Appreciating The Deep Shot
August 22nd, 2017
O.J. Howard talks bomb
O.J. Howard has strong memories of the limited deep shots down the field he got at the University of Alabama.
They’re not all pretty, and one was conjured today after Howard caught a spectacular bomb from Ryan Fitzpatrick at One Buc Palace.
In 11-on-11 work from the 30 yard line, there was Fitz faking a handoff left to Charles Sims. Fitz rolled hard to the right and planted to throw across the field to the back of the end zone’s left side. Howard skied for the touchdown.
It was Joe’s play of the day at practice, at least the prettiest.
It’s been years, Howard said, since he was asked to run that route, probably because he never connected on it.
“We had that actual play [at Alabama]. The three times I ran it in college was freshmen year, three times and all three times I got tangled up or I slipped,” Howard told Joe. “It’s more of like a fancy trick play. So it’s a play I ran before. I fell twice, stumbled coming out of the line, and that third time A.J. [McCarron] barely overthrew me against LSU.”
Howard said executing today on the deep ball was fun but it’s just one step in helping the team in all phases of the game.
Joe thinks today’s effort was one of those plays that gets filed away in Dirk Koetter’s mind. The success rate on that call is always very low, but Howard got it done.
Joe can’t wait to see if Koetter opens up Howard down the field when the real action starts in Miami.
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:47 am
No linebacker can cover the juice
“1 of the best disguise plays is when the tightend is lined up to pretend to block but leaks thru traffic while his defender is caught in traffic or playing the run”
Kobe Faker
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:50 am
So excited for the Rookie… hoping Dirk can give us the look the patriots had with their 2 athletic tight ends a few years ago. Especially without the Dougernaut the first 3 games. We may need that wrinkle.
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:50 am
joe do you expect oj to have much of a impact in the passing game this year? based on the first 2 pre season games i’m expecting a limited impact from him in that department maybe later on in the season jameis starts to look his way more in the red zone but right now it’s looking like the top 4 targets for winston are going to be mike, brate, d jax, and humphries
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:56 am
““1 of the best disguise plays is when the tightend is lined up to pretend to block but leaks thru traffic while his defender is caught in traffic or playing the run””
Pretty sure that’s the play call that we had when he caught the pass that took us to like the 5 yard line. Defenses are f*cked
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:58 am
His value will be felt down the stretch. I don’t seem them featuring him at TE over your returning LEAGUE LEADING, touchdown Eating, UDFA Machine, Mean Monster of The Beast mode, Cam ‘O not needed, Lord of the Greats. Sir Brate.
Just saying. Go gettem OJ, your gonna have to earn them targets and a generational type nick name like.
The Muscle Hamster
August 22nd, 2017 at 12:03 pm
I see it in someone’s comment almost everyday. Joe have you seen any 12 package or two tightend sets in training camp thus far??? I can’t recall any in the previous two games. I could be wrong tho.
August 22nd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
My money says we’ll see a h3ll of lot more 3 wide than 2 tight.
August 22nd, 2017 at 12:12 pm
agreed
I like how koetter is really not putting ME and Djax on the field together or downfield both together. koetter gave Djax a little slant and a run around. koetter isnt giving defensive coord nothing till the real games start
I still have no idea how defenses will play our offensive weapons outside. 2 deep? that means 2 safetys and 2 corners 20+ yards away from LOS. 7 def players to cover that huge open space in the 2nd level?
ME vs opposing teams 2nd best corner all year long? is this going to be legal?
August 22nd, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Lol Nos, number 1, that’s money you wouldn’t cough up anyhow. Number 2, you’ve been wrong damn near everytime you’ve said a word this offseason. And number 3 they have used numerous 12 personal groupings so far in the preseason.
August 22nd, 2017 at 1:16 pm
No excuses for Koetter for not turning this into a top 5 offense this season. I’ve seen him do more with less. That playbook should be WIDE open.
August 22nd, 2017 at 2:34 pm
Sounds similar to the play JW to ASJ in the opening game against ATL last year
August 22nd, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Bucs have run “12 personnel” on about 30% of all 1st team plays in 2 pre-season games so far.
As often as not when they have 2 TEs in the game – both are lining up on the same side – including side by side at the LOS next to the Tackle heavily overloading one side. Its a run look and has been mainly used as such – but can also easily be passed out of with one of those TE slipping out over the middle and the other left at the line to help pass protect.
August 22nd, 2017 at 4:00 pm
I’m so eager to see the creativity Dirk uses with the three “unconventional” players we have on Offense: DJax, Howard, and McNichols.. We got a taste of it the other night w/ that end-around w/ DJax, can’t wait to see what else Koetter is brewing.
August 22nd, 2017 at 4:57 pm
@kobe, if the opposing safeties are play 20 yards off LOS. Why would the corners, also, be playing 20 off? They’d either be playing press or 5 yards off. But I digress
August 22nd, 2017 at 5:22 pm
sorry i ment when both me and djax go downfield with the corners, both safties will double cover each reciever behind them…causing 4 defenders away