First One Like Last One
October 2nd, 2017
Eerie.
Prior to Sunday, the last time O.J. Howard scored a touchdown, it was in Tampa of all places.
Yup, in the same crib he now calls home, rookie tight end Howard, then playing for Alabama in the national championship game last January, caught a pass where he was fairly wide open down the left sideline. Howard rumbled for a 68-yard score. Flash forward to Sunday. Howard had a flashback moment for his first NFL touchdown. Howard was so alone, Joe was surprised a security guard didn’t rush the field and try to tackle him. Howard caught a looping pass from America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and dashed down the left sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.
The Bucs didn’t have a pass play of 50 yards or more all last season.
“I was so wide open and it seemed like the ball hung up there forever,” Howard said.
Remembering his last touchdown Howard said, “Same side of the field, same sideline. It was like deja vu. It was a great feeling. I was very excited about it. Jameis made a great throw and I was just happy he found me.”
The biggest difference from Howard’s touchdown last January against Clemson and Sunday against the Giants? Howard’s catch Sunday came in a win.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:10 am
What a play design! Great execution!
Congrats on your 1st NFL TD OJ. The first of many.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:13 am
That ball to forever to come down just watching it LOL
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:15 am
Hint of GREAT things to come….so glad ASJ had a drinking problem
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:25 am
I saw video right after the winning kick…OJ jumped up like 10 feet in the air..lol!
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:33 am
Sign of things to come. All the haters who dissed him after weeks 1 and 2, do you see it now? Name another tight end that is as dominant a blocker, and at the same time is a true, explosive deep threat?
Don’t bother, i’ll do it for you. Gronk, Travis Kelce, maybe Tyler Eifert. Pretty short list of names.
Idk about you, but I’m so relieved to have such a rare young talent, instead of a certain RB that couldn’t even make it through 4 games.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:36 am
That was that MASH play call. Gotta keep that one tucked away for later in the season.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:36 am
@Blake_bucfan
Agreed!!!!! He is really helping in the run game and Making the O-tackles look better than they are!!!!!!! But I wonder if anyone brought this up previously???????? OMG its the “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“The Buc Realist Says:
November 6th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
While DS76 had a very rough 2 games. I think that this can be fixed by drafting a very good TE that can both catch and block so he stays on the field thru most snaps!!! If We had such a TE it will help the O-tackles by chip blocking and funneling the speed rushers right to DS76 or DD69!!!! The TE can then still run a pass route or block in the second level!!!!
TE can help the Tackles, Run game, and be a true pass option for JW3!!!”
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:38 am
And let me say it again the pats sucks,they’re giving up 456 yards a game in total offense to opponents. They forced 1 punt yesterday. A lost to them Thursdays would be a great disappointment in my book. 456,worst in the entire league.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:42 am
It’s time to let my boy shine.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:48 am
All those people wishing for Dalvin Cook…he’s out for the season. Reminds me of Cadillac Williams and how he came out the gate then got injured.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:58 am
@Blake
Don’t believe I’ve seen a lot of people hate on O.J., guys been a stud since he’s walked in the building. Even though he hasn’t caught a lot of balls (yet), he’s already been crushing it in the blocking game since week 1.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:59 am
@NosBos
On a short week, the Patriots current defensive deficiency is a definite advantage.
We definitely weren’t reminding anyone of the Greatest show of turf yesterday. But we are showing huge signs of improvement.
6 catches, 143 yards and 2 touchdowns between our big bodied, big play TE’s, and a dominant game of running the ball shows me that this offense is finally developing a much needed Identity.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:01 am
Cameron Brate and OJ Howard. One a walk-on, the other a #1 draft pick and deservedly so!! Is there a better pair of TEs in the League? Nope. NOSBOS is right. The Pats stink. Brady is just like Drew Brees–getting long in the tooth (old). The healthy Bucs offense should kick NE back to colonial days. This Bucs fan will be disappointed if they don’t. And that’s factoring in the kicking game. Go Bucs!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 am
@ManzielMadness
As pretty much a daily JBF’er, and avid commenter/ peruser of the comment section, I have seen plenty. Especially after last weeks game.
