More Brate?
November 1st, 2016
Once upon a time back in 2013, the Bucs had a receiving corps thinned out by injuries and turned to an undrafted rookie tight end to bail out their 23-year-old quarterback.
That tight end was Tim Wright, who caught 56 balls (five touchdowns) in eight starts that season.
Now, the Bucs have another decimated receiving corps. After Mike Evans, there’s invisible Cecil Shorts on the outside with Russell Shepard, who Joe has no confidence in. Adam Humphries has emerged as a decent slot guy, but that’s about it. No, Joe doesn’t view Freddie Martino as viable.
The point here is Joe wants to see more of tight end Cameron Brate. He’s got a lot of Tim Wright in him.
With the Bucs, Wright caught most of what Mike Glennon threw his way, and Brate is the same way with America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Brate already has 23 catches this season with three TDs, his exact totals from 2015. He also has caught 64 percent of the balls thrown his way, which is pretty solid. Last year, he grabbed 76.7 percent of throws targeted at him, a stunning number.
We’ve all heard Dirk Koetter talk about how Brate and Jameis have strong chemistry. So with Luke Stocker now back to absorb the load of blocking tight end, how bout more action for Brate?
Jameis threw his way five times against Oakland. Joe would be happy to see that number nearly double. Brate sure seems like Jameis’ second-best option.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:39 am
I like Brate but perhaps he’s not that good? Decent player but isn’t going to scare anyone with speed, power or size.
I think in time he might be a good TE but it’s going to require excellent route running and understanding on how to find the open spaces in coverage.
The cupboard is bare here boys.
Go Sucs!
#lichtmyb*lls
November 1st, 2016 at 10:43 am
not a single defensive coordinator in the nfl is concerned about Brate… Shut down Evans and make jameis run for his life
November 1st, 2016 at 10:46 am
But wait. That was just excuses. Bad line? Bad coach? Bad defense? Decimated receiving corp? Well just maybe Jameis is feeling what Glennon feels now. Betrayed by a lot of fans?
November 1st, 2016 at 10:47 am
It’s amazing.. every time we win a game it’s “We’re awesome we’ve turned the corner” and when we lose it’s “We don’t have the talent to win”, “We $uck” “The skynis falliing”. Did anyone think we would be any better than 8-8 if we were lucky? I was crossing fingers for 6 to 7 wins. We need speed at WR we need 2-3 d-lineman. 2 new starting safeties. Daryl Smith is bad. Amazing how no one mentions him being burned repeatedly in the passing game. Raiders got exactly the looks they wanted with him in the game locked up on a WR in the slot. I was at the game and the defense was excruciating to watch after NS57 got the strip sack.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:49 am
Joe in a nut shell this is why Winston is having a problem completing passes. To expect Winston to be a efficient passer with this receiving core is insanity. The only guy who could make these receivers work is Tom Brady, which unfortunately we dont have. So get Winston some receivers and then we can see how good he can be. Oh a good running back that actually plays would help too.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:51 am
BucFan20
Oh Please…. Only thing Glennon is feeling is millions of dollars slipping through his hands because he played like an ass clown the last two preseasons and cost himself millions of dollars…
November 1st, 2016 at 10:53 am
Admittedly I’ve gone all Negative Nacncy on the Bucs…they’ve battered me so much that I’ve checked into the YWCA. Having said that, Brate has been a real bright spot. Overachiever….makes plays…isn’t a drain on the payroll…he’s easy to root for.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:55 am
tmax. the only ass clown is you. Nuff said.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:58 am
brate is a good te but nothing special….he’ll play hard and wont make many mistakes….at this point that’s all I can ask….GO BUCS!!!
November 1st, 2016 at 11:11 am
BucFan20
that’s all you got… well I guess that is all you can come up with since your guy has not taken a meaningful snap in nearly three years…
November 1st, 2016 at 11:17 am
@Joe. I don;t get it. Do you want Winston to hand the ball off to Brate? Because if he is throwing, Brate will be empty handed
November 1st, 2016 at 11:29 am
How about trading for TE Gary Barnidge??
He’s not only a great in-line blocking tight end, but he also displays…
…above average receiver traits as “move” tight end. Best weapon for a struggling young quarterback is a versatile tight end.
