Down On The Tight Ends
September 19th, 2020
Tight ends chatter.
Now before former Bucs guard Ian Beckles got rolling, he made it very clear that when he recorded the latest edition of his podcast, it was “Overreaction Monday.”
So in the spirit of “Overreaction Monday,” Beckles had a few takes where he himself could be accused of overreacting.
In this week’s “In the Trenches,” Beckles came down on the Bucs’ tight ends. In so many words, he thinks they are terribly overrated.
“We supposedly have the best receiving corps in the NFL,” Beckles began. “Didn’t see it. We supposedly have the best tight ends in the NFL. Didn’t see it.”
*On foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski:
“Gronk to me looked slow. Three targets, two catches, 11 yards. And didn’t look good in-between. he didn’t. Gronk is an old guy who was old two years ago. Let’s be real with it. Gronk was old two years ago. And was hurting two years ago.
“This is two years later. You don’t get less hurt. It doesn’t work that way. And let’s hope, moving forward, he starts emerging as ‘that guy.’ Because he didn’t look like ‘that guy’ [Sunday].”
* On O.J. Howard:
“O.J. Howard to me [sighs], he had a touchdown but other than that, you know, there’s not a whole lot else going on there. There really isn’t. His touchdowns always seem to be misdirection, backside-type throws. You know, deception throws. That’s not what makes you a great tight end.”
* On Cameron Brate, who barely played against the Saints:
“Cameron Brate? I’m tired of saying this: I don’t get it. I don’t get what’s going on with Cameron Brate. Zero catches, [six] million dollars. I don’t get it. …
“Zero catches? Why? I don’t understand. I really don’t.”
Beckles all but demanded Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should trade Brate, sooner than later. Beckles said he would at the drop of a fishing lure.
Beckles also added that at least during opening day against the Saints, the Bucs would have been better off with Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, because he can take a beating from a pass rush and avoid would-be tacklers.
On left tackle Donovan Smith, Beckles added, “Donovan Smith, you can’t play like that two weeks in a row!”
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
September 19th, 2020 at 8:08 am
I can’t say that I disagree here……why we don’t use the TEs more….in particular Brate puzzles me.
September 19th, 2020 at 8:20 am
I was actually surprised that Gronk looked to be a complete shell of his former self. Maybe it was just an off week, but I have a feeling trading for his rights may have been a big mistake and a huge was of cash. Not sure about his blocking, but he no longer seems to be a receiving threat. With no Godwin this week, Evans still nursing a hamstring, and Gronk appearing to be washed up this season may start to spiral out of control if Carolina can upset the Bucs tomorrow.
September 19th, 2020 at 8:23 am
I was surprised by the Gronk signing only because we hardly used our TE’s last year. Arian’s offense just doesn’t feature the TE that much. Yeah Gronk did look slow, and when he was hit low he looked a bit pained, and didn’t exactly bounce back up. With Auclaire out for now Brate won’t be traded, and shouldn’t be for this year. Next year depending how the season goes all bets are off for some high paid players. Maybe we should move Gronk to LT if Smith keeps whiffing blocks, and getting Brady killed? Gronks got the size, speed, and cares about Brady’s health. Just thinking outside the box, but I bet Gronk could do it.
September 19th, 2020 at 8:37 am
Why are they spending between $15-20 million on TE’s when we don’t use them very often? CHIT talking, non coaching, finger pointing, mind changing, Pope mobile sitting, Quarterback Tinkerer Bruce Arrogance doesn’t use the TE like he should. Where are the seam routes? Tired of the double talk from Arians too. Supposedly only runs a play one time in a game then I read yesterday how BL ran the same play 3 times the first half and the 4th time it’s a pick 6 on Brady. Arians is a joke but I’m not finding any of this to be funny. We have a REAL problem on our hands. How did this @ss clown get COTY twice? Popularity contest!!!!
September 19th, 2020 at 8:46 am
CAM BRATE IS BEING PAID $4.25 MILLION THIS YEAR!
Please, if you’re going to b!tch about how much someone is making, don’t be so wrong as to give the man a 41% pay raise in your fantasy world! It makes you look like a fool. You can say he isn’t worth that, which is a reasonable opinion, but don’t just flat out incorrectly state something that’s easy to fact-check. It’s lazy.
