Judah Fortgang is a PFF contributor and like a LOT of younger football fans is all about PASSING MORE. He publishes on X under the handle "throwthedamnball" LOL.
Last year and this year the Bucs have been basically half an offense or, stated differently, an offense built around TWO STAR RECEIVERS but with very little supporting cast. You can see that in Judah's chart here:
https://twitter.com/throwthedamball/status/1732160417621787090/photo/1
EVANS and GODWIN rarely seeing single coverage. Evans being an absolute destroyer of single coverage, but the point being opposing defenses STILL work to take Evans AND Godwin out of the play because the Bucs . . . FOR TWO YEARS NOW . . . . havent really had any other big threat underneath. Canales moving Godwin outside ARGUABLY (because he still comes inside a lot) taking away some of the Arians' use of Godwin that would really help here.
The Bucs are an INCOMPLETE team, especially on offense.
You don't want an underneath threat to go with Godwin and Evans, you want a vertical threat occupy the safeties.
Bucs thought they had that with Gage as a vertical threat but with injuries never panned out. Palmer is slowly rising though along with Otton, White and Durham doing work underneath. Mayfield just has to hit them in stride for YAC opportunities.
That's what Gronk was. That's why a good receiving TE is important. Otton is doing his part with 40 receptions on 55 targets. So that's 15th in the league in receptions and 16th in targets. Guys like Njoku and Laporta have over 90 targets. So Otton is in the middle of the pack in terms of the entire NFL, but only two targets last game and none vs. the Panthers. I find it hard to believe that other offenses are focusing on Otton, so I'd like to see the Bucs get him more involved. Or Durham. My memory says he drops the ball, but the stats say he's been targeted six times and caught four.
Philly has Goedert. The Bills have Kincaid and Knox. The Niners have Kittle. Of course KC has Kelce. It seems that good teams seem to always have a good TE. Dallas has Ferguson who is less of a big name, but he has 74 targets, 20 more than Otton.
Bottom line it's time to get Otton more involved if you want to take some heat off the two WRs, because I don't really think we have a solid #3 WR right now.
Not sure Otton has it in him.
yesterday was a game where Palmer should have stood out.
Mayfield just has to hit them in stride for YAC opportunities.
That's the issue with our offense more than anything.
That's what Gronk was. That's why a good receiving TE is important. Otton is doing his part with 40 receptions on 55 targets. So that's 15th in the league in receptions and 16th in targets. Guys like Njoku and Laporta have over 90 targets. So Otton is in the middle of the pack in terms of the entire NFL, but only two targets last game and none vs. the Panthers. I find it hard to believe that other offenses are focusing on Otton, so I'd like to see the Bucs get him more involved. Or Durham. My memory says he drops the ball, but the stats say he's been targeted six times and caught four.
Philly has Goedert. The Bills have Kincaid and Knox. The Niners have Kittle. Of course KC has Kelce. It seems that good teams seem to always have a good TE. Dallas has Ferguson who is less of a big name, but he has 74 targets, 20 more than Otton.
Bottom line it's time to get Otton more involved if you want to take some heat off the two WRs, because I don't really think we have a solid #3 WR right now.
Otton is also a very reliable pass catcher so I think the Bucs need to integrate him more into the passing game.
Falcons
”
Said Atlanta safety Jessie Bates, “A Hall of Fame-type receiver, so sometimes you have to roll to [Evsns]. That’s what we did. We did a good job of that.”
You don't want an underneath threat to go with Godwin and Evans, you want a vertical threat occupy the safeties.
Yup.
And, we have that guy in Palmer.
Canales was challenging safeties early and often the first month or so.
Unfortunately, Mayfield showed that he can't hit the deep ball. So, they don't work Palmer on the verticals as much.
Evans is/was the deep guy to occupy the safety.
that’s the point
in the best days of the Arians offense Godwin and Gronk together destroying team that drop into a shell.
todays team sees White running and screen game coming around but…
screen game coming around
I'm liking this development. White is looking good in space with the ball.
You don't want an underneath threat to go with Godwin and Evans, you want a vertical threat occupy the safeties.
3rd and 8 from roughly the 40. The falcons drop both safeties and cover in front of them man to man (I think)
Canales calls …
a screen to White for a TD
if you watch the play he’s basically untouched, almost needs zero blocks lol
GREAT play call by Canales, great execution by the Bucs and the very point here.
You don't want an underneath threat to go with Godwin and Evans, you want a vertical threat occupy the safeties.
”They were playing two-high shell the whole game,” Bowles said. “They were daring us to run the football, so we got the run going. We outgained them in the running department, which is very rare because they’re an excellent running football team. So that helped us out a lot. And once they came down at the end, it kind of opened up for us.”
You don't want an underneath threat to go with Godwin and Evans, you want a vertical threat occupy the safeties.
”They were playing two-high shell the whole game,” Bowles said. “They were daring us to run the football, so we got the run going. We outgained them in the running department, which is very rare because they’re an excellent running football team. So that helped us out a lot. And once they came down at the end, it kind of opened up for us.”
“Coach speak” …
even though PR analyzes it the same way
