A look at O.J. Howard’s route trees in Bruce Arians’ offense vs. Dirk Koetter’s

Take a look at the route trees of Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard in his last two offensive systems.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard has had a rough go of things this season, his first year playing under head coach Bruce Arians.

Howard, who was put on blast by Arians earlier this year for his poor play, caused an interception in last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, juggling the ball against his body and behind his back before it was eventually picked off. For the season, the third-year tight end out of Alabama has just 17 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown.

So, what’s been the issue?

Well, looking at Howard’s route trees in Arians’ offense compared to former coach and current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s, it’s clear the two systems are utilizing the tight end very differently.

Take a look.

Arians had this to say about the tight ends of the Arizona Cardinals back in 2015, when he was the team’s head coach: “We pay Larry (Fitzgerald) and those guys too much money to throw it to the tight ends. They’re here to block.”

You would’ve hoped that Arians and Byron Leftwich would’ve seen the potential in Howard and utilized him more in the offense as a pass catcher.

It’ll be interesting to see how the team proceeds with Howard at the end of the season. Remember, the New England Patriots inquired about Howard last month before the trade deadline, but were told no by Tampa Bay.

Maybe they’ll change their tune in the offseason.

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Mike Evans and Chris Godwin truly are the league’s dynamic duo

A quick look at the stats proves that Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin truly are the best duo in the NFL today.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be just 3-7, but their offense is once again one of the best in the league. The Bucs currently rank sixth in both overall offense and scoring offense, and a big reason for that has been the stellar play of their wide receiving duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Evans, the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards, is inching ever-closer to another 1,000-yard season, which would tie him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most 1,000-yard seasons to start a career (6).

Godwin, meanwhile, may not be the franchiser receiver Evans is (yet), but he’s made a huge impact in his third season with the Bucs. Godwin had six touchdown receptions in the team’s first five games, and has already set a new career-high in receiving yards with 887.

And, this graphic from the NFL shows just how great the duo of Evans and Godwin has been this season.

Take a look.

How about giving a little love to the NFC South here? Four of the top five receivers in the league right now are on NFC South teams. Michael Thomas, Julio Jones and Evans are names you’d usually expect to see atop this list at some point during the season, but credit Godwin for putting his stamp on this season.

Hopefully, when the Bucs travel to Atlanta in Week 12, Godwin and Evans can both help carry the team to victory. That is, of course, if Jameis Winston can avoid turning the ball over.

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Bucs must overcome a surging Falcons defense in Week 12

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel on the road in Week 12 to take on a suddenly red-hot Atlanta Falcons team.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in a game featuring two 3-7 teams.

But, records can be deceiving, especially in the case of the Falcons.

Entering Week 10’s game against the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons were just 1-7, and the calls for head coach Dan Quinn’s job were at a season-high. But, the Falcons turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season that day, sacking Drew Brees six times in a stunning 26-9 road upset over one of the best teams in the NFC.

Then, last week against the Carolina Panthers — again on the road — Carolina sacked Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen five times and picked him off four times.

That means, when the Buccaneers roll into Atlanta Sunday, Jameis Winston and the offense will be going up against a defense that has 11.0 sacks and four interceptions in their last two games, both against divisional opponents.

The Bucs currently have the league’s sixth-best scoring offense, averaging 27.7 points per game. But a recharged Falcons defense would love nothing more than to keep Tampa Bay’s offense in check and further add to their disappointing season.

Jameis Winston, who had four interceptions last week against the Saints, has been a turnover machine this season, already matching his season-high in interceptions with 18. If Atlanta gets to him early, it could start a snowball effect and have the Bucs playing catch up the whole game.

Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich may want to turn to the run more against Atlanta. Asking Winston to throw the ball over 50 times like he did last week isn’t the way to go about beating a divisional opponent, especially one so familiar with Winston’s style of play.

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Bucs WR Chris Godwin lands on ESPN’s list of the top 25 players under 25

Tampa Bay Buccaneers third-year receiver Chris Godwin has landed on ESPN’s list of the top 25 players under 25 for 2019.

Entering the 2019 season, Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin was viewed by many as a player ready for a breakout season. Bruce Arians even said the third-year receiver out of Penn State could be close to a 100-catch guy this year.

