If you are an NFL caliber tight end, you want to find Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians and get yourself in position to try to at least get a try out and get your name in the circles around the NFL.
You see, making the Buccaneers’ roster at tight end is a huge problem when you consider O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate and Anthony Auclair are a solid triplicate that is inked into the Tampa Bay depth chart. Getting a thumbs up from Arians could go a long way in getting on another roster if all three of these players are healthy and playing at as high of a level as the team needs.
“It’s been our base offense, probably for 15 years,” commented Arians. “It’s where we always start.”
Howard and Brate combined for 108 catches last season, as that number of catches was only eclipsed by wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
“Us as a whole unit, we’re very talented,” said Howard. “We have a standard set in the room that we know week in and week out, we need to maintain that bar and hold each other accountable.”
Howard has become a huge asset in the passing game in the back of the end zone. He missed two games a year ago due to injury, but it seems he will be back and at his best with Tom Brady’s skills in finding the receivers in such a short porch.
“When you’re down in the red zone, the back of the end zone is usually the least covered part of the end zone, so it’s always kind of easy to sneak back there and get open,” noted Howard. “We kind of know that and a lot of routes consist of being back there.”
With such small areas and windows, getting open is tough. Howard’s size at 6-6, 251, is virtually an impossible cover. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch over his first three seasons, while tallying 12 touchdowns.
“I’m doing a great job trying to get open and working with the quarterbacks on whatever route it is,” explained Howard. “The red zone is definitely somewhere we want to improve this year and it’s something that I think my position in general can have a big impact on the team.”
Brate has been a mainstay in the Bucs’ offense for five years as has adjusted to several offensive coordinators and three coaches. He needs two touchdown receptions to account for 29 in his career, which will give him the fourth most touchdown receptions in Buccaneers history.
Howard says that Brate has had a really solid training camp.
“He’s always been helpful for us when it comes down to being a second set of eyes and ears on certain things, with helping us with the playbook and whatnot,” said Howard. “I always have appreciated him for that, but I’m definitely seeing him play really fast and making some plays.”
Auclair checks in as a 6-6, 253-pound tight end who hails from Montreal, Quebec. Howard also noted that the Laval University product has a key role in the running game, as well as developing his hands to become another red zone or goal line weapon.
“His route-running – he has taken that to the next level,” Howard said. “I think this offseason everyone kind of dedicated to just knowing the consistency of the routes we need to get open on and the details to where it’s just taken over for the whole room and everyone has bought into that type of mentality.”
This offense will come as advertised and should have a chance to push the Buccaneers deep into the playoffs with a healthy Brady and an impactful running game. There is so much depth across the board that matching up with any of these tight ends will be a tough challenge for opposing defenses.
“I think we’ll have an opportunity to display a lot of those things this year during the season,” said Howard.