Weapons For Winston
July 29th, 2017
Bucs WR DeSean Jackson (1) battles CB Vernon Hargreaves for a bomb in the driving rain Saturday. It was Jackson’s second splash play of the morning. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
For the better part of 18 months, Joe screamed bloody murder that even with stud Mike Evans and NFL leader in touchdowns for tight ends, Cam Brate, the Bucs needed #WeaponsForWinston.
After watching two days at training camp, let Joe tell you, Jameis’ new toys are making a profound difference.
Anyone there today saw the difference with their own two eyes. Jiminy Christmas, what a show DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard put on!
As Joe stated in his practice notes, Jackson was virtually unstoppable. On his first score, Jameis underthrew Jackson (remember, those that are irked Jameis isn’t perfect always bellyache about his long balls) and it didn’t matter. He fielded the ball with a basket-like catch and raced through the secondary. Housecall!
The next score Jackson had was in the driving rain. He caught a tipped pass and still raced for a touchdown.
Joe has to confess if not enlighten: When one covers an NFL team, the rest of the NFL is like Indian cricket. You rarely get to watch games, sans playoffs, Thursday nights and Monday nights and, maybe, if lucky, the second half of a Sunday night game. Covering an NFL game on Sundays is an all-day deal. For a 1 p.m. game, you are sort of isolated from at least noon until maybe 7 p.m. or later.
As a result, since JoeBucsFan.com has been around for 10 seasons, Joe hasn’t had much of an opportunity to watch Jackson. But holy smoke, this guy is just unreal. Joe was talking to a Bucs big shot after practice today and Joe mentioned to him that Jackson is a “freaking human highlight film.” The Bucs suit broke out into a huge smile as if Joe just informed him Rachel Watson was waiting for a one-on-one wrestling match between the sheets.
Joe has never seen anything like this Jackson on a Bucs roster. Fans may not have either since perhaps Joey Galloway. Perhaps.
Then there is O.J. Howard, the rookie tight end. If there is a pattern Joe has noticed in only two days, it’s that America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, treats Howard like he does Evans. Jameis always throws high to Howard for two reasons: Howard towers over safeties and Howard, like Evans, can go up and get the damned ball.
Today, Howard made the catch of training camp so far. He was going down the middle. The ball was tipped by J.J. Wilcox and Howard caught it with his arm, not hand, but his left arm as he was falling backwards. It was sick.
Friends, Joe cannot tell you what a difference Jackson makes, Howard too. That’s not even factoring rookie Chris Godwin yet.
Joe isn’t stepping out on a limb, but Joe senses Bucs fans are going to be treated to an offense that they have never seen before in franchise history.
Barring injuries, this offense looks to have the potential to be elite. Explosive.
The Bucs uploaded videos of Jackson and Howard’s catches to social media and Joe has them below for your enjoyment.
😱😱😱@TheRealOjHoward one-handed grab! pic.twitter.com/GTxomobvJ1
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) July 29, 2017
July 29th, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Great stuff joes!!
July 29th, 2017 at 9:18 pm
Jameis needs to work on leading hiswrs so they can get rac
July 29th, 2017 at 9:19 pm
My big muthughpfuccing stick just got bigger!
July 29th, 2017 at 9:27 pm
Really exciting the Bucs have great receivers and TE’s it’s been a crime that he hadn’t had legitimate weapons outside of EVans last two years
July 29th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Some were telling the sheep long ago!!!!!! And, wait to see what it looks like in the back half of the season!!!!! Their will be much space for explosive plays!!!!!!!!!!
It a “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!
July 29th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Anyone else worried about the tipped balls? Hoping Winston ups his games and these weapons aren’t wasted on a qb who is inaccurate
July 29th, 2017 at 9:39 pm
LOL “Rhealist.” 🙂
July 29th, 2017 at 10:10 pm
Our “inaccurate” QB specimen was elite on passes under duress last year!!! He’s thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. These weapons will NOT be wasted!! The defenses we face will be wasted drowning their sorrows in Crown Royal on Gamenights……after being dissected by the best QB this franchise has EVER had. Worrying about Jaboo is wasted time and emotional energy. GO BUCS!!
July 29th, 2017 at 10:17 pm
I was at camp today. The energy was unreal. Between HBO wandering the sidelines and our Bucs playing thru the driving rain, I’ve never felt optimism like that that was through the fans, sidelines, and management.
As good as the offense looked, VJIII looked incredible out there covering DJax today. Looking for big things from him this year.
July 29th, 2017 at 11:00 pm
Hopefully djax came back and told Winston to put more air under it and let it rip. If djax can’t catch up to it i don’t think anyone else can.
July 29th, 2017 at 11:32 pm
Thanks for that update on him mike. I’m looking for a sizable stride in VH3 this season. VH gone be sick wit it this season.
July 30th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Exactly what I expected – but still great to see it happening on the field.
Winston, Evans and Howard are going to be the nucleus of this team offensively for a looooong time. And with DJax here to open up the field for everyone else and play “human highlight film” over the top for at least the next 3 years – I expect big things from this Bucs offense. BIG THINGS!!
Look out NFL – here comes the new breed of Buccaneers.
July 30th, 2017 at 11:04 am
@Pickgrin
Exactly what I said and expected……..a year ago!!!!!!!!
OMG its a “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
May 24th, 2016 at 8:32 am
I hope that next years draft is deep with WR and TE, because that will be the Bucs biggest needs that will be appearent into the offseason!!!! All the TE’s seem to be good at one specific thing, I would like (and the front office and team) is a little more diverse in the position especially!!! And more speed at WR!!!!!!!