Injury Thwarted Stellar Season
December 21st, 2017
Among best.
It is a shame when any NFL player has his season cut short due to injury. It is a damn shame it happened Wednesday to stud Bucs tight end O.J. Howard.
The rookie got his right ankle injured scoring a touchdown in the loss Monday night to the Dixie Chicks and was placed on injury reserve Wednesday. Just on rookie numbers alone, Howard is going to be a beast.
Many in the NFL maintain tight end is a very difficult position to master. That’s probably one reason Bucs coach Dirk Koetter mainly used Howard early in the season as a blocking tight end. The longer the season grew, the more Howard became involved in the passing offense.
Howard’s rookie season ended with the Alabama product racking up 432 yards. Had he stayed healthy, he may have had one of the better rookie seasons for a tight end in recent memory.
Earlier this year, Joe did some digging on what some top NFL tight ends did in their rookie seasons. See for yourself below.
Travis Kelce: zero yards.
Cam Brate: 17 yards.
Delanie Walker: 30 yards.
Eric Ebron: 248 yards.
Kyle Rudolph: 249 yards.
Martellus Bennett: 283 yards.
Jimmy Graham: 356 yards.
Greg Olsen: 391 yards.
Tyler Eifert: 445 yards.
Jordan Reed: 449 yards.
Zach Ertz: 469 yards.
Rob Gronkowski: 546 yards.
It is safe to assume Howard, had he been available for the final two games of the season, would have surpassed Reed and Ertz.
If you are going buy that rookie numbers translate to a career, Howard just might be the next Gronkowski. No matter, he’s going to be a freaking weapon and a half.
December 21st, 2017 at 12:37 am
Lost our “juice”.
Nice rookie year Mr. Howard.
Stay focused on getting better everyday OJ and GREAT things will occur over the course of your (hopefully long) NFL career.
December 21st, 2017 at 12:42 am
You’ll come back better than ever no worries, rest your mind and prepare your mind to learn a new offense
December 21st, 2017 at 2:09 am
Jameis loves throwing to the TE so he will put up some big numbers. Hopefully the Bucs keep Brate around as well since the two of them, if competently coached, can do some big things. An offense like the Pats run, that takes advantage of two TEs would be ideal.
Jon Gruden’s west coast offense allows for a single TE to put up good numbers – so if say Gruden was to leave TV (which isn’t happening since he loves being on TV more than anyone in human history) then keeping both TEs would be a bit overkill.
December 21st, 2017 at 2:43 am
Idk I’m not sold on o’terrius yet. He hasn’t looked great run blocking. 3 fumbles on 26 catches, and it seems like all his yards are coming from the play calls getting him wide open. I’ve yet to see him use his speed and size to his advantage
December 21st, 2017 at 3:04 am
Jameis, Godzilla, Kwon, Marpet, Smith, OJ, Godwin, Beckwith, Justin Evans, Brate and Humphries … that’s ELEVEN starter-quality players drafted or signed as rookie free agents in just the past four seasons by GM Jason Licht … I honestly think Licht grades out as a top 10 GM in this league.
OJ Howard was the right choice and is an absolute monster … I LOVE THE KID!
December 21st, 2017 at 3:06 am
Ziggy Ansah, Dontari Poe, and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Cut Baker and Ayers.
Trade back 3 times!!
I want a late 1st rounder and FOUR 2nd rounders!!
The 2nd round is full of gems!!!
You can find 4 legit stars in the 2nd round.
I am all about trading down and getting 2nd rounders!
December 21st, 2017 at 3:09 am
RodMunch,
The “West Coast Offense” is NOT a formation or set, it’s just an offensive philosophy … Gruden could easily use 90% 2-TE sets and still run a “West Coast Offense”. He may not be as comfortable doing it as, say, Josh McDaniels, but he definitely could do it … and to me, it’s a must … the Brate/OJ two-TE set could be absolutely devastating for the next 5-10 years if they both stay healthy and I believe Jameis prefers them both on the field at the same time on every play if at all possible.
December 21st, 2017 at 6:14 am
Kids gonna be just fine. He is a freak.
