The Buccaneers’ Contortionist
December 24th, 2016
Dirk Koetter explains
Yes, Dirk Koetter jumped on national radio yesterday and talked about the unofficial Buccaneers contortionist.
Outside of Mike Evans’ one-handed grabs and laser focus, there’s been one guy wowing with his ability to get open when it seems he’s not open at all.
That would be everybody’s favorite Harvard tight end: Cameron Brate.
“He really has the ability to turn his body in weird angles and turn back to the quarterback and make difficult catches,” Koetter said of Brate.
The head coach went on to say Brate is “more than a novelty tight end” because his blocking has steadily improved as he’s bulked up to over 250 pounds.
The NFL leader in touchdown catches by tight ends (seven), Brate also drew serious love this week from Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen who even got all Xs and Os.
“I think [Brate’s] an athletic guy. He has the ability to get himself open, but yet the thing that was most impressive to me is he catches just about anything that’s thrown his way. You can have tight coverage on this guy and he finds a way to catch the football,” Allen said. “I think he is playing at a really high level. I think they do different things to try to get him the football. You can just tell how they feel about him by the way that they use him. When they split him out – when you take a tight end and you split him out on the backside of a three-by-one formation, knowing that you are going to get single high safety and run isolation routes for that guy, you know they feel they have something special there. He is a big target on third down. He is a big target, especially down there in the red zone. I think he has played really well for them.”
What a steal Jason Licht found on the street. Brate is an unrestricted free agent after this season. If the Bucs are considering locking up any restricted free agent to a long term deal, versus a one-year tender offer, Brate should be that guy.
December 24th, 2016 at 11:05 am
So how did they get those leg to stick out of her ears? I’ll bet they are crazy strong. Oh, and agree…Brate needs to get a good offer so we can keep him here.
Wow.
December 24th, 2016 at 11:37 am
Brate, Evans, Hump, and Sims all need to some targets early. Mix it up with screen passes, some quick drops, and of course some long shots here and there. A little no huddle to put it to the saints throats. Maybe even run out of a pass formation with some misdirection. (Can you imagine?)
I’m ready for an offensive explosion! Go Brate! Go Bucs!
December 24th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Let’s all be honest here….the run game is no longer here in Tampa bay. So why not switch it up with the no huddle right out of the gate?! Let’s try something a little different on first down another than a run up the gut for 2 yards?! Open up the passing game and watch the running lane open up!!!
GO BUCS!!!
December 24th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
The time to lock him up long term is now too, we can all see he’s what ASJ never was, an above average TE and one WITH an above average head on his shoulders. I wonder if Brate could ever step in as a FB in a special goal line package, that dude is a package, he sometimes reminds me of Alstott when he’s rolling downfield with ball tucked away.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Hey Joe won’t Tampa take over 1st place in the division with a win and Atlanta loss?
December 24th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
941:
Possibly. Joe gets dizzy with all the hypotheticals. Just win out and lets chips fall where they may.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Ideally I’d like to see Licht lock up Brate with a reasonable 3 yr deal. He is a reliable enough weapon for Jameis that Licht can focus on upgrading other positions of need (WR, RT, DT, DE). We could soon be in the market for another Kicker as well, although I’m sure Aguayo will get one more year to prove that his early misses will work themselves out.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
@Joe….Damn right. If we can win out and don’t make it, at least we know we did what we could do, and 10-6 would constitute a major upward trend heading into the offseason. But fingers crossed, we would at least secure a wild card spot.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
@admin or if we win we would need the giants to lose next week and we would be in by strength of schedule.also if Detroit loses the next 2 so I say we have a 70%chance to make the dance
December 24th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
@unbelievable— spot on!
We can help the running game and o-line in a big way. Is all up to Jameis executing a great game plan!
Go Bucs!!!
December 24th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
@942
if we win out and atl loses either game, then yes we would win division. Basically we just have to win out and let the chips fall like Joe said.
Detroit losing to GB, or GB losing 1 game are our best bets for wild card as far as I understand.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
GMC puff piece coming on BSPN. Be warned.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
Oh my God, if we lose today our season is over. I just realized this.
If we lose today, no matter what happens week 17 (Detroit win OR Packers win) and we are out still, even beating Panthers.
How did this happen? Even if we win today we have to win week 17 to get in. I feel like I got hoodwinked
December 24th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Actually we would need Detroit to lose both games I think, because they have a better record against common opponents?
December 24th, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Guys Like Brate, and Jacquis Smith, and Adam Humphries, and Ryan Russel are what instill confidence in me that we have the right guy in the front office.
December 24th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
falcons drive down and score on panthers. 7-0
December 24th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
How is Brate and unrestricted FA in the offseason? Isn’t he just in his 3rd year? I thought unrestricted only came after 4 years… Anyone? Joe?
December 24th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Don’t underestimate the Panthers. We’ve got, let’s see, Brate, ME13, Hump, Shep (if he’s not doing ST duty), Sims, and Martin. That’s 6 receivers FameisJ has. I hope DK mixes up the running and receiving plays. PLEASE STOP ALL THE RUN-UP-THE-MIDDLE crap!! That drives me crazy cos the other team stops it 95% of the time. With Gholston out, Spence needs to step up and finally prove he’s no flash in the pan. Smith needs to uncollar the dawgs and let them blitz. Why not? Brate will be re-signed, and boy, does he deserve the dough they threw at ASJ. May the best team win, and let it be Tampa Bay!! 🙂
December 24th, 2016 at 2:15 pm
freakin falcons are rolling…20-3. panthers and cam are not competitive.
December 24th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Salish-
We didn’t draft him. He was an undrafted free agent.
December 24th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
our season is basically over
December 24th, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Way to keep positive Clint, sheesh….
December 24th, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Doug Martin healthy scratch for today.
Wonder what that’s all about?
Let’s f**king go!!!
Go Bucs!
December 24th, 2016 at 3:22 pm
well, falcons rolling. redskins are rolling. greenbay stompinig. all the teams we need to lose….ahhh