Cameron Brate Shining Across The NFL
November 7th, 2016
Climbing the ladder
How bout a little optimism this morning! How bout that undrafted Harvard man Cameron Brate!
A quick look at NFL stats shows Brate tied for the NFL lead in touchdown receptions by tight ends. He and five other tight ends have four each.
Brate’s 28 catches rank 15th in the league at the position. And the Bucs have only thrown the rock his way 42 times.
Saints tight end Coby Fleener, for example, also has 28 catches and has been targeted 47 times by his superstar quarterback with pinpoint accuracy.
What a find by general manager Jason Licht in 2014! Yeah, the Bucs have cut Brate twice, but at least they were smart enough to get him back.
At 25 years old, Brate is clearly the Bucs’ No. 1 tight end and a critical cog to the offense now that Austin Seferian-Jenkins has taken his bowels issues to New Jersey and the Jets.
On pace for 56 receptions, Brate should become more of a focus in the offense, Joe believes. Brate can squeeze the football and he’s an effort guy who will develop more with more opportunities. And it sure seems like the this season has become all about development for the 3-5 Bucs.
There’s no way nine wins will get a wild card spot this year. It’ll be 10 or 11 wins in the NFC, as it has been for several consecutive seasons. Last year’s wild card teams (Seahawks and Packers) each had 10 wins. In 2013 and 2014, NFC wild card teams were 11-5 or better.
November 7th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Hey Joe, tell me one thing, if someone told you the Bucs would finish the year 8-8, would you take it as a good development season?
Thanks for your coverage!
Go Bucs! All the way from Sao Paulo/Brazil
Yes, 8-8 would be a strong step for the franchise. Joe predicted an 8-8 season. –Joe
November 7th, 2016 at 9:59 am
I said it the other day…Brate is going to be very good. So is Adam Humphries.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Humphries has already topped last year. He may not score a lot of TDs, but he sure does help move the chains.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:02 am
I would be happy with 8-8 this year. Very happy, all things considered, Alexander Nascimento.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:07 am
We should’ve been using Brate more, earlier in the season. He can run behind the opposing line backers like our opponents do to us..
November 7th, 2016 at 10:31 am
ASJ was a better TE, Talib was a better CB, Mark Barron a was better S,Mike Williams was a better #2 WR, Donald Penn was a better T, Michael Bennett was a better DE, Blount was better RB than everyone but Martin… This team hasn’t had a winning record in years because we can’t find a coach or GM that can manage talented divas. Divas, yet still talented. Yeaahhh great find on an average TE that Winston forces the ball to.
Winston is actually a solid QB but what do you expect when his o-line leaks like a sieve, and when he does make a play its probably going to be called back on a O Lineman penalty.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:35 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
November 7th, 2016 at 9:59 am
I said it the other day…Brate is going to be very good. So is Adam Humphries.
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Amen, @BBonzai. 🙂 I knew both these young guys would be terrific players when I saw them play in their initial preseason games. Let Luke Stocker do what he’s good at: block! I also agree with 8-8. Leave DK and his staff IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST 2 MORE SEASONS!!!!!!!! We’ll beat da Bears next Sunday!
November 7th, 2016 at 10:36 am
Brate is good, hump is a great slot wr, and #13 is all pro. Do we need a good #2… of course we do but dumbfor people to blame Jameis struggles on lack of weapons.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:37 am
Look this is our year to learn to compete. Next year we will learn to win. Beats will be one of the holdovers that helps us move forward next year. It’s not all doom and gloom for this team.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:38 am
Brate and Humphries are fine. Neither are superstars but that is ok. Evans is a bonafide star. What will make Brate and Humphries manageable is a running attack. Need to find a durable back and a true dangerous #2 and #3 (not a slot, that is Humphries) receiver.
Something I have been pondering Joes, not to hijack but this is somewhat related. Why did Licht see it as very important to draft size at the receiver and tight end position due to the match-up advantages that it naturally creates, but then do a total 180 with his acquisition of Grimes and the drafting of VHIII? I’m no gm but I do wonder about this logic.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:41 am
BoJim…. only way the tight end runs behind the Linebackers is a solid running game that opens up the play action.. Simple as that.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Dpewter how can ASJ be a better TE if he isn’t healthy. Also Mark Barron failed at safety now he is playing linebacker.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Brate is meh. Certainly a great find as an undrafted prospect picked off the garbage heap, the reason why he doesn’t get more targets is he is slow as molasses. Like you said Joe, he is an effort guy who is getting better at blocking and improving his overall game, but the Bucs should continue to try and improve at the position to find an actual threat.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:53 am
@Tnew Look at the many bits Licht has given about the misperception that size at the CB position translates to success. Good point about his opinions being opposite regarding the WR position, but he is correct that sub-6 ft corners are not any detriment to a team.
