“You Want The Body Of O.J.”
October 4th, 2017
Gets props from teammate.
Nothing like getting love thrown at you by a stud player at your position.
And that was the case with Bucs tight end O.J. Howard last night. Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, Bucs tight end Cam Brate, not a backup, was over the top in his praise of fellow tight end, rookie O.J. Howard.
“He is obviously a physical specimen,” Brate said of Howard. “Size, speed. If you are constructing a body of a tight end, you want the body of O.J. and the many things he can do.
“The thing that has really impressed me about him? Ever since he got here, is his technique and his strength in the run game. It is very impressive. I mean, he has had great coaching at Alabama, but ever since he got here, he has had the ability to block defensive ends one-on-one. I mean obviously there is work to do. But those are the things he has excelled at so far.”
And of course, the blocking of Howard also caught the eye of NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, who drooled at how Howard worked over Mr. Three Fingers Sunday that sprung Jacquizz Rodgers on a 36-yard run.
Howard is going to be a good one, folks. No need to fret.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:20 am
I’m glad Bucs drafted him, too. Talk about a pair of TEs: Brate and OJ!! It sure is nice to be a Bucs fanatic with those kinds of problems for a change! 🙂
October 4th, 2017 at 10:23 am
Too many weapons? If he’s gonna play, dirk needs to get him more targets.
And speaking of blocking TEs why would you cut cross over stoker pls help me understand.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:26 am
F**king stud TE without sh*t for brains!!!
Gotta keep those two TE sets going.
If there isn’t enough room for D-Jax perhaps the Bucs can trade him for DE?
Go Bucs!!!
October 4th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Look @ Cook torn ACL. Howard was the right pick.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Eliot
Normally I would say that’s crazy talk but ….
djax of all people the odd man out? Wow!
October 4th, 2017 at 10:33 am
If you can predict injuries, trust Joe, you could make Powerball Lottery money working in the NFL.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:36 am
“I get only 1 catch per game because coach tells me im a RBB (Rookie Beast Blocker)”
OJ Stocker
October 4th, 2017 at 10:37 am
Yea lobbying for d cook doesn’t seems so good now. Even more happier to have OJ
October 4th, 2017 at 10:38 am
DB55
I like Cross too. I am hoping the Bucs are able to add him to the practice squad
October 4th, 2017 at 10:38 am
“And speaking of blocking TEs why would you cut cross over stoker pls help me understand.”
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One reason is Stocker wouldn’t be eligible for the practice squad. Second, Stocker, when healthy, is a better blocker than Cross. Stocker has been around more and is more of a leader in the locker room. Not saying I disagree with you, but I can see why they would take Stocker.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Actually they did bring him back to the practice squad
October 4th, 2017 at 10:44 am
ElioT & DB55 … DJax has had incredibly consistent numbers through 9 NFL seasons. It’s obviously taking more time for Jameis & DJax to click than most of us expected. Jameis has underthrown him; Jameis has overthrown him; and oh ya, DJax hasn’t gotten the separation on most plays that I for one expected him too. Jameis has clicked with ME13 not because Jameis throws a great deep ball but because ME13 outmuscles the defenders who are on him. DJax can’t do that. Better touch by Jameis, better separation by DJax, and better play-calling by Koetter and everyone will be singing their praises every game.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:47 am
@Kobe Faker
OJ Had 2 catches for 63 yards and a Touchdown last game if you didnt see.
Weren’t you supposed to do some naked running somewhere if he had more than one catch?
And @Joe I’m pretty sure I told everyone on this site repeatedly for about 3-4 months that Dalvin Cook’s frame is too small and that his body would not hold up in the NFL.
Perhaps I should play the powerball…
October 4th, 2017 at 10:55 am
Here’s whats confusing.
When we drafted OJ the idea was that it would help with the red zone issues. Yet we don’t seem to use him in the red zone.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Blake_Bucsfan
Dalvin’s injury was non contact.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:03 am
I’m aware of how it occurred sir. But I would also say the injury had to do with accumulated wear and tear.
Dalvin’s most impressive trait, his strength and tenacity through contact, is what I would say was also his undoing.
Dudes at his size with his running style/ demeanor, especially when they have already shown to be predisposed to injury are not going to last long at this level.
NFL defenders are just too big, too fast, too strong and hit too hard.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Howard’s development is going fine. Eventually he’ll get more targets but his role in the run game was one of the biggest reasons I loved the pick. He’s basically an OT that runs a 4.5 40 and can catch.
I think they’re doing great developing him. He has 8 targets through 3 games. Eventually he should probably get like 4-5 a game but there’s only so many balls to go around. It will likely come down to the matchups.
We know Evans & Djax will get at least 16-20 targets (10-12 for ME and 6-8 for Djax). Hump / RBs / Godwin likely pick up another 10 total targets and we’re already at like 30 passes before considering Brate and Howard.
Winston also just has insane chemistry with Brate – especially in the red zone.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:40 am
You folks might wanna get off this praise for seeing DC go down. There’s this thing called “Karma” that might rear its unbiased head js.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:46 am
OJ was an absolute STEAL at #19.
