The Buccaneers run game has not been the best so far this season. This team is expecting a bit more from Rachaad White and company. When it comes to Monday nights run game, Bowles had this to say:
“We didn’t have one.”
Facing an imposing Philadelphia Eagles front, the Buccaneers running game only was able to get 41 net yards rushing and ran for one first down. It is more than just this game, however. They’ve gone through the first three weeks with the run game posting just 234 rushing yards (27th in NFL) with a league-worst 2.8 yards per carry. Bowles held multiple people accountable, but didn’t hesitate to let it be known he’d like to see a different approach — and results — from Rachaad White. White had a season-low 38 rushing yards Monday.
Bowles response
When it comes to White’s play as of late, this is what Bowles had to say: “We’ve got to stay on our blocks a little longer. Obviously, it goes hand in hand. Rachaad has to hit it,” Bowles said Tuesday, via team transcript. “I think he tried to make too many big plays when it was a grind-it-out type of game. You’re not going to get big plays on these guys. You’ve got to start hitting it up in there, getting two, three, and four yards and hope you can break one later on.”
“He probably had too many cuts trying to make an explosive play — something out of nothing — as opposed to taking what they give him,” said Bowles in assessing White’s Monday night showing, in which White averaged 2.7 yards on 14 carries. “Given the magnitude of the game, knowing it was going to be one of those types of games, just from an experience standpoint he can get better that way and he will.”
Personally, I thought this was a bit harsh at first. I then realized how bad it has been. Per Next Gen Stats, White has totaled negative-65 rushing yards over expected so far this season. Seeing that just shows that he is truly missing some opportunities to gain yards when needed. The Bucs will need to get more out of the run game if they wish to be successful this season. The NFC South is wide open for anyone to take, so the Bucs finding a run game would go a long way into taking the division.
Jaden Chandler-Parnell, or “JC” is a Sports & Sports Betting Insider for Stare Down Sports. You can Follow him on X @Jaden95Chandler
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