Buccaneers RB Rachaad White aims to go 'well over' 1,000 rushing yards in 2024

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White came within 10 yards of breaking the 1,000-yard rushing barrier, something no Bucs player has done since Doug Martin in 2015 (1,402).

Heading into Year 3, White told The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday that he’s ready to smash past that plateau.

White expressed his determination to contribute to his team’s success, noting that they have been performing poorly in recent years. “We have been ranking at the bottom or near the bottom for the past five to six years, even during the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay’s rushing performance has been particularly dismal,” White stated. His personal goal is to significantly improve this, aiming for a top-10 to top-15, or at least a top-12 position. White highlighted the lack of a 1,000-yard rusher in the team for almost a decade. “I fell just 10 yards short of this benchmark last year. I am committed to ensuring that I not only reach it this year but exceed it by a considerable margin,” he affirmed.

White accurately points out the Bucs’ struggles in their running game. They were ranked 5th in rush yards in 2015, led by Martin. However, their rankings have significantly dropped since then, specifically to 24th, 27th, 29th, 24th, 28th, 26th, 32nd, and 32nd.

White carried a significant burden from the Bucs’ backfield last season. He had 272 carries, which was joint second-highest in the NFL. No other Tampa running back exceeded 50 carries. However, largely, these carries were inefficient. White’s average was 3.6 yards per carry, ranking him 30th among running backs with at least 150 carries.

White, for his part, witnessed an increase in his production towards the end of the season, which included his only two games with more than 100 yards.

White also mentioned his belief that he could be utilized more in the passing game this season.

He expressed that he doesn’t need to justify his skills in scrimmage yards, as his talent in catching the ball and running routes from the backfield is evident. He acknowledged that he benefits from a speedy team who can handle their duties, and their performances need no explanation. He added that when he gets the ball in open spaces, he is confident in surpassing many defenders, any day of the week.

The Bucs drafted Bucky Irving in the fourth round, and the Oregon product, with make-you-miss ability in the hole, could push White for carries with a good training camp and regular season. Irving is a tackle-breaker with three-down capability, even if he doesn’t wow with speed. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the rookie siphon off carries.

White’s “main objective” is to assist the Bucs in securing the NFC South title for the fourth year in a row. However, this time, he doesn’t want it to be merely because they are the marginally better team in a weak division.

“The Buccaneers have been an underestimated team for years; we’ve faced our fair share of challenges,” he said. “However, times have changed, and it’s now our moment to progress further. As I mentioned, we won eight games in my first year and nine in my last. Now, it’s high time to surpass that record, not just scrape into the playoffs or win the division by a narrow margin. We need to secure the division title convincingly, as I believe we can.”