Cade Otton’s blocking has helped Tampa Bay build the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack entering Week Nine. The Buccaneers rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards against Atlanta in Week Eight, while Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell each recorded career highs in rushing yards, according to the source. Tampa Bay also produced 258 rushing yards against Carolina in Week Seven and 241 yards at AT&T Stadium in Week Five.
The Buccaneers ranked second in the NFL in rush yards before contact with 430. Otton’s ability to work from multiple alignments has helped create running lanes for Tampa Bay’s backs. He also served as the lead blocker for Irving on the Buccaneers’ lone touchdown against Atlanta.
Otton’s workload reflects his role
Otton was tied with Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland for the most run-block snaps among tight ends at 223. His 68.1 run-blocking grade ranked sixth among tight ends with at least 125 run-blocking snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Otton at 73.6 against Carolina and 72.2 against Atlanta.
Otton’s alignment usage shows how Tampa Bay can move him around without changing personnel. He lined up 60% of the time in-line, 23% out of the slot, 9% out wide and 8% in the backfield. That range allows the Buccaneers to use him as an in-line blocker, a perimeter blocker, a puller or an insert blocker.
“He can block on the move, and we can move him around,” said Tampa Bay tight ends coach Justin Peelle. “He is one of the better space blockers that I have ever coached. He is extremely smart and understands defenses and understands how they are going to react to certain plays. Just his versatility, we can put him in the backfield, we can put him in the slot, we can put him out to block on the perimeter, and then he can also do stuff at the line of scrimmage blocking defensive ends. So, he can insert, he can pull. He is doing a really good job of in all of our counter schemes of being that first or second blocker depending on how we have him set up. It is rare for someone to be able to do all the different blocks he does.”
Otton’s blocking background
Jordan Paopao, Otton’s former tight ends coach at Washington, said Otton’s approach has remained consistent across different responsibilities. “The way that he plays the game, he is an old-fashioned kid that is stuck in some modern times,” Paopao said. “His mentality is that whatever he is tasked to do, he is going to perform to the utmost of his ability and that is how he lives life. At Washington, he played underneath guys like Will Dissly and Drew Sample who were true in-line guys and did some really, really cool things in terms of run blocking. He is a tenacious competitor, and he does not like losing and that shows up in the way that he attacks every single play.”
Paopao also described how Otton’s work in space expands Tampa Bay’s offensive options. “Any time you have a player of his physical stature out in space and get him leveraged against nickels and against safeties and you ask him to be able to block them, he does it with efficiency, and that changes everything about the scope of what kind of offense you can run and the personnels that you can jump in and out of. It gives you a safety blanket for the play-caller. He owns every play as its individual lifespan. I do not think that I have been able to coach anybody that has committed themselves to the role that they were provided on a single given play quite like he has and that is a testament to his work ethic and to his intelligence.”
Mayfield highlights schematic value
Quarterback Baker Mayfield said Otton’s understanding of Tampa Bay’s blocking schemes helps him identify the correct angles and depth for each assignment. “Schematically, he knows exactly what everybody is doing up front, so I think for him when it comes to finding the angles to get to his guy or his task, whoever that may be, he knows the best angle to take and how much depth he needs to get,” Mayfield said. “If he is pulling around on a scheme, he knows that he needs to wrap it tight and find that guy. It is between knowing the scheme and then also, the tempo that he has throughout, he is really good at it.”
Mayfield said Otton can give Tampa Bay a fullback-like look while offering a different athletic profile. “We are not having to change personnel, where sometimes the looks we are given with Cade, it is almost like a fullback look where he is a more athletic guy than a typical fullback, so for him to be able to do that, we can dictate what defenses are doing with him.” Otton’s role was especially visible when Irving ran behind him for the Buccaneers’ lone touchdown against Atlanta.
FSB Take
Otton’s blocking gives Tampa Bay flexibility within its existing personnel groupings. His 223 run-block snaps, varied alignment usage and role on Irving’s touchdown connect his individual responsibilities to the Buccaneers’ broader rushing production. With Tampa Bay entering Week Nine as the NFL’s top-ranked rushing unit, Otton’s versatility remains a central part of how the offense creates running lanes.
Source: Original report