“When You’re Willing To Block For Me, “I’m Gettin’ You The Ball”
October 5th, 2019
Low on action
O.J. Howard has been targeted just 13 times this season. Officially, it’s 12, but Joe is counting one ball overthrown to Howard against Carolina, when he had a heroic leap and tip that prevented a Jameis Winston interception.
Joe brings up the lower number of Howard targets because of something Bucco Bruce Arians said in his weekly sit down with WFLA sports chief Dangerous Dan Lucas.
Arians said of Chris Godwin, “When you’re willing to block for me, I’m gettin’ you the ball.” Godwin is on pace for 104 catches this season.
That got Joe wondering whether Howard’s suspect blocking this season is part of the reason for his light number of targets. Regardless, the Howard is a weapon and Joe’s not sure the Saints have anyone who can cover him.
Also noteworthy in the video below (the best this season with Lucas and Arians) is the head coach saying Ronald Jones really should have had a 150-yard day against the Rams. Those big plays negated by penalties? Arians says they were crap calls.
October 5th, 2019 at 12:35 am
Let’s gash the Aint’s with O.J. the way they used to gash us with Graham.
October 5th, 2019 at 12:40 am
I was at that game, amazing experience
The people of LA (at least in the area around the coliseum) were remarkably friendly
Most surprising were the number of Bucs fans present for the game
The few that I had an opportunity to talk to had never had a chance to attend a game in Tampa
Lots of players jerseys represented both present and retired
The most popular jersey, close to 50%, was #3 Winston
To give an idea of how many bucs fans showed up….
During one of the Rams defensive stands, while the crowd was getting loud to support the defense.
I distinctly heard the chant “Tam-pa-Bay, Tam-pa-Bay!”
I wonder if the players on the field could hear it
We did score on that drive, with one of those long balls that Winston can’t throw
October 5th, 2019 at 12:45 am
Yea the Buccaholics had their yearly take over there. They had a huge tailgate and pre party. Even sapp showed up and did selfies with them.
October 5th, 2019 at 12:49 am
gp Says:
October 5th, 2019 at 12:40 am
“I was at that game, amazing experience
The most popular jersey, close to 50%, was #3 Winston”
Ya don’t say. Explain that some more to Pittshore, Morgus, BucsBandit,, Buc Realist and a couple of more cause they think Winston’s days are numbered in Tampa. 50% of the jersey’s were Winston’s aye?
October 5th, 2019 at 2:27 am
Did you notice OJ flop on the Marcus Peters pick-6 last week? He had a clean shot to make that tackle, that showed me a lot.
October 5th, 2019 at 2:34 am
OJ had a God-awful week one where he was personally responsible for two turnovers and just played terrible.
However since then he’s been fine. Arians offense doesn’t use the TE that much, at least not in Arizona it didn’t. According to Greg Auman OJ has been used a lot more in blocking than in the past, and has been doing it pretty successfully.
Anywho I think that’s the next step in the offense, and it should help on those 3rd down conversions, to get OJ back involved fully. According to NEXTGEN stats, OJ had over 5.5 yards of separation – that’s a ton of yards. It could just be that Winston was having so much success throwing to Godwin, that’s where he was looking and if he was open he was taking it, but if you’re getting open by 15ft on each play, you should be getting the ball. Hopefully they get him back going this week.
October 5th, 2019 at 2:48 am
Rod,
I had to read your post twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything. 5yds is huge especially with a guy as fast as OJ. Great info
October 5th, 2019 at 2:52 am
@Joe,
Did you see the couple wearing Ricky Bell jerseys. 1 white, 1 orange.
“Run Ricky run”, still gets me.
October 5th, 2019 at 4:43 am
Rod, you bring up an interesting point. Bucs have at least THREE bonafide #1 receivers IMO: ME13, Godwin & OJ.
During the 5 years Jimmy Graham was with New Orleans, he was targeted an average of 6.9 times per game (somewhat less since going to Seattle & Green Bay). During the 9 years Rob Gronkowski was with New England he was targeted an average of 7.6 times per game. Both were considered to be very productive (and they were) but both had elite QBs tossing them the rock (Brady, Brees, Wilson, Rodgers). Both averaged right around 65% catch percentages (Graham 64.2% and Gronk 65.6%).
