The Tanner Hudson Puzzle
August 17th, 2019
Asset or liability?
A lot of folks are jumping on the bandwagon of reserve tight end Tanner Hudson. And why not? When the guy hits the field, he produces.
Take last night, for example. Hudson racked up 93 yards receiving and caught six balls after being targeted seven times. But to hear Bucco Bruce Arians talk, it doesn’t sound as if Arians trusts Hudson enough (yet) to keep him around.
Specifically, Hudson has to learn to block consistently.
“He hurts himself when he gets beat on third-and-one and we don’t make the first down,” Arians noted after last night’s win over the Dolphins. “If he can learn to block he can really be an asset because he can really run and catch.”
And that is the thing. Currently, the Bucs have tight ends O.J. Howard, who can block, Cam Brate who isn’t much of a blocker and Antony Auclair, who is a damn good blocker.
Would Arians keep two tight ends who struggle at blocking?
Joe learned years ago that in the NFL, if you are not a starter you better be a special teams player. Auclair is. Can Hudson be that so he can win a spot on the final-53?
August 17th, 2019 at 8:03 am
I just read that Licht got a 5 year extension?
Wow. Utterly speechless.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:08 am
@Joe … “When the guy hits the field, he produces.” Pretty much says it all IMO. He’s the second coming of Cam Brate. Hudson’s our lightest TE (at 239 lbs) but at 6’5″ he’s got room to grow. He’ll learn the blocking in time & will make a great complement to OJ. Tend to think that we’ll keep 4 TEs this year, but that Cam Brate will be on the trading block next year (money???).
August 17th, 2019 at 8:08 am
Hudson was a bright spot, along with Dare and Gay, in an otherwise dreadful game for the O. He might be one dimensional in the here/now, but in that regard, he reminds me of a young Brate. He has come up big in key situations and has very good hands. It’d be interesting to see him (+Dare) up against 1s and 2s next week.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:12 am
We usually keep 4 TEs…….Hudson has great hands…..they’ll teach him to block…..there is absolutely no way he would stay on our PS…..would be gobbled up immediately.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:14 am
For those who would like to trade Brate…..here is a possibility…..we may also be able to get a late round pick for Hudson.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:16 am
LMAO….Run Forrest RUN to the bank!
August 17th, 2019 at 8:19 am
Hudson looked damned good last night catching the ball.
I’ll trust BA’s blocking assessment but I think I would be dumb not to keep him.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:20 am
“I dont know what football is but
I know how to fool the Glazer Boys”
Jason Gump
August 17th, 2019 at 8:22 am
Tampabaybucfan, but Hudson doesn’t clear cap room…Brate does.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:24 am
Woke up too early in the morning to watch that ugly game which looked like a big L to me against a team like the Dolphins. What I can’t get over (other than JL was signed for 5 more years which i cannot even begin to digest) is the animated reaction of ME13 after the first play in the game.
Joe was writing so much about so much less during the years so i’m surprised he got no story about that. I know what it seemed like to me but i would like to have other opinions.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:25 am
Hudson will be on the taxi squad until he learns to block, unless one of the other TEs gets hurt.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:34 am
Its going to be interesting to watch this team. All you JL Haters could end up being on the wrong side of history if BA, TB and BL perform as expected.
Especially this year’s draft class. They might turn out to be one of the best ever for this organization.
The improvement in every area on this football team is underway. Let the season play out before your Madden and Fantasy blinders get the better of you.
In BA I Trust!
August 17th, 2019 at 8:36 am
Bucs have shown too much tape to think they can keep him now if they wanted to try to sneak him onto the PS.
But not worries, you keep 4 TEs. probably solved.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:36 am
“animated reaction of ME13 after the first play in the game”…noticed that too…IMO party because of the bad pass….but I think really he got popped in the back and it didn’t feel good…so the hit triggered the DJax reaction…IMO…although they were good friends
August 17th, 2019 at 8:39 am
Is it raining again? Or do I just hear the sound of all the Licht haters uncontrollably sobbing?
August 17th, 2019 at 8:41 am
Replaces Brate in a year, giving the Bucs $7m to work with to get Winston’s deal.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:43 am
Why insult Joe with nonsense?–Joe
August 17th, 2019 at 8:49 am
I read that Cam Brates” blocking is much improved. So if Brate can learn to block so can Hudson. It just won’t happen overnight, it sure didn’t for Brate. Make room for this kid, dump Gabbert and Ellington. Keep the best 53.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:50 am
Licht is a loser. Horrible extension. Win first!