December 21st, 2017 at 7:12 am
NYG Evan Engram – REC: 63 | YDS: 684 | TD’s: 5
December 21st, 2017 at 7:18 am
How about the next Jeremy Shockey
December 21st, 2017 at 7:55 am
The kid is fantastic and a solid citizen…..none of the ASJ BS coming from him. What a great pick….one of the true no-brainers from any draft.
December 21st, 2017 at 8:01 am
100% agree he is going to be a better than average TE, just not sure this was the pick the bucs needed, from RB to DL and even interior lineman the bucs are so far away from competing for a playoff spot, hopefully next coach and GM can build up the team in other areas to compete in the NFC South
December 21st, 2017 at 8:01 am
LUV- If his career is like either, I’ll take that. This kid should be good for a long while. Just think, he was highly under-utilized. Imagine an offensive game-plan that uses TEs like the Patriots.
*Note to Coach Koetter- You have two dynamic TEs on your roster. Shelf the long ball until you get it worked out and bludgeon the opposition with your TEs. That is, of course, if you’re still here next year.
December 21st, 2017 at 8:04 am
Evan engram can’t block luv my Bucs he’s a gimmick player. O.J. ten times the Football player he is.
December 21st, 2017 at 8:13 am
Grt1
Nah bruh – he can block. Maybe not to the level of OJ. Howard.
But the effort is there. He’s further along then most on that list – at this early stage in his career.
Plus I would never call a weapon a gimmick.
Especially since he’s such – a key element of their offense.
The kid’s a beast (a match up nightmare)
And like OJ – He’s only gonna get better.
December 21st, 2017 at 8:16 am
Bucsfanman
Bigtime – Gruden/Bill Callahan could do wonders with this kid.
December 21st, 2017 at 8:47 am
Carolina is going to give our Bucs an ‘Electric Spanking” come this Sunday. make sure you have your libations ready to…ease your pain. It could get ugly. The Pantheres seemingly have..upped their game.
December 21st, 2017 at 9:02 am
oj had a good season….a little underutilized but productive when he got his chance….GO BUCS!!!
December 21st, 2017 at 9:13 am
LUV- This is but ONE reason that this season’s offense will go down as one of the most disappointing. How do you NOT involve these dynamic players in your game-plan?!
December 21st, 2017 at 9:42 am
Very happy that he is on our team.
We as fans could say he wasn’t used enough, but he also wasn’t abused as a rookie. He now knows what it will take to train and prepare for the next season accordingly.
December 21st, 2017 at 10:07 am
PA like the positive vibes but the bucs are 4-12, and he better rise up and do more and maybe take a leadership roll because he is coming from an elite winning program and does not need to be infected with the losing mentality that hovers over 1 buc
December 21st, 2017 at 11:33 am
Not if blocking isn’t his greatest strength. Reminds me of Jimmy Graham. I’d say Shannon Sharpe but not sure if he can truck defenders.
How he and Brate weren’t in every red zone play is beyond me.
December 21st, 2017 at 11:47 am
^^^ Bingo! Why DB? Why?!
December 21st, 2017 at 12:47 pm
@Luvmybucs
You absolutely can not compare Evan Engrams rookie year to O.J.s.
Completely different circumstances, every other major target on the Giants other than Shepherd was lost to injury this season. And he was utilized as number #1 target.
Not to mention, Engram, who I said would be very much worth a 1st round pick in April, is basically a huge Slot receiver, and not a true Y Tight end.
If Dirk had actually used O.J. as a receiver in every game, you’d be looking at the most dominant season a Rookie tight end has ever had.
December 21st, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Not to mention that O.J. got nearly as many Yards, and 1 more touchdown than Engram, on practically 1/3rd as many receptions.
From which you can extrapolate that O.J. is far more Efficient/Explosive.
December 21st, 2017 at 7:13 pm
OJ won’t realize his potential as long as Koetter and his coaching staff is still here Fameis included. Unfortunately being the Bucs had a 9-7 Koetter deserves one more just like Raheem. After next year no excuses or pardons