Cameron Brate = Dallas Clark
February 19th, 2021
Cameron Brate is painted as an offensive super genius.
How good is Cameron Brate, who turns 30 in July?
A guy in the know answered the question.
Hardcore Bucs fans will remember Dallas Clark well. The tight end was a key cog of The New Schiano Order in 2012. Clark arrived in free agency following a stellar career in Indianapolis to replace freak show tight end Kellen Winslow.
Clark caught 47 balls and four touchdowns before bolting immediate for the Ravens in 2013, to close his 11-year career that included one All-Pro season.
Bucs offensive advisor/sage wizard Tom Moore used to call plays for Clark in Indianapolis, and this week he compared Brate to Clark when asked to give a scouting report on the Bucs’ seven-year tight end.
“Cam is excellent. He’s smart. He knows all those positions, all those motions,” Moore explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “He has great hands. He reminds you a lot of what Dallas Clark was. He’s probably not quite as fast, but he has good hands and he’s smart and he knows what to do. He can play any of the wide positions. He can play H-back. He can play Y. It used to be at Indy, ok, a wide receiver would get hurt; and I’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’ll put Dallas there.’ Well, it’s kind of the same thing with Cam. You can put him at a lot of places, and he’s a great, great, great utility player for us.”
Joe thinks it’s very cool that Brate can be so versatile, and has put in the work to be that guy in a complicated offense.
It’s almost hard to remember how Brate was buried on the Bucs bench early last season. Then he was freed after the O.J. Howard injury and ended up being the Bucs’ most productive tight end in the playoffs (14 catches for 175 yards).
Joe’s not seeing how or why O.J. Howard would stay on the Tampa Bay roster next season, but that’s a story for another day.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:05 am
Free up cap space by sending OJ Howard packing
February 19th, 2021 at 8:11 am
My nephew grew up with Cam in Naperville, they’re still buds. Says he’s an even better guy off the field. Go Bucs.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Howard was kicking arse with Brady until he got hurt. Anyhow, I always thought they could stick Brate in the slot now and again
February 19th, 2021 at 8:23 am
I totally forgot about Clark being on the Bucs in 2012.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:23 am
OJ is the better blocker, but Cam is more versatile overall. He’s also less injury-prone it seems. My choice would be to keep Brate, release OJ, and re-sign Auclair and Gronk. OJ’s an excellent TE IMO, but availability is what really counts, and his salary is just too high for his limited availability.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:24 am
Tom Moore is somewhat of an underrated ( Joe’s have done an excellent job writing about him admittedly ) piece to the championship puzzle. Like Don Zimmer was in baseball, it’s hard to not like an old schooler/lifer like Tom Moore.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Brate is a pro’s pro…..guys like him stick around because they recognize how to create value for themselves. My old neighbor, Jacquizz Rodgers once told me the sooner you recognize you’re not the most athletic/talented player on the team, the better. He carved out a niche for himself as a 3rd down back who was a very reliable blocker as well as decent runner. Brate was smart enough to do the same.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:42 am
Decisions should be to maximize the team while the window is open. When he needed a player Brate was there for Brady. Not saying Howard can’t be that player but we know Brate can be.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:51 am
OJ who?
February 19th, 2021 at 9:04 am
Howard is injury prone and does not have particularly good hands. Brate can run routes and catch in tight spots, Auclair can block, Gronk can do both. Not sure if there is dead money with OJ, but I don’t see the Bucs keeping him.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:10 am
If we can trade OJ Howard we should. It would also be nice to restructure Brates contract in order to reduce his salary cap number this season and add another year or two into his deal.
I like OJ Howard but he is injured every season.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:22 am
HOWARD IS ON A GUARANTEED 5th YEAR OPTION
He can’t be cut, only traded
February 19th, 2021 at 9:24 am
OJ Howard shows upside with his athleticism, but his injuries and missing time still make him look like a rookie that has a lot of growing to do when he plays. His hands are suspect as well. We should prioritize Brate over him for sure.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:27 am
OJs Salary is fully guaranteed, no?
February 19th, 2021 at 9:32 am
@ Davenport
Your right. This is OJ’s fifth year option contract.
I would still like to see Brate restructure his deal.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:36 am
R.O. … I think the answer is: “On the first day of the NFL’s 2021 business year in March, Howard’s salary will become fully guaranteed.”
February 19th, 2021 at 9:37 am
OJ Howard was drafted for his “Potential”
Cameron Brate is playing because of his production.
Brate takes football very seriously. You can tell by knowledge of the game plan, and his opponents.
Thats why Brady loves him- and wanted him on the field.
Howard blew several assignments. You saw Brady bitching at him.
Hes a passionless player, coasting on his athletic ability
Gotta Let Brady decide.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:46 am
^^^^^^^ What Capt. Tim said
February 19th, 2021 at 9:55 am
The best ability is availability. Brate missed 2 games last year with broken ribs. He played through a whole season with a torn labrum. He’s got great hands and can block. Brady trusts him. Enough said.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:03 am
i’d keep OJ…dump auclair…
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 10:09 am
I still think of Brate as a relatively young player, but he’s only two years younger than Gronk.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:34 am
Brats has proven to be dependable. OJ has proven to be expendable.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Have to agree with most of the comments. Howard, put a fork in him he’s done. Brate & Tb have a special chemistry.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:11 am
I agree O.J is not necessary to repeat and the Bucs could use the cap space elsewhere. But, How does it work with the salary cap if they already picked up the 5th year option? Probably have to trade him to get cap relief?
February 19th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
The Bucs will have to find money somewhere from their current roster. I think the (current) TE room should be a target for Licht. Whether a restructure or trade, we should get some money back from this group. Including Gronk taking a little less to come back.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
How OJ looks when he returns will tell a lot about his commitment to football. It takes fanatical dedication to rehab an Achilles tear to the point where one can play at a high level. Grimes was able to do it, but not many others.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:43 pm
I forgot Howard was even on the roster. Brate is reliable and clutch. When has he not been?
February 20th, 2021 at 12:45 am
It’s great to see all the love this guy is getting. Undrafted player who worked his way to the top. Good for you Brate. Bucs should trade OJ for draft picks or another starter that we could use.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Brate was completely written off by many fans. Gronk and OJ, we should trade Brate… blah blah… I’m glad to see the season worked out for this guy. He’s clearly a smart competitor.
February 23rd, 2021 at 9:10 am
Soooo OVER OJ