The Forgettable Star
May 17th, 2021
O.J. Howard
It is sort of easy to forget this guy because, for most of last season, he was out of sight, out of mind.
The Bucs won the Super Bowl with so many studs and stars and even average guys who played big. Joe could spend the rest of the day talking about guys who answered the bell that were rarely mentioned in past seasons.
The forgettable guy? Tight end O.J. Howard.
We all know he was a first-round draft pick and has been a disappointment to some extent, only because the expectations of Howard when he was drafted were through the ceiling. Sort of like the Kyle Pitts of his day.
At times, Howard had fantastic games. Unfortunately, they didn’t happen often.
One Howard game that got Bucs fans standing and hollering was his game last year against the Chargers. It was one of his best since Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in Tampa.
And it quickly turned into Howard’s worst game. He blew out an Achilles and was lost for the season.
Over the weekend, Arians said Howard is close to being 100 percent healthy and joining the Bucs’ offseason programs full-time. When looking at the NFL landscape, Albert Breer, wrote in his SI.com Monday column that Howard’s return just makes the loaded Bucs offense that much more sick.
I almost forgot about O.J. Howard. But it’s true—the Bucs are in essence adding a freakish athlete at tight end (Howard only played in four games last year before getting hurt) who Tom Brady took under his wing last year. Bruce Arians said this week Howard’s “really close” and “looks fantastic.” That means Tampa’s going to have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller and promising sophomore Tyler Johnson at wideout; Rob Gronkowski, Cam Brate and Howard at tight end; and Ronald Jones, Bernard, and Leonard Fournette at tailback. And Howard’s playing for a contract. Sheesh.
Joe sure hopes Howard blows up. Not only will that mean major money for him, it likely means he’ll stay with the Bucs for years to come.
But here is where cold water gets poured:
An Achilles is no minor injury. It’s not like a sprained ankle or even a dislocated shoulder. Careers have been ended by an Achilles. Last year former Patriots team physician Dr. Matt Provencher told FOX Sports that players that suffer these type of Achilles injuries generally notice a 20 percent decrease in their production for the rest of their playing days.
Former Bucs quarterback Jim Miller, co-host of “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, said after he had an Achilles injury he was never the same.
And that’s what scares Joe about Howard. Will the Howard that returns be the same big-play, deep-threat, fourth-receiver guy enjoyed by Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady and used as a deep threat like a fourth wide receiver?
Or will Howard become more of a foot-rubbing, car-littering short-yardage tight end like Rob Gronkowski?
Joe sure hopes it’s the big-play, deep-threat guy.
If Howard can come back to 100 percent, man, what a freaking fantasy football team the Bucs will have.
If Howard can come back to 100 percent, how the hell is any defense supposed to hold the Bucs under 21 points a game?
If Howard can come back to 100 percent, enjoy this offense, Bucs fans. After this season, we will never see a better Bucs offense.
May 17th, 2021 at 11:46 am
Talk to me when he finishes a game with more the 3 receptions and not an injury
May 17th, 2021 at 11:47 am
I never forgot about OJ……I am a bleiver of this guy……..If he stays healthy he will be a great piece…..LFG Juice!!!!
May 17th, 2021 at 11:56 am
OJ has never established “ the same “ in the NFL , that and with all his combine numbers he really was not used that much at Alabama.. the
mysterious career of OJ Howard
May 17th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
I don’t know why they ever drafted him–before Brady, we really never targeted the TE’s much
May 17th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
OJ = Freakish athlete with decent hands, average route running and average blocking. If he losing a step in his speed, he will never be more than an average TE. Wish him the best of luck.
May 17th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
I’d personally love to see OJ reduce his playing weight from 260ish to around 235-240ish.
I feel like whatever advantages he loses from playing lighter wouldn’t be all that impactful because, unlike his days at Alabama, he hasn’t been that good of a blocker in the NFL. And the advantages he would gain would make him a more fluid and explosive receiving threat as well as reduce the amount of stress on his ligaments and joints.
But even if he doesn’t lose weight, he should for sure refrain from ever high stepping like Dion again like he did in that Chargers game. I feel like that may have been what helped weaken his Achilles before it snapped. But that’s also just a theory.
Either way I hope that OJ can finally stay healthy and continue to build his chemistry that was developing with the GOAT.
May 17th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Licht couldn’t get a 4th round draft pick for him last year (before the injury).
Would love to see him do something but I don’t see it happening.
May 17th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Dirk Koetter did (hi Cam Brate) and Koetter drooled over O.J. Howard and wanted him badly.
Joe still maintains it was a horrible mistake to get Howard and not Dalvin Cook. Tight end was not a need and running back was. And Howard — in Joe’s eyes — has not established himself as a top-10 tight end.
But you know what? That’s water under the bridge. The Bucs finally got a Super Bowl win, without Cook and without Howard.
May 17th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
I agree with you Joe- did not like the drafting of OJ at the time and he has done nothing to justify a first round selection. If I were the GM, I would never draft a TE in the first round. Give me OL/DL/CBs every day of the week!
