O.J. Howard Put On Blast
September 14th, 2019
Called out by coach.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
When the Bucs drafted tight end O.J. Howard in the first round in 2017, the Bucs ignored positions crying for help and apparently they forgot they already had a damn good tight end on the roster.
Howard is a special talent and has shown he can stretch the field like few tight ends Joe has ever seen. When he’s healthy.
All offseason new Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians raved about how special his tight ends are, starting with Howard, and how they gave Arians and the Bucs massive firepower defenses had matchup nightmares over.
Through two games of this season, the only thing Howard has shown is he needs to be benched.
His opening-day fumble cost the Bucs points. That along with not hauling in a pass that hit him in the hands and instead was an interception were his highlights in the first game. Also, Howard is often getting totally blown up trying to block.
Joe’s trying to figure out what has happened to the guy. Well apparently, Bucco Bruce Arians is running out of patience with his stud tight end and in his day-after presser yesterday made sure everyone knows he’s not pleased.
Asked about Howard’s less-than-ideal play and what is the source, Arians was blunt.
“You’d probably have to ask him,” Arians said. “He’s got so much talent and he can play a heck of a lot better than he’s playing.”
Hhhmmm…
Joe is starting to sense an old coach like Arians is using an old school tactic to motivate Howard. Hey, it worked with Vernon Hargreaves.
Remember early in May, Hargreaves, one of the Bucs’ starting cornerbacks, didn’t practice and Arians said he had to get his mind right? Not only did Hargreaves get his mind right, he’s playing solid ball and had the play of the game Thursday night.
Basically, Arians is saying to Howard publicly that he is disappointed and that he’s a much better player than he is showing, and that he needs to step up his game for the good of the team and himself.
To be fair, Howard had a solid block on Peyton Barber’s touchdown run Thursday night. Other than that, Howard is often getting lit up when trying to block. Joe has blocked for his fridge better when people try to drink his beer than Howard has been blocking this season.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Get em Bruce
September 14th, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Another player low standard bucfan labled a beast and enshrined in hall of fame without a single great season. No one hands out feee passes faster than libtards and bucfan
September 14th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
It’s true.
Howard has badly underperformed.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:46 pm
he needs to get his mind right!!!!!!…we need him if we’re going to win….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 14th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Been saying it for many months on here. His stats historically are grossly overstated by several busted coverages where there is no one within 15 yards of him when he catches it (and it’s not because he outran the defense, dudes either fell over or just busted assignments). That is not to say he is not a good player, but it is to say that we haven’t seen as much from him as we think we have. Hopefully he keeps his head up and gets coached up and can be a big part of this thing.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
OJ is the “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane” player on this team. If he keeps this up, trade him for an Olineman. He had some costly fumbles last year as well. He needs to up his game ASAP. He hasn’t done anything to justify his draft status. I have no problem with BA calling out players that aren’t getting it done.
September 14th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
No clue what his health is really doing??? Him and the Bucs won’t tell you but I feel he’s not 100%.
If he is healthy he’ll get back into his groove soon enough. Especially if we keep winning games.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Good
September 14th, 2019 at 2:02 pm
Give Tanner Hudson some snaps in the big boy league. Help determine what Brate is worth next year in TB if Hudson’s Brate 2.0
September 14th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
@Pelbuc… Spot on. Spectacular athlete but I’m sure how much of a football player he is.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Young dudes need to be put on blast. It helps them,it doesnt hurt. Hes a big boy and can handle it. Watch out for OJ in next weeks game.6 catches 84 yards and 1 TD.
NO DROPS. AND GIVE UP 0 SACKS.
I have faith in OJ.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
The only tard around here is t max. Or maybe he’s just a turd?
Not worried about OJ… yet. He’s a stud. We’ve seen better blocking and way better route running from him, so I have to wonder if he’s dealing with some injury or something.
Or maybe he just needs to his head out of his @ss. I would tell t max to do the same, but his has been lodged up there for so long the only thing that comes out is sh!t, so there’s no point.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
Still cant understand why the insistence on Trading Brats.
WTF is your goal?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Brate
September 14th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
That’s put on blast?
September 14th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Tell me about it. He is my TE in two of my Money leagues.
Big fat ZEROs in the points column Sucks!
September 14th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
He got blown up on one running play from Thursday. to be fair, I think he was trying to block McCoy one on one and was giving away 50+ lbs.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Please name the last time OJ was a Stud in a Game !!! Everyone knows he’s athletic !!! Gerald May be more talented than Suh , but I ll take Suh 10 out of 10 times
September 14th, 2019 at 2:28 pm
None of our TEs have done much but block…..Brate has a couple of TDs called back….other than that he’s practically done nothing…..nothing from Auclair.
