Revealing Words From O.J. Howard: “I’m Finally Getting The Hang Of It”
November 17th, 2019
Speaking on national radio, O.J. Howard painted himself as a guy who was slow to get the Bucco Bruce Arians offense.
This might be the best explanation yet for why Howard’s numbers have dropped significantly this season. They fell off so badly, fans were actually dancing about Howard having 44 yards receiving last Sunday against the Cardinals, along with his first touchdown of 2019.
On SiriusXM Fantasy Sports, Howard was asked to name the biggest adjustment for him going from Dirk Koetter’s offense to Bruce Arians’.
“The concepts, the route concepts are different, just learning how to get open in those,” Howard said. “You know, that’s not much us out wide a little bit or in the slot. It’s more in-line type of running routes, so you have to do more getting open out of that kind of alignment. So it was a little different for me. But I’m finally getting the hang of it.
“That’s the most encouraging thing, finally getting the hang of it.”
Very interesting to hear Howard twice mention “finally getting the hang of it” with emphasis.
The Bucs’ top tight end also acknowledged that not having a touchdown this season until last Sunday was weighing on him a bit. Howard had 11 touchdowns through his first two seasons.
Asked to compare the Bucs’ offense to other offenses he’s been in, Howard said he likes how the Arians way is designed to county any defense.
“It’s just the way we go about picking up our hots and adjustments. Every play allows us to get to a hot route or, you know, just to expose the defense whatever [it] brings,” Howard said. “There’s always an answer to whatever the defense is lined up in. That’s probably one of the biggest things for us this season.”
Joe hopes Howard has turned a corner with his learning curve and find a breakout game today.
One more nugget of note, Joe listened to a lot of Arizona sports radio following the Bucs-Cardinals game, and a member of the Arizona media spoke on air about how Bucs assistant coaches (guys who used to coach in Arizona) shared before the game that O.J. Howard got a lot of work in practice and would have plenty for him on the call sheet to take advantage of the Cardinals’ year-long struggles with tight ends.
Maybe a confidence in Howard is growing from Bucs coaches, as well as within Howard himself.
TAMPA TWO is back with a look at the Saints game and the launching of Vernon Hargreaves. Derrick Brooks and Ira Kaufman deliver.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:26 am
Now that OJ has found the end zone…..perhaps he can find the real killers of Ron & Nicole……Oops!!!, Wrong OJ…….
November 17th, 2019 at 9:30 am
oj is nothing special just another mediocre player with potential that bucfan spouts off about his meaningless scouting reports on and on about talent on paper that has yet to be realized on the field. bucfan 0j has done nothing yet. I realize bucfan only needs 1 play ever few decades to consider a player great.
The Real OJ was innocent….
November 17th, 2019 at 9:32 am
If that’s the case, Saints D minus Larrimore will be in for a long day. Bucs have ME13 (who loafed last week), Ungodly, Howard, Brate, and Rojo who can catch. Now, does BA get it by now? Is he finally on the same page with these players? If so, Bucs win.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Dude should be targeted 10 times a game.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:34 am
How is dalvin cook doing?
November 17th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Finally getting the hang of it? Dude we’re talking running routes. It’s not quantum physics. It’s your responsibility to learn it and become proficient so you can contribute to the team in the form of winning. Can you imagine Greg Olsen saying this? Wow.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:59 am
Dusty Rhodes. Hes doing damn good in that Kubiak zone scheme that guarantees any average running back 1000+ rushing yards.
Until he gets hurt that is. Up until this year Dalvin was maybe the 9th or 10th best back from that historic 2017 class. His first 2 years were an injury marred mess.
November 17th, 2019 at 10:00 am
Coaches coach, Players play. I’ll be giving this team and staff at least 1.5 yrs before I judge them. I see a lot of growth. Our young secondary will take the stage and become a Band of Brothers. VH had a chance, he blew it and was held accountable.
Band of Brothers – 2018 & 2019 Defensive Draftees
In BA I Trust!
November 17th, 2019 at 10:06 am
VH3’s toke’n buddy ?
November 17th, 2019 at 10:14 am
Howard still has tremendous upside and has All-Pro potential one day. I sure am glad Licht Weight didn’t just give him away to Pats/Belichick trying to get in his good graces or something. Dishing good players to the Pats for a song hopefully has ended.
November 17th, 2019 at 10:24 am
“BA/BL twins trying to hit OJ downfield over
Kobe says why
Dump the dam ball right at the LOS
hell, let OJ drop back 2 steps back of the LOS
OJ has the best YAC skills in our team. After catch pt he is off in an instant and his size and speed is indefensible
Why oh why is it that hard”
Kobe Simpleton Faker
November 17th, 2019 at 10:32 am
Great! Now go out there and play some ball!
The ball is your friend!!!
November 17th, 2019 at 10:33 am
More OJ screens, RoJo screens get brate involved too and this O will really start clicking. Need a perfect game from Winston today, and I think he’ll deliver, Bucs 34-31
November 17th, 2019 at 10:40 am
After hearing this from OJ it makes more sense why there has been lots of miscommunication between QB and receivers. Sounds like a lot going on presnap and would explain some wrong routes or flat routes. Not justifying all the INT’s but at least I can see why BA is quick to defend Jameis. Ill go back to my previous comments that it takes half a season to build up that muscle memory where you can make the right reads without thinking. I think it was DB55 that said once they knew the Tampa2 completely they could react without thinking. Saved them a split second. On offense that split second is the difference between a completion or pick6.
November 17th, 2019 at 11:30 am
In other news, Mike Evans is only 78 yards from 1,000 yards for the 6th time in a row. And plenty more time left in the season!
November 17th, 2019 at 11:34 am
As to OJ Howard, he still has a lot to prove. All hype so far. And until he proves otherwise, we need Brate.
November 17th, 2019 at 11:53 am
Q: What is the difference between a Buccaneers fan and a baby?
A: The baby will stop whining after awhile.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Ohh so THATS how your supposed to play????
November 17th, 2019 at 12:24 pm
Interesting. Is that same problem the Harvard man is having?
November 17th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Bonzai I though you were going to say that babies grow out of diapers.
Today’s game should be a fun one. Both offenses should be able to put up some points. I say it will come down to physicality. Whichever team plays the more physical game will come out the winner.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
“Band of Brothers – 2018 & 2019 Defensive Draftees”
Band of XFL Brothers
November 17th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
You know who already has the hang of it?
Dalvin Cook
November 17th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
OJ Coward is a bust. Came from a college where he prospered off a team with elite players. He showed me his softness in a game earlier this season when he ran out of bounds to avoid a tackle from a 180 lb cornerback.
November 17th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
After seeing him juggle the pass for a pick does anyone see the irony in “I’m getting the hang of it”?
November 17th, 2019 at 3:15 pm
This article hasn’t aged well in the last couple hours
November 17th, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Article to early written….