Todd Bowles Names “Most Underrated” Offensive Player
October 10th, 2023
Joe loves when Todd Bowles issues a scouting report of sorts on one of his players.
When Bowles talks a little faster than usual and in short sentences, it usually means he’s super high on a player.
The head coach went down that road with his second-year tight end on the Buccaneers Radio Network. Cade Otton seems to have won over his coach’s heart.
“Cade is probably the most underrated player on offense,” Bowles said. “He blocks big defensive ends. He blocks linebackers. He does all the dirty work. He doesn’t catch the deep balls — has great hands, great receiving skills. It goes unnoticed when he gets the four- or six-yard catches. But he makes a play all the time. He’s reliable. You know where he’s going to be. He’s tough. He’s very smart. He’s very instinctive. He had a great feel for the game and he’s a great outlet for Baker.”
Not bad for a fourth round pick!
Otton won Tom Brady’s trust quickly last season and closed the 2022 campaign with 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns.
Otton is now on pace for a slightly better season.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
I been sayin it.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Bowles is talking Otton up to get him going. Otton is underrated for a reason, he drops too many passes down the field.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Then use him more in the passing game….only 4 targets last game…..
October 10th, 2023 at 4:51 pm
Hmmmm..obviously Coach knows more about his players than us. I just haven’t seen anything to get excited about yet.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:57 pm
We need to grab Brock Bowers from Georgia.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:04 pm
I believe Otton has good hands, but he’s in a growing period. It happens, it sucks, but it happens. Otton will end up being a very good TE. He’s learning this new offense like everyone else while getting his hands very dirty. His snap count is insane. Those reps will make a difference later this season, barring health of course.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:26 pm
Loos good for a rookie after only four weeks. Real problem is not much behind him.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:27 pm
Tough to disagree with a HC …
But I disagree. Otton is serviceable. Joe’s earlier article points out how many drops Otton has. Blocking is awesome but it’s 1/2 the job. The Bucs should upgrade the TE position in the offseason. Trading up for Brock Bowers would be league changing.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
Shannon Sharpe has said he likes Otton’s potential. I do think he’s caught the ball better since going back to wearing no gloves like he did in college. They haven’t really tried the seam route with him recently. Maybe they should give it a try this Sunday.
He also could gain 7-10 more lbs on his frame and he’d be as big as J. Witten when he came into the league.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:42 pm
in a save money year, they’ve opted away from having another solid receiver tight end…
we should have otton, kieft, the rook durham….and one more solid te…
but seems we’re missing one solid guy to save a few beans this year…
cutting corners a bit at the te position this year…
makes some sense tho, because we had so many question marks at qb going into the season – so why not save in the cap crunch…
we’ll prolly just draft another next year as well, or maybe make a bigger move if we become a cream of the crop type team this season, and finish 12-5 or better…
also it seems to this point, keift has either taken a step back, he’s not a canales guy, or is just starting slow – because i’m noticing a lot less impact and presence overall from him this season – so far
October 10th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
Adam from NY. The guy you are talking about is Wells. Had a great camp and preseason and fell off the map after 2 games. Still early and will see him again.
October 10th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Dewey Selman? Lee Roy Selman? Sooners/ Buccaneers like Gerald McCoy and Baker? I dig it.
October 10th, 2023 at 7:21 pm
@ JimBobBuc – I too have felt like he has dropped too many balls, but then an earlier article stated that Otton actually has the highest catch percentage on our entire team at 80%, which is higher than Godwin, Evans, White, etc.
October 10th, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Hmmm slightly better pace than with Brady.
Something smells about last yr.
October 10th, 2023 at 8:03 pm
I remember wanting McBride, but he’s mostly invisible thus far
October 10th, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Otton is average. In the best and worst ways. Has potential to get better though, and has improved since day 1 of joining the league. So that’s a start. We could use a Kyle Pitts though, make no mistake about it.
October 10th, 2023 at 8:40 pm
Otton does seem to be a better blocker this year. He’s still just a second-year guy and with his second QB. Once he develops more field recognition and can be in sync with his QB (seeing the same things the QB sees) I think he can become a solid, go-to receiver. If Mayfield is kept long-term, that will only help the young guy. I think Brady said it can take 2 or 3 years playing together to get that level of “sync” when one can nod or raise a foot to the other to signal what route adjustment to make. It’s a process and takes patience.
October 10th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
You guys see Leftwich reached out to the Steelers about a job?
Maybe the only team that WOULD hire him and they are ignoring him lol.
They are like we suck and don’t wanna get worse, why would we hire you.
Dude is desperate.
October 10th, 2023 at 9:29 pm
He does look pretty good, but he needs to be able to get down the seam. Get some more mid range to long passes, open up the middle.
October 10th, 2023 at 9:50 pm
Dewey:
i’m not talking about wells at all…had an ok camp, but i’m not impressed with him at all…
i said we need to get another productive TE…but i think we go with what we’ve got this year…
wouldn’t mind breaking the rookie durham in with a little trial by fire…i don’t think wells will be here next year if he continues at the pace he’s at
October 10th, 2023 at 11:25 pm
whats the plan for bottling up Aidan Hutchinson?
October 10th, 2023 at 11:27 pm
I think Leftwich should look for a no name college team
October 11th, 2023 at 12:25 am
Umm …Todd?… Otten has holes in his game. He blocks those guys, just not consistently and because he followed a true weapon TE he is gonna be compared to Gronk. As for stats? Yes I get it, but those are not a reflection of a guy who is gonna scare a defense. My hope for Otten is that Canlales can get him some more meaningful touches and his blocking continues to improve.
Go Bucs!
October 11th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Bucs need a TE. They are getting almost no production from that position.
October 11th, 2023 at 8:50 am
Got some dumbos on yet again. Otton’s strength is his hands; Kieft is a blocker. That’s why Licht/Bowles brought them here. Otton has had to adjust to 2 OCs and QBs in his time here. I hope he shines Sunday cos we will need all hands on deck.
October 11th, 2023 at 9:03 am
Use Keift at fullback some. If he can run the ball, give him a shot at that too.
October 11th, 2023 at 9:21 am
There’s no doubt that he needs to run deeper routes. If we can get him to make 15 yard catches then that will open things up.
October 11th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Otton is doing fine. All the complaints about his drops are unfounded. As good as Mike Evans is, he has his share of drops. The coaching staff has done a great job thus far this season getting production out of this team and the young guys are really stepping up. Kyle Pitts would be a great addition since the Falcons don’t use him, but too expensive. Brock Bowers won’t be available unless the Bucs trade everyone and picks. Not advisable. The Bucs don’t need to go crazy over a single sexy pick up. The Bucs have one of the league’s best records so far and have not hit their ceiling yet. This is a pretty good team.
October 11th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
They seem to tout him in the press a lot.