Bucs running back Rathard White is nearing the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his young NFL career. White, who rushed for 39 yards last week against Jacksonville, has 242 carries (3.6 average), six touchdowns and 873 rushing yards with two games remaining this season.
The second-year running back needs just 127 yards over the next two weeks to become Tampa Bay’s first 1,000-yard rusher. Doug Martin He accomplished that feat during the 2015 season with 1,402 rushing yards. Martin had 1,000-yard rushing seasons with Tampa Bay in 2012 and 2015.
For White to reach 1,000 rushing yards in 2023, he needs to average 64 yards per game over the next two weeks. That’s a possibility, especially since he’s rushed for 100, 84, 102 and 89 yards in four of the last five games. Rathard White has rushed for 414 yards over the past five games, averaging 82.8 yards per game.
In the Week 4 win at New Orleans, White ran for 56 yards on 15 carries.
White has totaled 1,380 yards this year (873 rushing, 507 receiving), ranking third in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage.
Rathard White has a strong desire to hit 1,000 yards.
Bucks RB Rathard White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
In an exclusive interview with Pewter Report, Rathard White admitted he has become a versatile back and is dangerous as a receiver as well as a runner. But as a running back, White hopes to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Because that’s the nature of the top-level backs in the league.
“A lot of players’ goal is to be a 1,000-yard rusher.” White spoke to Pewter Report at SR’s Fab 5 last month. “I look at it now, and I’m still at the top. I really believe in my greats. And there are five more games like that. [the Colts and Panthers games] Then try rushing for 1,000 yards. ”
But even if he wasn’t up to his ability, 1000 yard goal The team-oriented White knows that what really matters to the Bucs is his total yards.
“As a running back, it’s just everybody trying to do the best they can to help the team,” White said. “Some days you run, some days you go by. If you’re a good player who can run routes, catch the ball out of the backfield or whatever, and make plays happen in space, I’m sure – A yard is a yard.
“Scrimmage yards are a huge thing in today’s NFL. There’s a lot going on. I mean, for fantasy, catching the ball is really important, and for people and the public as well. You see how big and huge it is. Yards are yards, scrimmage yards and everything else, I think it all makes sense.”
Still, White hopes to finish his first season as Tampa Bay’s starting back with 1,000 yards rushing and well over 500 yards receiving this season.
Bucks RB Rathard White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“You’re proud of yourself, but you’re not really that upset because even if I don’t get 1,000 yards, I’m going to get 800-900 rushing yards and 500-600. Because even if you get receiving yards, you’re still getting like 1,500 all-purpose yards,” White said. “Then when you add in the touchdowns that you finish with, it adds up even more. But Obviously, if there were 1,000 of them. [rushing] and 600 [receiving] There are 1,600 pieces, so it’s really big. A yard is a yard man, and production at today’s running back level has a huge impact on a team. ”
Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is proud of Rashard White’s progress as a runner this season.
“He continues to continually improve,” Canales said. “This is obviously a new system for him. Some of the run schemes are similar to what he’s done in the past, but like you said about improving the run game, a lot of that is on the O-line. But He also has an eye for how to read these blocks. Obviously he’s a special athlete when he has the ball in space. We know that, but just improving his block setup. But there was a big difference.”
