SEC In The NFL
July 28th, 2017
Like Saturdays everyday.
So far, Bucs rookie tight end O.J. Howard isn’t having a rough time transitioning to the NFL.
He’s sort of used to it, believe it or not.
Yesterday, speaking with the local pen and mic club, Howard was asked about well he is fitting in with grown-arsed men in the NFL and he explained how he’s prepared.
“I would say mostly mental, just knowing the little things,” Howard said. “In the NFL, every guy is really good. Like Coach said earlier, it’s like the Alabama-LSU matchup every day. That’s exactly what it is – it’s an SEC game every day for me. There are no non-conference games.”
That’s a pretty cool way to look at it for a rookie from Alabama. Howard also noted that when he grew up, he had no favorite NFL team because he was too busy with his personal responsibilities to watch much NFL.
“We really never had time in college, honestly, at my school,” Howard said. “We had something to do every day – even on Sundays we had to go in and report. So I never got a chance to really watch football except on Thursday nights. I didn’t have a favorite team. I would just turn on the TV and watch football. I wasn’t really looking at the Xs and Os as much. So not really a lot, I didn’t watch a lot of NFL football.”
Joe loves Howard’s line of thinking. In the SEC, you better bring your A-game each and every Saturday or you will get throttled. That’s the way all players, much less rookies, should approach practice. You know, iron sharpens iron.
As for the SEC and elite? If Howard ever mentioned that to America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, Joe is certain Howard got a lecture from Jameis.
July 28th, 2017 at 10:33 am
at least OJ will get a break in training camp when they experiment with the soft one at DE…
July 28th, 2017 at 10:34 am
Here’s hoping to winning as many championships as Alabama has.
July 28th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Jesus, tmax, is there any article that you don’t somehow relate to McCoy? Give it an F-ing rest man.
July 28th, 2017 at 10:56 am
Hey Joe, any chance u can get predictions on OJ’s offensive production this year?
Am I the only one thinking he won’t have big numbers this first year and we will initially be exploiting his blocking and intermediate, dump off catches?
July 28th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Lunchbox
everything relates to mccoy until the leader of the losing culture is infecting some other organization. Times have changed we have winners now. the choirboy team captain experiment was a colossal failure. it’s time get rid of the mentally weak career losers. his average production will not be missed.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:13 am
@Tmaxcon
You are welcome to post whatever you like….but to turn an OJ Howard article into an anti-GMC one is simply obsessive…..I am starting to be concerned about your mental health. Hopefully you will join the rest of us and have something more useful to comment on.
As for OJ Howard….I am quite sure he is ready for the NFL….SEC or not.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:23 am
I watched this interview earlier and encourage everyone to do the same. Number one thing that jumps out is how polar opposite he is to ASJ, and I rooted hard for ASJ. Howard seems to have it figured out. The other thing that jumped out, he is a big, big man. It is shocking when you look at his athletic numbers just what kind of athlete he is. He has the opportunity to be a top 5 all time tight end, my only question is, doe he want that? He seems to like to do the work and thats not what I’m speaking of. The TE reminds me a bit of the LB. You have to be a little bit of a bully to do it well. OJ, might be that, his willingness to compete as a blocker and ability to show up in big games tells me that he really might have it.
Mike, I think he could have a monster year without being a fantasy darling. IMO, he’s going to be a big play waiting to happen and will have 8-10 of those moments that change games. He also makes the running game better right now. Brate might be the real winner here tho as teams will even more take him for granted as they worry of the threat that Howard and Jackson bring.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:23 am
Tamoabaybucfan and lunchbox thankyou. This is absolutely ridiculous. Howard transitioning to the NFL has nothing to do with McCoy. Joe seriously when are you gonna step in. It’s out of control
July 28th, 2017 at 11:25 am
TJ MAXX is right. McCoy has become a cry baby now…. Somebody call the Wambulance
July 28th, 2017 at 11:26 am
“tmaxcon Says:
July 28th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Lunchbox
everything relates to mccoy”
Only in your weird world man. I didn’t have any thought about McCoy until I saw “tmaxcon”. Even when McCoy leaves; most will always see your name and think “oh yeah that negative dude who obsesses/obsessed over Gerald McCoy”.
