“We Can’t Just Rely On Mike And Chris”
September 18th, 2023
Cade Otton.
It was a quiet day for the Bucs’ supporting cast of pass catchers against the Bears on Sunday and a very important Buccaneer took notice.
Joe is referring to Todd Bowles, head coach of undefeated Tampa Bay.
Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bowles acknowledged the reliable performance from No. 1 tight end Cade Otton, who caught all six passes sent his way for 41 yards. It was Otton’s best regular season game since the Bucs hosted the Rams on Nov. 6.
Otton quietly is on pace for 68 catches for 510 yards this season with 16 for first downs. The probably want a little more than that from their second-year tight end, but they certainly would take those numbers, Joe believes.
“We can’t just rely on Mike and Chris,” Bowles said.
Statistically speaking, Bowles is on the money. No two receivers can carry an offense unless there’s historic play coming from the running back position, and that’s not happening in Tampa this season.
Rookie receiver Trey Palmer was quiet for a change against the Bears, and the other two Bucs receivers, Deven Thompkins and Rakim Jarrett, combined for seven yards.
Joe tips a hat to Rachaad White for 30 yards receving on five catches out of the backfield. Most came in key second-half situations.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
“We can’t just rely on Mike and Chris,” Bowles said.
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Actually you can, that’s the entire point of having elite wide receivers that you pay a ton of money to, those are the guys that carry the team.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:08 pm
IDK. Evans had more receiving yards than the rest of the team combined. Yet, he still found a way to get wide open.
I get the point. Just pointing out a stat.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:13 pm
They don’t, I saw Otton, Palmer, Thompkins and Rakeem in there yesterday.
Even with only two good receivers you can’t double team them both, but the Bucs can run three or four receivers at the same time, and that takes all of the backfield personnel. Canales will figure it out, or has figured it out and has not yet put the word out.
He is better of doling out that information so something new shows up every week, gotta keep defenses honest.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:17 pm
Time to focus on the Philthies. This is a big game, Beat em and look out,
September 18th, 2023 at 5:25 pm
Hainsey was a stone wall.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:42 pm
You probably can’t JUST rely on them but you CAN rely on them and keep them both. I was not overly thrilled with Bowles’ coaching in the game either. I do hope we have a good game against Phily.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Need to try a bomb to Palmer
September 18th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Snaps can tell you a lot about the game IMO. For instance, 6 players were on the field for all 71 of our offensive snaps: Mayfield, Wirfs, Feiler, Hainsey, Mauch & Goedeke. (Having all 5 of our OLinemen in there for every play is a very good thing).
Our 3 RBs combined for 71 snaps also: White (51), Tucker (17) & Edmonds (3). So that accounts for 7 of our 11 positions when you include Baker & our 5 OLinemen.
Otton was on the field for 69 snaps (just 2 shy of the whole game). Kieft had 18 snaps, and Wells had 18 snaps (but the 2 of them together were only targeted twice). So our TEs got 105 offensive snaps … the equivalent of 1.5 players for the game (apparently we used 2 TE sets on about half of our plays?).
So I presume Bucs were also using 2 WRs on about half our plays, butd 3 WRs on the other half. Seems about right since Godwin got 53 snaps, Evans 43, Palmer 35, Thompkins 32 & Jarrett 16 for a total of 179 snaps … the equivalent of 2.5 players.
Got me wondering though if we were almost exclusively going 2 TEs on our run plays (to help with blocking?) & 1 TE on our pass plays (our WRs are certainly better receivers than our TEs). Nah, that’d be too much of a tell for the defense.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
Not once have I heard a fan say how are they going to pay Evans, Wirfs, White, and Baker.
Is that why none of them have a contract…yet?
September 18th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
If management is waiting strategically, as I would, I wouldn’t renew anyone until the an position plays out.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
*QB position. Sorry for multiple posts.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Agree with Joe about developing our TEs. Mark Andrews is the most dangerous receiver that the Ravens have. He opens up everything offensively for them. Otton could do the same for the Bucs.
