“He Was Just Beasting Everybody”
July 31st, 2017
Love from a teammate.
So far in training camp, rookie tight end O.J. Howard has been flashing almost as much as DeSean Jackson.
Howard has made sick catches, especially on tipped balls. Apparently, in the first day of pads, Howard has owned defensive ends while blocking.
That’s the word from Bucs running back Jacquizz Rodgers. The Bucs’ best back last year was asked about Howard’s blocking. The response wasn’t much different than asking Joe about Rachel Watson.
“Oh, man,” Rodgers said as he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Today in one-on-ones, he was just beasting everybody. It will be good to have a tight end like him beasting defensive ends and setting the edge for us so we will have running lanes.”
Is Howard the star of training camp? Well, if you factor in his blocking, if it is as good as Rodgers claims, then, yeah, Howard very well could be the stud of summer football.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Once the pads come on…..
July 31st, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Uh huh. Maybe on the first day they weren’t as sharp as they will be later, or maybe they don’t want to hurt the first round draft pick on the first day of practice. If the narrative becomes too loud that a tight end, hell any tight end, is “beasting” them, expect the education to begin for Mr. Howard soon. Very soon.
On the other hand, if they CAN’T kick the butt of a rookie tight end in one on ones, maybe we should be looking skeptically at the linemen rather than rosy-eyed at the rook.
We’ll know more when we finally face an opponent where no one has to hold back at all.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:29 pm
tnew, pretty sure they were in pads today
July 31st, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Howard’s blocking may have more of an impact on the run game than the o-line shuffling; and is basically half the reason he was the perfect draft pick for us this year
July 31st, 2017 at 12:42 pm
InJameis.. I’ve been saying wait till the pads come on for Howard ever since rookie camp. Many were expressing disappointment in his play in underwear football. My contention that anything he did in underwear football was just gravy. My mantra with him has been, “wait till the pads come on” Today, it finally happened. This doesn’t just include blocking, this includes his ability to use his body to box out and shield defenders, including linebackers.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:43 pm
First day of pads today. But the defense wasn’t really hitting, if you get the drift. Koetter didn’t want teammates blowing up teammates in July.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:47 pm
This off-season and training camp feels so different from any other recent ones. We all wear pewter colored glasses but the stories coming out are way more positive than previous years.
Howard, Godwin and McNichols are flashing in the offense just like they should be in no-contact practice.
I can’t wait to read the articles and see the videos of Evans, Beckwith, and Stevie T when the pads get put on.
I am so excited to watch our young players this preseason.
GO BUCS
July 31st, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Howard’s beasting if far more of a reflection of the transcendent talent that he is, not a poor reflection of our DL. He’s gonna pancake ALOT of linemen on other teams this year. So many teams will wonder WTF they were thinking passing on him in the draft. Unbelievable that we got him where we did. I wanna see him and Sweezy just maul people together. GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Country down south bama boy. Who’s game revolves around physicality. I think he’ll be holding his own when the contact ratchets up some.
July 31st, 2017 at 2:01 pm
@Joes
Your practice reports are simply the best. THX for all the hard work you guys put in. You guys are like the mail…through rain…well it’s Tampa so no sleet or snow at least.
As far as the defense blowing people up I can wait until Friday night August 11th when we tee it up against the Bengals. Then game two against Jax…both of those teams want to be very physical so we’ll get a great gauge of our “beasting” in those contests.
To beast or not to beast…that is the question. I get tough practices but I’m not all that keen in seeing our offensive players getting blown up.
July 31st, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Finally excited to see what a “real” TE can do for this offense!!!!! Its what people in the know have screamed for, more than a year ago!!!!!!!!!! It will easily make the offense dynamic if he stays healthy!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 31st, 2017 at 3:22 pm
(Who ya gonna call) DR FEELGOOD Says:
“So many teams will wonder WTF they were thinking passing on him in the draft.”
Yup
You “outsmarted” yourself going for “need” at 18 Jon Robinson. You weren’t the only one that should have drafted OJ over whoever they picked – just the most glaring because he had dropped all the way to 18 – but you decided to go with late 1st round DB talent instead of a top 5-10 graded player on most all NFL boards – good luck living with the results of that decision for the next dozen years…
July 31st, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Agreed Pickgrin. The Bucs needed a RB but the best pick on the board was TE. Glad no one tried to overthink it and they just grabbed the best player available.
July 31st, 2017 at 3:51 pm
Sounds good, but defensive linemen were admittedly taking it easy yea Joe? Let’s see where we are come a hot, sunny training camp day of one on ones.
July 31st, 2017 at 4:48 pm
No surprise to anyone that watched the game tapes from his senior year.
July 31st, 2017 at 6:29 pm
OJ Howard may be better than Gronkowski. Going on record with it first 🙂
July 31st, 2017 at 6:33 pm
If we (bama) would have had a qb last year and this one as well.
With that d taking u 3 and out wow
July 31st, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Our # 1 picks have been rock solid….
Evans, Winston, VH3 & Howard…..look fantastic.
OJ Howard at 19 may end up being the greatest value of all of them This was an amazing stroke of fortune.
July 31st, 2017 at 7:26 pm
OJ can block, OJ can run and get open and OJ can catch the ball. OJ should have been a top ten pick and we are lucky to have him.
July 31st, 2017 at 7:52 pm
OJ has great character also….proud to have him as a Buc!!!
July 31st, 2017 at 10:15 pm
I love Howard, but don’t forget about Auclair guys. Brate, Howard and Auclair are a nightmare trio for opposing Linebackers and Safeties.