I think we’ve needed to keep our TEs in to block because the Oline is struggling somewhat.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Another bad draft choice by Licht. Not that he isn’t a good player, but we already had Brate. They’ve been leaving him in to block more then catch passes, which means they would’ve been better off drafting an OT instead of him. With Brate, Hudson, and Auclair, see if we can get a draft high draft choice for him before he goes on IR again. SB, I always draft two TE’s. This year I drafted OJ, and the rookie Hockenson from Detroit. Glad I benched OJ Thursday night. He’s being out played by a rookie.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Trade him to Miami for Minkah
September 14th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Howard will be fine once Jameis gets more time and familiarity with him in this offense. Same with brate.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
99.97…things that make you go hmmm?
How can such a talented player suck instantaneously?
What happened to “we don’t max-protect; they can’t cover everyone”? He has been assigned to block pass rushing DEs & LBs. Isn’t that the job of a tackle? Otherwise, yes, his blocking has sucked.
Ease up on the praise of Vernon. Ole boy let DJ catch 8 or 9 balls; all but one a long pass (smh) the rest we’re a slant that he still hasn’t stopped. Had the Cats run that slant at the goal line, game over! Vern needs to be in the slot, not outside. No, I don’t know who else should be outside. We picked-up a DB in the 2nd round but…
September 14th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Trade him to the Dolphins for Minkah.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
Oops! Didn’t see your post jmarkbuc!
But I agree
September 14th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Admit not too fond of OJ as the 19th overall pick when drafted. Besides his down the sideline wide open catches he has half a dozen nice catches over the top. Still hope he returns to the sure handed threat he has shown prior to the present funk.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Sluglife…I would love to keep Cam. He’s already looked good for the small amount of targets. Should’ve had back-to-back TDs in game one. But he’s getting older with some health issues and we could get a serious deal. We need to figure out how we’re gonna keep the young guys like Godwin, Vea, OJ, Whitehead, VH3.
September 14th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
“Though Tampabaybucfan called my Dad a dimwit…
My Dad and I agree 100%
BA and Leftfoot has no idea nor his schemes favor the TE as pass catcher
BAs SCHEME AND PLAY DESIGN IS OUTDATED AND DOESNT WORK IN THE MODERN NFL
BAs comments and statements that his scheme will and is to the strenths of the QB and the offensive players is total BS
JWs strength is mobility. He is great outside the pocket and throwing on the move. BA and Lefty has him stay inside the pocket and read the defense and throwing to the 3rd or 4th read
JW under Klueless in the last 6 games of the year, had him rollout and run for the first or away from pressure and sacks. this was highly effective limiting the ints and having JW throw on the run and not from his backfoot the last 4 years, JW is among the best on 3rd down because he rollouts and breaks the defense down and open passing lanes…BA wants him to stay in the pocket hence the happy feet as he trys to manuever around the landmines
BA wants a mobile JW to be a stationary Big Ben, Palmer and Manning and stay inside the pocket
NOT GOING TO WORK
My Dad and I watched every snap of JW the last 7 years…
the hit he took thursday night WAS THE HARDEST HIT IN HIS CAREER
BAs OFFENSE AND JW3 STRENGTHS ARE COMPLETE OPPOSITES
JW3 should be in a west coast offense ala Andy Reid/KC
BA OFFENSE IS OUTDATED AND DOES NOT WORK HENCE NO OTHER TEAMS OFFENSE IS BASED SIMILAR TO IT”
Son of Sam
BA AND OVERGROWN ARNOLD IS GOING TO GET JW3 KILLED
September 14th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
^ I am a HUGE supporter of Arians and I know that Arians loves Jameis’ game, but there is some truth to what the above commenter is saying, not so much that Arians scheme is outdated, but that it doesn’t really fit Jameis’ play style. JW would thrive in Andy Redi’s system, Jon Gruden’s system, etc.
Regardless, I think Arians will be good for Jameis, even if more so from a mindset perspective than from play-style.
And, if Perriman and OJ can start catching balls instead of dropping them, the Bucs could have a potent vertical passing attack.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Glad half assed efforts not ONLY no longer tolerated by this Bucs Team/Coach/staff/team mates/Fans/Joe …Get yer head right O.J.and start killing em out there…wait ..lemme rephrase that…
September 14th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
“Not only does BAs deep vertical 5-7 step dop long time developing offense doesnt work …
NO STARTING QB WILL LAST 16 GAMES IN BA’S “HOLDING THE BALL WAITING FOR THE WR TO BE OPEN” OFFENSE”
Son of Kobe Faker
September 14th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Right. Brats made the first down catch with their best defender all over him . His hand was even inside Brate to knock the ball away but he still made the catch. But ya he does not do much.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Two subpar games for him and the wolves are out. OJ will be back strong!
