Todd Bowles Shares Honest Thoughts on Buccaneers' Running Back Rachaad White

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense finally found some rhythm during the back half of the 2023 regular season and then continued that into the postseason once they clinched a playoff spot after winning the NFC South for the third consecutive season.

The Bucs' offense in the season prior was also up and down. It was Tom Brady's last season and the offense as a whole looked out of sorts throughout the season. Following the 2022 campaign, things changed heavily for Tampa Bay on that side of the ball. Tom Brady retired and Baker Mayfield entered, Byron Leftwich was let go as the offensive coordinator and a fresh new one took his place, the offensive line was shuffled, and running back Rachaad White became the lead back after the departure of veteran Leonard Fournette.

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Clearly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking to improve in all facets on that side of the ball.

As mentioned, second-year running back Rachaad White took the reigns as the bell cow for the Bucs. Last season, splitting reps with Fournette, you could see frustration build in the young back as he was trying to force things. However, this year, White took a different approach to his game; letting patience and mentality lead over pure athleticism.

The approach led White to post 990 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground while adding an additional 549 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. The running game still wasn't the greatest - the Bucs were one of the worst teams in that department in the league - but they stuck with it and when a play needed to be made White was able to live up to the task.

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Following White's improved performance in year two, head coach Todd Bowles spoke on the growth of the former third-round pick out of Arizona State.

"It was great to see him grow from a mental standpoint. He was always talented, physically. Being a running back is not just carrying the football and running and trying to find daylight. He's got to know where the hole is before the hole opens. He's got to know where the blocking is, he's got to know how to pick up pressures. He runs pass routes, he does a lot of things. From a growth standpoint and a mental standpoint where he was frustrated early in the first few weeks, he kind of eased into it and figured it out. Skip [Peete] did a heck of a job coaching him and Rachaad is going to be a heck of a football player – he already is, but mentally, just knowing where the holes are and playing faster and playing smarter. He got a lot better at protecting the football where he let a few go early in the season. You can't say enough about his growth. You could see it as the weeks went on, as the months went on. I'm very proud of where he is."

The growth came from maturity. Understanding that not every play is going to be the play and letting the game just come to him. White has a promising future ahead of him and should only continue to evolve his game as he earns more live reps in the league. He has only scratched the surface and if he can continue to not only grow himself on the field, but personally as well the sky is the limit.

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.

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