Todd Bowles: Rachaad White Needs The Ball More
December 24th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles likes to talk about getting the ball to the “hot hand” on offense, whomever it may be in a particular game.
Either he has failed to mention this to his offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard or Grizzard isn’t good with that.
Against the slimy Saints three weeks ago, running back Rachaad White had 11 of the 39 carries, running for five yards a clip. A week later White had one run against Atlanta for 20 yards. Sunday at Carolina, White had just 5 of the Bucs’ 33 running attempts, but he did have a 39-yard run.
Bowles said yesterday it’s time to feed White the ball more.
“He broke off one and he should have [gotten] a couple more carries than that,” Bowles said. “I agree [he should have had more carries] with that completely, but I think the game took a different turn.
“We substitute on offense how we substitute, but we’ve got to make sure the guys that get the big runs end up getting follow-up runs as well.”
Joe is curious. Bowles wears a working (?) headset on the sidelines. Is he not able to talk to Grizzard on the headset or does Bowles have a faulty headset, and when he tries to talk to offensive coaches he instead picks up a Domino’s dispatcher?
Grizzard calls plays from the sideline. Couldn’t Bowles have walked over to Grizzard and said, “Hey man, White’s on fire. Feed him!”
This just fuels fans who say Bowles has no feel for the game or can’t adjust during it.
Joe doesn’t believe the latter but it is strange that the head coach saw with his own eyes White should have had more carries but Bowles wasn’t motivated enough to tell/suggest/order his offensive coordinator in the middle of the game to feed White more.
People are kvetching that many Bucs players don’t seem to have much urgency the past few weeks. Well, the head coach didn’t display much urgency in this case, either.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:10 am
Todd Bowles don’t know sht. Worst coach in the league. How about we talk about good replacements for head coach.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:14 am
Who is the head coach? It’s your fault, you dorfus.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:20 am
Wow, another comment about taking the ball out of Baker’s hands. He has zero confidence in him.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Just like when we have probably the best 4 WR tandem in the league and we run on just about 30 plays????? Everytime I heard that crap in the last game alls I could think was no matter what we did we were going to lose the game. Was it scripted? I don’t know but damn you would have to be a straight up moron to think that made any sense to do. So for that you are fired Mr. Bowels! Go Bucs! Sorry to see year 50 smushed down the damn drains.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Unfortunately, the game plan last week made it very obvious, Bowles at this point is coaching not to lose.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:27 am
This team needs a head coach that is accountable. I hope the Ravens fire John Harbaugh. That’s the guy we need to hire. He won’t take any crap and hold players and coaches accountable
December 24th, 2025 at 12:39 am
If Baker isn’t terrible these last three weeks, is merely and average QB, the Bucs win all three games. Last week Bowles tried to take the ball out of Baker’s hands, had a very successful running game going, but still, in the end, he had to let Baker throw the ball, and it ended with him throwing an INT to lose the game.
This week vs a Miami team that is awful vs the run, you’re going to see any more runs. Clearly Bowles has zero confidence in Baker, and with his job on the line, Bowles is not going to trust him with the ball. Which is dumb, BTW, since the team is going nowhere if they think they’re going to win by running up the middle and playing defense. The only chance they have is for Baker to heat up – and if he doesn’t, then everyone is getting fired, and Baker is probably traded away if they can get anyone to take his contract. Amazing since just a month or so ago, I figured they could get the Jags to cough up a good pick for Baker this offseason, but instead Lawrence is suddenly playing like Baker did last year, while Baker is playing like he did in his last year in Cleveland and his time in Carolina. Everyone needs a hot finish from Baker. There’s still time… will it happen?
December 24th, 2025 at 12:40 am
Coach Bowles is deflecting from his own ineptitude. Hey Todd, how about shelving the zero blitz given the fact you do not have a pass rush. It cost the Bucs the game in Carolina but you blame the offense instead??????? C’mon man!!!!!
December 24th, 2025 at 12:42 am
Rod, yeah, i September I thought that Coen would give 2 first rounders + for Baker, especially when friction was reported between Lawrence and Coen early in the season. Not any more…….
