The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers at Packers: Week 13 game-changers

By Bailey Adams

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

O.J. Howard

With this season pretty much lost, the Bucs need to focus on the future. What better way to do that than get some more targets for their rookies, right? O.J. Howard has shown flashes of promise throughout his rookie year, but Tampa Bay completely forgets about him from time to time. He has just 30 targets in eleven games, but he has twenty catches for 331 yards and four touchdowns. His four touchdowns are tied for the team lead. With just five games left, it’s time to get him more involved.

News hit on Monday afternoon that if he isn’t feeling soreness, Jameis Winston could resume throwing on Wednesday and possibly return to the lineup on Sunday. If the Bucs truly want to put Winston back out there with nothing on the line, it would give him a chance to continue developing a rapport with his receivers. One that would benefit from more reps with Winston is the 23-year-old Howard. Those two guys are an integral part of the future for Tampa Bay, which is why it might be a good time to see what they can do together on a bigger scale.

The Alabama product has only four targets in each of the last two weeks after having zero the week before. He is due for an increase in targets going forward, especially with the strange disappearance of Cameron Brate in recent weeks. Whether it’s Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick or even Ryan Griffin taking the snaps on Sunday, it would be wise of the Bucs to get Howard involved early and often.

Home/Bucs News