Todd Bowles Takes Swipe At Tight End Blocking
August 5th, 2026
Perhaps Todd Bowles’ true feelings came out on the subject of tight ends blocking.
Joe’s not calling Bowles a liar, but all coaches tell partial truths and Bowles seems to have been forced to drop several of those given the fresh contract hassles with his most important offensive player and perhaps his most talented defensive player.
Joe still laughs about Bowles citing Vita Vea’s professionalism recently.
Vea has requested a trade and appears cool with feigning an injury, and he’s sitting out practice and not addressing fans on his status. (Notice Joe said “fans,” not “media.”) What a professional!
Bowles was asked Monday about No. 1 tight end Cade Otton’s growth within Zac Robinson’s new offense. In his response, Bowles pulled back the curtain on what he thinks of how his tight ends block.
“It’s hard for our tight ends in this offense because you throw to the receivers so much, but Cade is a very capable receiver,” Bowles said. “We’ve seen him take over a few years ago when we lost some guys. He’s very consistent.
“Obviously, the blocking with all three of them can be a lot better. Ko [Kieft] is more of the blocking type, but Cade is very solid in the blocking game, just continuing to get better and making sure he’s open when they need to throw it to him.”
Yes, blocking from Bucs tight ends could be a lot better, as Bowles said. But it seems the Bucs are seeking organic improvement from veterans like Otton, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft. That’s a tough ask. Kieft missed 14 games last year and doesn’t play much regardless.
Joe thinks a window is open for Bauer Sharp, the seventh-round pick rookie. If the versatile athlete can find a way to be a solid blocker like Otton, he could find himself as the Bucs’ No. 2 tight end in a hurry.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:36 am
blocking has never been Otton strength but he’s solid…a bit surprise Durham has improved his blocking and become a monster…kid has the size but not sure if he has the want to
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:38 am
If the starting OL can stay healthy then the TE blocking will improve!
Everyone on the OL last year including TE’s were nervously covering their responsibilities and had one eye open for filling in for whatever position was breaking down.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:40 am
“He’s very Consistent” = He needs to get better. Especially if the OC is used to a Bijan style offense. We need to road graders on that edge and I love that we’re focusing on that.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:40 am
old folks use to say, if you dont have anything good to say, dont say it at all!!!!
nothing wrong with Vita keeping his mouth shut…something Baker still hasnt learned….throwing a temper tantrum on national TV is the definition of unprofessional….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:42 am
It doesn’t help that media only care about TE catches and yards, while completely ignoring blocking. So the players and fans want receiving and don’t talk about blocking. Even Joe talks about getting Otton down the field but very little talk about blocking. Bring in Gronk to talk about blocking to the players!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:56 am
“We’ve seen him take over a few years ago when we lost some guys. He’s very consistent.”
The only circumstance in which our TEs are used intentionally as receiving targets
August 5th, 2026 at 9:11 am
813 … if Jamyth had said the very same thing that Baker had you would have creamed your pants.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:15 am
SB-LV
no not at all….i’d expect Winston to say childish unprofessional things like that…
he’s just as immature as baker….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Bowles is worried about his TEs blocking. Fans are worried that he’ll send one of them out in pass coverage on defense, like he does his edge rushers.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:09 am
I feel like Ko gets unrecognized for his contributions. Not underrated, just not noticed.
There are a lot of players like Ko, but not so many every team has one. He’s the type of player when not available you think, “Something isn’t right, just not sure what it is”
August 5th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Dear OBP FO,
Please do not allow Bowles to attend any more press conferences or speak to the media.
Regards,
Bucs Fans
August 5th, 2026 at 10:17 am
this OC’s offense might require good TE blocking more than most OCs
August 5th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Vita Loco Vea is complaining about getting paid only $18M when he averages what…at the most, 66% of the total defensive snaps in a game? What are the other higher paid DL getting paid? I bet they play more than 66% of their defensive paly snaps per game.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Otton could not block my gramma when he got here. He worked at it though. I am of the opinion that Otton needed a bit more want to. He would sometimes look like he did not want to hit people while blocking and that will not work on even the smaller dudes in the NFL. To his credit he has looked much better the last two years. Not sure about Durham but he is a big man and he does not seem afraid of sticking his hat on someone. Kieft can level guys but sometimes gets out of control and whiffs. Could all our dudes get better? Sure but Cade has already come a long way.
Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Not trying to be picky, but for the sake of accuracy Sharp was a sixth round pick. Your point still stands though
August 5th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Sharp was a 6th round pick not a 7th. Traded up to draft him.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Bauer is the future.
He’s a psycho too. He plays every snap like his last.
And he’s loud. He’s verbal. He’s wild.
Without Gronk, do you really think we would have won the Super Bowl?
He was like a second RT blocking in the run game.
And he’s was an amazing RT/LT when we kept him on the line to block on passing downs.
And he was unstoppable in the passing game.
Gronk proves that an elite TE who can block Ànd catch can change an entire offense.
August 5th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
@ Teacherman ⬆️ sometimes guys that wanna scream and yell do so to appear “psycho “. Remember the guy on the middle school team that would headbutt his locker for show and was like the 4th string guy that never got to
Play? This is the NFL man. Don’t be in awe of people that scream. Sharpe is good and will get better, but as a rookie still has a ways to go. He was a 6th rounder and not on anyone’s draft board but ours for a reason.
August 5th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Vea sitting back not talking to fans, hmmm but ok to talk to media.😂