Examples:
• Johnny Unitas & John Mackey
• Ken Stabler & Dave Casper
• Dan Fouts & Kellen Winslow Sr.
• Joe Montana & Brett Jones
• Troy Aikman & Jay Novacek
• John Elway and Shannon Sharpe
• Drew Bledsoe & Ben Coates
• Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark
• Ben Roethlisberger and Heath Miller
• Philip Rivers & Antonio Gates
• Tony Romo & Jason Witten
• Cam Newton & Greg Olsen
Don’t get twisted I like Cameron Brate on certain routes. An though he’s improved – he’s not an effective blocker yet. If you wanna stop telegraphing what your gonna run to the defensive. Keep guessing by acquiring a more versatile tight end.
November 1st, 2016 at 11:30 am
*Keep’em guessing by acquiring a more versatile tight end.
November 1st, 2016 at 11:35 am
It’s not so much the losing, it’s how we lose, it’s either a non competitive effort and blowout, or even worse (if that’s possible), a comedy of errors that beats ourselves, with foolish penalties, misses tackles, bad coaching decisions, at the absolutely worst possible time against a team that is trying to give the Bucs the game, we are not the worst team in the league by far, just one of the most dissappointing
November 1st, 2016 at 11:37 am
I’ll say it again, Jameis needs to be in the NO Huddle. He is at his best when there is tempo. Carr could do nothing against us until he went into the no huddle then we could not stop him and he wore our defense out. This will improve Brates touches, Evans and Humphries, Shorts etc. We look predictable, slow to the line then in a hurry to snap it and we get so discombobulated. I have never seen a team use so many unnecessary TOs (and then not use them when it is necessary, LOL). It is Crazy!! Either trust Jameis and get out of the way or we will be mired in this 6-10 land until our next head coach comes in. Hey Dirk- your wagon is hitched to Winston no matter what- so turn the offense over to him and enjoy the ride. I truly believe Jameis doesn’t feel free in this offense and that is why he is so inaccurate, too much pressure on every throw. Again JMO
November 1st, 2016 at 11:44 am
My bad a sacrilegious act has been committed.
* Joe Montana – “The G.O.A.T” & Brett Jones
November 1st, 2016 at 11:55 am
Jameis and the offense is really missing Sims receiving and rac explosive plays…running out of options
November 1st, 2016 at 11:57 am
JJ: I’m thinking a lot of the same things.
The Bucs are devastated by injuries and lack identity on both sides of the ball. This is the perfect time to turn the keys over to Jameis. He had a bad game on Sunday, but when you are starting a 5th string “off the street” RB, and have no targets at WR, and a defense that just gave up a franchise record in yards allowed, you give the ball to your #1 pick and let him do what you drafted him to do. Here’s the caveat: YOU HAVE TO PLAY TO HIS CURRENT STRENGTHS. Pick up the tempo, and incorporate a lot more roll outs. Get JW13 some time by moving the pocket (he’s been deadly on the move this year), and put him in the no huddle for stretches. If you are going to slow the pace, then put him in max protect with an extra O-lineman and work off play action. This is the time when the Bucs need to make this JWs team. They are devastated by injuries and lack an identity on both sides of the ball. Sink or swim with Jameis, but PLAY TO HIS STRENGTHS!!
November 1st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
All comments have some validity… my concern is ACCOUNTABILITY!!! I know we’re not out there on the field playing but when you have players blantantly whiffing on tackles in stead of wrapping up there’s an accountability issue and I think our team should critique film as such and hold each other accountable not to discredit the individual but to make the TEAM better because they say they play for each other… From a Fan/Coaching perspective the timeouts should be used a little more wisely when the game is on the line we must ensure that everyone understands the importance of every play so while you’re on a TV timeout rally the team and the winning culture will reveal itself and playing for one another will show as a TEAM!!!!!
