Cleveland Browns: O.J. Howard impresses at Combine
By Joel W. Cade
Should the Cleveland Browns address the tight end position by drafting O.J. Howard? We have the entire breakdown of why here.
Are the Cleveland Browns in the market for a tight end? If not, O.J. Howard’s performance at the NFL Combine may put them in the market.
The annual NFL Scouting Combine is a place for college athletes to show off their skills. Every year there is a “workout warrior” whose combine performance outshines their game tape performance. There were plenty of these guys on display the past week. However, one player added the title of “workout warrior” to an already impressive game tape performance resume.
That player is Alabama’s O.J. Howard.
O.J. Howard is an old school tight end with new school talent.
In today’s NFL, tight end is becoming the primary position for creating matchup problems. Gary Barnidge went from nobody to Pro-Bowler due to his ability to run routes and make plays. Last year, the Browns drafted Seth DeValve in the hopes that he could play tight end and eventually transition into an H-back type player.
It is no wonder that in this year’s NFL Combine there is an increased emphasis upon tight ends as matchup problems. Teams are looking for tight ends that can serve as receivers both inline and split out. Having a player who can create mismatches opens an offensive playbook making it more dynamic.
At the combine, O.J. Howard demonstrated all the skills necessary to be a mismatch player. His combine numbers demonstrate that he has the athletic ability to make big plays. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash time. He followed that up with 22 reps on the bench press, a 30-inch vertical jump, 121-inch broad jump and a 6.85 three cone drill. All these numbers add up to awesome!
The issue for O.J. Howard was that he rarely got to show off all the playmaking ability in Alabama’s offense. But when he got his chance, he made the most of it. In both of Alabama’s meetings with Clemson over the past two years, it was O.J. Howard who Alabama leaned on when times got tough. In those times, he made spectacular plays that put the Crimson Tide in good positions.
The following video is technically a Myles Garrett scouting video, but it can also be viewed as an O.J. Howard blocking highlight reel as Garrett did not fare so well against Howard. Look for Howard on each play and you will see why.
His lack of involvement in the offense as a receiver is not a negative for Howard. Because of his role as a run blocker, O.J. Howard has an old-school element to his game.
In the NFL, tight ends must be able to block. Too often, the new school tight ends enter the NFL unable or even, at times, unwilling to block. The result is a mismatch player who really is not a mismatch because their role is obvious. For a receiving tight end to be effective in the NFL, he must be able to block.
Related: Garrett makes case for No. 1 overall
Only by establishing himself as a blocker does a tight end get the favorable matchups that allows him to be dynamic in the passing game. And tight ends get paid to be dynamic. But dynamic emerges out of a foundation of good old-fashioned blocking. Often, new school tight ends fail to see this coming out of college.
Howard can block at a high level. He has not yet shown the ability to be a dynamic receiving matchup. The offense he played at Alabama did not showcase his talent in this area – which was a mistake on Alabama’s part.
O.J. Howard is the complete tight end. He is both old school and new school in one person. If the Browns can draft him at No. 12 overall, they would have a game changer at an increasingly premium position in the NFL. He would be a great offensive weapon for any future quarterback.
Next: Rethinking Jimmy Garoppolo as a Brown
This is a no brainer.