September 18th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
This is off subject….but what’s going on with SirVocea Dennis…..
And…from this point forward we’ll call him SVD………..like linebacker LVD
Let’s do it……..SVD!!!
September 18th, 2023 at 6:17 pm
Well if the eagles are smart they do everything to take away Mike and Chris somehow and make the young guys beat them, if it works there’s the blueprint.
I hope Palmer and those young guys aren’t nervous on the big stage
September 18th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
I bet we use two tight ends on every single play against Philly
September 18th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
Bowles is a completely different coach than he was last year. He’s taking calculated risks on fourth downs and accepting accountability for calling sorry as plays. Thank you Todd Bowles
September 18th, 2023 at 7:04 pm
It’s not Otton’s receiving ability I’m worried about, it’s his blocking. He may be THE worst blocking TE in the NFL. Go back and watch him these last 2 games, it is atrocious. Godwin is a better blocker than Otton.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
Fourteen catches by the ‘supporting guys’ isn’t bad, is it?
I would like to see Baker recover at least two downfield fumbles a game, however.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
This Saints vs Carolina is one of the most boring and dull things I’ve seen in a long time. I know there’s two games on, but who in the world thought that would be something a national audience would want to see.
Reminds me of all the times the NFL put the Bucs @ Panthers on national TV. I’ve been a Bucs fan my entire life, but there is no more boring of an opponent than the Panthers, and their stadium is also dull.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:20 pm
I see Damon Wayans is supporting himself during the actors strike by cheerleading for the kitty cats.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
I still can’t believe the morons in marketing for the Bucs don’t have the orange uniforms next week on Monday night. Instead they save it for a 1pm afternoon game vs the Lions, a team the Bucs never beat at home.
Bucs would have sold an insane number of jerseys having the unbeaten Bucs in orange take down the Eagles in prime time.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:27 pm
BTW, are the Bucs actually wearing the orange jerseys, for a 1p home game when it’s still going to probably be over 90 degrees on the field? I mean I like the white tops, orange pants, but waiting that whole time for the away jersey will be quite lame.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:33 pm
Carr looks turrible so far tonight. Jes turrible.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:42 pm
Who cares who catches what? Throw to who is open. If it’s only Evans and Godwin, who cares? If it’s Palmer, Stone Hands Kieft or Thomkins, who cares? If you win, who cares about who catches the ball?
Jesus. God.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
Carr doesn’t throw the ball more than 3 yards downfield, this is gonna be a very winnable division.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:53 pm
Carr is like a more boring, less aggressive Kirk Cousins.
I’ve always hated Carr, he’s incredibly overrated by the people who just look at box scores.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:57 pm
Yes ModHairKen. Jesus is God. Good call!
September 18th, 2023 at 9:05 pm
Both Carr and Young are looking terrible. Looks like the Falcons are our only competition in the NFC South.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
Watching the game too and man both the Saints and Panthers look terrible.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Jameis should request a trade to the Jets. Saints are not it.
Bryce young is horrible though. Panthers gonna be baaaad.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Nick Chubb injury looks bad. If the Bucs want to sign an RB they should do it soon.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:27 pm
The other receivers are on schedule. Baker has an early chemistry with Evans and Godwin, as they should. He also certainly knows where to find Otton and White to advance the football.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Young is in his second game, people need to calm down on calling him a bust — although I will say watching the preseason and week 1 this year, AR15 clearly looks like the best QB drafted this year. I said that after week 2 of the preseason, and I stand by it, but it’s obviously very early. But my goodness is AR15 an incredible weapon – if he can stay healthy and actually complete a game.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
AverageBucFan
I agree JW to the Jets might make sense at this point. I’ve never doubted JW’s talent just his noggin. But the same case could have been made about Baker and he’s clearly grown up, perhaps JW has as well now that like Baker before him he’s been humbled.
