Tight Ends Dropped The Ball
December 21st, 2019
Ouch.
Man, Joe has written for months how good the Bucs tight ends are and how they have been so underutilized in Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense this season.
Well, maybe Arians knows something?
With so many receivers hurt the Bucs were down to a track star who never played college ball, Joe was both hoping and expecting the Bucs’ talented tight ends, O.J. Howard and Cam Brate, to be involved heavily in today’s game plan.
Instead, it seemed as if the two were not used until the second half, and when their numbers were called, they threw up on themselves.
With the Bucs at midfield on a second-and-nine play early in the fourth quarter, O.J. Howard put a sweet move on a defender to get separation and run down the left sideline. Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, floated a pass perfectly to Howard.
And he dropped the ball. It would have been a massive gain and at worst, put the Bucs in field goal range to tie the game.
Then later the Bucs had the ball inside of four minutes left. A drive stalled inside Texans territory when Ronald Jones was dropped for a two-yard loss on third-and-one. On fourth-and-three, Jameis hit a wide open Brate with a pass right in the hands in the right slot.
And the usually sure-handed Brate dropped the ball and Houston took over on downs.
No, Joe isn’t blaming the loss on the two tight ends. But on a day they finally were key elements in the offensive gameplan, and both had a chance to make a major play to help tie the game or put the Bucs up for good, the tight ends failed the Bucs.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:51 pm
I’m not going to throw our TE’s under the bus for their two drops when our QB threw 4 ridiculous INT’s. The pick 6 made the difference not Brates drop at the end.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:51 pm
The contract got smaller today. Or he might just get franchised.
“I Just Got To Get Better!” JW
December 21st, 2019 at 5:52 pm
O.J. Howard has been a huge disappointment this year and not just because of play calling. He been listless with his blocking effort and obviously his inconsistent hands.
He is not the head case that ASJ was but his play is similar. I would have trade him at the trade deadline, and get an asset like a 2nd round pick or may a late 1st from a team like a Patriots.
Now after this season, we would be lucky to get a 3rd or 4th
December 21st, 2019 at 5:54 pm
The entire offense, with the exception of the o-line pass blocking and Perriman, pretty much crapped the bad. Jones did okay. But it was sloppy all around. Watson and RB#3 could’ve cut their routes at more of an acute angle, Barber has to hold onto the ball, Brate and Howard have to be better. Then Captain Chaos himself. Reminds me of vintage Favre. It’s cool, I’m prepared to take the good with the bad. At the very least, this negative performance just drives his price down.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:54 pm
OJ is a unreliable overhyped overrated low-end TE in this league. Athletic ability doesn’t win you anything on a football field. Not by itself. His body frame and combine scores can be flushed down the toilet along with his career.
I just cannot stand this dude as a football player. And I will never understand why so many hold him in such a high regard. He is a bad bad football player that absolutely cannot be trusted.
To be honest I just want him off my team. He is not the kind of player or type of player I think that are necessary to win with.
Don’t care if they trade him or just flat cut him. Just hope he’s gone.
Brate can go too. Great hands until it’s a clutch moment. We can do better at TE then both Brate and OJ.
And yes. I’m disgruntled today.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:55 pm
Game balls- JPP, Perriman, David, White, Murphy-Bunting and Dean
Failed the test -Winston, Howard and Brate
December 21st, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Jean there are 4-5 articles throwing the QB under the bus.
This one is for TEs. Both can be blamed to varying degrees for today’s letdown.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Jean
It’s not one or the other. Hold both responsible. At the end of the day the Bucs has a chance to tie or take the lead if Brate catches that easy ball.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Jameis made his mistakes and still had chances to put us over the top . But his receivers /rb/te let him down too. I would say good day for defense and bad day for offense
jameis has tunnel vision.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Yup can’t blame O.J. Howard because the guy has been so underused that he has not been able to develop his Ball drops as much. He is still looking good for the TAMPA PRO BODYBUILDING NPC CLASSIC….. just not as a first round draft pick TE drafted by “TRASH” LICHT
I hate you Gump
December 21st, 2019 at 6:01 pm
We keep waiting for OJ to break out I just don’t think he’s that good.
