Ian Beckles Reaches Boiling Point Over O.J. Howard
November 20th, 2021
Not soft on Bucs tight end.
Former Bucs guard Ian Beckles was like a lot of fans watching the loss to the WTF. He wasn’t happy.
Beckles said if this team doesn’t kick things into gear quickly, forget about a Super Bowl this winter.
Speaking on his podcast “In the Trenches” Beckles, a popular local sports radio personality, tried to be real with listeners.
“Our Buccaneers aren’t as good as we thought they were. Period,” Beckles said. “I said last week this defense is not good enough to win a Super Bowl. I’m not going to rescind that. I’m not going to back away from that. I’m going to put another one on that. Our offense is not good enough to win a Super Bowl, at this moment.
“Now I’m not going to go crazy. We are still in the mix. But the best-looking thing out there [at Washington] was those Buccaneers hoodies.”
Beckles challenged Bucs fans to name a player in that game who played well and finished the game, other than Devin White.
“Devin White played his arse off like his hair was on fire,” Beckles said. “He was everywhere. Can you tell me anyone else who played good? Did we even have any tight ends?”
And then Beckles got rolling. Beckles broke his promise from his last podcast to never talk about O.J. Howard again until he had an impact in a game. Howard had no impact against Washington and Beckles teed off, anyway.
“I’m about to go in on O.J. Howard,” Beckles began. “I’m about to go in on O.J. Howard. Yeah, OK. You are a starter now, tough guy. [Rob] Gronkowski is out. You are going to jump offside on the first play of the game? The first play that we knew what was going to be since last night? … You didn’t catch a ball all game and I’m supposed to think you are good? Why? Why am I supposed to keep on thinking that O.J. Howard is good? Why? All I’m seeing you do is not make blocks, not make catches, not get open and jump offsides. I can do that and I’m old as hell. So, I don’t know what to do with that situation. … He don’t do jack.”
Other nuggets from Beckles:
On Vita Vea:
“He was playing his arse off until he got hurt. He started to figure things out. He was playing off the ball a little with the flex. He was doing some things to make that center miss and make some plays.”
On the injuries:
“This is not good. If you remember last year, the reason why the Buccaneers got to where they did and were as successful as what they were was because they got lucky and they were healthy. All season long. That ain’t the case this year.”
On the defense:
“Our defensive backs aren’t good. Our pass rush isn’t good. … We are doing little dumb things. You can keep on saying this Buccaneers defense can do whatever you say. But 10 minutes, 26 seconds for a drive? Against Washington? I am going to say the quarterbacks moving forward are going to be better than [Taylor] Heinicke and [Trevor] Siemian. I am positive. I don’t need to go look. I cannot imagine it to be worse. … That’s an issue.”
On Tom Brady:
“He all of a sudden turned into Checkdown Charlie and looks like Mike Glennon out there. I hope nobody wants to see that. Thirty-four attempts for 220 yards? Yeesh. That’s not good football. With two interceptions? That’s really, really bad football.”
Derrick Brooks Talks Effort, Demoralizing Moments, Assessing Brady & More
Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks dives deep into the brutal Bucs loss on Sunday with JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman. Great insight from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:07 am
If any team can use him I believe the Bucs should trade OJ Howard. 5 years and look at what he has developed into. He looks like Superman but just can’t get it done. Time to move on!!
November 20th, 2021 at 10:17 am
Hard to listen to someone with such a heavy lisp. You’d think he would’ve corrected that ear-bending speech impediment by now
November 20th, 2021 at 10:21 am
I do my best to root for all Bucs….I’ve been as patient as anyone with OJ Howard…..but I agree with Beckles…..he is totally impotent…….not one target to him vs WTF…..zero…..with Gronk out, his time to shine…..NADA….
time to move on from OJ….trade deadline has passed…..just let him walk at the end of the year…..so sad.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:23 am
Just keep Brate in there until Gronk gets back. OJ isn’t worth the effort at this point. Cut your losses and move on. No ROI.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:35 am
I don’t have Twitter joe but just arrived in the bay and want to take pictures of my big storm for you. Let me know how I can send it! Buc fans on my flight from nyc…lfg!!!!
November 20th, 2021 at 10:35 am
I don’t recall seeing us go with the extra offensive lineman last game. If so, why? As mentioned OJ is a liability in the run game, invisible in the passing game. So why not just go big, protect Brady and run better?
November 20th, 2021 at 10:42 am
Any of the other 31 GM’s would be instantly fired if they traded anything for OJ Howard. I wanted him to succeed so much but it just is not going to happen. He flashed for a couple games and that is all he ever has done. Wish him the best but I think his future is going to be behind a desk very soon.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:48 am
His carriage turned into a pumpkin.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:54 am
Folks I’ve been saying on thread after thread that OJ is a bust. The tapes don’t lie. He’s about having a good looking physique n that’s about it. Please go back n watch the Fournette fumble in the end zone against New Orleans. Then watch OJ pretend he’s trying to get the ball. He’s an imposter.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:57 am
It’s a shame. OJH has the build and athletic ability to be a beast in the league but he has never lived up to his first round pick status. I think it’s safe to label him a bust at this point.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Who was drafted after OJH in 2017?
