Josh Grizzard’s Impact On Cade Otton
June 5th, 2025
Confident in Josh Grizzard.
Fans have heard from various Bucs players since the promotion of Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator.
Mike Evans has spoken about it, obviously. Baker Mayfield has, too, along with Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and Rachaad White.
Starting tight end Cade Otton hadn’t been from until this week.
Otton is a laid-back guy. He’s very friendly and cooperative with the fourth estate. But until he’s approached, he doesn’t really put himself out there. Maybe he feels that’s more appropriate for the stars of the Bucs offense?
Joe suspects Otton, who is in a contract year, would be very affected by the change in coordinator. Last year, when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed the same four games, then-Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen trusted Otton enough to lean on him for the bulk of the passing game.
And sure enough, Otton had the best four-game stretch of his career and Joe thinks Otton carried the passing offense.
Otton said Grizzard demonstrated last season he was worthy of succeeding Coen.
“Last year, a big part of what he did was [Grizzard] in charge of our third downs,” Otton said. “I just felt like every single week, we were really prepared for all the looks that we would get and just felt confident in our role and what we were going to do and obviously, it showed up in our third-down percentage.
“I think that’s going to show up in the rest of our offense too. We were a really good offense last year but we still have room to improve and I think he’s going to do whatever it takes to get us there.”
Room to improve? That makes Joe want to start chugging beers. How much more can the Bucs improve? The Bucs were the No. 3 offense in the league last year. Not much room to grow, but damn, it’s sure cool to think about.
If Grizzard turns the Bucs’ offense into the league’s No. 1 offense, Joe can’t see the Bucs sputtering in the playoffs. And, sadly, Joe can’t see how the Bucs would be able to keep their offensive coordinator.
Again.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:37 am
I always feel like chugging beers. An improved offense would definitely motivate some guzzling. An improved defense, and now we’re chugging whiskey.
Of course if the offense and/or defense regresses, we’re chugging bourbon and beer.
Go Bucs.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Change the rules. Two year contract.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Surely not Joe, don’t talk these things into existence.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:42 am
If he can stop Cade from TRYING to jump over tacklers he will have accomplished the most important thing for his career.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:46 am
If Grizzard has a great year leading the offense, I would like to see Team Glazer give him a big raise and a path to be the next head coach without officially naming him the “heir apparent”.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Last year when the Bucs were in 3rd down, regardless of the distance I felt pretty confident. That felt weird as a life long Bucs fan.
June 5th, 2025 at 10:57 am
“And sure enough, Otton had the best four-game stretch of his career and Joe thinks Otton carried the passing offense.”
I agree wholeheartedly, Joe.
Cade does not get the credit he deserves (at least publicly) for the way he stepped up when Mike and Chris were both injured last year.
He’s improving a little bit every year and I’ve got my fingers crossed that the team offers him a nice second contract.
On a related side note, I’m hoping we see a little more of Devin Culp this year. He showed real promise on the few plays he was part of last year.
June 5th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Vanessa!
Devin Culp is going to be a DEMON! This coming year, he is extremely fast for a TE
June 5th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Totally agree Vanessa. The more he plays the better he looks. And I also think Payne Durham is a very good backup.
June 5th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Bucs going to be unstoppable this season
June 5th, 2025 at 11:30 am
In my opinion it “seemed” we only had a bunch of fair receivers, but they felt more on the side of scrubs verses capable. And for the most part, at That point in the season, they Were more scrub than capable. Fair at best.
Otton Really Shined during the thin part of our season last year because honestly… who did we have besides the running back core to “Catch” balls. I’m not speaking of running the ball! Really only Cade Otton as he Stepped Up when we Needed a hero.
And Culp as SB~LV suggests, Sure is looking interesting. I like the way he moves. Seems to get open without much difficulty and his hands are soft. He’ll also go Up after it. And yes….. Fast! I see him in a bigger roll this year. He’s Earning It.
June 5th, 2025 at 11:44 am
If Grizzard is another one that moves on to be a head coach after one season “Kingmaker,” Bowles will just pick the next one. Dudes will be beating down his door trying to be the next guy.
June 5th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Otton deserves high praise for his contributions.
June 5th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
ProFootballTalk trying to spin Belichick to the Buc’s again!
June 5th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Otton is super underrated. Defense defense defense!!! For sure the weak link last year teams passing at will. Bucs grab the lead like clockwork defense gives it right back
June 5th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Hope Otton is big part of it. Again his improved blocking might have been just as important to the Bucs season as his pass catching in my opinion. Glad he stepped up!
Go Bucs!