Through the first 11 weeks of the season, Godwin has already exceeded expectations, setting a career-high in both receptions (63) and receiving yards (887) and tying his career-high with seven touchdown receptions.

Few people probably predicted Godwin turning into the star player he has, but now that he’s arrived on the scene, it doesn’t look like he’ll be going anywhere anytime soon. Which might explain why ESPN selected Godwin to their list of the top 25 players under 25 for 2019.

Godwin — who won’t turn 25 until February of 2021 — landed at No. 22.

Here’s part of the explanation for his inclusion on the list:

“Godwin was a relatively unheralded third-round pick in 2017, but he has emerged as a force. The restraints are off in 2019. New coach Bruce Arians converted Godwin to a slot receiver and has had him on the field for 96% of the team’s offensive snaps. The Penn State product has run a league-high 368 pass routes and has already put up a 60/840/6 receiving line, ranking no lower than sixth among receivers in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns… He and superstar Mike Evans certainly combine to form arguably the league’s best duo at the position.”

Godwin had a fast start to the season, catching six touchdowns in the team’s first five games. He had one touchdown reception in last Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. It was Godwin’s first touchdown since he caught two against the Saints back in Week 5’s loss.

Godwin will look to keep his scoring ways going next Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons on the road.

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PTI’s Tony Kornheiser had this to say about Jameis Winston’s future with the Bucs

See what ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said on “PTI” about Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and his future in Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 34-17 to the New Orleans Saints yesterday, and whether he deserves it or not, quarterback Jameis Winston is receiving the brunt of the criticism.

Winston had four interceptions yesterday, putting his season total at 18, which matches his career-high. The numbers on the quarterback don’t lie, and given that he’s playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, the Bucs aren’t obligated to keep him beyond this season.

And, it seems one ESPN personality thinks the Buccaneers would benefit by looking to the 2020 NFL Draft for a new quarterback.

On ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” today, Tony Kornheiser was asked during the show’s “Big Finish” about Winston’s performance against the Saints and what it means for his future.

Here was the exchange:

WILBON: “Jameis Winston threw four picks in a loss to the Saints. Is it time for a change?”

KORNHEISER:”I don’t know about right now. But, it’s time to look to the draft at the end of the year.”

Kornheiser is repeating what a lot of people are saying. It’s just not working out in Tampa Bay. Winston is still young and talented enough to find an opportunity elsewhere.

It might be best for him and the Buccaneers to just start fresh after five seasons.

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Devin White continues to prove his worth in loss to Saints

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have lost yesterday’s divisional rematch against the New Orleans Saints, but one of the big takeaways from the game was the continued growth of rookie linebacker Devin White. The former LSU star, who was selected fifth …

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have lost yesterday’s divisional rematch against the New Orleans Saints, but one of the big takeaways from the game was the continued growth of rookie linebacker Devin White.

The former LSU star, who was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, had a rough go of things to start the season. Leading up to Week 1’s opener, White struggled with tonsillitis and lost 10 pounds because of the illness. Then, in Week 2, he suffered a knee sprain that sidelined him for several weeks.

Now healthy, White has been showing off some of the crazy athleticism that had many people picking him as a preseason favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

In Week 8’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, White had a monster tackle on Titans punter Brett Kern during a trick play. White’s tackle knocked the ball out of Kern’s hand and was returned for a Bucs touchdown, but the refs inexplicably called Kern down by contact.

The following week in Seattle, White prevented a touchdown run by Seahawks running back Chris Carson, sprinting down field like a bat out of hell to catch him.

And then, in yesterday’s loss to the Saints, White set a new career-high with 13 tackles, 11 of which were solo. He also had some highlight-worthy moments, like the one below.

While the team may be just 3-7, seeing White’s emergence into a star linebacker bodes well for this defense’s future.

Shades of Derrick Brooks, perhaps?

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Buccaneers head into Week 12 as underdogs against the upstart Falcons

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves as road underdogs heading into their Week 12 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the New Orleans Saints yesterday, 34-17, in a game between two teams trending in completely opposite directions.

