Chemistry Forming In Secondary
August 9th, 2023
Safeties bonding.
If you could somehow figure out how to manufacture locker room chemistry for the NFL, you have effectively found the winning numbers for Mega Millions.
For example, O.J. Howard didn’t do squat with the Bucs. The first round pick gave some regular readers here a daily coronary. Why? Because Joe constantly harped how he was a luxury pick the Bucs didn’t need, even though he was considered, in so many learned men’s eyes, a can’t miss, slam-dunk of a pick.
Three years before drafting Howard, (who busted out after blowing out an Achilles in 2020), the Bucs signed undrafted Cameron Brate off the scrap heap.
Brate was borderline robbed of a Pro Bowl the year before Howard was drafted when Brate led all NFL tight ends with eight touchdowns. And Brate had a significantly more productive career than Howard’s.
Joe remembers then-offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter raving how he quickly could see Brate and then-rookie Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, had a connection.
It’s all about chemistry.
(Brate is still unsigned and his wife announced on social media recently that a little girl is on the way. Howard got cut by the Raiders last week and it appears his career is on life support.)
Today, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said the connection formed between first-year Bucs safety Ryan Neal and Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield happened almost immediately.
How that happens, Bowles wasn’t sure. No coach is.
“It’s tough because sometimes it doesn’t click right away – those two clicked right away,” Bowles said of the bond between Neal and Winfield. “The communication has been going since day one, so that’s good to see.”
This is partly why going the non-basketball association route of buying an all-star team doesn’t often work. Daniel Snyder tried this often in past years with Washington and Snyder’s Redskins were mostly horrible.
Of course, the Bucs buying stud players three years ago sure threw a wrench into the belief you cannot buy titles.
It’s cool to hear from Bowles how Neal and Winfield had chemistry from basically the very first day. If they are both on the same page, that means the pass defense in the middle of the field should be just fine.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
I remember eating at Green Lemon and sitting at the table right next to OJ Howard and a couple of his non-Buc player buddies (I believe it was OJ’s second year on the team). As he was leaving, the offensive line, Mike Evans, and a few other Bucs players were entering Green Lemon together. OJ Howard never said hi nor did he make eye contact with a single one of the group of like 12-15 teammates. They also didn’t acknowledge his presence either. It was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen lol.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Besides WR and QB – the other competition I am watching is the backup SS/FS spots and also the NCB spot…
Mostly UDFAs and rookies are battling for a spot on this roster. Another situation where the best special teams players will probably get the nod.
I really hope to see Z. McCollum step up and win the NCB spot.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Interesting story Hunter… I think the problem with OJ is he didn’t want to do all the dirty work required to be an elite tight end in the NFL. He had all the skills, just not the heart.
At the same time, he was criminally under-used his first couple years here too. We saw what looked like the beginning for a breakout season for him when Brady showed up, only to be ruined by the achilles injury. And clearly he was never the same after that.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:53 pm
And so perhaps his teammates saw that his heart wasn’t in it, and therefore never felt like he was all-in with the rest of them.
August 9th, 2023 at 5:05 pm
haha.. thats fine.. when the secondary gets torched at some point this year, we will get the familiar “communication” quote. haha
August 9th, 2023 at 5:07 pm
i never realized pro football was more difficult than learning to speak chinese or spanish..haha i love the excuses for losses as communication…
August 9th, 2023 at 6:29 pm
Just because people communicate well doesn’t mean they can’t miscommunicate sometimes.
August 9th, 2023 at 6:36 pm
‘Joe constantly harped how he (OJ) was a luxury pick the Bucs didn’t need, even though he was considered, in so many learned men’s eyes, a can’t miss, slam-dunk of a pick’.
I remember that draft day very well Joe. Being a huge Bama fan, I loved the idea of drafting OJ, although not necessarily with our 1st Rnd pick. When he made it all the way to #19, I just kept thinking ‘What do 18 other teams who passed on drafting him know that Jason Licht doesn’t?’
Now we know.
August 9th, 2023 at 7:56 pm
What year was this? 🙂
August 9th, 2023 at 8:08 pm
@Joe It was either 2018 or 2019 at least 4 hours after training camp had ended that same day.
August 9th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
I def knew that was not a good sign for the season. I couldn’t wrap my head around how that was even possible honestly.
August 9th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
Iterating Hunter that OJ The as an itch his buddies and not teammates. Wonder if those buddies were trouble. As Chucky once said – some guys are players and some guys are playas.
August 9th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
Was with his buddies…. 😂
August 10th, 2023 at 2:05 am
Being able to communicate and trust the dude next to you is important all over the field and on both sides of the ball. At the end of the day this is a team sport.
Despite King Roger/owners attempts to turn it into a pass happy travesty. Like the NBA. Three point shots only please. Geez
Go Bucs!