Josh Grizzard Explains Lack Of Tight End Targets
October 2nd, 2025
Tight ends needed elsewhere.
If you have been wondering if Cade Otton is still with the Bucs, there’s a reason for that.
It’s easy to forget Otton, the fourth-year tight end, is on the field on Sundays (or a stray Monday night). If you forgot about Otton being on the team, you also likely think both Payne Durham and Devin Culp have been released, too.
All three are very much with the Bucs but they’re not catching many footballs. The Bucs, after Week 4, have the lowest percentage of pass attempts targeting tight ends of anyone in the league.
Per the Twitter account @Doug_Analytics, the Bucs target their tight ends on 9 percent of the pass attempts.
So today, Joe asked Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard why that is. Is it because he wants to push the ball downfield more? Or is Grizzard keeping the tight ends back to help block with the Bucs’ offensive line ravaged by injuries?
Grizzard said it was that the tight ends, led by Otton, are staying back closer to the line to help keep Baker Mayfield’s jersey clean.
“Cade and [and Durham] are being selfless and being able to be in that alignment to try to help out on some of the protections where [Otton is] not necessarily getting out into a route, or if it is a route, it’s not something that’s vertical down the field,” Grizzard said. “So that’s really where that’s coming from.”
Grizzard emphasized their lack of targets has nothing to do with a lack of confidence. He still wants to get the ball to Otton, but right now Otton is needed elsewhere.
“We do intend to try to keep getting him the ball when we can on those kind of things, but what he’s been able to do, what those guys have done, by taking the team-first [approach] and being able to say, ‘This is what’s needed, at least, at this current time, to get some of [the plays] off.'”
And Grizzard lauded Otton for being a team guy and willing to do the dirty work while sacrificing his numbers.
“He never complains about it,” Grizzard said of Otton. “Goes about his practice — had a hell of a practice today.”
When Luke Goedeke returns and the Bucs’ offensive line stabilizes, Grizzard said Otton will be more active in the passing game.
Target Percentage by Position
(weeks 1-4) pic.twitter.com/8PPmi8SrUJ— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) October 2, 2025
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Makes sense
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Meanwhile Hainsey is in Jax.
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Makes total sense. Until we get the o-line stabilized, we need help up front to keep Baker upright. I’m hoping that after the bye we’ll be back to a more recognizable offensive unit. That is if the guys already on the field stay healthy.
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Baker has to get the ball out of his hands quicker, and get rid of it! I don’t know why they’re not using RWhite more in the passing game and getting him involved a lot more!? Especially, given all of our injuries at WR and also not using our TE’s in the passing game due to the injuries on the OLine. Baker has to take what the defense is GIVING HIM. QUICK. And, FAST. LoL. But, there has to be shorter intermediate routes being schemed to begin with, in order for him to do so! Even though, I have seen him on SEVERAL occasions, never even look there and continue holding the ball, when HE HAS had receivers open across the middle. Just TAKE-IT. Let’s Go. Keep-It Movin. TEMPO. RYTHYM. Go Fast. Stay Clean. Wear Them Down. Don’t Allow Them To Substitute.
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Has there been any mention of exactly what Luke’s injury is and when he might be back? There’s been zero mention of it.
It’s smart if Todd to keep that from getting out but I’d still like to know
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:29 pm
“Exactly?” Like what muscles or nerves or ligaments or bones are bruised or hurt or dislocated? No, and the Bucs likely won’t until he’s back on the field.
It’s a foot injury of some sort. That much we know.
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:50 pm
What sucks for Otton is this is his option year. Catching 13 passes for 67 yards isn’t gonna boost interest in him
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:52 pm
If Baker doesn’t survive, there won’t be any one to throw TE’s the ball.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:09 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Melvin while I agree with some of what you are saying, I think Baker has a little bit better handle on what is going on in the field than arm chair coaches and qb’s. Have you not heard him talking to almost every player on the field when he sees something that is coming up? Pretty amazing, but there are some that will never be convinced.
I would like for Grizz to go in “move the chains mentality” which means playing faster and more quick hitters. Was happier under Coen.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Imagine if AJ Brown was a TE on this team lol
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Didn’t Gronk block AND catch a few passes?
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Should have franchise tagged Hainsey
October 2nd, 2025 at 6:50 pm
You have to remember that Ko is also out who is the primary blocking TE so not only do they have to help out the banged up Oline but also deal with Ko’s assignments
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:16 pm
MelvinJunior … ‘Baker has to get the ball out of his hands quicker, and get rid of it!’
I was thinking the same thing Melvin, but then a couple games ago I started focusing more on our receivers and how much separation they were getting. On a few plays they had a bunch, but on the majority of the plays they had relatively little. Baker’s been throwing in some tight windows, and it’s actually a blessing that he’s only got 1 INT in 4 games.
Bucs don’t seem to be ‘stretching the field’ like we’ve been able to do in the past several years. I think that’s being reflected in at least 2 places right now:
1 – Our 3rd down conversion rate is way down from last year (37.0% now versus 50.9% last season). That’s a major drop in efficiency, and stalled drives translate into fewer points scored.
We’ve now made 20 of 54 of our 3rd down conversion attempts in our first 4 games. We’re 9-of-15 (60%) running and 11-of-39 (28%) passing on those 3rd down attempts. What’s fascinating to me is that Baker scrambled on 8 of those 3rd downs … AND MADE IT 7 TIMES. That’s incredible. And several of those were 3rd-and-long also.
Unfortunately, Baker’s been sacked SIX times on 3rd downs, and he’s fumbled on 3 of those sacks (only lost 1 though).
2 – Baker’s passing efficiency is way down from last season. He’s now completed 83 of 139 attempts (59.7%) in these first 4 games, way down from his 71.4% pass completion percentage from 2024. Our receivers catch percentages are way down from what they were last season … except for the RBs who are now 27-of-28 (96.4%), even better than last season (89.2%).
Subtract the RBs’ catches though and our WRs & TEs are catching the ball at a 50.5% rate. Sorry, but that’s terrible. I’ve seen a lot of dropped balls and guys not getting much separation. I’m sure Baker has his own problems just trying to stay alive because of our OLine blocking issues, but our receivers have to help him out more IMO by making the hard catches and getting open faster.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Defense Rules, I know Mayfield has fumbled it several times this year but I also know he hasn’t lost a fumble this year either.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Our first 2 turnovers of the season were in the second half Sunday. Baker’s pick and Bucky’s fumble. What’s very interesting about that is we beat the Super Bowl Champs19-7 that second half WITH those turnovers.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:47 pm
This Rams 49ers game ought to be a good one. Now the Niners are going to get 10 days of recovery before we play them next week just like Seattle is getting 10 days rest before our game this week. Be nice to win both of them.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:54 pm
He also didn’t have a destroyed offensive line and the Bucs wide receivers then were largely all healthy.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:54 pm
With all of our injuries, if we can win one of these next two games, I’d be happy. 5-3 at the bye and then hopefully we come out of the bye a healthier team. Still sticking with 11-6 record and winning the NFC South