November 7th, 2016 at 11:17 am
I admit I was wrong but I still believe he is a number 2 TE but he has surprised me I still will like to get a true number 1 TE in here who can do it all
November 7th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Brate is easy to pull for; a nice story. He works hard and is reliable. He and/or the team still must improve at the position. I doubt any DC is sweating in his boots over Mr. Brate; someday soon, hopefully. Conversely, picking up an LB that could come within three yards of a TE en route would border on the miraculous!
Dpewter , don’t forget, Matt Bryant and Connor Barth, both better kickers!
November 7th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Problem with Brate is he’s a pass catching TE who’s still a liability in run blocking.
The Bucs telegraph when they’re running the ball because Stocker comes in.
November 7th, 2016 at 11:51 am
Another average (solid) player Buc’s fans, media, coaches & GM get excited about…that’s the problem w/ the culture, its praises mediocrity
November 7th, 2016 at 11:52 am
How many games will we win with this roster ? Five if we’re lucky, that’s about an average Buc season.
November 7th, 2016 at 11:57 am
All one has to do is look at the Yac stats!!!!!! Then you will see that these weapons are not really getting open and when they do catch they are tackled immediately!!!!! The Bucs are very near the bottom of team YAC!!!!
Just wait until the offseason to see what the coaches and front office think of all these “weapons”!!!!!!
2017 NFL Bucs draft Wr, Te, and Safety!!!!!!!!
November 7th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
@Buc Realist
I agree. Also this front office doesn’t make a real investment in explosive athletes. We will never be a contender until that investment is made
November 7th, 2016 at 11:26 am
There is a bunch of reason why we are 3&5…..The main one is Injuries, lack of kicker and lack of pass rush….I never saw a team with 4/5 RB injured and also 3/4 WR on the first 8 games!!!!!! Sometimes we get confused by passion……This is going to be longer than what we thought, we need more talent on WR and on DE and SS and FS, but I think we are in the right direction, we all need to be more patient and see the whole picture, not get confused for 8 games.
We need a good draft and most important add quality on free agency.
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 7th, 2016 at 11:30 am
i still think Dirk would rather have the type of gamebreaking downfield threat at TE that ASJ was supposed to be. Brate is a reliable set of hands and a guy who knows where JW expects him to be, but you don’t keep a knucklehead like ASJ on the roster unless you badly want it to work out
November 7th, 2016 at 11:37 am
@Realist,
I’m assuming you’re speaking about the first 3 rounds. If so, I would probably substitute TE for a DE.
I can’t remember exactly which GM issued this statement (might’ve been Jerry Reese) but he said:
And I think it’s safe to say that we DON’T have enough quality DEs on this roster.
That is one position that we need to just keep drafting and drafting until we can find one that can generate some pressure.
So, whether we go
Wide Reciver
Defensive End
Safety
or
Defensive End
Wide Recieiver
Safety
drafting a DE in the top of the draft HAS to happen.
November 7th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Agreed, nice story but not a game-breaker. A good run-game would help cover this up.
@Realist- WR, Safety, DE with the safety and DE being in no particular order. WR is THE priority next year!
November 7th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Tnew Says
“Why did Licht see it as very important to draft size at the receiver and tight end position due to the match-up advantages that it naturally creates, but then do a total 180 with his acquisition of Grimes and the drafting of VHIII?”
That’s a valid argument.
November 7th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
@The Buc Realist
Humphries has an average of 11.2 yards per catch…and of his 30 receptions, 5 are for more than 20 and one is for over 40. So he does have YAC.
November 7th, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Brate averages over 10 yards per catch, and is a tight end on pace to have close to 600 yards receiving.
I think both are coming along fine.
November 7th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
8-8 this year would be marked improvement.
Again it’s not simply the record it’s when and how it’s achieved. If the Bucs go 5-3 to finish, especially winning at the end of the season.
Chucky would have been around longer if not for the collapse at the end. Lovie the same thing.
Do we have momentum? Nah we are dead in the water. Not sinking not going forward just surviviing.
If DK can get through these injuries and win at the end of the year he will have had a great season at 8-8.
November 7th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
I have liked Brate since pre season last year. He’s a nice, hard working guy undrafted outta Harvard with good hands. He is straight up money in the red zone, but the bucs still need to find an all around tight end that can work every down.
November 7th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
play design affects YAC yards.I see a too many plays that receivers are squared up to present a target or have to come back to the ball.
Do think better blocking will allow Evans to run deeper routes like last year.
Also might open up seam pass to Brate, a deeper pass that I think Jameis throws well.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:44 am
Monday, December 8, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. was the night is all went down the toilet never to recover.
November 9th, 2016 at 5:24 pm
I love me some TE Jordan Ledge from Clemson. He has a 3rd round tag by most experts. He is a monster freak. If he’s there mid 3rd round go for him after drafting WR Reynolds (deep threat and YAC) from the A&M late 2nd after trading down in the 2nd while picking up another 4th rounder to get a developmental DT or DE. 1st rounder should be a Safety (I prefer Jamal Adams from LSU). Then in later rounds draft MLB for the future when we trade LVD and move Kwon to WLB in 2018.
Can’t be afraid to be bold. We need playmakers both sides of the ball!