Dominik was better in 5 years. Think about that
#SeigeTheBasement
August 17th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Auclair is a damn good blocker? I guess. Kind of remember he was a holding penalty waiting to happen last year.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:14 am
Not so surprised to hear of an extension for Licht, though I can’t say I like the move a lot and five years…but do know the owners want stability. He’s been a mixed bag in draft and FA and I don’t think does well with salary cap…and the worst thing is at least by his decisions, he doesn’t emphasize the importance of a push rush enough. But as with anything, he’s the GM, and I’m a Bucs fan…it is what it is, but when I think he is screwing up, I will say so. Go Bucs!
August 17th, 2019 at 9:14 am
Where else can a GM have a losing percentage of .3375 after 5 years only to be topped off with another 5 year deal? I get that it mirrors BA’s contract length-wise…but Wow! Sobbing? Not yet. Stunned? You bet.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:14 am
@ A E @ 8:36am:
Thought the same thing.
tickrdr
August 17th, 2019 at 9:19 am
If Larry Bird had a son.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:23 am
Isn’t that special, quietly Signing Licht after Arians was signed.and we are now just finding out about it now.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:51 am
Its a meaningless preseason game but, BA has to remind Jameis that he doesn’t
want his receivers jumping for passes so they can get more YAC yards. IMO Jameis has to do a better job protecting his receivers. The hit like Evans took
is unacceptable and completely unnecessary.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:58 am
Hudson is hoome grown talent that we need to keep, find a way! Likeley we have a tight end injury so he needs to be kept–very worth it! Great hands, teach him to block! Make it happen Licht!
August 17th, 2019 at 9:59 am
In fact I dare say Cameron brate with his higher priced salary may be more likely on the trading block–trade brate for so many needs
August 17th, 2019 at 10:03 am
Hudson was amazing at getting open against 3rd stringers = reality check.
He was abysmal at blocking 3rd stringers = QB killer
He has a glimmer of talent, but keep things in perspective when realizing the level of competition. He has good hands and made a clutch catch last night. that alone gives him a good shot.
August 17th, 2019 at 10:13 am
OJ can do it all
Auclair can block … and is developing nicely as a pass-catcher
Hudson can catch like a WR … and needs to develop as a blocker
TRADE Santos to the Jets or Bears for a 5th or 6th, CUT JPP and then trade TRADE Cam Brate to the Texans with the pick received from the Jets/Bears and another 3rd round for JADEVEON CLOWNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This has been talked about on Twitter alot by JC Cornell and Jameis1of1 and Trevor Sik and I LOVE THE IDEA!!!!
August 17th, 2019 at 11:43 am
Hudson is a keeper. Guy has made a number of clutch catches already. Knows how to get open and seems to gel with his teammates. He’ll learn to block.
August 17th, 2019 at 11:52 am
Hudson sure makes plays in the passing game.
Problem is – Bucs are loaded at WR and TE – and are only keeping 9 between those two positions. 5 WRs and 4 TEs – OR – 6 WR and 3 TEs
So who is more valuable to this team – the 6th WR or the 4th TE?
Scotty Miller/Spencer Schnell – OR – Tanner Hudson
The answers will likely be found on tape of Special Teams play and/or which of those players Bucs brass believe they can slip onto the practice squad….
August 17th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
That’s an easy decision. Tanner Hudson won’t last a minute on the practice squad before he’s gobbled up.
August 17th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Bucs should trade Brate and replace him with Hudson. They are very similar only Brate is costing them $41 mil over 5 years. They can recoup draft capital and shed his contract all at once. OJ is going to command top $ soon and they can’t let him walk. Brate’s trade value will never be higher and will take a nose dive once OJ breaks out.
August 17th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
I would go so far to say trade Brate if possible. If not release him at the final cut down. Loser Licht needs his 7 mil.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:28 pm
I just wanna see this kid block for the QB. Cause if he can beat out auclair on the line than we have just won the lottery. Honestly brate likely could be the odd man out and we could save ourselves $7 million bucks by keeping Hudson and trading brate away . Not sure how that helps us right now , but Hudson is on the come up and may be taking brates job soon.
August 18th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Just let him go to New England. BB and Brady will know what to do with him.