With all that’s gone on in the Bucs’ offense over the past couple of months and the offseason, it sometimes feels like Rachaad White can be the forgotten guy in this offense. The headlines for the offense were all about Josh Grizzard taking over as offensive coordinator, wide receiver Chris Godwin getting re-signed, Tampa Bay re-signing left guard Ben Bredeson to return the entire offensive line and the Bucs drafting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round.
Even in White’s own positional room it’s been about running back Bucky Irving and what he’ll do in his second season in Tampa Bay. Because he is entering the fourth and last year of his rookie deal, it feels like White’s being pushed out of town.
Tampa Bay has Sean Tucker waiting in the wings as the third string, but Bucs fans have seen his talents and what he can do when given more playing time. There is also undrafted free agent running back Josh Williams out of LSU, who’s been turning heads and catching the attention of others this offseason.
Rachaad White Is “Going With The Flow” This Year
Understandably, Rachaad White may not be the happiest of campers heading into a season of so much personal uncertainty, but he is putting on a good face taking everything in stride and being a team player.
“I’m just going with the flow,” White said. “I’m blessed going into my year four healthy. This offseason being able to take a step back and be grateful, be appreciative for everything that’s been going on, that’s transpired. I’m just blessed. We’re very talented, so when we all touch the field we all just try to make the most to push each other.”
Although it may look like a rivalry between Bucky Irving and Rachaad White as they compete for snaps in this highly powered offense, their relationship is far from it.
Bucs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Our relationship speaks for itself,” White said. “Bucky has done a great job. Our relationship, we don’t go off of who gets more reps and things like that, we’re both trying to help each other out. That’s what it’s about, we’re both trying to push each other. How I go in is the mindset is just keep competing, keep making him better and he’s making me better. As long as we’re both being great and being batter, it’s going to make our team better.”
Rachaad White Is In Better Shape Heading Into This Season
Another way Rachaad White is trying to make himself better is by slimming down this offseason. He looked noticeably lighter during OTAs and the first day of mini-camp, which he confirmed as such on Tuesday.
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“I think it was my mindset, just trying to make sure I slim back down,” White said. “Last year I wanted to go back and look at some of the things I did like coming into the league body-wise and what it looked like. Just wanted to shape it up right and be able to move around better than I was the last two years. “Now I’m 212 (pounds.) The past two years, my second year I was about 223, last year I was about 221, 220.”
The times have certainly changed as Rachaad White has gone from the young rookie in the running back room to the seasoned veteran and longest tenured running back. He’s accomplished a lot going into his fourth year, but he and this Bucs team are still chomping at the bit for a Super Bowl title, which would be White’s first and the Bucs’ third.
While White has lost weight and ate the right way to do so, he’s been left starving for a championship.
“We’re starving,” Rachaad White said. “My belly, look at it right now, we’re hungry right now coming out of practice. We’re very hungry, we’re starving, we want it, we want it for each other. We want it for our vets, of course our older guys looking at where they’re at in their career and how they want to walk off and things like that. The young guys, we want it for them and collectively we’re hungry.”