Chris Simms Was Right
November 19th, 2020
“Chris Simms knows blocking!”
Earlier this week, Joe brought word from former Bucs quarterback and current NBC Sports talking head Chris Simms about how and why the Bucs offense hummed against Carolina.
Simms pointed out the frequent use of two-tight end sets was key. And then Simms mentioned how Bucs tight ends, foot-rubbing, car-littering Rob Gronkowski and Cam Brate were good “two-way” tight ends, meaning they can catch and block.
Joe thought Simms was stoned. The biggest knock on Brate is that he can’t block (but he can sure catch). Well, Joe has to confess Simms wasn’t wrong.
Bucs superfan Steven Cheah, who works for Barstool Sports, likes to share cut-ups of Bucs video using All-22 clips. He just Twittered out a video that demonstrates with video evidence that, yes, Brate can block.
This is a comforting development. Again, we all know Brate can catch. At one point a couple of years ago, Joe thought Brate was screwed out of a Pro Bowl appearance because he was among the league leaders in touchdown catches (for all receivers, not just tight ends).
And what a time for Brate to show off his blocking abilities, right before Thanksgiving when the Bucs are beginning to potentially make a playoff push.
Oh, and Joe has to highlight a quote from Cheah in the video. “Blocking isn’t always pancakes.”
Damn, that’s a gross understatement!
Buccaneers Tight End Cam Brate played his best game if the season in Carolina. We know he is a threat as a pass catcher, but his run blocking on Sunday was also very impressive. Take a closer look here #Bucsfilm2020wk10
pic.twitter.com/JSCsN1IB0N— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) November 19, 2020
November 19th, 2020 at 12:03 pm
I have always been a Brate guy. Nice job Cam. Go Harvard!
November 19th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Ill keep saying it.
Brate is a much better TE, than OJ Howard.
Howard has more potential. Brate has waaay more Drive.
Desire wins games.
With Auclair and Hudson- we are outstanding at the TE position.
And Gronk is getting better every week.
November 19th, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Capt Tim
As usual agree with your observations. I think OJ is a good guy…has talent…but sometimes he seems to invite that looks like Tarzan plays like Jane. It’s probably unfair to OJ. He clearly has sooo much athletic ability big things are expected.
Brate OTOH is a white dude from Harvard…nobody expects anything and when we learned he could run routes and catch we got excited. To find out he can also block is just icing on the cake.
It’s like Brate is almost blocking as well as Auclair and Auclair when given the rare chance can also catch it like Brate.
Even without OJ I agree Cap…TE is a position of strength for the Bucs.
Combine that with three great WR’s and Brady has a TON of targets.
November 19th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
That was my frustration as a fan watching the Saints game! Yelling run the ball, run a screen, use the Saints aggression against them and get those TEs engaged!
But when someone mentions this to Leftwich, he smirks and downplays that fans and media know nothing about football or playcalling.
November 19th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
good to see brate stepping up…
lets hope he builds on it..
GO BUCS!!!
November 19th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Brate fan here as well. Bucs are very fortunate he is still on a TE loaded squad.
November 19th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Brate is steady n consistent. Hope Lefty is paying attention. Brady made great use of 2 TE sets with Patriots. Think history can repeat itself here. You listening BA?
November 19th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Brate is crafty and always reliable!
November 19th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Trade or cut Howard.
I’m sick of being force-fed OJ’s “potential.”
“He’s a big Target.” “He has RANGE.” BLAH BLAH BLAH. WE DID NOT NEED HIM. I DON’T CARE AND WILL NEVER CARE THAT HE “FELL” TO THE BUCS.
He fell for a reason. He is made of glass and he has suspect hands. Drafting him set the team back 5 years.
If I was Brate, I would have keyed Liicht’s car.
November 19th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
I like seeing Brate on the field. Throw him the ball and he usually catches it. Trade OJ.
November 19th, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Brate can catch, unless it’s 4th and 2 with 3 minutes left in the game.
November 19th, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Brate is steady, intelligent, and LIKES to play the game.
OJ may have potential for all of those but hasn’t, in my opinion, displayed them yet.
Compensatory pics
November 19th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
Nobody’s perfect Murbitch, but I’ll put my money on him 8 times outa 10.
November 19th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Ok I watched those cut ups and basically we are saying as long he is being asked to block safety, linebackers and cornerbacks he can do it. Ok if couldn’t block those positions he’d really be useless.
November 19th, 2020 at 3:24 pm
???????????????????????????????????
November 19th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
His improved blocking could be as simple as he has learned a thing or two from the Gronk.
November 19th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
I always thought the knock on his blocking was when going against DEfensive ends and OLBs, not cornerbacks and safeties…
November 19th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Yeah he may be right about this, but he listed his current top ten QB’s as of this week in the NFL and didn’t have Brady in the top ten or Big Ben! Kinda hard to accept his opinions with garbage like that.
November 19th, 2020 at 8:47 pm
Now Cam can block after all. RoJo has completely turned his career around. The offensive line is playing better than it has for years and years. ….
Do you suppose that an all around better coaching staff actually makes a difference? Hunh? 🙄
Does BA ‘s large coaching staff and two group parallel practice approach make more sense now?
November 20th, 2020 at 10:32 am
Predicting another good night for bucs TE Monday!