September 14th, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Two games in on a new offense and guys are ragging on OJ Howard. Yes he had a bad first game like a few Bucs. If he runs his routes and he’s not targeted what’s he supposed to do? I remember watching Tony Gonzalez in KC around 2000, 2001 and he did absolutely nothing for 3 games. He was blocking most of the time. OJ Howard will be getting his chances along with Perriman soon enough and hopefully they take full advantage of them. Then all these trade OJ posts will disappear like farts in the wind.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
There are EXCUSES, and then there are REASONS. Losers grab the most convenient EXCUSE and run with it; winners look for the REASON something is going on … and FIX IT so it doesn’t keep going on. The big question is ‘What’s REALLY going in with OJ Howard?’
OJ played 55 snaps (80%) in the SF game & 60 snaps (92%) in the Panthers game. He was targeted 5 times in the SF game with 4 catches for 32 yards, BUT had 1 fumble & the 1 pass that he didn’t catch deflected off his hands & was intercepted. Thus spent 50 plays primarily as a blocker. He wasn’t targeted at all in the Panthers game, and thus had 60 plays as a blocker.
Cam Brate, our 7 million dollar man, on the other hand played 30 snaps (43%) in the SF game & 18 snaps (28%) in the Panthers game. He was targeted 2 times in the SF game with 2 catches for 8 yards. Cam was also targeted 2 times in the Panthers game, with 2 catches for 10 yards, giving him a TOTAL of 4-for-4 and 18 yards in 2 games.
I have no idea what’s going on with OJ’s blocking. Haven’t been keying on him or on Cam Brate watching the games. But the very fact that OJ’s been in on a total of 115 out of 134 offensive snaps (86%) but has only been thrown to 5 times (with 4 catches) tells me BA & Byron see our 1st Round pick primarily as a BLOCKER or a DECOY to this point. I’m not impressed with how OJ is being used in any event. Nor am I impressed with how Cam Brate is being used. And no, I’m not impressed when head coaches ‘call out’ individual players PUBLICLY, in the media. OJ is a helluva talent, we’ve seen that now for 2 years. Find the REASON behind what’s happening with his blocking, BUT … keep it in the locker room.
And as an aside, also not impressed with Byron Leftwich thus far as our OC. This ‘most expensive offense in the NFL’ has been flat as he11 & that’s unacceptable. I’m no expert (like so many other JBFers are), but the game planning and play-calling seem to have been very ‘pedestrian’ thus far. There doesn’t seem to be any tempo or urgency to what this Bucs’ offense is doing on the field.
o Our offense has scored a TOTAL of 30 points in 2 games (and given away 16 points).
o We have a TOTAL of 33 first downs in 2 games.
o We’re 7-for-25 (28%) on 3rd & 4th down conversions in 2 games
o We’ve passed the ball 61 times, completed 36, for 59% and a TOTAL of 347 net passing yards, with 2 passing TDs TOTAL in 2 games.
o We’ve run the ball 57 times for 221 yards rushing (a respectable 3.8 YPC average), with 1 rushing TD in 2 games.
o We’ve had a TOTAL of 24 drives thus far … 3 TDs, 3 FGs, 1 missed FG, 3 INTs, 1 fumble, 1 safety, 8 ended in punts, 2 ended because of downs, 2 ended because time ran out.
Both the 49ers and Panthers will be lucky to finish with winning records this season IMO. We’ve got a lot of much tougher teams coming up. BA said he doesn’t get involved in game planning or play-calling. He might be wise to reconsider that policy.
September 14th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Defense Rules, 60 plays as a blocker? OJ didn’t run one route? Not one?
September 14th, 2019 at 3:54 pm
OJ for Melvin Gordon???? What you say?
September 14th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Howard may or may not be nursing an injury at this point. He may just be going through some growing pains in a new system. Looks to me like BA is just coaching OJ at this point. Doesn’t seem too far of a stretch that BA has him blocking a whole lot more after failing to secure the rock in game 1.
I may be a bit of a homer here, but I think we will see better progression from both OJ and the offense now that the Bucs have a long week leading into next game against an easier Giants defense.
September 14th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
OJ didn’t fall to us Other teams passed on him …. now we see why overrated
September 14th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Lol, I love the last sentence about the beer.
September 14th, 2019 at 4:22 pm
OJ got schooled by GMC which resulted in a tackle for loss (GMC’s best play of the game).
Not sure what’s up with 80 but he’d better step up. There is always someone waiting to take your place..