ASJ>OJ
December 21st, 2019 at 6:02 pm
You have one job .. catch the dammed ball.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:04 pm
At least we know one player practicing catching the ball payed off. —-jam dean. Lol.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Howard and Brate didn’t just suck overnight. Both have been top players at their position over the last several season. The players have lost confidence in #3. Plain and simple. They won’t say that out loud, but that’s what they are thinking. It’s what we are all thinking. And it’s understandable. Turnovers, and especially pick 6’s, suck the life out of a team. They are inexcusable. But Winston throws them with remarkable regularity. After a while you can’t keep confidence in a captain that keeps firing the cannon through his own deck instead of the enemies!
December 21st, 2019 at 6:07 pm
You have one job …throw to your own team
December 21st, 2019 at 6:07 pm
In a close game like this you can find blame with many plays…..how about the missed blocks on 3rd & short?……….a blocked FG……the fumble early by Barber…..and of course the 4 picks by Jameis…..
Sure the OJ pass should have been a catch…..but the Brate drop was epic.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Haha so now instead of blaming others for Winston’s fails we are blaming Winston for theirs?
Sounds like the easy way out to me. How bout each player do their job and be accountable? If they can’t do it somebody else can.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Poor TE play is just another byproduct of lousy OC and QB.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:11 pm
The problem was the Q.B. not the T.E.’s.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:11 pm
TBBF…..Good call on 3rd & shorts. We are really bad at converting those. They were(usually are)pivitol today too.
Defense is bad too. We have regressed in that area throughout the season.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:11 pm
Catch the football, your in the NFL
December 21st, 2019 at 6:11 pm
I get it. Brate wide open drops the pass and it’s the QB play. Lol.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:12 pm
But but but Jameis
December 21st, 2019 at 6:12 pm
O.J. didn’t drop it, it was overthrown.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Nate Burelson made a great point about O.J Howard on one of those seam routes he ran, he should’ve stopped and made it a jump ball. Basically USE YOUR BODY. Not only has Howard’s blocking’s been a huge disappointment, but it’s equally disappointing that a physical specimens like OJ Howard plays a bit soft. He does not have that dog in him like a George Kittle. Furthermore, Yes, Jameis lost the game but I have zero interest in absolving Cameron Brate for that drop. That drop was BS. 30 million dollars, played horrid last year with a lot of drops and not doing anything this year. He’s out of here. Tanner Hudson is going to make an excellent TE2. They’re going to need that money to replace Suh and JPP. Need a safety, etc etc. On a positive, unrelated note: Jamel Dean, Bunting, and Davis – we should all tip our cap to them. They could become quite the trio, it’s a shame that can’t be celebrated more because Jameis decided to do Jameis things for all of America to see
December 21st, 2019 at 6:16 pm
OJ’s ball was not overthrown…..it hit him in the right forearm…..I don’t think he was ready for the pass…..or maybe shocked it wasn’t overthrown.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:16 pm
OJ’s ball was not overthrown…..it hit him in the right forearm…..I don’t think he was ready for the pass…..or maybe shocked it wasn’t overthrown.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Agree @Tampabaybucfan
“BRATE DROP EPIC”
This is a dagger 🗡 almost as bad as JW3 final Pop Warner Stare Down!
December 21st, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Broken thumb. Sit him next game. Let’s see what Ryan does with these players in offense.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:22 pm
One thing …without Evans and Godwin. We moved the ball down the field. Watson missed TD. Drop passes. Misses blocks. Blocked FG. Etc. And if if if jameis throws one INT we win this game. So we don’t need Evans or Godwin.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Howard is a Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique competetitor.
Michael Pittman can catch better with his guns.
WWGD??? Gruden? What would he do? But that’s pointless PAPA is our guy!!! He will lead us to another “Poow BABY WINSTON!” Cuddle fest 2020 have your Blankees wReady! We will be Daddy DayCare part 4
What happened to Drill Seargent Bruce the one who calls you out right David Johnson???
