Best Yet To Come?
May 5th, 2017
Full potential not yet tapped.
There has been talk in certain NFL circles, the NFL Network being one source, that football fans have not seen the best of tight end O.J. Howard.
Some believe Howard’s talents were suppressed at Alabama. It was mostly a run-first offense run by a shaky quarterback.
Now, it appears, Howard will be featured in a pass-happy offense with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, slinging the ball.
Last week when Howard came to One Buc Palace, Joe asked him if he was underutilized at Alabama. Howard didn’t exactly disagree.
“I think at Alabama we had a lot of weapons on the offensive side of the ball so it was kind of hard to get the ball a lot and get the ball into everybody’s hands,” Howard said. “So [NFL analysts] may be referring to that.
“Definitely here at the next level, I’m looking forward to making plays happy to help the team out.”
Joe hates to put ridiculous expectations on a rookie no matter how talented he is. But when Howard blew up against Clemson in the 2015 national championship game, he sure looked like another Alabama tight end from another era who sure made a name for himself on the fields of the NFL: Ozzie Newsome.
Shoot, if Howard can just be Jimmie Giles, this selection is an absolute home run.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
Not very high, but high ceiling.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
“It was mostly a run-first offense run by a shaky quarterback.”
Yep, that sums it up quite nicely. Cant wait for the season to start. I’ve been reduced to watching tape of potential 2018 draft prospects to hold me over lol.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Seriously that QB wasn’t really much of a passer, but a hell of an athlete. Reminds me of the hot crap Georgia tech lined up atQB when Calvin Johnson was there. His numbers in college didn’t match his potential either.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Howard is gonna be a BEAST. I am 99% sure this kid will be a top 3 TE in this league much sooner than later.
OJ’s talent and skillset will literally change the entire nature and capabilities of our offense. For the good obviously LOL
May 5th, 2017 at 2:16 pm
As most of you know I consider myself one of the blog’s positive posters.
But if I have a fear about 2017…1.) of course injuries…but after that…
#3 has a LOT of mouths to feed now. Will there be enough touches to go around? I think putting up individual stats may be a bit tough this year but I’d love to see us shatter team stats. Again lots and lots of targets but only ONE football.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
Not very high, but high ceiling.
I disagree. Between the head he has on his shoulders, soft hands, ability to block, and lightning-fast speed (for a TE), Mr. Howard has HOF potential. Literally can’t find a single knock on the kid the more I learn about him.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:40 pm
At worse. Howard can play wr.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Bama did manage to win the 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2015 National Championships (and also played in the 2016 game). So that’s 4 National Championships in 8 yrs, plus another finalist appearance. Not a bad string for ‘shaky QBs’ using mostly a run-first offense. Hmmm, maybe that’s why OJ is such a good blocker?
May 5th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
SPBF – you are looking at it the wrong way. Its only “a lot of mouths to feed” if you have selfish players who are more concerned about stats than winning.
I guarantee you that Jameis and Coach K and every receiver in question views the current status as “a LOT of good options for Winston to throw to”.
You think Mike Evans will be upset if he “only” gets 1100 yards and 8 TDs this year – but the Bucs get to the NFC Championship game? Hell no. He will be glad and proud of his teammates for stepping up and for more 1 on 1 opportunities vs coverage so he can make big plays that help the team win games when the ball does come his way – and it will!
May 5th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
I want to see who agrees with me on this:
I think at this point, Kwon, Evans, Jameis, Marpet, and now OJ sprinkled in with the potential of Spawn, VH3, Evans, Godwin, Beckwith, Sims, VH3 and Donavan, that we can safely say that Licht is a baller of a gm. Potentially the best we ever had. He had the balls to hold still to get oj when there was no guarantee. Chicago traded up for a player they would have gotten anyway.
These players should outweigh the Aguayo pick. Licht is the best thing to happen to this team since gruden.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
Never wrote that. Used the singular term.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
@Stpete
The only place that matters is in Fantasy Football lol.
May 5th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
OJ did play 4 yrs at Bama Joe … and played with 4 different QBs as I recall. Which one was the shaky one? (Please don’t tell me it was Blake Sims, who happens to be on the Bucs roster as a RB).
May 5th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
I think both OJ and Godwin are true leadership type guys that can help the younger guys comingup in the next 10 years
They will help jameis as the core leaders when we fight for superbowls
“Dont mess with TBR, he will archive you to death”
Kobe Faker
May 5th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
bucsfaninchina Says:
May 5th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
“Not very high, but high ceiling.”
“I disagree.”
Yes, but you’re not allowed. 🙂
May 5th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
“Dont mess with TBR, he will archive you to death”
lmao Kobe. Realist’s loves using my main weapon of choice.
May 5th, 2017 at 3:29 pm
@Eric
I agree with you on that.
Now, just 1 big loser mentality to finish out his contract and we should be very good for quite a while.
May 5th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
We won’t be a pass happy offense because our HC has a clue
May 5th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Is the Miami game here yet?
May 5th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
sorry masta!!
May 5th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
OK 🙂
May 5th, 2017 at 4:16 pm
dooshlarue
McCoy? lol
May 5th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Can JUST be Jimmie Giles?
From what I remember, Giles was the best TE we’ve ever had here. He and Kevin House gave us some real excitement back in the day when we had little else to offer offensively.
I can only imagine what our offense will look like with Howard playing as well as Giles did for us back in the late 70’s early 80’s.
May 5th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
So glad we got 88 the Manamal!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Believe he was called manamal in college.. love it!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Good talent evaluators don’t judge a prospect on his college stats. They judge him on his measurables and potential. Jimmy Graham only had 17 catches during his one and only season playing college football. Antonio Gates didn’t a down of college football.
May 5th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
*didn’t play a down*
May 5th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
ib –
That was the point. Giles was the best TE we have ever had, but Ozzie is a HOFer. So even if Howard “only” plays as well as Giles, it’s still a great pick. Joe didn’t insult Giles, geez.
May 5th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Pickgrin
I basically agree with you and hope that’s the right call. I have no questions in my mind with ME13…as you point out he is simply not a me first player…Brate nor Hump scare me….Godwin is now saying the right things….OJ also seems to be totally team first…I guess that leaves DJAX….but even if his ego gets a little free he’s not a guy dependent on lots of touches. His game is YPC not raw numbers of receptions.
Overall I feel good about this group and the entire team and I think #3 and Koetter and the fact that they are both on the same page bodes well for the locker room of this team going forward. I don’t think there will be room for Divas and #3 and DK will probably have a way to deflate any of those balloons,
May 5th, 2017 at 7:21 pm
DJax had just a bit of a Diva complex towards the beginning of his career. But I am pretty sure he’s all about winning a Super Bowl these days and as long as he gets opportunities to make big plays (which of course he will as this is the year that Winston re discovers how good his long ball is) all will be good in the “distribution” department.
May 6th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Its ironic that OJ won the championship with Jake Coker. Jameis former teammate at FSU.