Jamel White hopes his chance at a starring role comes soon, but if not, the Bucs running back will continue to be a valuable understudy.
By JOANNE KORTH
Published August 23, 2004
TAMPA - Jamel White has been waiting.
In four seasons with the Browns, the quick-burst running back with an elusive style played every role he was asked. He ran the ball, caught the ball, returned kicks and made special-teams tackles. A little bit of this, a little bit of that.
White's chance to play a bigger role might come soon.
The Bucs backfield has question marks. With veteran Charlie Garner coming off knee surgery and nursing a sore hamstring and Michael Pittman suspended for the first three games, White could become a major factor once the regular season starts.
"I don't want to make this an I thing. It's still a team game," White said. "I know the things I'm capable of doing given the opportunity, and preseason is when you get the opportunity to show that you can do different things."
White is competing with free agents Brandon Bennett and Earnest Graham. All have performed well during two preseason games. But with so many question marks at the top of the depth chart, the three are competing to be more than just an offensive role player.
Consider this scenario:
Garner, an 11-year pro, has missed both preseason games. Pittman, a seven-year pro who started 31 games the past two seasons, including Super Bowl XXXVII, is suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Fullback Mike Alstott started both preseason games, but he is not an every-down back in coach Jon Gruden's system.
Who does that leave?
"All of those guys - Jamel White, Brandon Bennett, Earnest Graham - they're learning everything just in case," running backs coach Art Valero said. "Do we have Charlie? We don't have Mike (Pittman) for three. Those guys have to be able to fill that void and be able to do it without a glitch."
Though Graham stole the show with two short-yardage touchdowns in the preseason opener against the Bengals, White has run well with 5.5 yards per carry.
In the opener, White rushed five times for a team-high 27 yards, including a 13-yard burst, and caught one pass for 3 yards. In Friday's 14-6 loss to the Jaguars, in which the offense struggled mightily, White rushed three times for 17 yards and caught one pass for minus-1.
"I like a lot of things he's doing; he's doing some good things as a runner and a receiver," Gruden said.
"He's going to be a good addition to our team. ... I'm impressed with the way he handles our offense and the way he handles the ball."
The 5-foot-9, 222-pound White proved his versatility with the Browns. He had 349 carries for 1,324 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 166 passes for 1,273 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned 55 kickoffs for 1,145 yards and made 10 special-teams tackles.
He would like to do more.
"I just turned 26, so as you get older you know your years are winding down," said White, who signed a one-year contract worth $535,000. "I just need my opportunity.
"If you look at running backs like Priest Holmes, he got his opportunity in Kansas City. Somebody believed in him. That's all I need is that one coach to believe in me and know that I can get the job done. It's a lot different when you're the full-time back, when you're in the game more and can get the feel of the game. I look for that opportunity."
White, a native of Los Angeles who starred in college at South Dakota, has worked hard to learn the Bucs' voluminous playbook. According to Valero, White turned the corner to where he is thinking in Bucs terminology, not Browns.
"He's one of those guys who is never satisfied, and he doesn't realize how much he knows," Valero said. "The two preseason games have been good for him to get away from the coaches and go out and play. You can coach them and coach them and coach them, teach them the schemes, but once they get out there, the true football players make things happen."
White likes the way Gruden involves several running backs in the offense. He enjoys the complexity of the offensive sets, which are geared to create mismatches.
As always, he will do anything.
"I just go out there and play. I enjoy playing football and I show that a lot," White said. "I go out there and I do whatever they ask me to do from playing special teams to running and catching and protecting the quarterback. I just enjoy playing.
