“That’s Part Of Being A Great Pro”
September 16th, 2019
The best thing about O.J. Howard this season might be his $3 million hit against the salary cap.
He has struggled in his third season and a former Bucs tight end weighed in on the subject this morning.
Anthony Becht has no answers when it comes to Howard, only questions.
From Becht’s 11 seasons and nine playoff games worth of experience, he wondered aloud whether “something may be on [Howard’s] mind,” so he told the WDAE audience. Becht also said the might just need to get Howard more involved in order to shake him back into the mix.
“The NFL is a very mind-driven game,” Becht said. “You know, sometimes we can get into these deals, and you’re not getting as many opportunities to kind of ‘redeem yourself. it’s hard to stay focused. And that’s part of being a great pro.”
The Bucs did not target Howard against the Panthers on Thursday. Zero.
Fans will remember Howard had a critical fumble and a drop that led to an interception on opening day.
Becht voiced an issue with Bucco Bruce Arians telling media that the probably should “ask him,” as in Howard, when it comes to why he’s not more of a positive contributor.
“You gotta give your best playmakers the football,” said Becht, adding Howard is too great of a weapon for playcallers to bury.
Joe is most concerned right now about Howard’s blocking. It’s been very inconsistent. If Howard’s an inconsistent pass catcher and he’s not a special blocker in his third season, then he’s a horrible first-round draft pick. Joe can’t accept that and expects Howard to bounce back.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
The bucs have 2 decnet TEs but isnt arians known for not using the TE in the past? Heard great stats on a podcast on how the bucs are not even allowing brate to play in terms of percentages of him being on the field. So the bucs are not even using alll their weapons but throwing butter fingers perriman out there. Hope arians isnt like lovie in terms of not molding the offense to fit the players
September 16th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Maybe we should replace Perriman with OJ at WR? Bigger than Evans, faster than Evans, so why not?
September 16th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
On Howard’s first catch of the year, he had a DB chasing him from behind on a short reception. He slowed down, looked behind him, and went down at the first sign of contact. The injury last year is in his head.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
I expect him to bounce back as well.
Too much talent to not do so.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:35 pm
This brings up a great point. Here is how our new leader BA handles his team.
Below is an excerpt from Joe asking BA about accountability. After what he said about him publicly, it shows that it’s up to OJ to get his mind right.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, do you have a general way that you handle, if you’re watching film after a game, and you see a guy who took maybe a couple of plays off or didn’t play to the whistle, is there a way you handle that with everybody?
Bruce Arians: Yeah, I’ll show it up on film and ask him what he’s doing in front of the team. I don’t have a problem with that. If you can’t play hard, you can’t play here. That’s not acceptable. We’ll have an accountability sheet, I call it. Every mental error, every penalty in practice, that’s how we start every day, with the accountability sheet. Now if you’re up there too much, you’re either too dumb to play here or you don’t give a sh*t. Alright, so you can’t be a Buc.
Need examples? See all players launched by this staff all you negative nancies have been complaining about? And many others you were criticizing who are still on the team now contributing? This is why!
It is also a huge reason why I firmly stand in the camp of…..
In BA I Trust!
September 16th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
I like the fact that no one is “entitled” touches. You earn them…just the way it should be. OJ…block…get open…catch the ball.. run and don’t fumble. And the touches will rack up.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:48 pm
OJ played 80% of the offensive snaps in the first game and 92% of the snaps in the second game. If his blocking was as terrible as y’all claim, why did BA & Byron keep him in for that many snaps? Auclair’s a pretty decent blocker in his own right, yet he was only used for 40 snaps total in the 2 games, as opposed to 115 for OJ.
In the first game OJ caught 4-of-5 passes for an 80% completion rate. I’d take that from our TEs every day. His PROBLEM in that first game was the fumble (he missed catching 1 pass … ME13 & Perriman have missed 7 each in the 2 games). OJ’s first year (2017) he had 3 fumbles (not a good look). Last year he had zero fumbles (much better). HOPEFULLY his 2017 fumbling ‘issue’ hasn’t returned. Could say the same about Jameis. And the same about Chris Godwin. And yes, Peyton Barber too. All had 3 or more fumbles in 2017-2018, just like OJ. Let’s not panic … yet.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
OJ gotta get his sh!t together…..BA aint draft him….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
“BA is a stubborn old mule
He favors certain players and positions
This oline svks and the Tight ends are forced to block to compensate for our weakness
his offense doesnt emphasize the Tightends so he blames them instead of the putrid oline
the modern offense moves the TE all around to create mismatches. BA utilizes the big reciever downfield and Perriman is dropping every throw on his hands, But BA never holds him accountable
Klueless Mike Smith is BAs Byron Leftwich
Leftfoot doesnt know how to call plays.
the division is riped to be picked
why cant we have nice things”
Son of Kobe Faker
September 16th, 2019 at 1:05 pm
That is not exactly true, I remember OJ for his fumbles? yes, but I also remeber him for his extraordinary 2018 season……Real fans don get caught for tabloid media members…….we have memory…….. He will bounce back!!!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
It’s two games into the season. It this really cause for concern yet?
September 16th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Zero targets?……now, that is what is unacceptable.
September 16th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Effort/mental mistakes are not acceptable, physical mistakes coaches gives guys a second chance! Yes perriman dropped a couple of passes(physical). Oj no giving 100% blocking, not hustling . Oj is putting himself in Coach BA dog house. It’s a big boy league, you get what you earn !
September 16th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
I dont want to trade him.
But Im sure the Pats would LOVE him.
September 16th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Calm down Joe! We know what he’s capable of. He just had a bad game. Get him into the natural rotation of the game and everything will be fine.
September 16th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Bad first game!
September 16th, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Dalvin Cook is being called “the cornerstone of the Vikings offense” and a “high-End RB” according to Yahoo Sports today.
Meanwhile we are here kicking rocks wondering if OJ Howard has mental issues.
(Aside: What is it with this franchise drafting nuts? Sears, Doug Martin, Freeman, Howard… we are a Draft Magnet for the mentally unstable)
September 16th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Now Howard is a “nut” cuz he had a bad game week 1?
Is it also his fault he saw zero targets in week 2?
JFC you FSU homers are the worst. And 99% of you would be crying that Cook was a bust if he drafted him since he only played 15 games total over his first TWO seasons combined…
September 16th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
*if WE drafted him…
September 16th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
Dude was open on every play.
Put him with Mahomes….. wow
September 16th, 2019 at 6:22 pm
Team is adjusting to a BRAND NEW HEAD COACHING STAFF!! I rest my case!
September 16th, 2019 at 6:23 pm
OJ was lead blocker on Barber’s TD run
September 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Howard needs to step it up.
September 16th, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Perriman has pretty much ch sucked. Dropped balls that hit him in the hands. He needs to step it up or sit down. Film doesn’t lie. Give Bobo a shot.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Dear unbelievable:
Total career yards:
Cook 1234
Howard 1029….. played in 9 more games
Again, Cook is the centerpiece of the Viking offense.
Howard is the second coming of Michael Clayton.
September 16th, 2019 at 9:00 pm
If he’s in the field he’s a target so can’t say it’s Arians’ misuse of a TE. And he’s not calling plays anyway. To me the bigger issue is the lack of a slot receiver. Where is Perriman? He’s on pace for 16 catches this year. Hump had almost 80 last year. Between his lack of production and the TEs not being involved we aren’t spreading the ball to our weapons. On the other hand maybe it’s a safe game plan that we’re employing to eliminate QB errors.