Where’s The “Complement?”
December 5th, 2024
GM Jason Licht (right) in conversation with Bucs playcaller Liam Coen.
So Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was very clear in the winter about one specific position.
Licht said while tight end Cade Otton was consistent and emerging in 2023, Otton needed “a complement,” too — another tight end to take the load off him and be an option for Baker Mayfield.
That brings Joe to second-year tight end Payne Durham. There’s nothing but love for Durham at One Buc Palace and Joe’s heard Todd Bowles say on his radio show that Durham is a weapon the Bucs can get more from. Licht’s been very upbeat about Durham, as well.
Joe assesses Durham’s blocking as much improved this season. Bravo. But where is he in the passing game?
Despite the Bucs losing Chris Godwin for the season and Mike Evans for a stretch, plus a massive decline in production from Trey Palmer (from 2023), Durham has only been targeted twice. He’s caught both balls and one was highlight-worthy against the Giants.
Joe would say three of Durham’s seven career catches were special (video below), but the Bucs don’t throw to the guy.
Durham lacks speed, but he’s shown a huge catch radius and good hands.
Joe would love to see playcaller Liam Coen get a ball to Durham more than once every six games.
Payne “Bull” Durham—recently mentioned by Jason Licht as having an impressive off-season. Two of his catches last season were down inside the 2 yard-line. He was a red zone beast at Purdue and I think he will prove to be one for the Bucs in 2024.
— Djon Mustard. The ‘D’ is silent. (@M1K3EvansTD) May 25, 2024
December 5th, 2024 at 8:11 am
I’m a fan of Durham, but before we start focus on integrating him into the O, we need to get Otton the ball more. When CG and ME went down, he was the focus and almost unguardable. Since ME’s return, it feels like we abandoned the stuff that made Otton look special. If we run the O through the backfield and Otton, we’ll get some big play 1-on-1 opportunities for ME.
December 5th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Coen rarely runs two TE sets. Unless something happens to Otton, Durham won’t get many opportunities. Should Coen go more 12 personel? Maybe Joe could ask him.
December 5th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Licht spent the entire offseason exaggerating the entire roster and everyone believed it. We don’t have a Super Bowl roster but we don’t have a 6-6 roster either. He gets looks for blocking though lol
December 5th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Coen’s offense doesn’t feature TEs and Coen is very busy forcing the run and leaving only 1 down per series for passing, and there aren’t enough targets to go around.
December 5th, 2024 at 8:40 am
I’d like to see more snaps for Durham too. Otton needs some plays off and he seems to have regressed with some drops. Durham is improved with the coaching from new TE Justin Peelle, so I’m not sure why he’s not getting more targets. Is Baker not looking for him? Are his routes off?
December 5th, 2024 at 8:54 am
It’s on Baker …
4 not spreading the ball around
Spreading the ball around loosens up the defense and empowers the offense.
It’s on Baker …
December 5th, 2024 at 8:55 am
Cade has way too many drops…. please start wearing gloves.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:07 am
@Ocala Cade never wore gloves in his career. He started wearing them in the pros as a rookie and dropped more passes than ever before switching back to no gloves. He’s just got to keep those fingers warm.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:20 am
@ocala I remember Brady mentioned him in a broadcast about gloves.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:45 am
SB~LV agreed. Beginning of the year it was typically Godwin or a RB, then it was Otton or a RB, now it is Evans or a RB. Can’t complain too much as the offense has been successful but playing the lower tier teams should be a good chance to get the others involved for when the Bucs play elite teams in the playoffs that can take away the #1 target and the RBs.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:46 am
@SB :: dUMBEST COMMENT OF THE WEEK
December 5th, 2024 at 9:46 am
@SB~LV
Be very very careful of comments like that on this site!! Most that come to this site might see you as a Baker Mayfield hater with that kind of talk!! The throwing game up and downs has to be Todd Bowles fault not the starting QB 👁️!
December 5th, 2024 at 9:52 am
To answer your question. It is because Cade has had over 700 snaps, and Payne Durham has had like 195. They just dont have the time or opportunity to get him touches because Cade is the tried and true TE
December 5th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Cade has never been the greatest of anything but once Evans and Godwin went down he’s the only receiver that stepped up to become a constant for Baker, but now that Evans has come back those dropsies have returned and most notably at critical times on drives.
SB-LV how can it be Bakers complete fault when he hit 11 different receivers against the Gmen? Against the Putty Tats he hit a couple lesser used guys as well. Now the thing about Baker is that once he feels pressure his field of view shrinks quite a bit and he misses seeing open guys further down the field.
Not My NFL triggered Baker Brigadeboy of the week. You guys always grab at the obvious low hanging fruit when Baker isn’t put into a glorious basking of positive rays of light.
December 5th, 2024 at 11:02 am
*compliment
December 5th, 2024 at 11:10 am
Durham makes catches when thrown the ball…..throw the ball to him.
December 5th, 2024 at 11:13 am
@BigBuc56
Complement = a thing that completes or brings to perfection.
Compliment = a polite expression of praise or admiration.
December 5th, 2024 at 11:54 am
Bwahahahahaa
RBuc
I’ll be sure to check for the posters consensus before posting MY opinion
😂😂😂
Baker is looking to get ME’s PR’s at the expense of the team
December 5th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Certainly seems like he should be in the red zone package.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
I agree that I’d like to see Durham get more looks, but we’re also the 6th ranked offense in the league right now, so hard to complain too much.
Coen comes from a coaching tree that historically doesn’t feature the TE, let alone, the backup TE. Look around the NFL right now. Nobody is featuring the TE in the passing game.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Except maybe these Raiders and Brock Bowers. I hope we put a beating on that dude early and often. If we don’t he’ll do it to us.