December 24th, 2025 at 12:46 am
The head coach isn’t going anywhere they just gave him a 3 year extension what a joke
December 24th, 2025 at 1:08 am
Rare post about Rashaad white. Hey, let’s talk about Baker again…. Just like I do every. Damn. Post.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:48 am
If they weren’t going to use him they should have gotten something for him – to lose him for nothing we may get a compensatory but Jason usually blows that also
They essentially sat on him all yr for injury insurance- just a dumb franchise
December 24th, 2025 at 1:54 am
Rod Munch is an idiot
December 24th, 2025 at 2:45 am
Yep HC, DC, OC….Bowzo
December 24th, 2025 at 2:46 am
Is Todd trying to get a pink slip? It’s like he’s purposely incriminating himself over and over.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:49 am
Grizzard is not yelling out which 11 guys to send out on the field each play and Bowles lets the offense do its thing. That is up to the position coaches. The stubborn mule in this case is Skip Pete and if you have listened to any of his past interviews, you will get clues as to why he is the way he is.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:57 am
One of the big issues is we get these untimely penalties which are driver killers. Also, I’d love to see a start of 70 yard plus drives last year vs this year. Hell, even 60 yard drives would be good for us this year. They just don’t come very often.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:14 am
I don’t understand the anti-Baker Mayfield talk I’m seeing on JBF nowadays. The 2024 Baker was as good as any QB the Bucs have ever had … but so was the TEAM surrounding him.
This season Baker’s productivity is WAY OFF, and obviously some of that is Baker’s fault. We’ve seen that act before in Cleveland & in Carolina. But there’s always more to the story than most of us ever get. I surmise that there are 3 things impacting Baker right now …
1 – Injuries. Baker’s been banged up this season, and I’d bet there are games when he shouldn’t have been playing. Our lack of a quality 2nd QB hasn’t done him any favors.
2 – OLine. This year’s OLine has been a disaster in most games. It hasn’t been able to adequately pass-protect Baker, and hasn’t really been all that good in the run game either.
3 – Our new OC. Sorry, but wrong guy for the job. IF everyone had stayed healthy, he might’ve worked out. But everyone didn’t stay healthy, and it looks to me like he’s had trouble compensating. Play-calling seems to have been too predictable, especially on 1st downs. We’re being left with too many 3rd-and-longs. By the end of the season, we’ll have converted 20-25 FEWER 3rd downs this season than last season. And our productivity in terms of scoring TDs once in the Red Zone is way down. In today’s NFL, that’s significant.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:13 am
This all should have been part of the discussion in the coaching meetings weeks ago. And if Todd has the last word on plays, it should already be happening. Lack of what ifs.
Defense Rules – You are absolutely correct on your points. Like others too; every time they get to the red zone, they have a hard time getting that TD. Other teams know that, they watch film. Something happened when they took the bye.
Before the bye, Baker was MVP material. Yes, he has been banged up. Teddy wasn’t the answer for back-up, and neither was Trask. We need a strong back-up coming into the next draft that Baker can mentor.
December 24th, 2025 at 6:29 am
This guy always has all the answers for how to run the offense. Are we sure he hasnt been mis-cast as a DC and has actually been an OC all this time?
Doesn’t matter who his offensive coordinator is, he’ll undermine them everytime.
For a guy with all the answers, he sure never seems to be able to fix any problems.
December 24th, 2025 at 6:32 am
…and White was the more effective runner weeks ago too, even when they were trying to shove Tucker down our throats as the next great thing.
December 24th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Only two weeks left Rod, wish there was three
December 24th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Setting targets for runs because they had that same number of runs in a prior win is stupid. The number of runs is a consequence of good play not a cause of it.
The failure to use the entire field while running is a problem. Even when the Defense knows they are going to run, they don’t need to be able to so easily predict which hole. But here, you can almost see it as a fan before it’s run so what are skilled defenders and opposing coaches seeing?
And all of these stupid short passes to WRs or backs behind the line take too long to develop and the Defenses jump on them. There is no surprise. You can see it coming.
The middle of the field has been open for the Bucs. There are opportunities to hit guys in stride within the short amount of time Baker has to throw and still deliver 15+ yard in the air throws.
