“Runs Like A Deer”
May 5th, 2017
Animal-like speed.
There is actually one NFL personnel director who doesn’t think Tampa Bay rookie tight end O.J. Howard is manna from heaven.
That is, until he has a ball in his hands.
Mike Sando of BSPN discussed certain draft picks for each team with NFL suits. One the Bucs, it was Howard. The personnel director — unnamed — told Sando he has an issue with Howard but it is quickly offset.
A personnel director cautioned that Howard’s athleticism does not fully transfer from 1-on-1 to 11-on-11 situations. He wondered whether it could be a processing issue.
“But when he catches it, he runs like a deer,” the director said. “He ran routes better at the Senior Bowl than I’d seen him run all year.”
Joe will have more on this later, with quotes from Howard himself. But does the aforementioned quote hint that Howard got garbage coaching from former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who in a previous life melted down as Raiders coach?
Or perhaps the offense Alabama ran was not the best fit for Howard? If Howard ran his best routes in the Senior Bowl, that sort of suggests Kiffin didn’t use him properly.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Ok so…
How nickname shall be
#Manimal
May 5th, 2017 at 9:04 am
His^^^
May 5th, 2017 at 9:08 am
@Joe
Word on the street was that the Bucs were going to grab the other TE from Miami if O.J. Howard came of the board!!!! Glad to see the offense becoming balanced and explosive!!!!!!!
Though some had the answers over a year ago!!!! Flash back Friday continues
The Buc Realist Says:
August 2nd, 2016 at 9:28 am
Fans will say that WR then TE will be the biggest “need” for the 2017 draft!!!
“The Buc Realist” or “The Buc Prophet” !!!!! you be the judge!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Hard to run great routes when you absolutely know the ball is not coming your way.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:12 am
If our coaching helped Brate, Howard is in for a treat!!!
Rookie of the Year?!?!!?
Go Bucs!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Its kind of funny how the all of a sudden OJ Howard is talked upon like he’s the third best tight end drafted and the Giants got the better player in Engram. Going unto the draft it wasnt even a competition and all of a sudden Howard cant catch. Cant run routes. Isnt tough. The New Yorkers didnt get their way. Time to call the whambulance! I hope we kick their arse week 4!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:23 am
If you watched Alabama football games, you saw what this big fella can do with the ball in his hands! Can be a big factor in the offense, will be fun to watch and a guy the community will love and he’ll be a good citizen as well…..GREAT addition!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:26 am
How many Saban QB’s are in the NFL? I’m too lazy to look it up. LOL
It just seems that when you think QB’s you no longer think Bama…no more Namath’s…Stablers…or Starrs for we really old dudes. No I can’t even name a recent Bama QB except for AJ McCarron and he’s as well known for his lady as his QB prowess.
I think Saban is just a freaking amazing recruiter. How does he get talent like OJ and JJ and Cooper and other pass catchers to come to Bama.
I mean they throw the ball for balance and you always get the big spotlight…even if you do not get the touches.
I think OJ is going to be a bigger factor in the NFL than he was in college. Blame the overall difference in the games that’s a factor…but I think Koetter is also far more adept at using TE’s than Saban/ Kiffin and the list of OC’s.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:27 am
I don’t think there is any doubt Alabama didn’t use him properly. First of all, they had a freshman QB who can’t throw the ball. Second, Alabama is old school ground and pound. Whenever he had the opportunity to catch balls, he did just that.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:31 am
No doubt about it, kid is a strider. Said months ago that the he runs like a Clydesdale.
Lets all take a moment to thank Lane Kiffin for not using him properly. You can bet that if his production matched his talent, we wouldn’t have gotten as lucky as we did.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:33 am
@Realist
To be fair, a majority of the fans said RB was the biggest need in the 2017 draft.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:36 am
@Stpete
Yea bama seems to be all about the running game and defense in recent years. I cant think of a bama QB in the league beside who you mentioned. Defense and RVs are their bread and butter.
Although WRs have success in the NFL from bama. Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley is getting high praise for next year. Kind of ironic lol.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:38 am
Saban is a great recruiter because of this one line:
“You have a better chance of making it to the NFL at Alabama than any other school.”
