“He Basically Just Bullied The Linebacker”
June 18th, 2019
Time to shine.
There are a lot of reasons to be geeked about the new season.
Sure, it doesn’t look so rosy for the Bucs as we sit here in the middle of June. But there are things to look forward to.
One is to watch the explosion of O.J. Howard. The Bucs’ super tight end is entering his third season and the only thing that seems to be standing in Howard’s way of being elite is his health.
So far, Howard has yet to finish a season off the injured reserve list. And if Howard can finish the 16-game season (or longer), who knows what kind of beastly numbers he can rack up?
There is one person who has an idea, and that is America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. When Jameis appeared recently on Adam Schefter’s podcast, Schefter, of BSPN, asked Jameis about Howard.
Adam Schefter: O.J. has a chance to be a great, great tight end.
Jameis Winston: Yes he does.
Schefter: If he stays healthy, right? Like, what do you see in O.J. Howard that makes him stand out?
Jameis: He is a learner. He loves learning. He loves competing. And O.J. is just a football player, man. He wants to make a play. We find times when O.J. is running a route [a certain] way but when you look at the film, he basically just bullied the linebacker and caught the ball and takes it to the house. So he finds a way to make plays and he always finds a way to the end zone no matter if he has to take it 75 yards or jump over somebody’s head or take [the ball] away from a defender.
All this talk about Howard taking the next step makes Joe think of an outfit that has so many folks hoodwinked and believing everything they type. And that’s the PFF tribe.
Who can forget how the tribe rated Howard as the worst rookie drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft? Clowns!
June 18th, 2019 at 3:54 pm
A$$ clowns! OJ is the man! OJ Howard that is.
June 18th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
Would it be wrong for the Bucs to run a PR piece with OJ running through an airport? Too soon?
June 18th, 2019 at 3:59 pm
would love to see more 2TE sets….
but OJ has to stay healthy…..all that potential means nothing if its on IR….
GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
From worst rookie player of the entire class to the 2nd best TE in the league behind Travis Kelce per PFF lol
June 18th, 2019 at 4:18 pm
OJ and Vita were the lone bright spots when I attended the massacre in Chicago last season. Vea threw a few guys around in his first pro game and OJ was HANDLING, I mean STONEWALLING, like not giving an INCH, when single HANDEDLY blocking Khalil Mack. He would have done a better job at RT than Demar that day if given the chance.
June 18th, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Accolades and bandwagon fans will all come with wins.
June 18th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
I’m too the point where I completely dismiss any points made by a any analyst or poster if they use PFF grades to back up their statements.
I will like to thank Joe for protecting his readers from being bamboozled by these stat nerds.
June 18th, 2019 at 4:44 pm
PLEASE DO ANYTHING YOU CAN TO GET THE GLAZERS TO MAKE A COOL JERSEY IN 2020, JOE!!!
I WANT A HOWARD, VEA, OR MAYBE WHITE SOO BAD!!!
June 18th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
I’m not down with one of the linebackers getting “bullied” doesn’t bode well for the D.
June 18th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Looks rosy to me. 12 new hires last few seasons and boom playoffs.
June 18th, 2019 at 4:58 pm
I wonder if you ever look BA str8 in his face and say “man y’all don’t stand a chance next season “ or are you like every other beat writer,smile in his face like a well wisher. Odd thought. Joe doesn’t believe “y’all don’t stand a chance next season.” So why would Joe say such a thing? If the Quarterback Whisperer can turn around the quarterback, then the Bucs would look like a lock to evade a losing record. Add a little football luck and you never know. Heck, Carolina won this division once with a losing record. Arians has a team of media relations people, probably costing the Bucs far beyond $250K per year to monitor what Joe says and report to the head coach, if they so desire. If Arians asked Joe, then Joe would say this looks like a 6 or 7 win team at best right now, as Joe has said on podcasts. Of course, it’s June and perceptions could change. And there’s about 0% chance that Arians would give a s%&* –Joe
June 18th, 2019 at 4:59 pm
OJ is going to “bully” quite a few LBers this season.
Howard has the skillset to be the most complete TE in the NFL.
June 18th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
Tom- what makes you think Jameis is referencing practice and not game film?
June 18th, 2019 at 5:20 pm
SOE and then tell them to resign P.Barber. That’s the jersey I would want. Plus it says Barber so you can’t go wrong.
June 18th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
OJ will be a stud for us this year! Even if he misses a combined 2 games for whatever reason(s). When’s the last TE in the top 5 in the league in yards/TD’s or both that played all 16 games?! Not Kelce, not Ertz….so whom, when?!?
June 18th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Oh hey by the way my old man is selling a Freeman jersey at his yard sale.
Not sure why anybody would really want it but hollar at me if you do. Just grab me a beer at the 49ers tailgate and we’ll call it a deal.
June 18th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
OJ ended up on IR in both 2017 & 2018 for ankle injuries, which surprises me. Have watched all the Bama games for years, and I can’t remember OJ ever being injured during his time at Bama. Always solid as a rock, and yet for 2 yrs running with the Bucs, his right ankle has gotten beaten up … both times a high ankle sprain.
