Bucs Still Pushing Cade Otton
October 12th, 2024
“Look, Cade. I don’t care if you’re tired or worn out.”
One Bucs offseason goal was to cut the snaps of tight Cade Otton significantly.
It hasn’t happened.
Otton played a whopping 1,067 snaps last season — 97 percent of the team’s total. That makes other full-time tight ends around the league look like part-timers stealing from their clubs.
Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Sam LaPorta? They don’t log anywhere near those kinds of reps.
And Otton is on a similar pace in 2024. He’s played 94 percent of the Bucs’ snaps this season.
Otton’s production has picked up, but he’s yet to find the end zone. Joe’s eye on the film says Otton’s blocking has become more consistent. He’s not a great blocker, but it seems he’s had fewer losses in the run game.
As expected, the Bucs aren’t using many two tight-end sets under new playcaller Liam Coen. Fans could count on one hand how many times Ko Kieft has played offense this season, and Payne Durham has only one target.
So the Bucs seem destined to keep grinding Otton at a high rate. Joe’s starting to wonder how that will impact Otton’s performance come January.
October 12th, 2024 at 11:54 am
None issue. Most of the time he’s just blocking. Not like he’s targeted like the other TEs mentioned. We were weak at TE, and ILB yet Licht decided to do nothing about it. We’re sitting on some cash, and Licht doesn’t seem to want to make any moves.
October 12th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
According to one site, Otton has 20 catchable targets and 3 drops. Maybe Baker doesn’t want to target Otton with his 15% drop rate?
October 12th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
If he’s out there full time throw him the ball once in a while.
October 12th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Otton seems like one of those guys that can handle a large workload and gets better as the season goes on.
October 12th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Oline injuries and deficiencies have compelled Coen to play White and Otten more as the better blocks of their position groups. If Goedeke avoids that concussion we might have seen more experimentation with the less experienced RBs and TEs, but Skule needed the help in the first few games.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Shows the apparent weakness with the TE room….undersized TEs we need to draft TE & ILB next year
October 12th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
With Otton being such a bad blocker and now addy he fact he’s not really being used in the passing game, I’d like to see more jumbo sets. Replace him with an extra lineman more often.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
It seems to me that Otton usually comes through for Mayfield, especially when the pocket collapses. I see him doing well a LOT.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
See Durham has really improved his blocking and 1 target 1 catch. Not sure why Coen isn’t using him or Culp more. We will need Cade to be fresher for a deep
Playoff run.
October 12th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
I like what I see in Durham. Sure he is slightly slower and has less experience than Otton, but we need to keep Otton fresh and get a better feel how Durham plays.
October 12th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
I have been ragging on getting a “good” TE almost as long as I have been of JTS. Look what a TE (or two!!) does for K.C. and the 49rs. Otten would make a good #2 along someone like Ferguson for Oregon tonight against Ohio State IN EUGENE! Go Ducks! Ferguson for #2 pick next year.
October 12th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
I have to assume that TE was way down the priority list. You can only do so much in one off-season
October 12th, 2024 at 6:28 pm
We don’t show all our cards in October. Different sets when we see the Lions, Commanders, Falcons, etc in the playoffs.
October 12th, 2024 at 10:03 pm
Idk why yall hate on Otton. Dude doesn’t drop many passes like some of yall are bellyaching about. TB12 trusted him as a rookie. That’s all ya need to know. Pair another TE with Otton as the #1 not Otton as #2. Dude is more durable than any other TE catches a lot of passes isn’t the best at blocking but has improved. What more you want. There’s a future hall of fame WR and a legit all pro WR in front him. Only 1 football to go around.
October 12th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Wondering what happened with braswell
October 13th, 2024 at 12:31 am
I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of Coen’s offense but literally no targets for anyone else at TE? Add to that that Otton is a piss poor blocker most of the time. Durham and or Kieft should be seeing some snaps and some targets.
Go Bucs!