– Dalvin Cook
– David Njoku
– TJ Watt
– Gerold Everett
– Joe Mixon
And what made matters worse? Our second round pick was another total bust – Justin Evans
Yesh… What a waste.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:07 am
OJ is the classic “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”. Wasted draft pick.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:24 am
Mercedes Lewis could have been acquired in the off season. He blocks as well or better than Gronk. Huge miss by the Bucs brass.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:38 am
Beckles sucks.
It was a good game by brady. Even with the checkdowns.
Can you consider all the drop passes from WR , TE and RB ?
Also can you consider offensive penalties ?
Im not worry about oj. Fells is ready to go and robbie g maybe. Im more concern about brate. He keeps dropping passes.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Chris:
Instagram @thejoebucsfan
Hope you are enjoying the Big Storm beer! 🙂
November 20th, 2021 at 11:47 am
If the trade deadline wasn’t past, he was/is untradeable. Joe has no ide why people would want an expensive tight end who isn’t 100 percent. If the Bucs don’t want him why would any tram want him? Think people!
Besides, OJ’s contract is up and you can’t trade players who are not under contact.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Tend to think that OJ would make an interesting case study on the impact that multiple injuries can have on a player’s effectiveness and career. OJ’s been a Buc for 4.5 years (73 games), but he’s only been available for 51 games in that time (70%). His snap counts PER GAME have gone way down, from an average of 48 offensive snaps/game in 2017-2019 down to an average of slightly less than 31 offensive snaps/game in 2020-2021 (with BA as his coach AND with Gronk as his fellow TE).
Obviously his availability (70%) is not very good, and his multiple injuries have probably impacted how well performs each season when he does get on the field. Under BA he’s gotten fewer & fewer targets (and snaps) per game, even though his career catch percentage (66.3%) is about average for our TEs (Gronk has a 65.2% career average and Cam Brate has a 66.8% career average).
One thing I have noticed about these last 2 years of his career is that OJ’s average targets/game have gone down to about 3 in 2020-2021, but they were about 4 targets/game in 2017-2019. Not a mammoth difference, but it also coincides with his average yards/target being the lowest of his career these last 2 seasons. Apparently the coaches & TB12 are using him somewhat differently than in the past.
Still, if you’re gonna play 31 offensive snaps/game but only get 3 targets/game as a receiver, you probably better be really good at blocking on those other 28 plays. Doesn’t sound to me like OJ is. Maybe we’d be better off putting an additional OLineman in there more often.
November 20th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
All Beckles insight seems to be good, except when it comes to Brady. Without two future hall of famers and no good input from Howard, he’s going to be check down Charlie. Double Evans and all Brady has is Godwin underneath. Things will change if they get all their receivers back. Especially Brown. Brady has great chemistry with Brown and Gronk. He misses those two more than anyone realizes. GGO BUCS!
November 20th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Check down Charlie, just how Patriots won 5 games with even more turnovers. Only difference defense makes stops. Oh and better coaching.
November 20th, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Who cares about the opinion of an inebriated journeyman horse abuser?
November 20th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
I said last Sunday as the game ended, I would have cut OJ in the locker room and given him greyhound fare home for jumping off sides on the first play. No excuse. Either he’s ignorant and uncoachable or he just doesn’t care.
November 20th, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Cant argue with Beckles because he’s just stating facts.
Howard has been here 4.5 years. We’ve seen the games so there really isn’t much else to say.
OJ isn’t working out very well even though we were all hoping for a Kyle Pitts type.
November 20th, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Correction: 1 interception and one perfect pass heaved in the air by a bumbling receiver.
November 20th, 2021 at 2:38 pm
As I’ve gotten older, crankier and less patient especially with Buccaneers football, I find myself agreeing with Ian much more. This is no exception. Totally agree with OJ as disappointing as it is. There are injuries on D but there are a lot (a heckuva lot) of well paid big names that I didn’t see much of. The Line. Suh, Shaq, JPP, Tryon. Where you at? Besides offsides.
November 20th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
OJ is what he is, which is a habitual screwup. All teams have them, my team in the day had a super fast receiver, but he always dropped the ball. Wide open for long TD’s, and he’d drop it. It gets demoralizing after a while. He’s not alone, Ronald Jones is a habitual screwup, too. An occasional good run, and lots of mistakes.
November 20th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
@medicatedPete: if all you can attack Ian Beckles on is a minor speech impediment, that shows what a dumbass you are. Your comments are regularly the least impactful and least intelligent on this thread. Ian Beckles on his worst day knows more about football than you do about getting methed up and trolling Nebraska Avenue for guys with ten bucks to spend. I’m guessing you know a lot about that. Try upping your dose. Preferably to overdose levels.
November 20th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
His PPY *(Price Per Yard) is over the Moon.
