Setting Career Records
September 4th, 2020
Big year predicted.
Will Bucs tight end O.J. Howard get enough touches to blow up the NFL this fall? One stat guy believes so.
Over at The Athletic, Sheil Kapadia, who traffics in numbers, decided to cobble together a column with bold predictions for the upcoming NFL season.
And Kapadia foresees Howard, with park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady throwing to him, will light up defenses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard sets career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Howard was a massive disappointment with just 459 yards last season, but reports out of Bucs camp have been encouraging. Tampa acquired Rob Gronkowski in the offseason, but he is 31 and was out of the league last year. The Bucs would be wise to limit Gronkowski’s snaps and use him in high-leverage situations. Howard’s talent is undeniable, but his career bests are 565 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The prediction here is that Tom Brady unlocks Howard, and he smashes both those marks.
Yes, Howard had a disappointing year last season, but his 459 receiving yards was just 106 yards shy of his current career high. So that doesn’t seem unreachable.
Touchdowns may be a bit different; Howard had but one last year. His career-high for touchdowns was six his rookie year.
The trick for Howard to be able to set career records in receiving and touchdowns is touches. Will he get enough? There are a lot of mouths to feed on the Bucs offense, and just one spoon (football).
September 4th, 2020 at 9:07 am
Does it really matter who gets the most catches/yards/TDs? TB will hit the open man. It is a team game.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:07 am
Dare and Gay got cut
September 4th, 2020 at 9:12 am
OJ Howard could be the odd man out. Brate is more reliable as a pass catcher.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:12 am
I agree…..who cares who makes the most catches or has the most touches….Brady will determine that……all that matters is winning.
But, I do feel that Howard will be used much more than last year as will all the TEs…..
September 4th, 2020 at 9:16 am
At 10 mil a year, why should the Bucs limit Gronk – unless they think they will make it deep into the playoff and would like to protect his body for the last stretch .
If I were to make a guess, in a two package (12) TE set, Gronk will pair up with Howard. In a single tight end scheme it will be Howard. In the red zone it will be Cameron Brate (his specialty) and Gronk if a two set is required.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Gronk will be Gronk when we need him to be, but OJ can stretch the field like few TEs can.
Don’t think Jameis really knew how to use TEs well except for curls and a few Slants/Posts.
In fact his last interception was an attempt at a TE.
Pre-Snap read, look off defender, hit the big body.
Jameis made it look difficult.
Brady can do it in his sleep.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:51 am
A lot of mouths to feed, as you pointed out Joe.
Obviously Evans and Godwin are gonna get theirs. Plus Gronk, Brate, a RB or 2…
Damn we are loaded! Kinda hard to envision Brady not throwing for at least 4500 yards with all these weapons!
September 4th, 2020 at 12:02 pm
He can’t fumble after the catch. He was soooo bad with that last year
September 4th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Go big or go home. He had better produce. Simple as that!
September 4th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
i am not impressed with howard, and i do not believe he is going to pan out, i do not see the fire in his heart, or the desire, to me he just goes thru the motions for a payday, prove me wrong oj, until then i’ll keep saying it
September 4th, 2020 at 2:57 pm
It’s hard for me to see “The Juice” go off this year. To many mouths to feed: Mike Evans, Godwin, Gronk, Brate, Watson, Miller, RoJo, L. McCoy, Fournette…Oh yea Vita Vea on the goal line.
Love my Bucs but I’m staying away from the skill players in my FFB league. TB12 will spread the ball around.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:04 pm
OJ looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane..
September 5th, 2020 at 9:55 pm
Howard has skills, talent.
No desire. Brate will outshine Howard