Yes, There Is An O.J. Howard
October 14th, 2021
Strong game!
Who had O.J. Howard with 49 yards receiving and a touchdown tonight?
Joe sure didn’t. And Joe doubts anyone not living in Alabama did either.
But man, tonight in a 28-22 win in Philadelphia, the 2017 first-round pick came out of hiding and had a nice little game.
Howard had six catches for 49 yards (on seven targets) and caught a beautiful pass from Tom Brady midway through the first quarter for the game’s first score.
Joe even saw Howard bowl over an Eagles defender. Joe didn’t know Howard had some Mike Alstott power in him.
The production by Howard nearly matched his last game of the 2020 season, when he went down with a blown Achilles in the win over the Chargers. That day, Howard had six catches for 50 yards and a score.
Tonight was clearly Howard’s best since returning from Achilles surgery last October..
Howard is slowly improving each week, slowly getting his sealegs back. If he continues to improve each week like he has, that gives the Bucs yet another weapon for Tom Brady to play with on a roster that is already loaded like few teams Joe has seen.
October 14th, 2021 at 11:58 pm
When Pete’s in Philadelphia, he goes to Subway to get a cheesesteak & OJ getting on track is a beautiful thing that’ll help us down the road
October 14th, 2021 at 11:58 pm
OJ GRONKWARD!!!
October 15th, 2021 at 12:03 am
Stop trying to make OJ Gronkward happen.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:03 am
Well, there was an OJ Howard until the shoestring tackle on his last catch. Then he walked away limping on the ensuing 4th down play. Keep your eye on it…
October 15th, 2021 at 12:07 am
Is there a Cameron Brate?
Gronk is the middle TE threat, oJ did some if that tonight but Mr Hands Brate is regulated to mostly blocking?
October 15th, 2021 at 12:10 am
Orlando Brate had a nice game with a couple of clutch catches.
Very proud of O.J. I was dead wrong about this guy. He is gonna have a nice season.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:17 am
I’ll repost this comment from the other thread:
What’s up with OJ? New achilles, new man. I literally don’t remember ever seeing him play this big. Strong. Stiff arms and breaking tackles. Taking on linebackers.
Guys don’t usually flip the switch like that. I hope it’s for real and not an aberration. I literally thought of Gronk when I saw him throw that stiff-arm.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:17 am
That last run where he gets shoe string is microcosm of his career. If you put his entire into 1 play …..that one is it
October 15th, 2021 at 12:18 am
Bucs rostwannabeer is stacked. Stop saying “we don’t need Brate” os any of the others. You idiot GMs have proven yourselves worthy of a dumpster fire for ten+ years. Now that we have professionals running the whole organization, STFU.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:19 am
JimmyJack Says:
“Very proud of O.J. I was dead wrong about this guy.”
.
.
You weren’t wrong. We have all seen the same thing from him for years. He just was a different person tonight. I hope it continues.
Go Bucs!
October 15th, 2021 at 12:21 am
*roster
*or
October 15th, 2021 at 12:28 am
OJs rushing speed is the same with brady
October 15th, 2021 at 12:29 am
MAGA OJ!
October 15th, 2021 at 1:02 am
OJ was showcased tonight as TRADE bate or Brate bate. Either 1 will be gone by the deadline. D needs help in a major way.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:03 am
He’s not a natural or fluid athlete.
Definitely had some good plays but his ceiling isn’t what we though.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:06 am
Been telling you guys since the preseason that OJ needed to get healthy and would continue to improve.
Look for him to be full Strength by thanksgiving.
October 15th, 2021 at 7:26 am
@Keith,
They’re not trading a TE when there’s a long season w/ possible injuries and the fact that we use a lot of 12 package for blocking the run. We should be getting SMB back soon and Dean and Cockrell have shown they can hold their own.
The whole dynamic changes if we can get consistent pressure and sacks. The backend will look stellar once that happens.
October 15th, 2021 at 9:00 am
Yeah they are not trading for anyone they will just hang on until injured players heal up non of them are season ending injuries
October 15th, 2021 at 9:03 am
Happy for OJ, but the jury is still out. I can use a speed square, drive a nail, and operate a skillsaw. Does that make me a carpenter? No. Frame up a couple more games like this one and I’ll call OJ a good player. Question: Would you be ok paying 6 mil for what you’ve seen so far? Hmm… didn’t think so. Me neither.
LFG Bucs!
October 15th, 2021 at 11:21 am
People suggesting Howard is trade bait are beyond dumb and obviously don’t understand football beyond a Madden level. Two injury prone TEs equals one durable one. You don’t dump one and expect the other to always be healthy. Just plain stupid to believe otherwise.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
@ Leighroy- I noticed that limp as well. Even pressed rewind a couple of times to see if it was from that play….he looked to be hobbled a bit during the route as well. I hope it’s nothing that lingers.
October 16th, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Yes,,no oj gronkward,,it’s sacreligous,lol