November 20th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Marine Buc: Look who was taken before Howard:
2) Trubisky
3) Solomon Thomas
9) John Ross
15) Malik Hooker
My point is, the entire NFL Draft is a crapshoot, 1st picks are busts sometimes. OJ Howard didn’t work out, but a lot of 1st Rounders don’t work out.
November 20th, 2021 at 3:39 pm
Joe thinks this is water under the bridge. The Bucs won the Super Bowl. If a stud was drafted instead of Howard is Koetter still here? Is Arians here? Is Brady or Gronk here?
Having written all that, Joe screamed at the time a tight end was a luxury pick because Cam Brate just had an excellent season. The Bucs SORELY needed a RB or edge rusher.
It all worked out in the end. But is was a wrong decision to draft him for team-building purposes and nothing has changed Joe’s mind.
Joe sincerely HOPES O.J. blows up. And honestly thinks he will return next year as the Bucs can get a helluva bargain. Why? Because Howard’s market value is rock bottom.
November 20th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
At a draft day party, the entire room wondered WTF we were doing when we drafted OJ Howard.
November 20th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Ian is spot on with every last sentence. I’ll also add that Brady looks tentative if not downright scared at times recently. I’ve soured a bit on him ever since he didn’t dive for the loose ball against the Saints. I doubt it lasts though and Brady should get right soon.
November 20th, 2021 at 5:25 pm
We are morally compelled to leap into the scrum of 350 lb. linemen, the volcanic, writhring mass of muscle and passion. Are we not men?
November 20th, 2021 at 5:44 pm
He was knocked back on his arse, what makes you think he knew where to ball was or if he had time to react.
November 20th, 2021 at 6:00 pm
I’ve always said that OJ Howard’s best career catch came at a Rays game rather than a Bucs game.
Never understood why they drafted him, especially in the 1st round of all places. Back then, Cameron Brate had the most TD’s for TE’s the season prior I believe. Sure Brate can’t block, but can OJ? Not to mention the dude is never healthy.
Just another Bama bust.
November 20th, 2021 at 6:05 pm
Appreciate Beckles’ candor. He speaks what I’m sure most of us are feeling.
I will give TB a small concession if he was hurt and refused to go to the sidelines. Would the result have been even worse if the Kyle Trask era began in that game?
November 20th, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Joe: You were right about the Howard pick. My thought at the time was “Well, if he’s a really good Tight End…”, which he obviously isn’t. Remember the Giants teams that beat New England and Tom Brady by taking pass rushers EVERY DRAFT in the first 3 Rounds? They had a pass rush to throw off the GOAT. I know the Bucs need to draft a CB in the worst way, but PLEASE Bucs, starting drafting pass rushers every year with one of your first 3 picks.
November 20th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
I take that back, NY Giants didn’t draft D-Linemen EVERY year in the first 3 Rounds, but they took a lot and it helped them win Super Bowls.
November 20th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Some of u just can’t wait to be sub .500 for another decade. 🤡s
November 20th, 2021 at 6:51 pm
@Jim @Listnfrmafar
I’m willing to be open minded in thinking that maybe Brady was nearly knocked unconscious and was 100% unaware of what was happening in that moment while he stared dumbly at that ball. It didn’t seem that way to me, but I wasn’t there and only watching, so it’s plausible.
What I do know for sure is that Jameis, even though he wasn’t a good quarterback, would have gone after that football 10 out of 10 times unless he had zero idea of what was going on. Further, and this is especially for you Jim, why should other players sell out if their leader refuses to do so? Why should anyone, anywhere, at anytime, go above and beyond what is expected of them? It’s has nothing to do with being tough and gender has no bearing on doing the right thing at the right time. Geez, we’d still be living in caves and eating termites with sticks if the majority of our ancestors thought that way. 😛
November 20th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
God I can’t stand this guy. Joe y’all must really like something about this guy. The crap he throws together is junk. Everyone knows OJ is done. In fact he never started. When he and Ron was on radio he’d run many Buccaneer players in the dirt everyday. I specifically remember him hating on Kenyatta Walker. I thought he and Walker had something in common though. They both sucked
November 20th, 2021 at 7:57 pm
Not sure how it’s on O.J. when they never throw him the damn ball.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:10 pm
Posted previously, please ignore.
tickrdr Says:
March 9th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft 2.0 has Justin Herbert falling to #23 in the first round, taken by the Patriots. I’m still hoping the Bucs move up in the draft to take him, even if they have to throw in OJ Howard plus whatever it takes.
(cardiologist ducks and runs for cover)
tickrdr
November 20th, 2021 at 10:51 pm
Joe cannot imagine why any former Bucs offensive lineman would ever have an issue with Kenyatta Walker.
/sarcasm
(Joe will ask again, when exactly did honest critique turn into “hate?” Seems to be a butchering of the word “hate.”)
November 21st, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Kenyatta Walker… OK Joe…I’ll admit I was at Disneyworld, listening on the radio when we drafted the guy. And hearing what a steal he was for him dropping to us. I was really excited about the pick.
That was the last time Kenyatta Walker had the words remotely exciting related to his career, but for the singular Superbowl season.