O.J. Howard Wants To Play Left Tackle
May 19th, 2020
Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith
O.J. Howard has big dreams.
One includes adding a lot of weight to his 6 feet 6 inch frame and playing left tackle.
Howard said it himself during a chat on Buccaneers.com with his fellow tight ends and team reporter Casey Phillips.
The Bucs have been hosting rather goofy group chats with players on their website and during this session Howard had a clear thought, one that he’s had in mind a long time, that he wants to see what he’s got at left tackle.
“I want to play left tackle,” Howard said. “Listen, this is my thing. I always mess with the left tackle and tell him, ‘Hey, dude, like I want to play left tackle just because I want to put on some weight and try to use this athleticism and see if I can put it to work.’ But the criticism that comes with [the position], oh man, it’s tough. You know, that’d be one position I think for me, left tackle. I just want to take up the challenge. It’d be hard, but if I succeeded, everyone would be respectful of it.”
Don’t get confused. Howard didn’t say he hates tight end and wants a new position, only that he would like to embrace the left tackle challenge.
A cynical fan might wonder why Howard has a tackle fantasy when he’s not a special blocker from the tight end position, but perhaps Howard is just steaming with confidence after blocking well in the 2019 season finale.
May 19th, 2020 at 8:04 am
Try RT first, OJ…..
May 19th, 2020 at 8:06 am
Let us hope the coaches see his desire to “play” Left tackle. And put him to pushing the sled across the field again and again and again, have him run they the pass blocking drills Oline does. It can’t hurt his Pass blocking. Any word on if O.J. has dreamed of being the #1 WR?
Go Bucs!
May 19th, 2020 at 8:10 am
He’s probably being sarcastic because BA expects him to also block. I personally would like to see him play better at TE before we criticize him at LT.
May 19th, 2020 at 8:22 am
He already catches the ball like one.
May 19th, 2020 at 8:55 am
How about fullback?
May 19th, 2020 at 9:09 am
After watching how good smith is and what he makes….
I get it
May 19th, 2020 at 9:09 am
OJ would probably drop the pass on a tackle-eligible play
May 19th, 2020 at 9:12 am
It seems like a LT who doesn’t necessarily perform up to his talent level but still plays OK can cash in on a long term payday (D. Smith?) A TE who does the same can end up bounced around on short term deals (Eric Ebron anyone?). I can’t say as I blame OJ seeing as how his career trajectory has been heading so far.
May 19th, 2020 at 9:40 am
It’s good to see him having some fun and commenting. Maybe all the stuff about him being disgruntled was just stuff. If he could breakout, man……………..
May 19th, 2020 at 9:41 am
how about he learns how to be a good TE 1st.
May 19th, 2020 at 9:43 am
OK OJ not a special blocking Tight End according to Joe or a hypothetical cynical fan. However was clearly the best blocking tight end the bucs had last year.
May 19th, 2020 at 9:46 am
He’s a below average NFL TE so I can see why he is interested in changing positions.
May 19th, 2020 at 11:03 am
Couldn’t be any worse than what they have now.
May 19th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Auclair would make a better fullback.
O.J. needs to study the LT. See if he can find the footwork to make him efficient when standing behind the LT.
That was the biggest bitch of last season, you couldn’t trust O.J. to pick up a rusher. He seemed soft and got squished too often.
Maybe he will try harder this season, he knows he will be in limbo if the Bucs tell him to take a walk. He couldn’t even be traded, much less bought on the open market.
May 19th, 2020 at 11:40 am
Lol Hodad
May 19th, 2020 at 11:47 am
OJ Howard made a joke about playing left tackle. Hmmmmm. Slow news day.
May 19th, 2020 at 11:56 am
“He already catches the ball like one.”
LMAO!!!
May 19th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
He’s probably throwing shade at our LT… he’s been probably carrying our LT load in just about every play for so long … I think it was sarcasm,like might as well let me get pay for it…🤣
May 19th, 2020 at 1:51 pm
OJ was known primarily for his blocking. That’s what he’s better at, and there’s obviously a need for that on this team.
May 19th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
First yr stats looked good because he caught two easy long passes when it looked like he was used as a decoy. Reminds me of Joe Barry Carroll, aka Joe Barely Cares.
May 19th, 2020 at 5:47 pm
in 2 years he can try being the GM too
May 20th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Reading the other comments, ol’ OJ can’t block well, can’t catch well, and has a “soft” attitude.
Why was this guy drafted?
If assessment of his blocking skills is poor, and he plays left tackle, the Tom better start doing more yoga, because he is going to be bent into a pretzel.
Run Tommy run! ! !