a second earlier v the ball e would have it his numbers. Weak arm?
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:11 am
In training camp give him some snaps at slot? Guess the coaches puts him where they want.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:20 am
Definitely a time and a place to run a screen, and Coen picked his spots well. The screens worked well with R-White during Canales’ year, but Canales didn’t call it enough. Licht seems to pick OL that can move and our OL guys really can get down the field on screens
With ATL’s inexperienced edges, it might work well. Against a team with good edges and ILB – maybe a less effective situation.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:37 am
Rachaad has been killin it in the screen game since he’s been on the team.
165 receptions
1232 yards
54 first downs
and 11 TDs
Rachaad was never on a depth chart as WR in his collegiate career., From Nebraska-Kearny to Mt. San Antonio to Arizona State was always listed as an RB. Whites’ final year at AZ state he rushed for 1,008 yards, caught 43 passes(5 less than WR Rick Pearsall) for 456 yards and had 16 TDs combined.
The screens won’t stop becuase it’s been a trend from 2 totally different OCs with the same starting QB. So while Grizzard wants to get our offense more vertical, he’s likely to lean on the screen game to help set up those downfield shots.
Arm strength is one thing, ACCURACY on deep passes on a consistent basis is a whole different ball game. When Brady loaded up those deep passes and put some touch on the pass, it was almost automatic the pass would be on target no matter who the target was.
That’s the difference between using production to compare players and using ability/capability to compare players. We’ll see how it goes moving forward.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:39 am
Our screens work so well because we have such a frikkin awesome O-line, TY Jason!
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:54 am
We should definitely give White his fair share of receptions out of the backfield, but Bucky and Sean Tucker should get the most handoffs this season.
If we do Tucker dirty like we did last year, he should leave in FA and go be a RB1 somewhere like he should be.
I hope he stays, though, and we just start using him way more.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:23 am
For years we begged and couldn’t bribe anybody for some effective screens now we have them valor galore! Without a doubt Coen was superb at calling them but our ol and rbs ran them to perfection. Hope Grizzard can continue with it
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:28 am
So now what I’ve said about White is confirmed. He’s a receiver playing running back. No wonder he sucks behind the line, but he finally had a good back to show him how to be one. We have a good stable of backs and White has proven his worth even more because of his willingness to block
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:39 am
Maybe it’s just a coincidence upon another coincidence but any kind of defense that could shut down a Lingerie Football League Offense had no trouble with the screens. Broncos, 49ers and Chiefs did it and Commanders held White to 2 receptions for 14 yards and Irving to 2 receptions for 6 yards. All losses. Another coincidence I suppose.
Joe is correct in White is much better at receiving out of the backfield if those numbers in the Wild Card Round impresses him or anybody else.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:05 pm
That’s an interesting number – the team was 2nd in screen plays to the RB? By the eyeball test, it didn’t seem like the Bucs ran it way more than other teams. But White is great in the passing game, he’s an excellent blocker. Last year when the Bucs lose Godwin, I know myself and others said move White to slot – I still wonder what White could have done had they moved him. I have a feeling he’d be getting a gigantic contract from someone after this season had they done so – considering WRs make massively more money than RBs.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:09 pm
So when we were not running the ball at the 4th highest rate in the league we were throwing designed screens at the second highest rate in the league? Does that not imply the OC believed throwing the ball downfield wasn’t high probability play?