The list of things the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to work on this season in order to avoid a disaster like last year is almost too long to count. It seems everything begins and ends with quarterback, with Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask having a tall task ahead of them in turning the ship around.
Quarterback isn't the only position where there will be watchful eyes trying to see if things can get better. Last year the Buccaneers had the worst rushing attack in the entire league, something that helped prompt a change at offensive coordinator.
A lot more went into the decision to fire Byron Leftwich this offseason, but the putrid run game was certainly near the top of the list. The solution was to hire Dave Canales as offensive coordinator and Skip Peete as Running Backs coach -- two guys who come from systems where the run game is central to success.
Canales comes from Seattle where backs are collected like rare coins, while Peete turned Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard into the best running back duo in the league. Those are the guys that White will be working with as he assumes RB1 duties this season, and it sounds like he's hitting more than just the playbook to study up on how to fix the Bucs offense.
Rachaad White is studying two Buccaneers legends
While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, White mentioned that he's studying the history of Buccaneers football and the legends who have come before him. One of the things he said stood out to him was that the Bucs haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher for quite a while, something he's aiming to change this season.
"The Bucs haven't had a 1,000 yard rusher in a while, and I plan being that 1,000 yard rusher this season," White said.
Most notably, though, he listed off two franchise icons that he's hoping to one day follow in the footsteps of.
"Warrick Dunn, obviously Doug Martin, and Mike Alstott," White said."I want to be on that list when it's all said and done."
Before you laugh at White mentioning Muscle Hamster among the running backs he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of, remember that he's the last 1,000-yard rusher the Bucs had. Back in 2015 Martin rushed for 1,402 yards.
The two running backs to obviously circle are Dunn and Alstott -- specifically Alstott although he was technically a fullback. It's hard to believe the Bucs had both guys in the same backfield in the late 90s, and Alstott remains one of the most beloved Bucs in franchise history.
The question is which part of Alstott's game will White emulate because it all sounds pretty good. Alstott was a six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion who led the team in rushing touchdowns eight times.
He was also inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor back in 2015, which means White is already eyeing his spot along the banister if he's hoping to be on the same list as Alstott one day.
Baby steps are probably the best way for White to approach being RB1, especially given how brutal the run game was last season. Dave Canales and Skip Peete are aiming to change that, and it sounds like White has his sights set on not only helping turn things around but becoming a player whose jersey is still seen around Tampa decades after he's finished playing.