How Dare You, Ogunbowale

Was just minding my own business, studying the Bucs interior offensive line, when all of a sudden Dare Ogunbowale in the pass game caught my eye. Get ’em, Dare!

Uhhh, ok Dare! pic.twitter.com/396nfbIjjr

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) May 12, 2020

Also had a nice blitz pickup in pass protection a play later. A good reminder not to sleep on Ogunbowale just because the Bucs drafted two running backs. He can absolutely still make this team and will make this team if he can prove to be the best receiving/pass protecting option out of the backfield.

Godwin = Not Human

This might be a weekly segment. I’m so excited to watch Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin play with Tom Brady. He just makes silly catches on a per-game basis.

Let’s talk about Chris Godwin not being human for a second pic.twitter.com/Ogjd8WLiTI

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) May 11, 2020

Earl Watford … Fullback?

Not sure if y’all noticed this in Ryan Jensen’s film breakdown but … Earl Watford at fullback? This is news to me. Not a half-bad block here either. Apparently, per Pro Football Focus, Watford aligned at fullback on three plays last season. Gotta bring the big guy back now, Jason Licht.

Hope For Howard

Eventually O.J. Howard will be featured in Bucs Briefing, but this stat caught my eye as I noticed him make several plays down the field over the second half of the Bucs’ 2019 campaign.

In a disappointing down year that had everyone questioning his future, Howard still finished tied for ninth among all tight ends with eight catches of 20 yards or more. And he’s not a YAC guy, so he’s just straight up beating defenders in coverage with speed down the field.

In 2018, when optimism surrounding Howard was at an all-time high despite him just being a part-time tight end, his 11 catches of 20 yards or more was good enough for fifth in the NFL, behind George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Jared Cook and Zach Ertz. Not bad company, and Howard did it on just 34 catches.

Bucs TE O.J. Howard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Even as a rookie, after corralling just 26 catches, Howard still managed nine pass plays of 20 yards or more, tied for sixth in the NFL at his position. According to Pro Football Reference, Howard has the highest yards per target in the NFL among all tight ends since he entered the league. In other words, while he may not get a ton of targets, big plays happen when he does.

Give his measurables, age and his clear trump card as a vertical receiving threat, I think the Bucs made the right decision to keep Howard around for now despite adding Rob Gronkowski. It is hard to find quality tight ends in the NFL, and while Howard may never be a Tier 1 threat at his position, what he can provide an offense is rare. He might be the Buc I’m most looking forward to watching in 2019.