Lots Of Howard & Brate Exploration Coming
March 26th, 2019
Bruce Arians was talking O.J. Howard today
You want X-factors in the Tampa Bay offense?
O.J. Howard is the biggest, Joe believes. So Joe asked Bucco Bruce Arians about the development of Howard within his offense this morning at the swanky Arizona Biltmore resort in Phoenix.
Howard might be the most explosive and dangerous tight end in football. But the last Bucs coaching staff didn’t showcase him that much while Howard was gaining experience — and then he got hurt.
Howard took a strong leap in his game last year, but what will Arians see in the 24-year-old manbeast from Alabama?
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, do you think it’ll take time in practice to really figure out all the layers of things that O.J. Howard can do?
Bruce Arians: Oh, I don’t think there’s any doubt. Yeah, he’s a unique talent. How well can he play farther away from the ball because he’s going to be a mismatch? And then Cam [Brate] is the same way. He works better inside it looks like, but let’s see what he looks like out there. That’s the beauty of having the two [simultaneous] practices. You get so many more reps. I can have you a whole day playing split receiver. Next day you’re a tight end. So they’re going to get a ton of reps at both and then [it’ll be] on tape.
Exciting times for Bucs fans. Joe is pumped about Arians testing the limits and abilities of Howard. Joe has a feeling Howard will get good grades.
March 26th, 2019 at 3:42 pm
I LOVE THIS MAN…. Y’all better recognize that now that Gronk retired it’s O.J. Howards’ time and BA knows that. Splitting him out, is better than him abusing a line backer? Maybe, maybe not, I just love that BA is THINKING about these things. Trying new things.
March 26th, 2019 at 3:42 pm
OJ is poised for a breakout year
Can’t wait to see this offense, the defense, not so much
March 26th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Why OJ only played 50-60% of the snaps is beyond me. He rarely had more than 4 targets. No TE slip screens. It’s ridiculous how much he was underused when healthy
March 26th, 2019 at 3:51 pm
@Andrew – Get out of my head!!!! I felt the same way. Dirk woefully underused O.J. last season. Anyone with a brain can tell he is a beast and one of the biggest mismatches at his position. He needs to be out there for almost all of the snaps, even as a decoy(and he would be a hell of a decoy) because defenses HAVE to account for him. Reading about BA’s experiment with OJ playing outside kind of proves, the days of under utilizing Mr. Howard are over.
March 26th, 2019 at 3:54 pm
In Bruce I trust
March 26th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
OJ is the greatest talent on the Bucs. Now get him the ball as much as possible.
March 26th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Joe,
Why do these conversations sound so different than what we have had in the past. Are you asking different questions or is it we don’t have a coach who is in the dark trying to find the light switch. He just walks in and says turn the freakin light on, Alexa!!!
March 26th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Instead of saying Alexa, turn on the lights?
March 26th, 2019 at 4:09 pm
Joe frequently rails Lovie Smith for being inept, but what you stated here is exhibit #47 as to why Dirk Koetter was also inept.
March 26th, 2019 at 4:28 pm
@Doctor_berto – umm Mr. Mike Evans (the current GOAT BUC at his position) would like to have a word with you.
March 26th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
To be a mismatch OJ first of all has to be on the field……and then he needs to run a route……and yes, he is a BEAST!!!
Try covering Mike Evans and OJ Howard…..TWIN BEASTS!!!
March 26th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
BA is gonna love falling asleep dreaming up OJH plays
March 26th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
“As the originator and only member of the Free-OJ-Movement…
Kobe knew and had the vision 2 years ago while the Bucsheep was in the sidelines, that OJ was a generational player
OJ is the #1 mismatch in all of NFL
there should absolutely be no difficulty scoring in the redzone with this player
BA offense has to work with OJ and than out
*Kobe just finished his 3rd day Tampa Bay Buccaneer tryout…
Kobe is starting to actually like the feeling of this wedgie wearing these hot pants..
Kobe was walking by and 1 of the women coaches with the barbed wire tattoo winked at me”
Kobe Faker
March 26th, 2019 at 5:03 pm
I just don’t see how this roster is going to compete.
March 26th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Should have been a top 5 scoring offense last year not 12th when you are 3rd in yardage.
All the other top 5 yardage teams were at least top 6 in scoring:
Chiefs at 1 / 1 (35 PPG),
Rams at 2 / 2, (33 PPG)
Steelers at 4 / 6 (27 PPG)
Patriots at 5 / 4 (27 PPG)
Then you have the Bucs at 2 in yards / 12 in scoring (slightly under 25 PPG)
2017 same crap. 9th in yardage / 18th in scoring.
Koetter = move the ball well then turtle out for missed FGs or horrible execution in the red zone. You can blame the players “choosing to suck” but why is this Dirk Koetter’s entire history?
2018- 2 / 12
2017 – 9 / 18
2016 – 18 / 18 (omg he finally did it)
2015 – 5 / 20 (wtf)
2014 (Falcons) – 8 / 12
2013 – 14 / 20
2012 – 8 / 7
That’s a pretty damning trend IMO. Even with the Falcons, 2 out of 3 years we saw the same trend that occured with the Bucs in 3 out of 4 years.
He has never had a top 5 scoring offense.
On average that’s a ranking of like 9th in yards but only 16th in scoring.
March 26th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Bucs 3rd not 2nd in yardage my mistake/typo*
March 26th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
“OJ is why we dont need Hump
OJ should be getting all the short passing receptions ala Travis Kelce
2 years ago, Kobe Faker claimed that the offense has to go thru OJ and Godwin
Kobe has posted…and It shall be”
Kobe Faker
March 26th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
@Chan Epic
I agree lol
March 26th, 2019 at 7:32 pm
I was real impressed how much more dangerous and how much better OJ played in year two. If he plays as good or better and stays healthy, I don’t see why he can’t be the best TE in the league. He is a scary weapon and similar to Gronk he is a downfield threat that will stay and block your head off as well.
March 26th, 2019 at 8:49 pm
TE & WR are probably the 2 areas on this team that are above average to exceptional. If we only had a line that could block consistently, RB’s that could gain more than 3 yards per carry, and a QB that had at least a 2-1 TD/INT ratio, and an average defense, we would be one scary team and probably win more than 5-6 games a year.
March 26th, 2019 at 9:04 pm
Need to trade Brate and McCoy to OAK to get back into the first round.
Get pick 24 and CB Conley in return.
Draft Josh Jacobs with pick from OAK.
Another dirty DB for Bowles.
Offensive = 🤯.
March 26th, 2019 at 11:05 pm
Been telling ya’ll since before we even drafted him…
One word:
STUD
March 26th, 2019 at 11:22 pm
The Juice is Loose!!
March 27th, 2019 at 12:45 am
Why do people continue to insist we draft a RB? Until we get an offensive line, it isn’t gonna matter who is back there. There’s only one Barry Sanders and he ain’t coming back to football. I’m not saying Barber is or isn’t the answer, but I know we need an OL a whole lot more than another RB to take hits in the backfield.
March 27th, 2019 at 12:54 am
And I have been raving about how the football gods smiled down on us poor losing Buccaneers when O J Howard fell to us at pick number 19.
Now I am raving about how those same gods conspired to have Bucco Bruce Arians retire for one year and then come to lead us out of our wanderings in the desert for the past 11 years.
They have left me giddy and raving mad. 🙃
______________
Go Bucs!!!!!
March 27th, 2019 at 6:45 am
The only missing piece on the offense is the right side of the Oline. Hoping Cappa develops to a solid right tackle this year along with drafting a replacement for Dotson at right tackle.