DEFENSIVE END STYLEZ WHITE
White, who turns 32 in July, is entering free agency after playing his fourth NFL season. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound White has played with Tampa Bay since the 2007 season.
2010 SEASON:
White played in 16 games and started 13 at right defensive end for the Buccaneers. For the season White registered 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, nine tackles for a loss, 47 tackles, and 24 quarterback pressures. White led the Bucs in sacks.
CAREER UP TO THIS POINT
White has led Tampa Bay in sacks in three of the past four seasons. He bounced around practice squads for a few years before becoming a star in the Arena League. White was given a shot to make the Buccaneers roster in 2007 and he made the most of it, leading the Bucs that season with eight sacks and seven forced fumbles.
In 2008, White was mainly a backup and situational pass rusher behind starters Gaines Adams and Kevin Carter. He notched five sacks that season. In 2009, White started out as a backup to Adams and Jimmy Wilkerson, but after Adams was traded White was a starter in eight games. He recorded 6.5 sacks that season.
Throughout his time in Tampa Bay, the Bucs have wanted White to improve his run defense. He has been the team’s best and most consistent pass rusher. Until defensive tackle Gerald McCoy came on in later in the 2010 season, White never got much help from the pass rushers around him.
WHY HE COULD RE-SIGN
After drafting Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers, the Buccaneers envision those two players being their starters in the short- and long-term. White could be re-signed to compete for a roster spot to provide some veteran depth, and give the Bucs a backup with some pass rushing potential. If Bowers is slow to return from his offseason knee surgery the Bucs could look to White as a player that knows the defensive system and can contribute some pass rush.
WHY HE COULD DEPART
Tampa Bay really likes holdover defensive ends Michael Bennett and Alex Magee. The Bucs also have Kyle Moore to compete at the position, and it seems very possible that the Buccaneers would re-sign Tim Crowder to compete with Moore and Magee. That would make White coming back unlikely.
Mainly due to the Bucs drafting Clayborn and Bowers, the Bucs appear to be set at the defensive end position.
White’s sack total of 4.5 in 2010 was disappointing considering he was given the prime opportunities to rush the passer. The Bucs gave White’s starting spot to Bennett late in the season despite the fact that Bennett had never played right end before. It wouldn’t be surprising if another team signed White to a lower value contract to compete as pass rushing depth.
PREDICTION
Pewter Report’s prediction is that White will not be re-signed by Tampa Bay.
PREVIOUS PR PREDICTS
DE Tim Crowder
WR Maurice Stovall
LB Barrett Ruud
TE John Gilmore
COMMENTS
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