May 17th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
For all that talent that OJ has, and then watching his play for a couple of years, I wonder if really believed in himself, or was he discouraged and distracted alot before Brady got to Tampa. There were plays where you just would shake your head and wonder what he was doing. After one of those plays that became a goofy-looking turnover BA Benched him. OJ has all the ability to be a TE in the NFL, hopefully, he is able to stay healthy and continue to play focused like he did last year before he got hurt in the Charger game.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 17th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
Howard is just baggage the Buc Train does not need. Trade him somehow.
May 17th, 2021 at 1:13 pm
The game O.J. got hurt in would have been a stepping stone to a great season, if not for the disaster.
COVID’s impact had Brady still learning the Bucs game in week four. O.J. making a connection with him at that point would have kept him as an early look.
I hope he gets there, because he could be the weapon that allows Brady to get half a dozen more TDs, I want this team to set some big records this season.
May 17th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Jim Miller played QB for the Bucs? I don’t remember that at all. He must have made a great impact.
May 17th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Craig:
Believe you are onto something there.
May 17th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
He was one of the guys at Toms illegal sessions every day and he has definite potential in this offense. See what you got OJ.
May 17th, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Sort of like the Kyle Pitts of his day”
………..
“Sort of” being the Operative word.
OJ isn’t even Close to Kyle Pitts but he supposedly was the best TE of his class so.
Unfortunately for us we are going to find out JUST how good Pitts is as we have to play him twice a yr
May 17th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Another great weapon along with Bernard & Darden for park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady,
May 17th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
TBBF………….Can you please put all of those adjectives in Red. Smh
🙂
May 17th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Was wondering how motivated he was when he was playing. Perhaps part of the issues is not from the head down but from the head up. Just don’t know.
May 17th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
I want him called out by the coaches………just like others who get hurt.
May 17th, 2021 at 3:21 pm
Greer failed to mention Brown or #1. Been a fan of this team since the very beginning. Never been more excited about any season than I am about this one.
May 17th, 2021 at 3:21 pm
Fortunately we have the luxury of not worrying too much about him.He is a luxury at this point.Even if he had a huge year he has been way to inconsistent to get a huge payday. We have Brate still as well….
May 17th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Breer listed that incredible offensive stable. Read those weapons again…And then realize he left out Antonio Brown. Holy crap we’re stacked!!!
May 17th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
“If Howard can come back to 100 percent, enjoy this offense, Bucs fans. After this season, we will never see a better Bucs offense.”
One, slight correction Joe. I would eliminate Bucs from your last sentence. Forget limiting it to the Bucs offense. Any offense. This could be the most stacked offense the NFL have ever seen for any team. In its history!
May 17th, 2021 at 5:18 pm
Good luck Oj , u could be that OLD new addition that’s takes our offense to another level needed to accomplish this “Going for Two” bowl run . With each run something must change for the greater
GoBucs!
May 17th, 2021 at 5:32 pm
OJ does not make clutch plays. Hell, Tyler Johnson made a helluva a cLutch catch in the Saints playoffs game. OJ disappears in big games. I’d rather role with Gronk and Brate.
May 17th, 2021 at 6:04 pm
1sparkybuc,,I noticed that
May 17th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Beej i dont know what u are talking about. One year under koetter oj and brate combined for over 1300 yrds and 12 tds. Both had over 600 yards and oj missed 6 games. Koetter loves using his tight ends. Please stop with the alternative facts
May 17th, 2021 at 6:48 pm
Beej
In 2017 they combined for over 1000 yrds and 12 tds. 2018 they combined for close to 900 yrds and 11 tds with of course injuries. Thats great production from your tight end group. Sorry about the 1300 yrds comment. Added the wrong years together but the point is the same. Koetter uses his tight ends
May 17th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
OJ. Freakish athlete— Yes. Star— No. He has a lot to prove.
May 17th, 2021 at 8:39 pm
Wow Joe,
Think you greatly undervalued Gronk!
He helped us win more games than Howard ever has- or will.
I think Gronk will very much look like the Gronk of old this year.
And if so- Hes probably the best TE in the history of the game.
If Howard comes back at 100%( doubtful- but I hope so!)
And he lives up to his potential( doubtful, but I hope so!)
And he starts consistently running the right routes( who knows)
He STILL WONT BE AS GOOD AS GRONK!
Or, in my opinion- Brate!
I hope Howard is Healthy, and adds to the offense.
But Ive hoped that for a few years now.
May 17th, 2021 at 9:14 pm
Ceiling so high that even a 20% discount in production is still pretty good. There’s only one ball 🏈
May 17th, 2021 at 11:47 pm
I agree that it was a horrible mistake to get Howard and not Dalvin Cook, or someone else. Tight end was not a need and running back was. And Howard just did not have the production at Alabama to warrant such a high draft pick.
We got seduced by his Combine performance, IOW his Potential.
So far, he has yet to live up to his potential.
May 18th, 2021 at 7:56 am
Breer didnt even mention Gronk and AB. Why not?
May 18th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Talk about injury prone. This guys in the tub more than he’s on the field. Trade this guy & get the 7 mil off the books. He’s not as good as he was made out to be. Why do you think he slipped to the Bucs? Other teams knew. Bad pick Licht.
May 18th, 2021 at 11:09 am
Ummm Antonio Brown