It’s truly unfair and that is why pro football is better than college.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:47 am
Saw a video yesterday of OJ catching a pass in the flats then turning on the speed to outrun EVERYONE down the sidelines. Not exactly what I’d call a Clydesdale Blake_bucsfan. More like a Lamborghini … looked like he was even faster in pads than without pads. We got a steal.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:50 am
Stop this nonsense about Lane Kiffin not using him properly. He wasn’t there for Howard’s entire career. The fact is, OJ did not do more in college because OJ could not do more in college. 1/5 of his yards came in 2 games. He was drafted on size and a (small) highlight reel. Sure, might be the best blocking TE ever, though.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:52 am
Those 2 games were the BCS National Championship sooo…..
I respect that you gave him credit at the end but the underestimating of OJ’s talent is getting old.
Dude will be a top 5, if not #1 tight end his entire career and I would put a lot of money on that.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:57 am
I think we all underestimate or at least isn’t talking enough about the effect OJ will have on the run game – both his inline blocking and the secondary fear of loading the box. This was a huge improvement all around for the offense.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:02 am
jmoney must be an Alabama/SEC supporter or hurt thst Dalvin didn’t come to Tampa.Guys a freak TE….Alabama has a history of not using their weapons, probably becausr they run that 1950s offense and no good qb goes there because of it. Who wants to be a qb that throws for a 1000 yards abd hands off 500 times a year to their stable of rbs.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:04 am
Absolutely. Nobody seems to realize how much he will help the OL.
We got two ELITE birds with one stone in my opinion.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Buc Realist knows all….he should be running the team apparently…SMDH…
May 5th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Dont care about his college production.
Care about how much Jameis loves TEs
Brate and Howard will unleash hovok this year.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:26 am
@MJB
Not my style!!!! I have too many other things to do!!!!!! But I will pull some strings and herd some sheep around here!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 10:30 am
The Buc Realist Says:
August 2nd, 2016 at 9:28 am
“Fans will say that WR then TE will be the biggest “need” for the 2017 draft!!!”
LOL you truly are crazy Nostrarealist. An aging VJax and only Mike Evans after that. Wow. You truly are a prophet. I was in that thread right?? I kind of remember that. I’m sure I agreed with you back then, but thanks for stating the obvious again….smh crazy mofo.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:31 am
@DR
The top speed of a thorough bred clydesdale is nearly 40 mph. And I make that comparison because you don’t see a dude that massive running that fast. Like ever lol.
And @JmoneyisGay
Lane Kiffen was the OC for 2.9 out of OJ’s 4 years. His production was what it was because he wasn’t properly utilized within that scheme. Simple as that.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:37 am
Ok wait nvm, Clydesdales can run 20-25 mph. I’ll correct myself before someone else does.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:40 am
BUC50 and St Pete, you guys are spot on, bama in the past few years OJ was there had horrible QBs and so saban told kiffin give derrick henry or bo scarborough the ball 40-50 times and let my defense shut the other team out….so oj didnt get the chances he will be getting from now on, it should be fun to watch, because the defense has to respect the pass no matter what and then it should make huge running lanes with everyone dropping, but of course all this is a HUGE IF, if the OL is crappy
May 5th, 2017 at 10:48 am
Blake_bucsfan … I get your point. The Lamborghini reference was more to acceleration than to top-end speed … OJ just flat accelerated away from everyone in that video. I’ve been watching OJ since he signed with Alabama (been a huge Bama fan since 1972) and like I said, Bucs got a steal. Never thought in my wildest dreams that he’d make it all the way to our #19 pick.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:50 am
tdtb2015: Good point about the coaching making a huge difference with our TE’s. However, that specific TE coach was Jon Embree. He, unfortunately, took a position this offseason with San Fran and Shananigan Jr. as their assistant head coach/tight ends coach.
May 5th, 2017 at 11:00 am
I’m not even going to argue. The guy had very few drops and when he turns on the jets, he trashes all of the defensive angles. You can’t teach speed and for a man that size, he might as well be Superman.