Panthers were fools not to take the best TE prospect in over a decade at #8 instead of McCaffrey. And OJs draft value only increased after that. Jon Robinson in particular passing on Howard at #18 for a late 1st round CB talent was just plain stupid.
We are the benefactors in this case. Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. Fortunately, Jason Licht seems to be doing pretty well on both fronts when it comes to drafting.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:46 am
DC will be fine see Todd Gurley and Kendall Beckwith. If the ACL is gonna go might as well have it happen early and out the way moving forward. Add Jordy Nelson to that list. ACL use to be a career ender,now it means just take a little vacation.
October 4th, 2017 at 11:46 am
oj brings more to the table…that’s why he was the right pick…simple as that!!..
@defense…I agree…I noticed djax isn’t getting as much separation as one thought….I think he’s still settling into the offense…I noticed that on all his “GO” routes he’s beating defenders, which is to be expected….but on other routes it seems like he’s counting his steps or thinking too much, which is causing him to play slower….
whatever the case, im not to concerned about his production because all it takes is one good game for him and Winston to get into a groove….im more worried about is attitude….he hope he stays patient and sees the BIG picture…its about the team….winning is the only thing that should matter….GO BUCS!!!!
October 4th, 2017 at 11:49 am
regarding cook, cant say im surprised….GO BUCS!!!
October 4th, 2017 at 11:50 am
And your right Pick,how and why the cats passed is somewhat puzzling. I’m sure they like many here now are starting realize they didn’t draft an RB in the first round.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Nos I’m not necessarily bragging, and I’m not happy about a young guy getting injured so early is his career.
Just saying that Cook’s build was one of the main reasons I was down on him as a prospect, and now that seems pretty close to the truth.
And it just makes me that much happier that we were blessed and fortunate enough to have a flat out stud like O.J. Howard fall to us.
By the way I appreciate that $150 you sent me, but if you recall, we had 2 bets on the draft, $150 that we wouldn’t draft Dalvin, and another bet for $100 that Joe Mixon would be drafted in the first 3 rounds.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Also just remembered that we had another 100 bet that Dalvin on whether or not Dalvin would be declared a bust in 5 years time.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Cook is second in rushing yards behind Hunt (KC) and he’ll come back from ACL even stronger. OJ has like 3-4 catches all for minimal yards and you can’t count on blown coverages for stats. Sorry kiddos but Cook at 19 was the pick.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Blake pushing his luck. 🤣🤣
October 4th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Not the truth DB, Dalvin is currently 3rd behind Gurley, and His current total of 354 yards after 4 games will be his total for the year. Because, as you know, he is out for the season.
Mean while, O.J. has been a key contributer to our running game, in the games where we actually attempting to run the football. He has helped shore up our Pass Protection schemes.
Also, the kid has 4 catches for 92 yards and touchdown, averaging 23 yards per reception. He has 0 problems getting open, so once he begins receiving more than 2-3 targets a game, his production will increase exponentially.
Face it dude, we dodged drafting another Cadillac Williams, and got ourselves a Tony G. to go along with Cameron Brate.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Face it dude, we dodged drafting another Cadillac Williams, and got ourselves a Tony G. to go along with Cameron Brate.
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No! I will not! 😝
October 4th, 2017 at 1:32 pm
yeah its going to take some time for him to start trusting that knee again…along with that, its going to take time for him to get his quickness and explosiveness back…now you have to add the knee injury on top of the shoulder, ankle and ham strings….
I wouldn’t have been mad if we got him in round 2 but oj was/is the better pick at #19….imagine if we did take him and he got injured…everyone would be saying licht f’ed up…LOL…GO BUCS!!!!
October 4th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
“You folks might wanna get off this praise for seeing DC go down. There’s this thing called “Karma” that might rear its unbiased head js.”
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Amen! Well said.
October 4th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
It’s not all about stats. Tight ends almost never make an immediate impact anyway, so it’s really silly to judge someone 3 games into his career. Besides, OJ is a beast of a blocker, and that will improve. He played in an offense that didn’t throw the ball much, so anyone should know that it is going to take some adjustment for him in the passing game. He was a long term pick, not an immediate impact type of player. Nothing is a sure thing, but he looks like the real deal.
October 4th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
So Shocking that Kobe Liar welched on another bet / promise.
October 4th, 2017 at 8:08 pm
I’m a big fan of OJ. I took Brate over him in Fantasy… but in terms of what doesn’t show up on the stats sheet, I’m a huge fan!!
October 4th, 2017 at 9:58 pm
For D Jax to become effective, he must be set up for the big play by this I mean….in the first quarter he must be given some 7 yard slants (no YAC expected) he must be given some Down and Outs to the Side line..6 yard gain on first down.. I mean he must be in the game plan… He can get deep but we must do a better job of setting up the HOME RUN!! Let’s get to a 3-1 record and put some pressure on the rest of the division !!