Oddly enough you are the person most likely to keep his name relevant long after he is gone. Your negative obsession actually gives him life in articles in which his name doesn’t need to be mentioned. You’re basically your own worst enemy lol.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:28 am
The fact he did as well as he did in shorts was telling. When the pads come on, Howard will start to reveal just what he can be. His desire to learn seems to be extremely high. This is a young man that could’ve gotten by on athleticism alone but seems to enjoy the process of learning. In the interview he took pride, you could see it, in that he improved every day of the off season. Thats a game changer.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:32 am
Back to Howard – man I can’t f&cking wait!
Just the highlights of this dude blocking are fun. He held his own against Myles freaking Garret and it’s like having an extra OT on the field. I really think he’ll be huge for the run game especially on runs outside; while Marpet at C should hopefully improve runs up the middle.
But what I’m most excited about; is a chip block type out route to Howard in space where a 5 yard pass becomes a 40 yard play or a TD. i.e. Alabama-Clemson OJ Howard plays.
For me it was Myles Garett and OJ Howard if I was given a choice of 2 players in that entire draft.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Lord, Lunchbox, TB, the additional irony is that Trollmax/Cancermax has clearly become the leader of the loser posters culture as assuredly as he eye rollingly calls out GMC in a similar manner. The difference being, the fact is that GMC is widely acknowledged as an actual, bonafide good football player. You can have an opinion but you can’t change facts. What has Maxi added aside from his vitriol? And the further irony as Lord pointed out is he’s keeping GMC more relevant than he already is by inserting him into every possible post have to do with a myriad of difference players. So keep it up Cancermax. We all know you wish you knew how to quit him. And you keep proving us right, secret GMC nut hugger.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Joe couldn’t use those two names in the same sentence.
July 28th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Dude! If you’re a Buc fan and you are not ready to jump out of your skin, there is something wrong with you!
Somebody brought it up yesterday. Remember what Koetter did with Tony Gonzales?
Picture this formation: 2 TE; Howard/Brate, 2 WR; Evans/DJax, RB; Martin or…
Get the picture?! It’s gonna be bad for opposing defenses!
July 28th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
All these people talking crap about McCoy are just delusional d!cks.
July 28th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
He played against a lot of teams that had most of their defense drafted.
The Confrence had a down year but still had 16 first round picks.
July 28th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
B1G > SEC
July 28th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
I am very excited to see Howard release into the open on play action. It is so refreshing to hear and see his actions compared to ASJ. Even more exciting is the fact that Auclair shows the same abilities as Howard. All 3 of Brate, Howard and Auclair have amazing hands.
July 28th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Fella’s I do believe our guys Brate and Hump will be working their tails off to stave off Godwin and Auclair. Nice luxury to have. McNichols will also get his share of touches.
July 28th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
@tnew
As always excellent posts.
Howard seems to have it figured out.
Exactly. My wife and I say of someone like that…he “gets it”.
And it’s no secret…he had a wonderful upbringing and has been a model person since his youngest years.
I think #3’s family also get high marks for producing such a great personality.
Sadly we all don’t get that break. I remember hiding under the bed while my old man was beating the crap out of my mother while I worried if he was klling her. And that’s NOTHING compared to what some of these guys have gone through before they hit the league.
Worked out great for me and hopefully any Bucs who arrive with family issues.
As much as I dislike Aquib Talib when I think back on the disfunction of my own youth I have to cut him some slack. Bad parent(s) and being raised in a horrid neighborhood can really mess with your head. OJ and #3 are the opposite and I give them both props for taking advantage of their blessings. Good on them..
July 29th, 2017 at 1:10 am
Watched that press conference yesterday and thought “Oh my dear lord, this guy is an OT with less body fat that has ridiculous speed and hands.” Was afraid I would have nightmares of him beating me into the ground but then remembered how much I’ve heard that he is a very mature, nice young man. Unlike that gigantic jackass ASJ.