September 14th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Defense Rules answered Sluglife’s question. Brate’s salary is way too high for a player that is in on less than half of the offensive plays. Great player. Just overpaid now. The Bucs need o-line help more than Brate.
September 14th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
If you can move him for Trent Williams I listen. Minkah? Well we just drafted a slew of secondary players. We aren’t going there.
September 14th, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Good stuff defense rules.
I thought Dirk didnt utilize him enough. Same looks to be said about Byron so far but hopefully that changes.
September 14th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
He may be big, tall, and athletic but he’s surely trying to minimize contact. Kind of reminds me of how well Donovan Smith reacts to run blocking.
Consciously in self preservation mode.
September 14th, 2019 at 5:08 pm
BuccaneEric75 … Yup, typing too fast again. Used the word ‘primarily’ as a blocker for the first game, but not for the second. My bad. But my point was that when your 1st Round TE is on the field for 115 snaps in 2 games but is only targeted FIVE times he’s not being optimally utilized.
What makes QBs like Brady & Brees so great IMO is that they use ALL the weapons in their arsenal. BOTH spread the ball around beautifully. IMO that’s the best way to keep the opposing defense off-balance. THAT’S what I was expecting from a BA offense. Haven’t seen that very much of that through the first 2 games, BUT … the season is still young.
September 14th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Defense Rules didn’t answer anybody’s question re Brate as his analysis omits the 2 touchdowns Dot owes him on holding penalties. Stats are just numbers unless you watch the games and put the numbers in context. Sheesh!
September 14th, 2019 at 5:28 pm
As for OJ, he earned BA’s comments… not sure about receiving them via the media but seemed to work with VH3.
September 14th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
From game to game the plan will be different!!! Let’s try and let the guys in charge of that plan do their jobs and learn and prepare and learn and prepare !!! GO BUCS GO FAMOUS GO OJ!!
September 14th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Love it. Old school pre-snowflake culture.
September 14th, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Two games. BA said that each game will be tailored to what they think is the best set of plays against the opposition. I doubt seriously that the playbook will remain the same week to week. In addition, Byron has repeatedly said that the QB is heavily involved in picking the opening plays based on what he is comfortable with as it starts with the initial script and you go from there. Guess is as more film is available, OC’s will start seeing the weak spots in the Defense and react and everyone will panic after a bad game and send Bowles down the road. Since the Bucs have been run heavy, irrespective of great results, it has been effective. If teams adapt and start loading the line to stop the run it will open the intermediate routes and crossing patterns and Byron will adapt and utilize the TE’s more. Then the cycle will start anew. Nothing new in these comments, just too soon to see all the wrinkles, how the team will adapt if/after a blowout and everyone gets more used to the playbook – when you look at the greats i.e., NE, NO irrespective of whether you hate them or love them, they’ve run the same system with basically the same coaches for years.
September 14th, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Kutter knew how to play OJ. Bruce he dumb.
September 14th, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Nobody saw this coming????????????????
Ice Cream makes you SOFT!!!!!!!! lol
I’m expecting a more balance offensive attack from the offense against the Giants.
Relax Joe. It’s all good.
September 14th, 2019 at 7:29 pm
SCbucfan
We don’t have anybody with the talent of Minkah..not one. That and Db’s go down to injury….
If you can trade a pick and get him..we can find a DB on this roster to cut
September 14th, 2019 at 7:34 pm
West chap
You can’t score 2 td on the same drive…
DR. Maybe the OL is so bad they made OJ the third tackle..maybe BA is waiting until OJs film says “all he does is block”:then they unleash him.
I believe he will come alive, kids got talent.
September 14th, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Against the panthers on the 3rd down play before the strike to Godwin for the TD, Howard was open for the TD but Winstin took the safe throw to brate for the conversion. Saw it live and saw it again when I watch the game after recording.
September 14th, 2019 at 8:36 pm
Combination of OJ learning new offense and coaches learning OJ
September 15th, 2019 at 12:14 am
He’s required to help Dotson more than the past two seasons. Dotson is on his last legs.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Funny how coaching does change things. Defense seems well coached now. Previous years it wasn’t. Now the offense with all the talent is not performing. Coaching???????
September 15th, 2019 at 9:19 am
If half of you had gotten your way we would only have OJ to rely on. Brate would have been traded.
Brate is having a very good season. Those TDs may not have counted, but he still made the plays. Like always.
I’m nowhere near ready to say OJ is a but though. Even Mike Evans had the dropsies before. How he responds will show us everything.
This is called player development. Find the faults and fix them. Simple as that.
September 15th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Trade him for a stud d lineman or I lineman.
September 15th, 2019 at 9:02 pm
Dalvin Cook today: 20 rushes, 154 and a TD. 3 catches, 37 yards.
He was there, people.