One Bright Spot
December 19th, 2016
Leads NFL.
There wasn’t much to like in last night other than one team (the Bucs) played like crap and the other team (Dallas) had a near-historic performance by a quarterback, and a strong game by a running back, yet still the Bucs led in the fourth quarter.
That one lone offensive bright spot from a performance standpoint was tight end Cameron Brate.
While he didn’t rack up a lot of yards, Brate did have a third quarter touchdown, pulling in a 13-yard pass from America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Brate also had a circus catch of a Jameis throw over the middle that somehow Brate out-wrestled Sean Lee for.
Folks, this Brate, Harvard Man from Naperville, Ill., is legit. He is now tied with Hunter Henry of San Diego for the most touchdown catches this season by a tight end, seven.
Now if you can excuse Joe, he must take a break and go drop an ASJ.
December 19th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
I love me some brate! Not sure why some buc fans see TE as a huge need.
December 19th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Brate played great.
Winston didn’t have a very good game. Even though he was running for his life quite a bit, I rewatched much of the game and counted at least 5 or 6 passes where he just flat missed, and he wasn’t under duress. Feet planted, clean pocket, and JW just missed his target. He’s still young, so I have hope he will be more consistent but he’s been very streaky this season again.
Our defensive line simply can’t match up with with premier offensive lines. And as I’ve been trying to tell Joe since last year, the offensive line needs 2 spots to be upgraded.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Good point on Brate. I thought that TE would be a dire need in next year’s draft, but that will not be case. That will free up Licht to pursue other areas of need: WR, OLB, OL, DE, S, CB.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Lol…there wasn’t this much Bucs scorn after they got whipped by Arizona.
It was a 6 point/one score game. Stop acting like they got destroyed.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Brate may not be as athletic as many TE but good hands, good work ethic, and the brains to know the playbook and where you need to be goes far.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
The Bucs were outplayed. The results were obvious. Dallas was the better team. I’m still upbeat about the Bucs future, on track to further build a winner going forward. That team we lost to should change their name to the Plowboys because that’s what they did to our Bucs.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Buc53 Says:
December 19th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Lol…there wasn’t this much Bucs scorn after they got whipped by Arizona.
It was a 6 point/one score game. Stop acting like they got destroyed.
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The Rams nailed the Bucs, and the final score proved it. Ironic as their coach Jeff Fisher was let go a few days ago. Brate, Hump, and ME (he doesn’t vote)13 are turning into a serious group of receivers. Wish we had a fly on the wall when this team meets and has to deal w/game films.
I am calling the final 2 games wins. Go Bucs!!
December 19th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Brate had one of the best catches this year…right up there with the Evans catch
December 19th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Yeow! I meant the the Cardinals nailed The Bucs. Rams did, too. Brate already has NFL stats proving how good he is. He along with Hump will keep maturing. Love it. Go Bucs!!
December 19th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
probably wildly premature to compare him to a HOF player, but i think the TE on the opposite sideline has carved out the type of career that brate could have for himself. Super reliable TE who isn’t exactly a standout from a talent or physical standpoint, who can basically link his career to a rising star franchise QB that can throw passes to him for the next decade or so
December 19th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Famous let’s make Cameron Brate again. Go Bucs!
December 19th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
I thought the one bright spot was going to be Roberto was perfect. He actually looks like an NFL kicker on anything inside of 35 yards.
December 19th, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Like to see a little YAC but dem hands!!
December 19th, 2016 at 4:26 pm
Trubucfan22 Says:
December 19th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
“I love me some brate! Not sure why some buc fans see TE as a huge need. ”
I’m guessing because of Luke Stocker.
December 19th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
I think most fans would like a more explosive TE. Im good with Brate, you cant always teach hands
December 19th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
@Buc Bonzai
And maybe some expect the TE position to block as well!!! Our Tackles sure could use the help!!!! But it is something I expect CB84 will work on to become a well rounded TE!!!!!
But I do not see how the Bucs could pass on a dominate TE that can help with pass protection, run blocking and be a passing threat!!!
December 19th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
No one expected the Bucs to be in the playoff hunt this year. My God, a 9 or 10 win season with the overall talent level on this team would be an amazing achievement. If Licht and Koetter can keep the improvement trend line going for two more seasons, we’ll be the Patriots of the NFC.
Let’s just keep things in perspective.
December 19th, 2016 at 6:13 pm
1 more win and BigHog can no longer talk about a need for improvement on that last coach even though it took Koetter just 1 season to get there
December 19th, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Buc Realist makes a good point. There was a lot of talk this week about how much better off the Bucs running game would be with Stocker back. I’m not sure how much he was in the game, so maybe the Joes can look more into that. The running game sure needed help, and that is one factor that created an inconsistent offensive attack.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
“Brate the Great”
December 19th, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Defense barely the real deal. Early in the year I thought TR would need to be addressed in the offseason. No more.
Focus on both lines and a wr and another db
December 20th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
It’s fitting that we are now appreciating Brate for what he is right after we played Dallas, a young Jason Witten. Not huge, not overly athletic, but he makes the tough catches, good athleticism in tight areas, and reliable. It wouldn’t hurt us to add another TE in the offseason, but Brate CAN be a fixture and a weapon in this offense for years to come.