Only Obstacle For Howard
July 3rd, 2019
Cusp of greatness.
He’s played in only 24 games, 75 percent of the games since he was drafted in 2017. But Bucs tight end O.J. Howard has virtually turned the NFL on its ear.
Howard, whose Instagram account shows he has a Jugs machine set up in his garage/driveway so he can catch footballs at home, has been no less than dominant. How dominant?
Well, numberscruncher Mike Clay of BSPN tapped on his calculator and showed Howard has been a man playing with boys as an NFL tight end.
The 24 year old led the tight end position in both yards per target and yards per reception during each of his first two NFL seasons (min. 40 targets).
Every time Joe thinks of how good of a player Howard has been, Joe cannot get past how these imbeciles trashed Howard. They can shove their grades where the sun never shines.
The only obstacle Howard has met and has yet to conquer is his health. That prevents him from dominating the NFL.
Health is Howard’s lone speed bump.
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:03 am
The BEST TE in football HANDS done!!
Catching, blocking, YAC, route running
Name a better TE???? (Thought so)
11-5
Go Bucs!!
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:17 am
Dude can be dominant
Hopefully the Bucs can get some great seasons from him while he’s affordable
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:23 am
He can be the best – There are two ahead of him, he has more natural talent than both
Can’t wait to see what BA does with all this TE /WR talent
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:34 am
If only the Bucs had a “real” qb!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe they will finally find one in the 2020 draft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:37 am
@BucAllNight
Gronk! Nothing else needs be said.
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:37 am
@Clw:
What two?
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:39 am
And one of the best aspects of his gameplay?
He keeps his mouth shut and just plays the game!
The Bucs failed to lure Tony Gonzalez and let him go to a division rival. They failed to lure Greg Olsen and let him go to a division rival. They tried to make it work with the talent (but not the head) of Kellen Winslow Jr. Looking back, one can say they kinda %^*ed up at the position before Cam Brate busted onto the seen.
Difference between Brate and Howard is that OJ is a more dominant blocker, his measurables leave Brate behind (height, weight, speed, etc.).
Not taking anything away from Brate at all. Great player and want to see him stay for NE-esque 2- and 3-TE sets (throw in the Canadian, Auclair).
Anyway, the Bucs may finally have their All-Pro player at the TE position.
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:39 am
@Lucky:
Gronk is retired. Nothing else needs to be said.
Name a CURRENT NFL TE better?
OJ will DESTROY Gronks records when its all said and done
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:40 am
So what about Cameron Brate? Is he chopped liver now?
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:41 am
And for what team will OJ be playing for when said records are broken?
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:42 am
Kelce
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:42 am
Sometimes you’re right, sometimes you’re not. PFF got it wrong on Howard…so far. And that’s a good thing for Bucs fans! Let’s enjoy the ride.
July 3rd, 2019 at 8:43 am
@BucAllNight
Remember you asked for a better TE – you didn’t specify current or retired….
I HOPE OJ comes close to Gronk’s records because there was definite chemistry between Brady & Gronk. I’m not sure Winston and OJ have that now – here’s to the 2019 season of TE’s
July 3rd, 2019 at 9:02 am
realist
maybe smitty will find an NFL job in 2020……NOT!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
July 3rd, 2019 at 9:25 am
He will only get better. TEs usually hit their peak years after 25. He is only 24, expect so much from him in the coming years. Hope he stays.
Kelce is probably the defacto #1 TE
We can’t forget about Kittle and Ebron either.
Brate is still producing more than OJ: over the last three seasons: 20 touchdowns and 1,540 receiving yards….OJ needs to have a great year and then Bucs will have a hard decision. Do you keep both or do you let one go?
July 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 am
Mega, they’re not only got it wrong they had him ranked dead last of all rookies! Even behind John Ross who barely made it on the field. It was the worst take/mistake I’ve seen by a numbers crunching outfit in quite some time.
July 3rd, 2019 at 10:19 am
We should take a page out of KCs book and use OJ the exact same way KC uses Kelsey. . . They have a very similar skillset. would love to see that – and get OJ more targets
GO BUCS!
July 3rd, 2019 at 10:22 am
I just bought one of those monster orange juice machines (where you feed whole oranges into it) for my wife and my anniversary. I told her I was naming it Howard.
She didn’t get it.
July 3rd, 2019 at 10:57 am
None of that matters if OJ can’t stay on the field.
July 3rd, 2019 at 11:24 am
Oh so you were saying there two TEs better than Howard in the history of the NFL. Gtfoh! He’s retired, sorry you didn’t get the memo.
July 3rd, 2019 at 11:59 am
Gotta stay on the field to be the best….hes got the tools though
July 3rd, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Been saying it since before he was even drafted:
STUD.
July 3rd, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Outside of a couple/few plays that worked out really well – Koetter did not do a nearly good enough job of scheming to Howard’s strengths.
OK – so he was used as a blocker as often as not his first 2 years – to try and help bolster a sub-par OLine… I get that. OJ Howard is a hell of a blocker for a TE. Its a big part of what makes him such a unique talent.
But this dude is a mismatch on damn near every pass play he runs a route!
Howard can fairly easily outrun LBers and Safeties – and has a big size advantage over most CBs who have the speed to keep up with him.
BA and the offensive braintrust need to start scheming for OJ in the passing game like he’s Travis Kelce. Because he IS!
July 3rd, 2019 at 5:43 pm
@Steven007….that’s a tragedy. Big miss.
July 3rd, 2019 at 5:54 pm
Howard is why you draft best available and not for need. He’s going to dominate this season.
July 3rd, 2019 at 6:47 pm
I said it before the 2017 Draft, and I’ll say it again now…Howard is the next Tony Gonzalez! He has the physical tools to be a DOMINANT weapon in the NFL for years to come. As long as he stays healthy….and the QB gets him the ball!