November 1st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Bculaw- It doesn’t seem too difficult right? I know it is easy to say from the stands but it really seems pretty obvious to the fans and those that have watched Jameis since FSU (i’m a grad). For the love of all that is sacred, on 4th and 1 please let him sneak, WTF is your problem? Trade deadline is today-Difficult for us to watch this being Rays fans, but please go get us a wide receiver that can fly. How about Ginn for Verner straight up, LOL. I know he can’t catch but we are used to drops and maybe he can out run Jameis’ overthrows : )
November 1st, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Famous has 3 receivers and they’re healthy (SHOCK!):
#1-MEvans
#2-The Hump
#3-Cameron Brate
Not sure how injured Shepherd is. DK needs to relieve Hump of all PR duty. Treat Brate as a receiving TE cos that’s what he is. If Famous’ strength is the 2-minute drill, USE IT MORE!! Keep the D off the field so they can rest! Tell Mike Smith to get his act together regarding the tandem of LVD and Kwon. If the Dixie Chicks can have success with Raheem Morris (who dat?) coaching their receivers, DK ought be better at playing his guys. There’s no reason why we can’t win night after tomorrow. The Chicks ain’t the Raiders. Yeah, we’ve been playing all season wounded. Buc Luck, what else is new?
November 1st, 2016 at 12:30 pm
He is no ASJ! Simple as that!
November 1st, 2016 at 12:30 pm
I get the decimation on both sides of the ball however if we look back at the Carolina game we were playing more non starters and personnel that wanted to play.. And do you really think anyone gave our team a chance to win of course not we were expected to lose but we had the personnel in there that wanted to make a difference and made up in their mind to truly play for each other and the TEAM…. and the winning culture showed itself!!!! However it just sometimes goes back to just being nasty and disrespectful as a DEFENSE and Poised and Unrelenting as an OFFENSE because the end statement is to WIN!!!!
November 1st, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Outside of Jackson and the released ASJ (that had 1 good catch all year) it’s the same wr corps against the Falcons and against SF where Winston played well so it can’t be all that bad. He was also NFC player of the week against the Falcons so maybe we can give the ever ending excuses a break. Shepard has had really good back to back games and excellent td catches. He has some some speed and adversity and also another great catch in the flat on another inaccurate pass by Winston.
November 1st, 2016 at 4:16 pm
I am okay with the ups and downs with JW. I certainly expected it and it’s understandable that the most difficult position on the field would require some time to adjust to. My concern is JW’s deep ball. He has missed countless easy TD’s and there is one common denominator. Overthrows. It’s concerning to me because that isn’t necessarily something that is caused by being a rookie or learning the NFL game. You are either capable or incapable and JW doesn’t seem to have the touch on those deep passes. He had M.E. for a long TD but overthrew him. if anything, I’d rather see the ball underthrown where the receiver has an opportunity to adjust and make a play or create a defensive penalty. This is something that is unacceptable. How many long passes were missed in the Raiders game? At least 4.
November 1st, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Cmurda, I honestly believe he is throwing the ball where a 4.4 guy would and should be. He is missing the majority of deep balls by 1 or 2 steps. 4.5 guy can’t get there. It is not an excuse but better an overthrow than under and interception.
November 1st, 2016 at 4:57 pm
@JJ
He missed 2-3 throws at 10 plus yards on Sunday for sure. A 4.4 vs. a 4.5 doesn’t make anywhere close to that difference and that is still on accuracy. He’s had plenty of time to get to know Evans speed who beat the cb each time. He’s hit him on other long td’s.
November 1st, 2016 at 5:25 pm
I do agree there have been some bad overthrows, no doubt, but I also think timing plays a role, is there a pocket to throw in… there are so many factors, you can’t just generalize and say he missed the guy by 10 yards. Look, I’m a huge Winston fan, he needs to get more consistent and hit the easy ones (he is missing those too) but the point is he needs help. He needs someone to be able to run underneath some of these throws, don’t kid yourself, he is not missing all these deep balls by 10 yards.
November 1st, 2016 at 6:23 pm
I don’t know but when I watch good deep receptions with guys on the move most time the ball comes out early from the QB and hits a spot where the receiver is moving to.
Jameis has that wind up on his deep throws and he heaves it instead of arcing it with timing.
It’s a huge mechanical issue more than anything. When he throws the deep ball he has to throw it up for the receiver to run under it.
He throws a 50 yard fastball in the air, the ball gets to a spot before the receiver does with too much velocity.