Buccaneers acknowledge need with waiver target
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have plenty to like in running back Rachaad White (as a pass catcher), but there isn't much to like in the running back room outside of him. Tampa's rushing attack is one of the worst in the NFL with next to no production outside of White's trivial reps between the […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have plenty to like in running back Rachaad White (as a pass catcher), but there isn't much to like in the running back room outside of him.
Tampa's rushing attack is one of the worst in the NFL with next to no production outside of White's trivial reps between the tackles, and the lack of any success in this area is going to come back and hurt the Bucs when it counts.
Todd Bowles choosing to keep inferior players on the field like Ke'Shawn Vaughn has made it seem like the leadership is too stubborn to make a needed change when it counts, but a recent attempt at Michael Carter shows a needed mentality change in Tampa.
The Buccaneers were never going to be one of the prime destinations for a guy like Carter given their record and the needs on worse teams, but this will still sting. Carter is a criminally-underrated back that would've helped Tampa's rushing attack immediately.
Carter's career stats may not jump off the page in large part due to next to no usage this season, but his first two years pointed to a guy that could make a difference in the NFL with reps if he wasn't in a room with Breece Hall and then Dalvin Cook, another quality back that isn't getting enough use in New York.
Still, Carter finding a way to produce 1,041 yards on the ground, 613 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns on a team that had nothing going for it is a testament to his ability to make something happen when everything else is working against him.
The situation would've been much different in Tampa when you look at quarterback play, offensive line, other weapons, etc.
Alas, the chance has come and gone, and the Bucs missed. The takeaway at this point is that the Buccaneers at least tried to make a change with a player that was capable of doing so.
Bowles and company were able to look at a problem, see that the options on the team weren't good enough as is, and took a shot at addressing the issue to the best of their ability. It may not seem like much to some people, but this franchise has been too stubborn at the worst times a few times under Bowles' leadership, and this shift is hopefully the sign of more to come.
The situation didn't play out in Tampa's favor, but hopefully this mindset is enough to push them in the right direction when the next opportunity presents itself, and if that opportunity is anything like this one, the Buccaneers will find themselves getting better quickly.
Recent trend looks bad for Buccaneers in Week 10 matchup
The Bucs need to find a way to avoid this happening again.
