Back In The Spotlight
October 5th, 2020
After all those spring and summer sessions with Tom Brady and friends at Berkeley Prep school in Tampa, and grinding through training camp after having The Sickness, imagine what Cameron Brate felt like being buried on the bench for the first three games of this season.
The dude was beyond an afterthought with O.J. Howard improving and Rob Gronkowski leading the way in snaps at tight end.
Brate, 29, probably felt frustrated and maybe a little lost after two injury-marred seasons without the production he was accustomed to.
Many Bucs fans balked that the team invested too much money in tight ends.
But Brate reappeared yesterday to catch the first touchdown pass of the day, a short route that showcased his ability to get open in the end zone — and one that showed some chemistry with Brady as Brate spun his frame open toward Brady as the ball was released. The photo above is Brate spiking his grab.
Then O.J. Howard went down in the second half with what likely is a season-ending Achilles injury and Brate jumped back into the spotlight. Just like that, with injuries at wide receiver, he becomes a key offensive cog again. And remember that blocking tight end Antony Auclair is on injured reserve.
The Bucs entered this season with ridiculous depth on offense and it’s being tested and used. So far so good. Joe feels great today with Brate still being on the roster.
October 5th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Arm chair gm’s where y’all at?
October 5th, 2020 at 10:50 am
You are right about that TD. A precision play.
October 5th, 2020 at 10:51 am
I think Auclair is eligible this week. Hope so – need him now.
October 5th, 2020 at 10:57 am
Wont shock me to see the other back up TE get some looks. I forget his name but he blocks much better then Brate and catches pretty well. I think Brate is a nice compliment but he’s not a typical TE that Arians seems to prefer.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:19 am
Brate will definitely be in play once again with OJ going down. I just hope they don’t expect him to block, because he’s not a blocking TE. Maybe Hudson will fair better in those type of looks, not sure.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:19 am
If only Tanner Hudson could add 25lbs of muscle and be a blocking TE as well…
October 5th, 2020 at 11:23 am
Brate is expensive and wasn’t be used but it seems awful smart that we have him now, considering Howard’s injury. Long season and depth is everything, especially with a playoff team like this.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:26 am
I’d like to see Brate line up in the slot. The guy has great hands, is pretty fast and would be a load for LBs and DBs. Hopefully Auclair can come back this week? Anyone know his current status?
October 5th, 2020 at 11:38 am
Bummed for OJ but love seeing Brate back in the mix. Brate and Gronk is still a capable duo and Auclair will get in the mix too.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:50 am
Cobraboy:
I’m surprised Tanner Hudson hasn’t bulked up as well. Everyone else has.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:58 am
imho he’s more dependable than howard, sorry for oj’s injury but i thought brate was better, get er done cameron get er done, go bucs
October 5th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Throw to Brate. Brate catches ball. He’s worth it if you use him.
October 5th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
gronk rounding back into shape…we’ll be ok….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 5th, 2020 at 12:28 pm
I am with you JamesWest…no, not a premier blocking TE…However, he has a knack for getting open and squeezes the ball nicely. I have always been a Brate guy! Go Cam, Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Its on Brate and Gronk now…we got this though.
I said it a few months ago….TE with our first pick in the upcoming draft..pick #32.
time to research…..
October 5th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
This team is BETTER with Brate and Gronk vs. Howard/Gronk. Howard was just too inconsistent.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Unfortunately it was predictable that OJ would get injured. This may have been a big reason why they kept Brate. Gronk has a long injury history as well.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Ivan I kinda agree. Hard to say it with a big game from OJ yesterday but that fumble sticks out to me. He got away with one there. OJ just struggles with very rountine plays. You never know when your gonna get a mistake woth OJ. And if it happens at a key time it can cost the team a W
October 5th, 2020 at 2:05 pm
Is there really any difference between Tanner Hudson and Brate? I stand by saying the Bucs should have tried to trade Brate for a WR, because Justin Watson is killing the offense and should never be on the field.
October 5th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Tanner Hudson can catch the football. With OJ done for the year, Ungodly nursing a hammie and ME13’s hammie still not even close to 100%, we need all the sure hands we can get. The 3-0 Bears sure ain’t chopped liver.
October 5th, 2020 at 3:03 pm
I’ve bin a huge Brate fan since he came in as a undrafted rookie. I remember debating with TMAXIPAD all the time how he thought Brate was garbage and I would point out look at his TD catches at the time I think he was only behind gronk and Kelce those are great names to be associated with. That was a few years ago tho hope he can get back on track
October 5th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Brate, with Koetter as a coordinator, was putting up Pro Bowl numbers for touchdowns scored.
Hudson is a perpetual bubble player bouncing on and off the practice squad.
The only two similarities the two have are both cannot block and both need to use the same globs of sunscreen at the beach.
October 5th, 2020 at 3:11 pm
@orlbucfan
You mean the 3-1 bears. They sure played like chop liver yesterday. Hopefully their early season magic is over after that loss this week.
October 5th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
I trust Brate more than OJ when it comes to receiving.
October 5th, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Good dude who works hard. OJ has had health issues his entire career and has had questionable hands. Hate for him that he’s injured and his career is in Jeopardy. I wish him well. I never understood why they drafted him and have said that from the get go. On paper OJ he’s a beast but we now know that he’s only as good as the paper. Brate is a warrior. The kid deserves this opportunity and I hope he takes advantage of this and reminds us what he can do.
October 5th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
Brate is not a future hall of famer, but he has always been solid and sometimes good. I’m glad he’s on the team too.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:12 am
Cameron Brate is the new Aaron Hernandez minus the jail and stuff
October 7th, 2020 at 9:35 pm
Joe just a week ago… “Why do we have Brate on the team?… He costs too much….. We have too many TE …. oj is the future!!” ….. Joe now “I love Brate is on this team!” 🙄 ….. Man it’s really good you are not a GM bro!! Lol … You could screw up a PS4 Madden team!!! Lol ….. You would have traded our 1st round picks for the next 3 years for some glitzy RB!! How’d that work out for the j-e-t-s Jets Jets Jets!!! Lol