Think that I read earlier this season that he’s been doing a different routine in an attempt to strengthen his ankles. Sure hope it works; we’ll need him healthy big-time in our offense. OJ provides a dimension … blocking AND receiving … that very few TEs in the league can match.
June 18th, 2019 at 5:51 pm
If you don’t think OJ has generational talent, then you don’t know anything about football. He has all the characteristics to be great and just needs to stay healthy.
June 18th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
No way BA isn’t gonna put OJ in the slot on some plays…drooool
June 18th, 2019 at 6:17 pm
Defense Rules…we’re very lucky he’s a RT #2
June 18th, 2019 at 6:32 pm
When I look at OJH, I see a NBA power forward playing TE.
June 18th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Remember…the name.
That’s all. OJ will be good this year!
Cheers.
June 18th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
OJ has the potential to be the best Bucs TE of all time…rivaling Jimmy Giles if he can stay healthy. OJ’s a bit bigger and taller than Giles, and only going to get better.
June 18th, 2019 at 7:19 pm
SOEbuc … “we’re very lucky he’s a RT #2”. Maybe I’m not interpreting it the same way you intended it. RT = Right Tackle? #2 – Dotson Assistant?
IF that’s what you intended SOE, I’d have to question the word ‘lucky’. I’m a believer that EVERY player needs to do their job, and do it well, or be replaced. Every time Koetter kept OJ in or Barber in to help protect Jameis, I’d cringe. That meant to me that the OLine wasn’t doing its’ job AND that Jameis (or Fitz) had 1 less receiver to throw to. And we’ve all seen far too many plays where the defense KNEW we were passing & sent the kitchen sink … and then we’d end up keeping even more ‘help’ back in protection on that or subsequent plays. Bummer.
June 18th, 2019 at 8:29 pm
Dude is a beast.
June 18th, 2019 at 8:33 pm
Speaking of the “PFF Tribe,” they are sold on OJ Howard, having him as the best tight end in football before he was injured.
June 18th, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Joe I love a good positive article. Thanks.
June 18th, 2019 at 10:16 pm
Yes yes yes!
OJ can play!
Love his attitude and his game!
Hope he can stay healthy! Every game he plays he seems to get better.
June 18th, 2019 at 11:01 pm
I was just looking around and here are 4 QBs in their first 4 years. Isn’t it funny that the one of these QBs won a Superbowl in this timeframe. Lets see if you can guess who is the one that won a Superbowl or heck even who each one is? Hint one is know as one of the greatest of all time, one is slobbered all over by the media, one is starting to get love but not nearly enough, one is universally hated.
Games started: 55
Attempts: 2,106
Comp%: 57.8
Yards: 14,838
TDs: 101
Rushing TDs:12 (tied for most)
Total TDs: 113
INTs: 55
Fumbles: 24 (most)
Total TOs: 79
Games started: 64 (tied for most)
Attempts: 2,226 (most)
Comp%: 61
Yards: 16,418 (most)
TDs: 111 (most)
Rushing TDs: 7
Total TDs: 118 (tied for most)
INTs: 81 (most)
Fumbles: 12
Total TOs: 93 (most)
Games started: 54
Attempts: 1,922
Comp%: 61.6
Yards: 14,628
TDs: 88
Rushing TDs: 9
Total TDs: 97
INTs: 58
Fumbles: 22
Total TOs: 80
Games started: 64 (tied for most)
Attempts: 1,735
Comp%: 64.6 (highest)
Yards: 13,974
TDs: 106
Rushing TDs: 12 (tied for most)
Total TDs: 118 (tied for most)
INTs: 34
Fumbles: 20
Total TOs: 54
June 18th, 2019 at 11:02 pm
“All this talk about Howard taking the next step makes Joe think of an outfit that has so many folks hoodwinked and believing everything they type.”
.
.
Umm… the CDC? FDA? AMA? FBI?? DNC???
June 18th, 2019 at 11:09 pm
OSS.
June 19th, 2019 at 12:07 am
I don’t care if your name is Luke Kuechly, if OJ Howard is healthy and in rhythm then you can get it too. Both sides will win some matchups though, mano y mano. That’s just how it goes in the pros.
I’m of the belief that OJ is the kind of guy that if healthy and given the appropriate amount of targets per game, he’d easily take over as the greatest tight end on the planet. Hopefully both things occur this year so we can get a good look.
“Dirk’s whip stalled out in the redzone so many times i don’t know if he ever put gas and oil in the damn thing. It’s like – what the hell ya doin’? Just give it some OJ!!” – BA, allegedly
June 19th, 2019 at 1:24 am
He should of keep his head on a swivel. Heck they where ankle tackling him the whole game. Hes so fast he doesn’t look back.
June 19th, 2019 at 4:37 am
Joe Says:
“OSS.”
.
.
LOL well that goes without saying.
June 19th, 2019 at 11:22 am
@DR-
that’s true but the injury last tear was a freak thing. I don’t think any amount of conditioning would have prevented that.
With all that said, it is good to hear him talking about pre-Hab and doing more for his longevity this offseason.
June 19th, 2019 at 6:03 pm
If JW is going to take the next step in his career, a great young TE like Howard can really help him! So could a freaking running game….which we don’t seem to have!