The Saints, who lost in Week 10 at home to the then-1-7 Falcons, needed a win to remain in the race with the San Francisco 49ers for the top spot in the NFC. At 8-2 now, New Orleans looks back on track heading down the stretch.

The Bucs, meanwhile, are once again left searching for answers after another tough loss. After a solid victory over the Arizona Cardinals last week, Tampa Bay couldn’t find any sort of rhythm against the Saints.

Now, the Bucs will head back out on the road in Week 12 to take on the Atlanta Falcons for the first time this season. Atlanta comes in having won two-straight games on the road against divisional opponents — first the Saints and then the Panthers.

The suddenly red-hot Falcons opened as -3.5 point favorites over the Bucs with the over/under at 53.5. As usual, I’m always more inclined to go with the over when it comes to Tampa Bay. Despite their 3-7 record, they can put points up in the blink of an eye.

[Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.]

Mike Evans talks about that bogus fourth-quarter pass interference penalty

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans talked in the locker room yesterday about the bizarre PI penalty against the Saints.

The Bucs fell to the Saints yesterday, 34-17, in a game that saw some sloppy and bizarre football all around.

Quarterback Jameis Winston had four interceptions and a fumble (recovered by Bucs). Two of those picks, however, weren’t entirely his fault, especially the one he threw to tight end O.J. Howard.

Regardless of who’s to blame, though, the fact remains that Tampa Bay is just 3-7 now after Week 11’s loss, which was filled with turnovers and poor officiating, especially that bizarre pass interference call against Mike Evans in the fourth quarter on a crucial fourth-and-1. Winston hit Evans for a six-yard gain, but refs called the receiver for offensive pass interference. Bruce Arians challenged the call, but lost.

After the game, Evans talked about the pwnalty.

Take a look.

Winston also weighed in with his two cents on the matter.

As for Arians, well, he had only this to say about the refs:

“I have no comments on officiating. They already wrote up the letter on my fine. You guys saw it. You write what you saw. I’m not saying anything about the officials.”

Arians has clearly learned his lesson from the last time he blasted officials. Following the team’s Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans — in which a bogus call negated a fumble recovery and go-ahead touchdown by the Bucs — Arians lit up the officials, calling for more accountability.

While it’s of little to no consolation for the Bucs, this new pass interference (replay) controversy is an issue around the league, not just for them.

Probably no consolation.

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Twitter reacts to Bucs’ brutal loss to Saints

The Bucs were searching for a much-needed victory against the Saints in Sunday’s crucial NFC matchup.

The Bucs were searching for a much-needed victory against the Saints in Sunday’s crucial NFC matchup, but instead, Jameis Winston and company, unfortunately, walked out of Raymond James Stadium with a gut-wrenching 37-17 loss.

Tampa Bay’s first touchdown of the day came from Peyton Barber on a 6-yard touchdown. Jameis Winston’s 48-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller set the Bucs up with first-and-goal from the one-yard line with less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter and Barber was able to put the Buccaneers on the board.

Rookie kicker Matt Gray then added three points to the scoreboard after nailing a 55-yard field goal, making the score 20-10 after the Saints got off to a solid start.

In an effort to stay alive and turn things around, Chris Godwin tried to keep the Bucs’ hopes alive by hauling in their second touchdown of the day and his seventh receiving touchdown of the season, adding another 7 for Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, however, numerous turnovers, multiple mistakes, and some miscommunication, unfortunately, cost Tampa Bay the game. With the loss, the Bucs are sitting at 3-7 this season while the Saints now improve to 8-2.

Here’s a closer look at what Twitter is saying following their loss:

Bucs rookie WR Scotty Miller makes huge 48-yard reception against Saints

See the big reception by sixth-round rookie Scott Miller of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in today’s Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller had yet to make a huge impact in his limited playing time this season.

The sixth-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft entered Sunday’s Week 11 contest against the New Orleans Saints with just five receptions for 72 yards on the year.

But, in the second quarter today, Miller had a 48-yard reception, the longest of his career, that was originally ruled as a 49-yard touchdown reception — the first of his career — before replays confirmed Miller was contacted before entering the end zone. The Bucs would eventually get a touchdown out of the drive.

Still, it was the highlight-play of the season for the rookie out of Ball State.

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