O.J. Howard Gets Props
May 30th, 2019
Respect.
In some circles, O.J. Howard is already being dissed.
CBS Sports recently had a list of Top 25 players under 25. Improbably, the budding superstar Bucs tight end was omitted. Who the hell was putting that together, the PFF tribe?
Well, Marc Sessler brought reason and logic to this discussion. The NFL.com columnist decided to put out his own list of Top 25 players under 25. And Sessler includes Howard.
Tight end: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24 as of Sept. 5). Before you ask, San Francisco’s George Kittle already hit the quarter-century mark in October. Howard, however, fits here — and remains my choice over the also-inviting David Njoku (22) — after a tantalizing second season that saw him emerge as a strong-handed pass-catcher who now owns 60 receptions, 997 yards and 11 touchdowns over 24 tilts. In a post-Gronk universe, Howard is a candidate to fill that unfillable space. Questions linger over his usage in an offense led by Bruce Arians, who has historically deemphasized tight ends, but the Bucs coach never housed a toy like this in Arizona.
Hell, Howard is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, much less under-25. Don’t throw this George Kittle noise at Joe.
The only reason, in Joe’s eyes, Howard hasn’t made a Pro Bowl is the guy hasn’t yet finished an NFL season healthy. Once he crosses that bridge, Howard will be or should be considered among NFL elites.
Oh, and Joe doesn’t get the hand-wringing over Bucco Bruce Arians doesn’t use tight ends. Bull. When he was in Pittsburgh, Heath Miller was an important part of the Steelers’ offense and Howard is much better than Miller.
May 30th, 2019 at 12:57 am
Joe—
RIGHT ON! Thought the SAME thing when I read Sessler’s list.
But…I LOVE IT!!!
I hope and pray EVERY talking head overlooks all things Bucs!
Minimize us. Dismiss us. Overlook us. Game plan for the team the week after us. Consider us the Bucs of old. Yes, we’re not worthy of contention consideration. No “new Sheriff in town” here! No sir…nothing to see here. Carry on!
Fricking LOVE it!!!
May 30th, 2019 at 1:27 am
Spot on Joe. Lets hope he can stay healthy! As I’ve always said about this kid:
STUD.
May 30th, 2019 at 3:11 am
Ok, OJ Howard challenge is up…show the NFL what you got….and BA… let him do so… GO BUCS!!
May 30th, 2019 at 4:09 am
“the guy hasn’t yet finished an NFL season healthy.” Answered your own question Joe. Herein is the problem, can’t be anointed if you don’t play an entire season.
This season will either allow for a break out, or BA won’t use him enough or and this would be the worst outcome, he cements his injury bug status. Time will tell.
Njoku has better overall stats but a few less TD’s. And Njoku actually started fewer games than OJ has so far. But of course he stayed healthy.
May 30th, 2019 at 7:13 am
If he can stay healthy , he can be compared to the best receivers.
He literally runs like a receiver in a man sized tight end body.
Make him only practice twice a week max . Once ok. Joey Galloway treatment
Keep him healthy.
May 30th, 2019 at 7:24 am
“I told Gump we dont need Hump because we will be using OJ”
BA (BandAid)
May 30th, 2019 at 7:48 am
Let him play some in the slot!!
May 30th, 2019 at 8:00 am
He’s not injury prone, thankfully. Both injuries were on ankles that were landing on awkwardly by the tackler. BA will destroy defenses with OJ.
May 30th, 2019 at 8:30 am
DR FEELGOOD
If he’s not injury prone then he is fragile like vh3bust. It’s one or the other.
May 30th, 2019 at 9:01 am
Not cus I’m a Bucs fan. Not cus I’m an OJ lover. Not because he’s the most athletic TE in the game. Not cus he hasn’t finished a season.
I don’t know who Sessler is, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been getting sh!t on by every analyst and ex-coach/player since we hoisted the Lombardi trophy. But on Sundays when RT/TE OJ is starting, he’s getting MAD RESPECT from all those Hall of Fame coaches and players doing pre-game or calling plays.
Evans, Godwin, and OJ in the slot sometimes??? What a dream.
May 30th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Great article Joe. OJ Howard is one of the big reasons why I think the Bucs have the best receiving unit in the NFC South.
May 30th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Joe you must only watch Bucs football and I know you are not into FF or you wouldnt scoff at George Kittle. Dude is a boss and is uncoverable. 88 receptions last yr for 1377 yards! Love me some OJ but Kittle deserves props.
May 30th, 2019 at 10:45 am
OJ Howard is the Google Glass of the Bucs roster: told we needed it when we didn’t. Insisted it was the next big thing and its application was universal. Turns out to be another dud and a waste of money at a time when we could have had something more useful.
May 30th, 2019 at 10:47 am
Stay healthy OJ. The rest will take care of itself
May 30th, 2019 at 11:45 am
Congrats to pugs&bucs!!!!!
That’s officially one of the dumbest comments I’ve read on this site. You are a joke!
May 30th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
OJ is a beast…but kittle is no bum….
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 30th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Dear Buccernutter…. tell me how it’s inaccurate. I’ll wait.
I’ll bet MONEY you use Google Glass to record teen girls at the mall and that’s why you took offense.
May 31st, 2019 at 8:54 am
Pugs&bucs
Wtf are you talking about? Lmao.
Nobody’s offended by your ignorance.
Stick to pugs.