While I like you putting O.J. Howard in there as a top TE and he will probably be drafted on his size and speed alone, he is not a top 5 TE in my opinion. His blocking is suspect, and his production is no where near top 5 material. He has severely under performed here. Yes if he goes pro this year he'll probably have the fastest 40 time at the combine among TE's, but more than likely the NFL will move him to WR or make him bulk up big time if he wants to play TE. He just has issues with going to get the ball as well as drops and blocking issues.
He could end up being our next Ozzie Newsome (best Bama TE of all time and 2nd best WR only to Amari Cooper) in the NFL but he has a ways to go with blocking, route running, and catching. It doesn't help of course that since McElroy/McCarron left there has been hardly any throwing to the TE. McElroy loved it with Colin Peek and that is why we shredded a Senior Tebow led Florida team in the real national title game in the SEC Title Game in 2009. Blake Sims was shaky at best and only went to Amari and had no idea how to make reads and it showed in the Semi's against Ohio State and the auBARN game.
OJ Howard has the skills to be a "great" hybrid TE that many NFL OC's are transitioning to. He's a freakish athlete and if he was utilized "properly" he could be more talented than that dipshit Aaron Hernandez (the football player) was at Florida. Plus, I said it was "my" top 5 and I also based this off players who I thought would translate well at the next level. Notice I have no dual threat QB's (besides Prescott who is an excellent passer). And I agree with you on route running, but his QB's were average and Kiffin never ran a pass catching TE type offense even at USC. Kiffin is a good coordinator (rotten HC) but a jackass for his lack of incorporating additional weapons into the offense...pure and simple. Bama's D needs to step up as well if they plan on going to the CFP. This season is going to be exciting, a few teams that may surprise some people.
Last edited by Oscarthedago; 06/25/1511:44 PM.
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