The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a bold move by not making any strenuous effort to place a reliable running mate behind second-year back Rachaad White.
Many expected the Buccaneers to go with a mid-round NFL Draft pick in April to add talent to the room while White took over primary duties after the departure of Leonard Fournette.
Alas, it didn't happen but plays like the 43-yard screen from quarterback Baker Mayfield to White sheds some light on what the Bucs may have seen when making the personnel decisions they did.
"It was a dream look, right?," offensive coordinator Dave Canales said on Thursday when asked about the play. "Just trying to take advantage of our play actions with the play-action screen game. That's the way it kind of all ties in. Of course, the last piece is continuing to try and get the run game going. [It was] really a rough day for us on Sunday as far as the run (goes), but we've still got to do it...We struggled a little bit inside with some of our matchups against their tackles, but we had the right designs and the right type of stuff there...We've got to finish our blocks, we've got to keep finishing our runs. When it all comes together, I think we've got something really cool, really special."
While the Buccaneers try to figure out how to get better production out of the run game, better blocking from their line, and a better ground attack from White and his roommates, the screen game seems to be a strong possibility to become a growing feature in Canales' offense.
At least from the outside looking in.
"Same amount - just keep trying to get the ball in space," Canales said when asked about the potential to increase White's role in the passing game. "[There are] different builds, different ways to do it. [We are] just excited. We talked about it last week about his versatility and what he can do. As we continue to improve our run game and find him a way to get him to the second level, I think you're going to see all that special stuff he has in space. When the whole thing comes together that way...I still believe in Rachaad and what he can do."
Many Tampa Bay fans became believers last weekend as well.
Believers that the team needs to incorporate White more as a receiving threat if it can't figure out how to become better on the ground.
For now, we believe based on Canales' comments that those wanting to see more than two receptions for White on a consistent basis, they'll have to wait at least a little longer.
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