May 5th, 2017 at 11:06 am
I see a faster Jimmy Graham
OJ has the similar muscular frame
OJ is the total package that can beat defenders with size/body position or speed/YAC – pick your poison
“I see things”
Kobe Faker
May 5th, 2017 at 11:19 am
O.J. Howard had one of the worst downfeild passers in college football last year in Jalen Hurts. Now he has one of the best! He’s going for 1,200 yards and 10 TDs this year
May 5th, 2017 at 11:26 am
bama’s offense wasn’t a good fit for oj’s skill set…not to say it was bad because it did display his ability to block but he was under used in the passing game….he’ll be used properly down here….GO BUCS!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 11:47 am
“WhatdaBUCisthis Says:
May 5th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Ok so…
How nickname shall be
#Manimal”
I’m calling Brate and Howard “Gin and Juice”
You are definitely “screwed” when they are on the field together…lol
May 5th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Everybody is so wrapped up on this kid because of his explosiveness. Funny thing is I bet that not even the main reason Tampa drafted him. It’s his blocking abilities that’s got me excited. Watching his highlights and watching him manhandle his opponents was a thing of beauty. If he brings that play to the NFL he will be our most important offensive piece.
And when we get into a big games for some serious stakes it won’t be decided because we have the fastest, most athletic or the guy who can jump the highest. If you think it will be you don’t know the NFL.
Playoff games will always favor the tougher more physical team. Always have always will. The biggest weapons are often shut down so you better be able to win by other means……….and anybody thinking and saying we are gonna score 45 per game now, you just come see me in Janurary bud. This is why Green Bay is one and done every year. Why a guy like Edleman, a hobbled Peyton Manning, a bunch of no named WRs/TE, Trent Differ win rings while the top TDs getters get bounced year in and year out
May 5th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
××bunch of no named WR in seattle×××
May 5th, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Severely under utlized.
May 5th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Mediocre qbs and scheme as well. Cant comment on the coaching
May 5th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
@BucsFanfromSaintsLand
Haha, “Gin and Juice”, I might have to start using that also. Joe you should pick that up.
May 5th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
The Buc Egotist
May 5th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Nice little public master_bation session you got going on this morning Rhealist. Or should I say minorbation to be more accurate…. Don’t hurt yourself trying to reach back and pat your own back (or whatever else you might be reaching “back” for)….
OJ Howard is the best TE prospect to come out of College in many years. We are fortunate as hell that he lasted till 19. Jon Robinson is an idiot to have passed on Howard to reach for a late 1st rd talent level CB at 18.
May 5th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
@JimmyJack
I was feeling the same thing on draft night. I know he has hands and explosiveness, but I was also like damn we just got a real good OT.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
“Jon Robinson is an idiot to have passed on Howard to reach for a late 1st rd talent level CB at 18.”
Titans really needed a CB. They didnt have another pick until the middle of the 3rd. I dont blame him for “reaching” for Adoree.
Either way it was good for us lol
May 5th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Joey – the beautiful thing was how Licht KNEW that Robinson was going defense even with Howard sitting there – otherwise I guarantee you he would have been willing to trade a 4th to move up a couple spots to get in front of Tenn to draft Howard. Just like last year in the 2nd with Spence – Licht stood his ground and let the other GMs in front of him make the mistakes/picks he anticipated – and still got his intended target without paying extra for a player rated very highly on the Bucs draft board.
May 5th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
I love it too!!!
BucsFanFromSaintsLand Says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:47 am
“WhatdaBUCisthis Says:
May 5th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Ok so…
His nickname shall be
#Manimal”
I’m calling Brate and Howard “Gin and Juice”
You are definitely “screwed” when they are on the field together…lol
WORD! Let’s do this JOE
SOEbuc Says:
May 5th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
@BucsFanfromSaintsLand
Haha, “Gin and Juice”, I might have to start using that also. Joe you should pick that up.
May 6th, 2017 at 9:48 am
brate is and udfa excelling in this offense this guy is supposedly the best tight end prospect to come out in years…