The Buccaneers easily have one of the best tight end groups in the NFL.
“Bring in the tape, Jim let’s show these people what we’re talking about.” Okay, so there is no tape, and yes, there is no Jim. But most of us Buccos can remember nearly every snap of last season. Even the bad ones.
So, after the season, when the powers that be finally did look at the tape, they saw that Rob Gronkowski had a pro-bowlish type season if you include his blocking at the line and downfield, and of course, the fact that he caught more long balls than anyone else in the league.
Then there’s O.J. Howard. Howard, who was on his way to a banner year when ooops goes his Achilles tendon and out for the rest of the year. But that’s okay, cause there was still Cameron Brate who was more than ready to step in and pick up some slack.
Jon Ledyard of the Pewter Report did admit in an article ranking the tight ends in the NFC South that the probability of any of them getting a lot of passes was dependent upon how many balls were gobbled up by the wide receiver corps. Ye gads! If only these pre season accolades really meant something. If only…
Still, it’s good that the Buccaneers have shut the door on last season and are taking on this year as if they never saw a 30-yard Lombardi Trophy pass to who? You know who. To Cam Brate.
So with all of this love out there, I hope no one expects this season to go uncontested? It won’t. There will be games and games and games and tough games. As a team, we can’t sit on our laurels and think we have it won. It’s nice to be noticed, but a completely different thing to be invited to the dance.
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