I think JW could be very successful with the Jets on the field. My biggest question would by NYC!!! How do we suppose JW might handle the bright lights? The days of Joe Willie Namath are over. Could JW stay out of trouble?
I’m open minded. Again it took a LONG time for me to grow up as well.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:37 pm
Welp, I’m pretty sure the Browns are gonna give Kareem Hunt whatever he wants after what just happened… ouch.
September 18th, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Damn saints gonna win this game! Triple tie with the dirty birds! Damn why can’t they just suck like the previous years!
September 18th, 2023 at 10:23 pm
The ‘awful’ NFC South is 6-2, with both loses by Carolina to teams in the NFC South.
September 18th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
Randy Moss and Chris Carter were the last two WR to actually carry a team ..and even that only got them so far.
September 18th, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Just as Brad Johnson haha GO BUCS!!!!
September 18th, 2023 at 10:47 pm
@Buccaneeric
Not once have I heard a fan say how are they going to pay Evans, Wirfs, White, and Baker.Is that why none of them have a contract…yet?
So you have a transition tag and franchise tag thats two down…D White for his liability in pass coverage hes not getting #1 money for us and Baker aint getting no 30 mil contract ….
hes a filler a brad Johnson if you will 2nd tier QB so we can give him 10/yr
September 18th, 2023 at 11:08 pm
the nfc south seems to not be all that awful anymore…
awful divisions don’t last long…remember the nfc least for 2-3 years…
carolina might be pretty bad tho
September 18th, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Christian Izien is tied for 2nd in the NFL in INTs, only behind Whitehead with 3.
September 18th, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Nate – how do you pay for everything? The same way the Saints are $100-million over the cap every year. Accounting tricks.
September 19th, 2023 at 1:55 am
^ EXACTLY.
Saints spend to the max every single season and I can only think of one year in the last 15+ where they were actually restrained by being over the cap / having too much dead money.
Licht and his boy can figure it out. We still have a lot of dead money next year, but this year was by far the worst of it IIRC.
September 19th, 2023 at 2:13 am
what happened to payne durham?
September 19th, 2023 at 5:56 am
Can’t catch whats not thrown Joe. Are they really not getting open?
Go Bucs!
September 19th, 2023 at 6:26 am
Otton is an average receiving threat right now but he played this last game without gloves, like he did in college, and caught every ball! Let’s see if that trend continues!
He has some serious work to do as a blocker though. It’s rough out there when he’s in. I’d like to see what Payne can do in the run game honestly. Kieft is the only TE worth his salt in blocking at this point.
September 19th, 2023 at 7:54 am
Hey people, where’s the patience? We’ve got a new offensive coach, QB, and a totally reshuffled OL. They are playing their THIRD game together. Bucs are 2-0. Otton has very good hands for a TE. I was hoping Canales would use him as the third receiver Sunday, and he did. Plus, the new rookie receivers are getting into the mix. I know it’s the dirty birds and MNF, but I feel some optimism about it. Go Bucs!
September 19th, 2023 at 8:11 am
Glad he caught all his passes, but he needs to be aware of where the first down marker is. He consistently cut off his route short of the marker. Yes, he made the catch but didn’t get the first down.
September 19th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Right about Otton not getting first downs, all his catches were about 7 yards past the line of scrimmage. Isn’t a very physically strong tight end. Is going to have to play smarter because his athleticism is average at best. He’s a smart kid, just needs to understand that when he catches the ball, develop a move to make the first guy miss so you can fall for that extra couple of yards.
September 19th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Deff gotta get more production from others players besides CG14 n ME13. Defenses are going to double one of the 2 so it should leave plenty of 1vs1 opportunities for our other guys. Someone needs to step up n quickly. Get Palmer more involved. Dudes got the wheels to take the top off defenses. Need to try and preserve old man ME13 for later in the season lol. Dude is a beast gettin another 1k this year