Bucs Add Ex-NFL Tight End, Experienced Coach To Staff
March 20th, 2024
Todd Bowles makes a staff move.
It looks like the Bucs made a significant upgrade to their offensive staff.
Maybe that’s harsh, but that’s sure what it appears to be on paper.
Bucs tight ends coach John Van Dame has been moved to “pass game assistant” to clear the deck for today’s new hire, 10-year NFL tight end and 11-year NFL assistant coach Justin Peelle. He is the Bucs’ new tight ends coach. Peelle spent the last three years coaching Falcons tight ends after eight years with the Eagles organization where he earned a Super Bowl ring.
That means Peelle has coached Kyle Pitts, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Van Dam, 39, has been on the Bucs’ staff in various capacities since Bucco Bruce Arians arrived.
Peelle should bring a spark to the Bucs’ very young tight ends room, that could get even younger after next month’s draft.
Joe will note that Bowles has had a lot of praise for the development of Cade Otton, and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has been vocal that he liked how rookie Payne Durham came along last season.
March 20th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
IMHO VanDam did a good job as TEs coach Cade Otton was developing pretty well along with Payne Durham who should take another step this season.
March 20th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
I think our TE’s are better than advertised.
Baker, The Situation, Mayfield just does not get them the ball cause he’s stuck on Mike, Drop It Like It’s Hot, Evans
March 20th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
awesome hire the man knows what he is doing…..
March 20th, 2024 at 4:34 pm
Looks like a tough SOB, hopefully he brings some of that toughness to our TE group
March 20th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Our tight ends need all the help they can get
March 20th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Leave no stone un-turned, improve at every position, even coaching.
Durham had 7 targets, 5 catches, and 2 drops last year. A small sample size but one of the worst drop % for tight ends last year. Otton was middle of the pack in TE drops with about 6% of catchable balls dropped. Otton was an average blocker, I noticed move whiffs than good blocks.
To be fair to both guys, and Van Damm, they improved a lot as the season went on. I’d like to see us pick up a speedier F receiving tight end in the draft.
March 20th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
I don’t think this is a knock on Van Dam, who seems to be well thought of for his offensive acumen, so he’s going to focus more on X’s and O’s and assisting Coen in implementing the offense. And we’ve added another talented coach to the staff.
March 20th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Otton’s development was very encouraging at the end of last year. Pitts has been disappointing, I think. I guess they chalk it up to Desmond Ridder.
March 20th, 2024 at 4:53 pm
Good job, Todd and Jason. Now, Jason — make Todd hire a true full time defensive coordinator so Todd can actually focus on being a head coach and the planning, tactics and decisions that entails.
March 20th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Boss, do you bash yourself hard in the head before you get hammered and then start posting on JBF?
March 20th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
Football is about to be gone as you knew it….too dangerous.
March 20th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Football is not inclusive for women. It has to go.
March 20th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Didn’t baker beat cousins last year?
March 20th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Good hire! His track record is exciting. Hopefully it helps otton and Durham take the next step.
On another note it hip drop tackles are banned I don’t know how I can keep watching the sport.
March 20th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
That’s great, but maybe we should be hiring (signing) a good pass rusher!!
March 20th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
I hear a lot about the Bucs TEs are not that good. I guess they don’t block well. Otton didn’t seem to be that bad in the last 5 or 6 games of last season when Mayfield started to throw to him. Again I am not a coach so what I don’t see the coaching staff see every day
March 20th, 2024 at 6:21 pm
If they hire Keyshawn, we could have Key and Peelle.
March 20th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
Boss Says:
March 20th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
I think our TE’s are better than advertised.
Baker, The Situation, Mayfield just does not get them the ball cause he’s stuck on Mike, Drop It Like It’s Hot, Evans
^^^^^^^^
You bad mouth 2 of the Bucs best players, and stick up for “top shelf” 1 interception Carlton Davis and Cade Otton, who drops passes, too. For real, are you a closet Saints fan?