June 5th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
“If Grizzard turns the Bucs’ offense into the league’s No. 1 offense…..Joe can’t see how the Bucs would be able to keep their offensive coordinator. – Again.”
Nice “problem” to have eh? Your offense is so good (and you do such a good job of hiring) that you can’t hold onto an OC for a 3rd straight year….
It IS more likely than not that we lose Grizz after this year to another head coaching hire. Which is pretty funny in a way that defensive specialist HC Todd Bowles ‘coaching tree’ is all offensive coaches at this point. (Not a knock on Todd as it points to good hiring and team management.)
I personally have very little concern currently about the likelihood of a 5th OC in 5 years for this team. Mainly because I believe the Bucs will maintain “continuity” very simply by elevating QB coach Thad Lewis to the OC role next year if Grizz does move on.
June 5th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
I think our TE room is going to contribute alot this year. TE1, TE2, and TE all good players.
June 5th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
“And, sadly, Joe can’t see how the Bucs would be able to keep their offensive coordinator.
Again.”
Take heart grasshopper. There are MANY reasons Grizzard will stay. He’s only 34! He has time and his learning curve is not complete.
In addition the time and situation are totally different. If Grizzard is super successful and the Bucs D has improved at all the Bucs are headed to the playoffs and hopefully a run in the playoffs. All of that goes on Griz’s resume.
Todd isn’t getting any younger. IF the Bucs were truly worried about losing Griz they could come to an HC in waiting deal for him. IF the Bucs should win the SB Todd will have completed the trifecta, winning as a player, as a DC and then as an HC. Nothing left for him to prove and he may be like BA and happy to move “upstairs” in an advisory capacity.
Then there’s the expectations. Canales looked great because offensive expectations were at basement level when he came in. Nobody thought Baker could do what he’s accomplished the last two years. Now Coen has also “exceeded” expectations which gave him a leg up in his HC search. But this year expectations for the offense are through the roof! Everybody expects Griz to succeed.
Rather than think Griz is gone after a great year maybe we should think Griz is Todd’s heir apparent.
BTW Again somebody pointed out Belichik connected with the Bucs. LMAO. BB is a LOSING coach without Brady with TWO different franchises! He’s over the hill and exhibiting classic midlife crisis with his young (fill in your own insult although I think the insult is mainly to Bill not an ambitious young woman). I gotta admit the thought of hanging with a woman that age…hell being serious with a woman under 40 embarrasses me. Perhaps I have too much pride.
June 5th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Someone needs to make Otten wear Receiver Gloves
June 5th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
OR maybe people might realize the Bucs have great weapons. Remember all the coaches that let the Patriots and fell flat on thier faces. They didn’t have Tom Brady. Maybe it has a lot to do with the players.
June 5th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
@SB~LV
@BucU
Culp’s speed was one of the things that stood out to me, as well.
And yes, Payne Durham showed a lot of promise during his time on the field, too.
All in all, a solid TE room!
June 5th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Otton’s going to get ~$12M/per next season. Is he worth that as the team’s 6th/7th option? I wouldn’t be surprised to see him head to Carolina or Jacksonville after this season. Unless Culp steps up, TE is going to be a draft priority next year.
June 5th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
“Nobody thought Baker could do what he’s accomplished the last two years.” Stpete, really?? 🤔….. 😂
June 5th, 2025 at 8:40 pm
Otten blocks like a mad dog. He’s vicious running after the catch. Humble, dependable teammate. A great face of the franchise. Not a chance we lose him. We don’t need them all to be Bucs for life. But we need the ones like Cade Otten to be Bucs for life. We need to play Durham and Culp more. I thought we were gonna kill Otten a couple years ago, he hardly missed a play the whole year. That’s too much for today’s NFL tight ends.
June 6th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Culp needs to replace Keift on offense.
I know Keift is a glue guy.
But he shouldn’t be on the field in the NFL on offense.
Culp showed last year that he is a legit NFL athlete.
He has huge legs, like Tony Gonzalez.
He is faster than OJ Howard.
And he was breaking every first tackle when he had the ball.
Culp needs to learn to be an HB/FB/TE.
He’s only 6-3, which is actually ideal for a FB/HB.
Why?
Because he can get low and block people!
A 6-5 HB like Keift is just too tall. And, Kieft whiffs on a lot of blocks.
He’s just not quick enough.
Keift is a great locker room guy.
However, sometimes we should be less loyal and more logical.
Culp needs snaps on offense.
And he needs 1 TE screen call per game!
And you guys remember Koetters trick plays for OJ Howard?
When he slips out unnoticed and goes deep?
The Bucs need to install some of Koetters players.
He was a great OC.
June 6th, 2025 at 8:28 am
*plays not “players”