Old man is soft AF bcuz the Psych team at One Buc has a protocol of Nice Guy Coaching for the weaker minded players
December 21st, 2019 at 6:32 pm
The D played great
Brate is not great, certainly not worth $7 million
Draft an OLineman with premium pick so we can run ball more.
Sign Jameis to a 1 year deal, no more.
Sign/ draft a QB and give Jameis competition so if he loses more games next year with turnovers, then Bucs have an opportunity to try someone else- and not an end of his career veteran like Fitzpatrick or Dalton
The D was great today – what a waste…
December 21st, 2019 at 6:34 pm
Yeah, JW over threw a wide open OJ twice
December 21st, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Joe the game was lost because of jameis. It is as a simple as that. Maybe jameis could hit his receivers on the deep ball. Where was that analysis? Jameis always gets the ultimate pass
December 21st, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Thank God I sold my tickets for $30 each and spent the morning sleeping in! No one deserves to go to a game like this and get their heart trampled on by SHAME MISS G
R
OPER
ATM IS OPEN MAGOOO!!!
All defensive players laugh LMAO 😂 when they go up against BUCCANEERS because like Steve Smith said
It is GIFT FOR YOU 🎁 FOR YOU FOR YOU and the only DBs left out in the cold are the IDIOTS who drop the passes #3 throws right to them!
So stupid you idiots who say if Brate dropped the pass if so and so caught this ball
IDIOOOOOTSS!!! That same logic applies because if we are talking hypothetically WHAT IF THE TEXANS DB CATCHES THE PIC IN THE END ZONE or the SECOND PIC goes to the house with no penalty!!!!I
December 21st, 2019 at 6:40 pm
So what JW3 threw an INT in the end zone in the 4th quarter IDIOT only thing is DB dropped it
December 21st, 2019 at 6:40 pm
CNT expect receivers to catch every ball to win. In reality when you have such a sure handed guy like brate start dropping balls it makes me belive part o the blame is the fact they haven’t been utilised much. Shaking rust off after being wasted for so long
December 21st, 2019 at 6:47 pm
OJ HOWARD. looks like Tarzan plays like Jane
December 21st, 2019 at 6:47 pm
I will not take any blame from Jameis. Tight ends are not true receivers. To get them to catch the ball it must be a consistent throw. Jameis doesn’t know the meaning of that word.
The throw to OJ was obtuse, it was not in a spot many could have caught. Brate’s seemed like it surprised him by being so close. Also an obtuse angle to catch.
Even Evans has dropped a bunch of Jameis passes because they came from somewhere they should not have been.
It is all Jameis’ fault
December 21st, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Howard should have been traded at the deadline.
December 21st, 2019 at 6:58 pm
Trade OJ while he still has a market
December 21st, 2019 at 7:02 pm
Craig you sound ridiculous. These are NFL players enough of the baby excuses for these grown men. Soft as chicken bleep.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:05 pm
Brate’s botch was a killer. That’s a good way to make your $7 million cap number look like too much next year.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:09 pm
Brate should go, hes not worth 6 mil a year period.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:12 pm
I really just don’t know why anyone would want Winston back. I like Jameis and I think he has all the right intentions, but his excuses and turnovers are ridiculous. IMO
December 21st, 2019 at 7:15 pm
Craig/Coburn. When Janoris Jenkins got in trouble for using the word retard – just know he was talking about you two. “Tight ends aren’t true receivers,” “they’re just shaking the rust off.” I’m all for differing opinions, but you two are just…how should I say it…stupid
December 21st, 2019 at 7:45 pm
You can name call all you want but brate is a proven guy that usu all catches everything thrown hi’s way…it’s also well know that even star receivers can have off games if you don’t get them involved early.. sometimes just a mental thing as much a anything. Howard might be a different story as he’s never really proven himself that much.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Tampa has the absolute worst fans in the NFL, almost everyone thinks they are head coach’s and GM’s. It’s ridiculous. Some of you should apply with the front office with your extensive resume’s
December 21st, 2019 at 7:51 pm
At the trade deadline “I want a first and second for Howard!” After the season ends “I’ll take a ham sandwich and bag of chips for Howard!” Geez has his stock plummeted
December 21st, 2019 at 7:52 pm
I wonder how many other dumb arse fans are going to saying something idiotic like let’s see what ryan Griffin can do. Dude is trash and has less game experience than Detroit’s rookie quarterback. Trash Winston all you want but dont be a damn moron and call for ryan Griffin
December 21st, 2019 at 7:52 pm
It was 14 to nothing in the first minutes due to Jmess. Ya he got us back to a tie but 14 zero in the first 5 minutes is going to loose most games. Simple as that. And a bullet throw to a wide open Brate could have been much softer and easy to catch. Those first two series of downs were inexcusable. How many times does he have to throw interceptions on the first dam play before we accept the fact that he is a loser. One brain fart after another!
