Buccaneers: Week 3 Game Day Spotlight – Cameron Brate

By James Yarcho | Sep 24, 2017

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Cameron Brate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after catching a pass from Jameis Winston #3 during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

This week’s game day spotlight focuses on Buccaneers’ tight end Cam Brate as I expect him to have a big day against the Vikings.

As we’ve talked about throughout the week, the Buccaneers face a tough test when it comes to Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. More specifically, the showdown between Xavier Rhodes and Mike Evans. With that match-up being a questionable one, Jameis Winston is going to have to find another guy to lean on throughout the game.

Who better than Cameron Brate?

Brate and Winston already have a rapport with one another and Winston certainly has trust in him. Otherwise, Brate would not have been tied for the most touchdown receptions by a tight end last season.

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Any time there is a third down, Evans is the guy that’s gotten the ball. He led the NFL in receptions for a first down last season and was among the league leaders in third down targets. In my opinion, that role will be filled by Brate this week if Winston sees Evans won’t be a consistently viable option with Rhodes’ elite cover skills.

Like I said on this week’s podcast, try Rhodes too many times and he will burn you. DeSean Jackson isn’t the possession receiver. He’s the burner, the deep threat. Brate is a big target in the middle with reliable hands that Winston will throw to.

The Vikings have given up nine receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown on eleven total targets to tight ends this season. That bodes well for Brate and Howard. A nine yard average and an 82% completion percentage to tight ends is outstanding and shows a bit of a weakness in the passing defense.

Evans is still going to get targets. It may not be the number he’s used to or we’re used to seeing, but Winston has to pick his spots. He isn’t forced into zoning in on Evans like the last few seasons. There are other options that can be mismatches in the Bucs’ favor on Sunday and Cam Brate is certainly a big one.

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Who do you think will be the spotlight player this week? Let us know in the comment section below!