Alabama tight end O.J. Howard had a monster game last season in the national championship game victory against Clemson, but how important will he be to the team’s success this season?
The answer is simple: very. Howard could easily be Alabama’s second option in the passing game. Calvin Ridley has the ability to rank among the school’s all-time pass-catchers — Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Ozzie Newsome — and therefore, is the obvious first option. While on the topic of Newsome, it is easy to wonder if Howard will have the kind of season that would place him in the same shouting distance of Newsome, who is generally considered the greatest tight end to ever play at Alabama.
While Alabama is loaded at wide receiver, Howard presents an outstanding mismatch at the college level. He has great size, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 251 pounds. At the same time, he possesses outstanding athleticism and considerable speed for being a tight end. Anyone doubting this claim should simply go back and watch the Clemson game tape, where he hauled in 208 yards and two touchdowns on just five receptions, a staggering 41.6 yards per catch.
The truth is: Howard has been criminally underutilized at Alabama for whatever reason. During his freshman season, he had 269 receiving yards for two touchdowns on just 14 receptions. His sophomore season represented a step back, tallying 260 yards and zero touchdowns on 17 receptions.
Last season was a major step forward and long overdue. Still, for the step forward he achieved, many believe he is just brushing the surface of his potential. In a lackluster season for tight ends, Hunter Henry led the conference at the position with 739 yards receiving with 3 touchdowns. Evan Engram, who was voted 2016 preseason Second-Team All-SEC by the coaches, finished with 464 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns last season.
Howard’s importance to the team increases this year for a number of reasons. To start with, Alabama lost an outstanding pass-catcher out of the backfield in Kenyan Drake. Granted, Damien Harris can pick up some of the slack, but Howard is a logical candidate to replace some of Drake’s catches.
Whoever is named starting quarterback will walk into USC with very little to no real game experience and will likely need a “safety valve” receiver. Tight ends and running backs fill such a role because of their intermediate routes, and that will be welcomed while Ridley does more of his damage deeper down field.
With Howard’s ability to outrun linebackers and physically dominate safeties, he should be targeted significantly this season. A 50-reception, 700-yard season with three or four touchdowns seems a reasonable expectation. Statistically, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart was Alabama’s second option last season with 63 receptions for 700 yards and 4 touchdowns. With Alabama’s depth at wide receiver, Howard putting up similar numbers to his 2015 season also would not constitute a disappointment.
One important question to consider: Will Howard receive double teams? This answer is more challenging as he very well could, although it seems unlikely due to Alabama’s depth at receiver. With Ridley’s speed, Stewart’s big-play ability, and the return this season of physically imposing receivers Robert Foster, Cam Sims and Raheem Falkins, it would be risky to double team Howard.
Another interesting element to watch for: Will Alabama run any double tight end sets this season? With the talented Hale Hentges serving as Howard’s backup, it seems likely.
Whatever statistical output Howard finishes with this season, he will in all likelihood be similar to Stewart in having huge plays in key games. Howard’s biggest games last season came in the lone loss to Ole Miss, a close win against Tennessee and the championship win against Clemson.
Howard had 4 receptions for 70 yards as Alabama attempted a furious comeback against Ole Miss. Howard’s 30-yard reception was the longest of the game and his 24-yard reception set up a touchdown that cut the deficit to 43-30. Howard had a 7-yard reception that led to a field goal to open the second half against Tennessee and break a 7-7 tie.
In the national championship game, Howard had a 53-yard touchdown reception — his first of the season — to once again break open a tied game to start the second half. He later added another 51-yarder to, you guessed it, break open another tie and put the Tide up 31-24 early in the fourth quarter.
Odds are good that when Alabama faces a pressure-packed situation this season, one of the first receivers the quarterback turns to will be Howard.
