Posted 7/12/2024 7:44 pm GMT
Debbie Buccaneers RB Rachaad White ranked sixth in the league during the 2023 season with 594 yards before contact, but his 2.2 yards before contact was tied for the 19th-lowest mark among 48 qualified rushers, according to Pro Football Reference. Huddle Up: To put the 594 yards before contact in some perspective, Christian McCaffrey had 259 more yards before contact on the same number of carries (272). White has not been good at creating yards after contact in the NFL (1.3 in 2022 and 1.5 in 2023) and was not particularly good at it in college, so he needs help from his line and the scheme. Fortunately, he might be getting that help this year in the form of first-round pick Graham Barton, who is expected to start at center right away. On the downside, White will have legitimate competition for work this year in rookie Bucky Irving. The presence of Irving figures to make White much more of a hit-or-miss proposition this year than he was in 2023.