Cade Otton Is Dave Casper (Well, At Least One Play)
October 26th, 2025
Key play in scoring drive.
OK, this is a way old school reference. But addicts of NFL Films may catch Joe’s take.
Cade Otton today made a play where he looked exactly like Dave Casper.
Casper is a Hall of Fame tight end who played for the Raiders in the 1970s. His most famous play was “Ghost to the Post.” Nicknamed “Casper the Ghost,” he ran a post play to help the Raiders win an overtime playoff game at Baltimore with a huge play, catching a bomb from Kenny Stabler.
Casper was basically the Rob Gronkowski of his day. There is a famous play NFL Films often highlights of Casper catching a pass, getting hit by two defenders, getting knocked back a few yards as a result. But Casper recovers and then runs around the two would-be tacklers, making something out of nothing.
When Joe told Otton about this, Otton thought Joe fell out of a tree or something. But he did appreciate the compliment.
“It’s cool to be compared to Dave Casper,” Otton said.
That’s what Otton did today in New Orleans. In a key play in a close game (at the time), Otton got a first down when he caught a pass from Baker Mayfield on the left side. He got hit by two slimy Saints defenders, got knocked backward, and still made a first down by recovering and running past the sticks and would-be tacklers.
Just like Casper.
Otton had 40 yards receiving (Tez Johnson led the Bucs in receiving with 43) on a day in which the Bucs offense wasn’t exactly well-oiled.
And like usual, Otton always seems to make a play or two when the team needs one the most, like he did on the game-winning drive in Seattle three weeks ago.
“Shout out to the defense,” Ottson said. “They played unbelievable football. And the special teams played great, too.”
Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin had three 50-yard field goals (52, 54 and 55 yards). Take those away and the game is a two-score game.
“It is going to look different how we win, every single week,” Otton said. “I’d rather say, ‘We can do better on offense’ after a win than a loss.”
Otton isn’t known as a physical guy. That may be his biggest hangup. But he sure picked a good time to display physicality as his first down was key in the drive in which Chase McLaughlin got a 55-yard field goal to put the Bucs up by two touchdowns, 17-3.
October 26th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Dave Casper or Todd Christensen? Lol
October 26th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
JTHV Says: If you watch as much NFL football as I do (kids play on Saturdays) you wouldn’t be surprised by the egregious refereeing going on.
It’s every single game now that some nasty blatant disregard to human eyesight is going on and the NFL’s “Replay Assistance” either doesn’t get involved or when they do, they are NOT watching the same play as all other eyeballs.
If it looks like a fish and smells like a fish it’s not a ribeye.
Trash NFL refs so far this season
October 26th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
He was robbed of a TD by the so called “referees” also. The one said he stepped out of bounds! He did not. Incompetent buffoons in zebra stripes.
October 26th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Let’s enjoy this much needed bye week
Otton and tez were the only bright spots on offense
6-2
GO BUCS
October 26th, 2025 at 9:17 pm
If it looks like a fish and smells like a fish it’s not a ribeye.
************************************************************
Try as they might, the refs were unable to keep the score within the spread.
They may each find a fish on their pillows tonight!
October 26th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
I’m tinkin somebody in New Yoik don’t like us too much! Ya know what I’m sayin?
October 26th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
Go eat crow and squid Aqua!!!!!!!
6-2
GO BUCS
October 26th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Joe is right, last week, hate to say it but Otton let that pass he caught get stolen out of his arms. He may need to get belligerent or whatever. Glad to see him make some solid plays, we needed every yard on the offense.
October 26th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
IWASBOWLES ASLEEP ON THE OTTON CALL ??;.THROW THE CHALLENGE FLAG HE WAS IN!
October 26th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
@firethecannons
Um, what were you watching? Cade came away with the ball in that play last week. It was the refs that stole it from him!
October 26th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
@ Joe Those of us that were enjoying the NFL when Casper was a menace to defenses you are spot on as that is exactly what Otton looked like! Big guy that had great hands and got tough yards! Nice comparison!
October 26th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
I’m confused on the INT that Winfield had. He got control of the ball AFTER he was away from the receiver, then got up and ran it in. Used to be ref’s let the play play out then call it back if it showed he was touched down, that was because of too many missed TD’s on turnovers. So what has changed? I think we all know.
October 26th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Otton seems to be more intent on his YAC this year. The play mentioned by Joe, and Otton’s dive for the TD, are examples. With Mike and Chris out, Griz needs to work up a bunch of TE pass plays. Feed Otton and Dev Culp. Or even use Payne Durham in the red zone.
October 26th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Snake to ghost. Man, was that fun football to watch. Oftentimes watched the Raiders play at 4:30 on NBC with Dick Enberg doing play by play. Classic!
October 26th, 2025 at 10:30 pm
Casper may be just as known for recovering the “Holy Roller” that QB Ken Stabler heaved into the ground and Casper recovered in the end zone in a game in 1978 that resulted in a 4th Quarter win the Raiders stole from the San Diego Chargers. As a result of that play, the NFL implemented the rule preventing anyone other than the fumbler from advancing the ball after the 2 minute warning.