December 21st, 2019 at 7:54 pm
Brate wasn’t sure-handed last year either, so maybe we need to examine that analysis.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:56 pm
The entire offense shares the blame today. And Winston had a big part in that, no doubt.
But anyone who is objective and not biased can see there were multiple people who fk’d up today and led to points and extra possessions for Houston.
– Multiple bad INTs from Winston
– Barber fumble cost another 7 points
– Missed / blocked FG
– TD drops by OJ and Watson falling down
– Critical 4th down drop from Brate
Change any single one of those things and at the least we are tied if not winning the game.
Bucs beating Bucs. Same old story.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:56 pm
I guess Jameis throws too hard for our soft fans and our soft skill players outside of Godwin and Mike.
Ppl are forgetting that Jameis had no one to throw to today.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:59 pm
Regardless of what anyone says today’s loss was on Jameis. The 2 turn overs at the beginning of the game was the difference in a win or a loss. The interception at the end of the game was nail in the coffin. If not for that turn over the Bucs may have scored the winning td or at least tied the game. That turn over was all on JW
December 21st, 2019 at 7:59 pm
I just can’t stand that JimmyjJack goes to so few games per year because he low income, and steals seats (he sits in seats he doens’t pay for, stealing from the team he says he supports). Then he comes here and pretends like he cares about this team. This is the problem. Low lifes like Jimmy Jack talk talk talk, but don’t produce. Losers.
December 21st, 2019 at 8:00 pm
Oh not to mention the fumble recovery we got screwed out of again! What’s that like the 4th time this season? Officiating was garbage especially that first half. Blatant face mask against Brate, etc.
December 21st, 2019 at 8:01 pm
I have no doubt that if Ryan Griffen was playing today (With Watson and Permian as his targets) we would’ve scored under 10 points against this Texans defense. Guaranteed.
December 21st, 2019 at 8:52 pm
I thought the impression that brate wasn’t sure handed last year was debunked. Was pretty sure everyone got caught up on one or two big catches he dropped but stats showed he drops very few. I could be wronga
December 21st, 2019 at 9:06 pm
I think I’m BA’s post game presser when he said something along the lines “Jameis trusts those guys more than I do” I have the impression he’s talking about OJ.
December 21st, 2019 at 10:07 pm
Dumb ass coaching. They hadn’t utilized our star TEs at all and ppl expect them to step in as All-Stars. They started writing up their first TE receiving plays last week after Godwin went down.
December 21st, 2019 at 10:48 pm
This loss has nothing to do with the very few, maybe 2, drops by the TEs.
This has to do with Jameis throwing a Pick-6 in the first minute of the game.
