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O.J. Howard remains puzzled about why Kiffin didn't use him more on offense
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:25 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:25 pm
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How did the Alabama Crimson Tide not find a way to use tight end O.J. Howard more often? Even he doesn’t know.
“I have no idea, honestly man,” Howard said at the Senior Bowl. “It was kind of a question mark my whole career about that, but I’ve never been able to give an answer to this day.”
“[NFL scouts] ask me sometimes how did I stay focused and I told them that I’m the type of person if I get so disappointed and frustrated about that, it shows on the field,” Howard said. “So I had to stay focused and do what’s best for myself and my future. That’s how I stayed positive through the process.”
On the practice field in Mobile, Howard has looked like every bit like the player who shined on the national championship stage.
“All of these guys are really good, but one guy who kind of shocked me was O.J. Howard,” South Team quarterback Antonio Pipkin of Division II Tiffin University said. “I threw him a vertical today on a touchdown and he really went to go get it. I didn’t think he was going to get to it, but he picked up speed to get there and I was shocked to see a tight end go that fast.”
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said that he believes Howard could be the first player from the Senior Bowl to go off the board in the 2017 NFL Draft.
“You can see he's really worked on his blocking and has improved in that area,” Mayock said, via NFL.com. “He has a perfect combination of height, weight, speed, toughness, and athletic ability. The comparison I have for him is Greg Olsen. If you have a chance to draft a Greg Olsen, you go get him.”
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Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:27 pm to Bench McElroy
Always been a big fan of OJ. Would like to see him in that Cowboys Offense.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:32 pm to Bench McElroy
I can't speak for the rest of his career but this year, it was likely because Alabama had a running back playing quarterback.
Kiffin did a phenomenal job of making Alabama's offense nationally elite despite his best option at QB being a kid that cannot read a defense or hit passes beyond 8 yards downfield.
Kiffin did a phenomenal job of making Alabama's offense nationally elite despite his best option at QB being a kid that cannot read a defense or hit passes beyond 8 yards downfield.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:33 pm to Bench McElroy
Should've gone to Auburn instead of being a butthurt salty emotional bitch. Grew up an Auburn fan. Would've been our only decent pass catcher half his career so we would've had to use him more by default.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:34 pm to Bench McElroy
The entire fanbase shares your, sentiments. I thought after he had a great game against Clemson in the championship game that it would surely translate to a yuge year, but alas it did not.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:36 pm to Bench McElroy
I thought he was used pretty well, especially given his QBs he's had. Not like Blake Sims and Jalen Hurts were masterful downfield passers.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:37 pm to Bench McElroy
Seemed like every time I watched him play he would drop 50% of what he got his hands on. Did his catch ratio improve last year?
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:40 pm to David Ricky
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I can't speak for the rest of his career but this year, it was likely because Alabama had a running back playing quarterback.
Kiffin did a phenomenal job of making Alabama's offense nationally elite despite his best option at QB being a kid that cannot read a defense or hit passes beyond 8 yards downfield
But short passes should be utilizing the tight end. I think Kiffin just underutilized him.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:48 pm to BowlJackson
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Should've gone to Auburn instead of winning multiple national championships.
FIFY
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:50 pm to Bench McElroy
He definitely got tougher over his 4 years. Dude will be a great pro.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:53 pm to Crimson Legend
quote:so, which year is bama expected to claim in the future?quote:FIFY
Should've gone to Auburn instead of winning multiple national championships.
2013, 2014, or 2016?
This post was edited on 1/27/17 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:57 pm to Bench McElroy
It was probably actually good for his development. He came out of a tiny private school in Prattville, didn't know how to block. He's now the best blocking TE in the draft, is going to test off the charts at the combine. He's receiving skills will be put to use in the NFL. It just sucked for us that he could have been a great goal line and 3rd down possession threat for us but it just never happened
Posted on 1/27/17 at 12:57 pm to Bench McElroy
AU coaches told him this would happen.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:04 pm to AUCE05
quote:lol, like it would have been better at the passing juggernaut of Auburn the last 4 years
AU coaches told him this would happen.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:09 pm to Saskwatch
Not sure if sarcasm but reading your comment reminded me of an article ProFootballFocus wrote before the Championship Game.
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19. O.J. Howard has dropped just two passes this season Showcasing one of the safest pair of hands in the nation, dropping just two of the 43 catchable passes thrown his way this year. With just one drop in 2015, and three in 2014, Howard has dropped just six of the past 102 catchable passes thrown his way.
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Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:12 pm to Bench McElroy
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South Team quarterback Antonio Pipkin of Division II Tiffin University said. “I threw him a vertical today on a touchdown and he really went to go get it. I didn’t think he was going to get to it, but he picked up speed to get there and I was shocked to see a tight end go that fast.”
OJ is a freak athlete but it's just funny to me that they use this guy to validate him. I would think every player was very eye opening to him
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:13 pm to narddogg81
That doesn't change the fact that Saban has no clue at running an O besides handing the ball to a RB.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:16 pm to AUCE05
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AU coaches told him this would happen.
What numbers do AU TEs have 2013-present. OJ caught 102 passes in his career at Alabama. Pretty good for TEs. But was still underutilized considering his talent.
But that makes it even more puzzling. Kiffin used TEs very well at Tennessee and USC. Some of it can be explained by three different starting QBs. But that can't explain all of it.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:17 pm to AUCE05
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That doesn't change the fact that Saban has no clue at running an O besides handing the ball to a RB.
His teams have always seemed to have pretty consistent offenses. The problem has been the lack of multiple year starters at QB. Or just QB scouting in general.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 1:19 pm to thunderbird1100
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I thought he was used pretty well, especially given his QBs he's had. Not like Blake Sims and Jalen Hurts were masterful downfield passers.
sims was a very good deep ball passer ...
you don't need an allamerican at qb for a guy like oj, anyway ...
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