September 19th, 2020 at 9:15 am
Joe, some very interesting comments from loud mouth Rob Ryan. I don’t agree with all of them, but some
September 19th, 2020 at 9:16 am
Felt the exact same on Gronk….he looks really slow. I think he’s great for blocking and in the red zone but that’s it. Is that worth $10 million……no. Is Brate worth $6 million…..no. These are the situations i talk about as far as cap management with Licht, he grossly overspends for mediocre performance. Smith is another…..$14 million for a guy that whiffs 5x a game and is just avg in the run game? Between those three you probably have $10 million you could free up for better competition/production elsewhere. Teams that compete over pay for elite production….not avg.
September 19th, 2020 at 9:17 am
BA never knew how to incorporate his TE in his past teams. Not sure how this season will play out with TEs.
Gronk at the very least is a great role model and the guy is STILL one of the best blocking TEs in the league. He was never a super fast TE but always had sure hands and knew how to reach for the sky and catch those balls out of reach of the defenders. Give him some time.
September 19th, 2020 at 9:43 am
joeski:
tom brady is pissed off because he lost round one to the hoody…
tomorrow is round 2 vs the hoody…
#TheUnspokenBeefBehindTheGames #TomGravyVsTheHoody
#TalkAboutIt
September 19th, 2020 at 9:46 am
If the Bucs kick butt the next few weeks I hope we don’t have to read posts from those blasting the Bucs right now saying how great they are and how Ian/posters knew it all along.
September 19th, 2020 at 9:50 am
I get hungry just looking at Ian Beckles. Have to say the Man sure knows good food!
September 19th, 2020 at 10:01 am
Bobby M: You’re wrong as hell about being able to free up $10m by cutting gronk, brate and smith. Not to mention it would be foolish as anything I’ve ever heard, but whatever. And again, Cam Brate isn’t making six million bucks this year, as I noted in ALL CAPS right above your post…
Cutting all three would save you….. $0. $0 in cap space and you’d lose three good players. Good job with your armchair cap management dude.
September 19th, 2020 at 10:25 am
Journeyman, intoxicated horse abuser. His thoughts are excrement.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Joe
Guess I said something you didn’t like. Probably my moniker for Arians but what’s the difference. I am pretty much banned anyway with ALL my posts going to moderation. Can’t even join a conversation anymore if I wanted to. Between JBF, the carousel of coaches, and the players promoting BLM I am losing my love for football. You allow comments from others that are racist and allow posts that attack others. Haven’t got a clue why I want to post and be berated in the first place. Guess I just wonder if anyone else feels the same way about this mess. Bucs have 2 years to do something or I will NOT watch anymore. Glazers are ruining the team and the NFL from what I have witnessed the past 6 or 7 years.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Hey big stink google Matthew Stafford’s recent article about this. I think it may help some of you Trumpers to see the light. I doubt it though unfortunately.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:48 pm
Brate’s a good TE with 26 touchdowns in the last 5 years, but he can’t catch any passes if he’s not playing and being thrown to. Might as well trade him to a team that will use him. I’m sure he’d get back to where he was when Cutter was using him. Just sayin.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:42 pm
FINALLY JOE you have reported what my eyes have been seeing good reporting!!! GO BUCS!
September 19th, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Brate will make 6.5 mil next year and goes up after that. Usually the trade deadline is in late October if there’s not an injury to Gronk or OJ I would unload him then. If D. Smith doesn’t start showing up I would unload him also. Because if he doesn’t we are not going anywhere as far as the playoffs are concerned.
September 19th, 2020 at 6:33 pm
We totally crucified OJ last year, this year against the Saints, he pretty much caught everything thrown his way including a scoop. If Brady leads him on the sideline throw, I spread of a line drive, OJ has his man beat, that’s a catch and possibly 6…
September 20th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Hows come Beckles never smiles in his pictures? I bet he has a nice smile.
September 20th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Calm down everyone!
Gronk was WWE 24/7 champion!
The Bucs were off-season paper champions!
All good things must come to an end.
Check yo sheets!