Now that he has a agency grasp of the Bucs beginning working again job due to Leonard Fournette’s launch this offseason, Rachaad White must have higher grasp of the soccer. Tampa Bay’s third-round choose final 12 months had a promising rookie season with three touchdowns (two receiving, one speeding), but additionally had three fumbles.
That’s a excessive quantity for a working again, particularly one with simply 190 touches, together with 11 kick returns. White’s first fumble within the common season got here on the opening kickoff towards Kansas Metropolis in Week 4. He later fumbled the ball on offense in back-to-back video games versus New Orleans and at San Francisco later within the 12 months.
Tennessee working again Derrick Henry led all working backs within the league with six fumbles in 2022, however had 382 whole touches (349 carries, 33 receptions) final 12 months.
Chatting with the media on the NFL Annual Assembly, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has excessive hopes for White this 12 months, however says the Arizona State product has to wash up his fumbles.
“Simply get higher – we talked about him turning into a extra full again,” Bowles stated of White. “I do know the ball went on the bottom just a few too many instances that we talked about and conscious of him holding on to the soccer, primary. Taking good care of the soccer, after which with the brand new offense, I search for him to proceed to speed up and get higher in all phases to develop into a whole, three-down again.”
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
White talked about his fumbles in an unique interview with Pewter Report this offseason.
“Yeah, for certain – it’s robust. On the finish of the day, soccer is soccer,” White stated. “My complete school profession, I by no means fumbled the soccer. You’ve simply received to come back in right here, and also you’ve received to regulate. Clearly, on among the performs that I fumbled the ball on, you simply study from it.
“You’re simply keen, I used to be eagerly making an attempt to make extra performs and do extra for the staff in addition to simply assist me get on the sector extra. Simply sure issues I needed to perceive and study to not pressure something – that issues occur, and that grows over time.”
White ran for 481 yards and one landing on 129 carries (3.7 avg.) whereas catching 50 passes for 292 yards and a pair of scores throughout his rookie season in Tampa Bay.
Rachaad White Is Keen To Work With New Bucs RBs Coach Skip Peete
Along with his three fumbles throughout the season, White additionally fumbled as soon as within the preseason at Tennessee. Whereas he was desperate to make performs final 12 months, which led to some turnovers, White is raring to study from new working backs coach Skip Peete. Teaching working backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard final 12 months, Peete’s working backs in Dallas didn’t have a single fumble.
“Coach Peete’s monitor file proves itself,” White stated. “Guys like that, Tony and Zeke, guys that didn’t fumble the ball in any respect final 12 months. I already carry that in my head, however to have Coach Peete hold harping on that’s going to be nice.”
New Bucs RBs coach Skip Peete – Photograph by: USA At this time
White shouldn’t be solely going to embrace extra carries and catches this season as Tampa Bay’s starter, he’s additionally going to embrace Peete’s teaching fashion. The 60-year previous veteran coach has been instructing working backs for 3 a long time.
“The preliminary dialog that we had went nice, went effectively,” White stated. “I like Coach Peete. Simply over the telephone, I may inform despite the fact that he’s a seasoned, older man, he’s received a whole lot of swag. I may simply hear it and inform how the way in which he talks and the way he comes off.
“Yeah, I’m able to study, we talked about that loads. I’m at all times open and know I’ve received to get higher and I’ve received to study. I don’t know all of it. I’m not excellent. I don’t have all of it discovered. That’s the largest factor when my mindset is like that, and also you’ve received a coach like Skip Peete. The identical factor along with his monitor file and the fellows he’s had. You’re simply desperate to study and desperate to get higher. I’m in nice fingers.”
The Bucs are hoping Peete may also help White have some safer fingers in 2023.