Compare that to how OJ has been used for his first 2-plus years in Tampa. He’s played in 28 games with 99 targets, an average of only 3.5 targets per game … HALF of what Graham & Gronk were targeted. Not sure that anyone would put Jameis in the same category as Brady, Brees, Wilson or Rodgers (yet at least) BUT OJ’s catch % is considerably higher (70.7%) than either Graham or Gronk. All three averaged roughly similar number of snaps per game (Graham 43, Gronk 47 & OJ 41).
My conclusion is that OJ is being grossly underutilized as a receiving weapon here in Tampa. Primary reason? Just a guess, but I think it comes down to ‘too many mouths to feed’ … plethora of #1 receivers, only 1 football. As a consequence, my guess is that he’ll walk after he completes his 4 years here.
October 5th, 2019 at 6:05 am
Non story OJ is half the Reason our Running Game has done so well Stop with this Lol
October 5th, 2019 at 7:32 am
“So far we have continuously seen a TE score/catch in a undependable route (Brate TD)
Put 3 wrs on 1 side and the single TE isolated on the other side
Our TEs are too big and abled to use/block their body to easily catch the ball away from the defender
Easy pitch and catch
This play and the use of TEs is clearly underutilized
As my Dad eloquently stated
This year is not just about the development of Jaboo but also maybe more importantly the development of BL as offensive coordinator and play designer
We still lack in attacking and utilizing the TEs in the pass game and the RB screens
These plays have been clearing used and proved success but not used enough
My Dad believes that our 2 wr targets will be covered this week. Let us see how we counter”
Son of Kobe Faker
October 5th, 2019 at 8:02 am
D.R.
As always great analysis sorry for the conclusion you reached that OJ will walk because of lack of targets…as you say…too many mouths to feed.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost OJ and I definitely do not see how we keep both OJ AND Brate with all the bucks spent on the offense already and a growing need to start feeding our defensive guys.
Auclair’s emergence as a blocker may free the Bucs to let OJ walk and use Brate/Auclair as his replacement.
A lot of football left tho and we’re crossing the proverbial bridge before we get there.
Real winning as in becoming an annual playoff team with a legitimate shot at a SB would change some thinking IMO.
If this team got back to the SB RayJay fills again and the players resume their “star” status with opportunities for “outside” money doing commercials, appearances etc.
And everybody loves playing for a winner.
October 5th, 2019 at 8:23 am
“…Howard is a weapon and Joe’s not sure the Saints have anyone who can cover him…”
No team has anyone who can cover Howard. Yet he only has 13 targets…
October 5th, 2019 at 8:30 am
Don’t expect a break out game by OJ this week. He’s going to need to help Smith, and Dotson with Cam Jordan, and rightfully so. If any TE is going to have a big day it’ll be Brate. This offense just doesn’t use the TE’s like Dirk’s O did. Just look at Atlanta’s numbers in respect to the TE’s, and the RB’s. Hooper their TE had 130 yards, and a TD last week. while Freeman only had 12 carries. It’s the systems boys, and girls, not the players.
October 5th, 2019 at 8:42 am
87 yes I remember graham always burning us. Was so happy wen he left our division. Let O.J loose.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:02 am
First, Mike Evans had a great game. Then Chris Godwin did, because Evans was covered.
Watch, someone else, possibly Howard, will have a big game this week.
Just when teams think they’ve figured this offense out, they learn we have yet another weapon.
OJ’s turn will come, provided he stays healthy.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:52 am
Bonzai, I would love to seem the Aints try to take away Evans and Godwin only to get a snoot full of OJ and ROJO!!!!
October 5th, 2019 at 10:19 am
Actually thought OJ is a good reason why we have been able to run the ball
October 5th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Maybe he’s afraid of getting injured again?
October 5th, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Arians isn’t keeping the ball from Howard, the coverage dictates where the ball goes. Besides it BL that’s calling the plays and game planning.
October 5th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Howard has a rough week 1 but his blocking has looked much better since then.
I too would like to see more targets, the guy is an insane mismatch. It’s only been 4 weeks, I think (hope) we see him get more involved as the season goes on and depending on who were matched up against. He’s simply too good to only be blocking.
October 5th, 2019 at 4:21 pm
MtBucsfan Says:
“Yea the Buccaholics had their yearly take over there. They had a huge tailgate and pre party. Even sapp showed up and did selfies with them.”
.
.
Is this a newer, kinder Sapp? It can’t be the same guy who used to cuss people out for bothering him.