Targeting Tight Ends
January 6th, 2022
The time is now.
So the Bucs are down two Pro Bowl receivers for the rest of the season. The other, Mike Evans, is coming off a hamstring injury.
So with the Bucs now relying on mostly backups or former practice squad receivers, why not target the tight ends more? That question was raised to Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians yesterday.
The Bucs have tight ends. Foot-rubbing, film guru Rob Gronkowski will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the end of the decade. Cam Brate has always been a touchdown machine. And O.J. Howard as least has game-changer potential.
Arians said there is one thing stopping him from making the tight ends much more heavily involved.
“[We have] three really good ones,” Arians said. “So much of it is matchups. I trust all of those guys and again they all have redeeming qualities. Cam [Brate] has caught a bunch of balls. ‘Gronk’ [too].
“O.J. [Howard] hasn’t, but he can. It is just [about] getting opportunities. He had a good 11-yard gain two weeks ago and it got called back, but we trust him, totally.”
So if the defensive matchups are favorable for the Bucs to throw to the tight ends, it appears perhaps they will do that more.
Joe is of the belief that Howard is in the final weeks of his Bucs career. Now Arians raves about Howard like he’s Dave Casper. The video and statistical evidence doesn’t fully support Arians, but what do you expect Arians to say, that Howard is already toast?
Joe would hope if Howard still has pride in his Bucs uniform, he will be even more motivated to ball out the rest of the way so at least he’s not remembered for leaving the Bucs with everyone saying, “Man, what could have been.”
January 6th, 2022 at 8:07 am
OJ hasn’t been the same since his injury early last year. I don’t know if He will ever return to form. I trust Brate and of course Gronk over Howard.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:09 am
Gronk has been shaky lately. Dropped a lob in the end zone. His ribs must still be really sore.
January 6th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Like the heavy use of TEs in the receiving scheme…..it helps to open up WRs..,,,,
January 6th, 2022 at 8:33 am
AB just posted the texts on Instagram stories… get the popcorn ready
January 6th, 2022 at 8:35 am
“O.J. [Howard] hasn’t, but he can. It is just [about] getting opportunities. He had a good 11-yard gain two weeks ago and it got called back, but we trust him, totally.”
Trust OJ? There’s a whopper right there. Maybe BA should try and convince his QB?
January 6th, 2022 at 8:46 am
With no Godwin or AB, my prediction is that Gronk will get more work as the slot receiver. Brate has good hands, but not much of anything else. OJ was a potential game changer who flashed in years past, but no more.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:09 am
Time to see what OJ can possibly contribute to the balance of the season
January 6th, 2022 at 9:15 am
Watch out for this weeks game. The Stainks Voo Doo Hex may be lingering. If they beat the Chicks and Rams put away the Niners anything can happen. Carolina has nothing to lose really and I doubt they tank on purpose over a draft pick possibility. They will be teeing off on defense and if the ball bounces wrong …trouble. A bad brew boiling for Brady to deal with. If the Stainks get in the playoffs will they play the Bucs? Stay tuned this could get bumpy.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Saban and koetter new how to get OJ touches. But he stays in and blocks so Gronk and Brate get more balls thrown their way, I just don’t think he comfortable {awkward ? }
on crossing routes. But with his speed and size, he has the potential to be a mismatch downfield.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:59 am
“Howard is in the final weeks of his Buc’s career.” Maybe. How many times was that same line typed here, with the name “Will Goldson” in place of Howard?
January 6th, 2022 at 10:11 am
John Sinclear Says:
January 6th, 2022 at 9:59 am
“Howard is in the final weeks of his Buc’s career.” Maybe. How many times was that same line typed here, with the name “Will Goldson” in place of Howard?
^^^^^^^^
Good point, but I think Gholston may have been a slightly above replacement level player until he flourished in Todd Bowles’ defense. We’ll see what OJ can do, I hope for the best for him, but have little expectations.
January 6th, 2022 at 11:32 am
Armybucfan, what form? He’s made a few plays here or there, but he was never the go-to tight end that Gronk, or even Brate, is. Plus he’s been injured numerous times. I was thrilled when the Bucs drafted him, but I’m sorry, he’s a bust. Time to move on.
January 6th, 2022 at 11:59 am
The GOAT will have not only 3 TE’s but with Fournette healthy and backed by one of the best receiving RB’s in the league in Bell…there’s targets aplenty for TB12 who will take what the defense gives him.
Doubt they’re going to give him CG or ME over the top…and they would have game planned to keep AB from getting deep. AB is great on screens…Bell is also excellent and Bell is great at reading blocks…we have a solid OL and we have guys like Grayson, and ME and others willing to block downfield for these guys.
We still have MANY ways to attack what a defense gives us and we have the best diagnotician of what that might be at QB.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
3 tight ends sets means getting the run , play action and pass game
Basically unstoppable
January 6th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
I wish they would use that formation at least in the red zone. It was unstoppable last season in the red zone. Before OJ went down.