Though The Message May Be Rehearsed, Football Logic Backs It Up
August 10th, 2024
Love from Bucs suit.
Yeah, Joe at times is jaded and cynical. You have to be in this business.
For example, a couple of days ago, head coach Todd Bowles proclaimed this could be the year of the Bucs tight ends. Not so much because they’re that much better than many other teams’ tight ends, but that defenses will try to stop Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Rachaad White in the passing game. Defenses cannot guard everyone so the opportunities for starter Cade Otton should be there this season.
On Thursday, Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek was right on message.
“I appreciate the question on Cade because I think he’s a really good football player,” Spytek began. “When a lot of the focus is going to be on Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] – deservedly so – there’s a lot of value in a guy that the quarterback just knows, ‘He will be where he’s supposed to be, so I can trust that if they take these two away, Cade is going to be freed up here, the ball is going to go to him, he’s going to be there and he’s going to catch it.’
“[Mayfield throwing to Otton] were hot again [Thursday] – it’s a cool thing to see.”
There is a reason the Bucs — and likely other NFL teams too — have a media relations full-time staff of five. It’s not just to type press releases on camp meat players being cut and ensuring TV producers have plenty of bottled water.
If you don’t believe NFL staffers are advised of what team officials have said, or are not coached up on messaging, Joe suggests you watch the Giants’ version of “Hard Knocks: Offseason With the New York Giants.” Watch how Giants general manager Joe Schoen is coached up by media relations staff on the proper answers to expected questions from the Fourth Estate.
But this message that Otton could blow up this season, well, it is rooted in football logic. Bowles and Spytek do not speak with forked tongues. Defenses only have so many guys to cover receivers. If someone gets double-teamed, that raises the chance of a tight end breaking free from single coverage.
Otton came on strong late last year and into the playoffs. If Otton can carry that over to this season, he’ll be one more weapon defenses have to worry about.
August 10th, 2024 at 12:10 am
Hard knocks is less valuable than preseason.
August 10th, 2024 at 4:41 am
Agree with Dave Pear.
Real training camps and preseason decide who makes the roster. I really like Hard Knocks, but it is a reality show. Otton will be fine. Like others have commented on the other articles; he reminds me of Brate. And Cameron played nine seasons with us.
August 10th, 2024 at 10:22 am
Preseason game starts tonight In Cincy. Expectations are high and disappointments are exactly that. But it’s football and that’s all that matters.
Hopefully, no serious injuries for both teams.
August 10th, 2024 at 11:08 am
That TE room looks decent. If they can be effective in the run game and make plays when their number is called, things should get very interesting this season.
Hopefully TB improves his game management skills,. Especially game clock and timeout management. That alone could produce a W.
August 10th, 2024 at 11:44 am
I still contend that the TE position is our weakest group. Brate and Otten were/is good guys to have AS A BACKUP. After seeing what a great TE (Gronk) could do in a Buc uniform I am spoiled. Look around the league. My guess is that those that have great TEs (49rs) have powerful offenses as well. I want a STUD at this position. We may have good but not yet great at this position.
August 10th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
We’ve had great TEs in the past. Jimmy Giles and Kellen Winslow Jr come to mind.
August 10th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Of course Gronk.
August 10th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
How about OJ Howard?
Yeah, sometimes you try for elite and get ” not so much”. Waste of a really high pick IMO. So getting a Kittle or Gronk isnt always so easy. I’m okay with an average to above average TE if we:
1) have ME and CG at WR… with some JM & TP thrown in.
2) can run the football and White and Irving show us some juice.
3) have a top 10 defense… top 5 in run defense.
4) Baker doesn’t regress… but progresses.