March 20th, 2024 at 6:31 pm
Football is too dangerous and not inclusive. It will be taken out by the nanny state.
March 20th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Otton is a major culprit on running plays getting blown up. I like him he is a serviceable TE but his blocking is … MEH!
He leaves a lot to be desired and that is ok. But lets keep improving everywhere.
March 20th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Let’s get Robert Tonyan and skip drafting a TE. Affordable receiving option that just looks like he’s fit in with our O line.
March 20th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
BPBucsfan Says:
March 20th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
a) The two things are not related.
b) What magic do you think is going to make a pass rusher appear?
c) Where are the good pass rushers to sign that aren’t going to jack up your cap or otherwise hork up what you’re trying to build in-house?
d) There aren’t just free pass rushers walking the streets.
e) There’s 4 months between now and training camp, including the draft.
f) Shut the eff up.
March 20th, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Well, the certainly had the Falcons Tight Ends humming…
…oh…wait…
March 20th, 2024 at 7:07 pm
Swetyeti watch and learn. It will start with a legal lawfare case. Coming soon to your fave sport. Football is not exempt.
March 20th, 2024 at 7:11 pm
Jason Licht in the ring of honor?
🙂
Good one Joe!
March 20th, 2024 at 7:32 pm
Boss…you do realize that posting nothing but negative comments about Baker that border on pure hatred is nothing short of embarrassing…just saying
March 20th, 2024 at 7:32 pm
@Big Sombrero, why wouldn’t J.Licht not be considered to be inducted into the Bucs ring of honor?
March 20th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Baker threw for over 4000 yards last year with 28 tds and only 10 picks…he guided the team to 10 victories that included a blowout win in Philly….he did this with a historically poor run game…sub par offensive line and a terrible pass defense…Baker haters please give it up…it’s insane the comments some of you all post…it’s insane …please haters find another team to complain about…you won’t be missed
March 20th, 2024 at 7:45 pm
Coen’s offense runs a lot of 11 personel, and very little 12 personel. Not sure the need to draft a TE in that case. Seems the need to draft receiver is much greater since more three receiver sets, less two TE sets.
March 20th, 2024 at 8:22 pm
Bakerbooboos swarming to Shakesies Bakesies defense like a school of lemmings at the 1st negative comment about him, so cute. Now just waiting for all the other knobbers to show up and spew their vitrol
March 20th, 2024 at 8:22 pm
I like the way Otton has come along. Magically, all of our TEs will block better once we draft and improve our interior o line.
March 20th, 2024 at 8:48 pm
Yea that’s just way too small of a sample size IMO to really take anything away from that.
March 20th, 2024 at 9:23 pm
Blowout win in Philly? Would think the Baker Manic would not hesitate to state that Baker led them to a Home Playoff game.
For a guy that reads all his stats and kisses his picture before bed some would know that.
March 20th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Didn’t rea
March 20th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Dies this mean the Bucs may be looking at a #1 TE in the draft?
March 20th, 2024 at 10:51 pm
Hey little Richard, who was the other Bucs GM to win a SB?
^^mtnbucman^^
Since ’76
March 20th, 2024 at 11:13 pm
Falcons really… well hope for best
March 20th, 2024 at 11:55 pm
otton might just have a big year, if things carry over from down the stretch last year…
and payne durham, somewhere in the back of his mind thinks he’s kinda like gronk with the hands…
and that’s not a bad thing…
and #41 might have taken a step back last year…not sure if it’s on him or on the dave cantalones
March 20th, 2024 at 11:57 pm
has anyone seen the 11 min DW philly presser ?
let’s git into it !
March 21st, 2024 at 12:01 am
DW is somewhere between a box of rocks and a CTE diagnosis 🙂
March 21st, 2024 at 9:10 am
Hc Grover you dropped your foil hat, here you go. Wouldn’t want the MLB satellite to program your mind
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:20 am
I assumed Grover was Native American. Live and learn, I guess!