December 21st, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Ok so missed the game but just watched the highlights. No idea why we are blaming OJ on that one. Was overthrown and would have been a very difficult catch for anyone to make. Dude was sprawled right out to get it. Just Jameis inaccuracy. Brate is definitely on him and he knew it.. he was clearly looking upfield before securing it. On the bright side Watson continued to impress me and was the opposite. Incredible concentration on catches. That to the defender had his whole arm and shoulder between his hands basically and he still keep his eye in the ball and somehow brought it in
December 21st, 2019 at 11:42 pm
I’m confused, the TEs, according to this article, were not used until the 2nd half and in the same breath the TEs were key elements of the offensive game plan. Hmmmm……
The OJ drop should have been caught because he’s a freak athlete, but everyone’s acting like he wasn’t diving and trying to catch the ball. His catch was a degree of difficulty more than Brate’s. Brate’s drop was inexcusable.
But, there were bigger problems than 2 drops by usually sure-handed TEs in this game. Killing yourself with a pick-6 on the first pass? I mean, come on. Can they please stay away from any outs on the left side in the route tree? Flip the routes and make it an out on the right side instead, his throwing side.
December 22nd, 2019 at 3:02 am
Adrnagy Says:
December 21st, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Broken thumb. Sit him next game. Let’s see what Ryan does with these players in offense.
—————————————————————————–
looks as tho his thumb healed to me,if so, maybe break it again?
December 22nd, 2019 at 8:31 am
Drops happen, turnovers happen, missed blocks & tackles happen! Nobody does these things on purpose, and they usually happen because you are trying to hard instead of playing relaxed. 999 out of 1000 Brate catches that and then makes big yardage after the catch, he tried to turn up field before he secured the catch, it’s happened to every receiver who’s ever played the game.
December 22nd, 2019 at 8:39 am
I have watched every game these last few years many times over, especially this years. I see a pattern in most of JW’s ints. It happens when his feet don’t come around… a lot of his throws to the left, and left of center get picked because he steps with only his front foot thus opening his shoulders and loses accuracy and zip on the ball. His arm motion is more like a pitcher than a shortstop; Mahomes, Lamar who throw like shortstops, so they can throw without their feet and body turning toward the target. JW, Jimmy G, Dak throw like pictures so they need their feet and body to turn toward their target. Payton had this problem when he was young, but fixed it when he learned to keep his feet moving and use smaller more compact throwing motion, Jamies can be fixed.
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:14 am
Ahh @ Wesley , no it wasn’t even close to overthrown it hit him on the back of the forearm !! I would throw that ball several more times in practice it looked like a ball angle that for him he has to turn back to the ball !! Howard just doesn’t have very good ball skills on certain routes and I have a feeling he drops that pass 50 percent of the time in practice !! NOT the route , the pass , he clearly didn’t adjust a half yard inside and knew dam well he had very little chance !! Now if that ball is two feet towards the sidelines where he can turn and extend both hands he’s comfortable!! People the ball hit the back of the inside arm and his outside arm wasn’t even close he was lost and this repeats itself on certain routes with O.J. !!
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:26 am
Jameis’ winding throwing motion, along with him staring down receivers, and the patting of the ball before he’s about to throw it is the reason for all the picks. Our staff should fix those things before next season. We need to take out those out routes to the left. Agreed. Also the ball can come out of his hands mich wicker on those Wr screens we like to run. One more thing… We most certainly have to take the best RT or LT with our first pick. Smith could move to RT if we a land a better LT. Jameis has no run game because of bad Oline play/lack of push and effort. The bad Oline part forces Winston to play the way he does and is the primary cause for us losing.
WE NEED MORE DAWGS ON OFFENSE LIKE WE HAVE ON D NOW
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:27 am
Jameis’ winding throwing motion, along with him staring down receivers, and the patting of the ball before he’s about to throw it is the reason for all the picks. Our staff should fix those things before next season.Also the ball can come out of his hands mich wicker on those Wr screens we like to run. One more thing… We most certainly have to take the best RT or LT with our first pick. Smith could move to RT if we a land a better LT. Jameis has no run game because of bad Oline play/lack of push and effort. The bad Oline part forces Winston to play the way he does and is the primary cause for us losing.
WE NEED MORE DAWGS ON OFFENSE LIKE WE HAVE ON D NOW