But they are not doing it. And Baker either is afraid to audible or not allowed.
And by God, the next time thy have a 4 point lead, treat the next possession as must score. Th only way to get to a blowout is stop ratcheting back and thinking this team’s losers like Winfield, Hall, Reddick, Dean, SVD and Diaby are going to make a big play. They aren’t.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Glazers had to give him an extention. He was on the last year of his deal, 26. They couldn’t have a lame duck coach. The extention was giving him every tool to succeed, it means nothing though if he doesn’t succeed. Obviously him, and this season has been a complete failure, and the Glazers will be able to feel good when they fire him having paid him. Anybody who thinks the Glazers are stuck with Todd because of his contract doesn’t know how the NFL works.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:37 am
With a little imagination, what could have been. You can utilize three good running backs in an offense. Csonka , Kiick , and Morris / White , Tucker , Irving . The advantages of fresh , engaged , contributing , and unpredictable backs would be enormous. Unlimited options with a two back set . White had a 20 yard run , his only carry of the game , with White AND Irving in the backfield together. SHAME on the coaches . Thank you Rachadd , and will look forward to watching you catch , block , and run wild in greener pastures next year.,
December 24th, 2025 at 7:49 am
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 12th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Whites been proving himself since he got drafted, what hasn’t worked in his favor is the same thing we’ll give a pass to other players about their performance. First season with us Leftwich as OC, 2nd year Canales, 3rd year Coen, and now this under Grizz.
On the 2 carries Chaad had, he popped 1 for 11 and another for 2, but we gave Bucky the ball 12 more times in the ground game than Rachaad and we didn’t even bother to establish the screen game that was a HUGE part of our offenses production last year. White was a big part of that in terms of getting him in space to do damage and scoring.
Grizz needs to balance the personnel usage in the backfield out. I know Bucky is the fan favorite and all, but he’s not head and shoulders better than any of our other backs. Don’t wait until we need to use the other guys, get them in the mix for this Texan game to give that pass rush something to think about”
Yea, it’s been a problem ALL season. To those who’ve been awoken to the incompetence of our Junior OC, welcome and take your shoes off at the door.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:55 am
“If so, Grizzard calls plays from the sideline. Couldn’t Bowles have walked over to Grizzard and said, “Hey man, White’s on fire. Feed him!””
Josh Grizzard isn’t blind, if he can’t see after Chaad pops a 20 yarder like he did against the Falcons or a 39 yarder he had against the Panthers and not get fed more than the OCs mind in who he prefers is already made up.
Here’s the thing, we ran the ball 30+ times for 169 yards, and even that couldn’t open up the pass game. Can’t even remember any type of play action, even though we were setting Carolina up for it all first half.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:57 am
Again, he’s too loyal to his coaches and players. To the detriment of himself. Grizzard is overwhelmed. Is Todd sitting down with Grizzard? Who knows?
December 24th, 2025 at 8:05 am
maybe Tom Moore washed his hands with Grizz lol
GO BUCS!!!
December 24th, 2025 at 8:17 am
😂😂we all know he takes no blame none!!!!
It’s always someone else’s fault
December 24th, 2025 at 8:30 am
I still am not over the Bucs drive last week that went three and out. Each play of the drive failed due to penalty/mental errors.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:42 am
“maybe Tom Moore washed his hands with Grizz lol”
Coach Moores’ NFL career is 13 years older than our OC. That man has forgotten more about wishbone and full house offenses, than all of the offense Grizzard has learned in his life. Grizz probably doesn’t even know the difference between a tailback and a half back
December 24th, 2025 at 11:34 am
White needs the ball more?
No.
Bucky needs the ball less. He should RB2. He’s too small to get that many carries. Use him wisely.
Tucker is your RB1. He’s fast so run him to the edges. Not up the middle.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Agree with SlyPirate. Run Tucker.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:35 pm
Or, perhaps Bowels is wearing military grade earmuffs to silence the boos?!
I’ve never been a fan of “running backs by committee”. Backs need to get into the flow of the game. Stick with Bucky, bring White in when 7 need a breather, then use Tucker on short yardage and pass-blocking plays.
We need more continuity on offense!