There were numerous posts criticizing/ mocking Licht for passing on Cook for a guy who only blocks.
Now Cook’s knee is toast and out for the season. And O.J. is showing the fools precisely why he should have been a top 10 pick.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:12 am
Question: did Folk missed only 1 PA? I had it on radio so might have missed something. Thanks!! Still, 7 points is way too much!!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:25 am
Licht is looking bright today!!!!!
I hope he reconsider and jump on that pool!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:27 am
Yep my guy DC done for the year but Joe can say its a case by case thing when it comes to recovery all he wants. I feel these athletes are getting exposed to technology average Joes like myself cannot get. I believe whatever they are doing repair the football torn ACL has to similar to baseball’s TommyJohn surgery. The elbow and the knee is stronger and tougher after the surgery. I fully expect DC to come back next season and pick u where he’s leaving off this one.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
Anyone notice Todd Gurley yesterday???? Passing league my arse,these young bulls bringing the RB position back.. In a BIG way. I hope you watching Penn State’s Saquan Barkley Jason Licht.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
got to give credit where credit is due…dirk called a hell of a game….besides the toss to quiz from the goal line, he called a good game….he continued to run the ball and in the second half things started to open up….
I still noticed that the cb’s are still playing off and smitty isn’t blitzing but I understand why….WE HAVE NO PASS RUSH!!!….it got so bad that we(fans in the stands) saw GMC line up as a 43 end….he did so a few times just trying to create some pressure on eli….baker played well and beckwith is the real deal….
pats game isn’t as scary as one once thought….we could’ve/should’ve scored over 30 in 2 of our 3 games and the pats have given up 30+ in every game this season….GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
I like Rudy, but we’ve got to have OJ out there in the Red zone instead of him.
With Jackson and Rudy out there our red zone attack becomes less of a threat.
Licht you pay Jackson all this money and your coach doesn’t draw up any plays to get him some easy catches? C’mon.
Its been a long time since a Dirk offense scored 30+ (Not including special teams or defensive touchdowns)
Its time to get play makers the ball and do a better job in the red zone.
Mike Shula figured out how to get 30 on this Patriots defense.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:51 am
813 if Smith doesn’t dial up some elaborate blitz packages against what I call the juice man brady,ima flip out yo.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:56 am
I agree Dungy,Koetter got draw up DeSean specific play call to ensure he stays dialed inn man. I like that reverse in the pre season. For as all time bad as they’re defense is right now Belichess is going to gameplan to take ME away. Malcolm butler isn’t giving much effort,my belief he’s sour over that organization giving gilmore the money instead of him. My point DeSean should be able to get off on these boys.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:05 am
I keep calling for the arm chair gms to show themselves. I have defended the pick of oj on many threads to those arm chair gms that blast licht for drafting oj and even evans in the 2nd. Did any of the arm chair gms see evans play many snaps yesterday? Did the arm chair gms see evans come up big by forcing arguably the best wr in the league out of bounds on the two point conversion? Of course they did not. They were too busy crying about cook instead of being thankful for what they do have. Where are the arm chair gms? Crickets…..
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:36 am
webster by the rule that play should have been called a penalty. Now to his credit (and I stated draft night Evans was my fav pick from the class,see the archives) he did come up make tackles keeping minimal gains from being BIG ones. His size,range,speed and range lead me to believe he will be fantastic in the future.
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:20 pm
@ nosbos
Its not a penalty if the ref does not call it. I believe the bucs were victims of non calls last week versus the vikings. He knew his assignment by switching with grimes and he used the back line as another defender. Sure there was some contact. I dont need to check the archive, i dont always agree but you seem to own your $h!+ so its all good my man. I am just asking for the trolls to step out and own it.
October 2nd, 2017 at 1:36 pm
I was thinking when I saw that play catch that looked exactly like the Alabama catch.
October 2nd, 2017 at 1:44 pm
That’s whus up webster.
October 2nd, 2017 at 3:12 pm
This OJ is welcome in Florida!
October 2nd, 2017 at 7:42 pm
LOL…This kid knows how to get behind a defense unnoticed and then make them pay. Used to see Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez do that occasionally, back in the day