The Cade Otton Fade
December 4th, 2024
“Step it up, Cade.”
Joe’s got faith in Bucs No. 1 tight end Cade Otton, but it’s slipping away slightly, much like balls slip through Otton’s hands too often this season.
What tight end leads the NFL in drops?
Well, drops are a subjective stat, which is why the NFL doesn’t publish an official “drops” stat. One man’s “drop” is another man’s bad throw.
Still, FOX Sports data says Otton has 8 drops this season, which is most among tight ends and tied for third-most in the NFL.
It’s extra disappointing to see Otton’s production slip and his drops increase lately because Otton was on a tear with Mike Evans out with a hamstring injury. Evans returned and Otton fell off.
One might think it would be the other way around; Evans’ return would have drawn attention from Otton and freed him up for chunk plays.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was asked about Otton’s performance dip in the passing game on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week. The head coach quipped it’s because Otton shaved his head, “he cut his hair.”
Joe got a laugh, but this is serious business.
Whether it be at tight end or from a secondary receiver — and certainly on defense — the Bucs need a few players to raise their games down the stretch if they hope to reach the postseason and do real damage in it.
Otton could be one of those guys. And the Bucs certainly can’t afford for Otton to take a half-step backward.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
It’s been since the second half of the 49ers game. Teams started doubling him over the middle.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Temu Gronkowski
December 4th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Come on man you have to honor a streak don’t be going off and cutting the hair.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Get him some gloves!
December 4th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
Simply another example of players emulating their coach. Player regression isn’t just on defense. Otton, Palmer, McMillan and Jarrett have also regressed. Shep is just spastic and kind of sucks.
BA would have this exact roster at 10-2, and that game would have been a 30-to-single-digits beatdown in Charlotte on Sunday.
December 4th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
All the faith in the world that Cade will power through this And get his hands back. Payne seems to have really good hands as evidenced by his catch in the Giants game and I think may be ahead of cade in blocking. Maybe start throwing more to him?
December 4th, 2024 at 6:50 pm
Catch the damn ball
December 4th, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Fire Otton!!!!!
December 4th, 2024 at 8:46 pm
You game plan based upon the opponent that week. Cade will get his targets when the opposing defense allows for it. More Bucky carries means less pass attempts. That’s a good thing.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Not just Otton, Evans drops easy passes as does the rest of the WR corps.
December 4th, 2024 at 9:30 pm
I agree Cade needs to wear gloves !! The ball literally sticks to them !! Cade just had a bad game. Actually our entire offense was flat until the last two or three drives !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Panthers !!
December 4th, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Not concerned. Like someone else commented the whole offense sucked last week. Otton had a few and so did ME13. There was one year were he dropped a bunch maybe 2 or 3rd and people were calling ME13 a bust. Pretty funny cause he will be a1st ballot HOFer
December 5th, 2024 at 12:56 am
Hands of stone. He’s had them since he was drafted. He just got hot there for a little bit but this is not new and unfortunately we need to draft a tight end very high next year to give Baker something way more reliable.
December 5th, 2024 at 4:32 am
@SteveJackson nailed it…. You have to honor a streak….
Hope his hair grows fast….
December 5th, 2024 at 5:55 am
dave pear – right about BA possibly, but can we have more examples of players emulating coaches? mind running wild with andy reid comps
December 5th, 2024 at 5:58 am
tall peeps need high passes, but for some reason baker’s short balls come in low too often. great catch by shep by the way on the final throw, the only reason bucs won that game. he deserves extra credit. wouldn’t have blamed him for dropping that low ball during a big hit from behind
December 5th, 2024 at 6:54 am
I save all my disappointment for Todd Bowles and this awful defense he’s in charge of.
December 5th, 2024 at 10:55 am
I doubt that Oregon’s TE Fergeson will last until our 2nd round pick, but surely we should draft him. Maybe first round if late.
I said here early, “Watch Bucky!” And, look how it is turning out. There are numerous players on this year’s Oregon team. Watch them Saturday.
December 5th, 2024 at 10:57 am
BTW, Cade Otten is not the answer. he does have stone hands. We need an improvement.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
They all need to get their eyes off the defenders, and ON THE BALL.