Bucs Rule Out Starter, Elevate One other For Week 16 | Pewter Report

The Bucs can be with out one other key starter for Sunday night time’s primetime matchup towards the Cowboys, because the group introduced Saturday afternoon that it has dominated tight finish Cade Otton out as a result of a knee harm.

The Buccaneers have elevated P Jack Browning from the apply squad for Sunday’s recreation in Dallas. As well as, TE Cade Otton (knee) has been downgraded to out on the harm report and didn’t make the journey to Dallas. https://t.co/P9Fhkv2IKU

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photograph by: USA In the present day

It’s a troublesome blow for the Tampa Bay offense, particularly contemplating Otton’s involvement within the offense since midseason. Even along with his manufacturing dipping again down after Mike Evans’ return after the bye, the third-year tight finish has 59 catches for 600 yards (10.2 avg.) and 4 touchdowns this 12 months — all profession highs.

Otton’s enchancment as a blocker has been an enormous a part of the resurgence of the Bucs’ run recreation this season, as Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo outlined earlier Saturday. Right here’s a few of what Queipo needed to say about Otton’s contributions in Tampa Bay’s speeding assault:

“In short, Otton’s improvement this year has been in just about every facet of the game, both obvious and non-obvious,” Queipo wrote. “And if he is absent on Sunday it could have a real impact on how the Bucs run the ball.”

So, what occurs with Tampa Bay’s run recreation, which is ready to face a Dallas protection that ranks among the many league’s worst towards the run regardless of making some enchancment in latest weeks? Queipo went on to clarify what offensive coordinator Liam Coen might do with tight finish Payne Durham, who will step into Otton’s beginning spot.

Bucs TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

“This is all to say there is a good chance that if Cade Otton can’t go on Sunday night in Dallas the Bucs may make some tweaks to how they run the football. That’s not to say they will be less successful, mind you,” Queipo wrote. “But in thinking through the pros and cons of Payne Durham’s skillset as a blocker, if Coen were to remain true to his “players over plays” mantra then he might stick to the group’s profitable hole system, however modify what sort of hole performs they run.

“To maximize Durham’s skillset the Bucs will likely motion him in split flow or as a wrapper less, and ask him to base block, seal the strong side edge or double team more. That most likely means more duo blocks. It also means the team can still run counter trey that worked so well against the Chargers last week.”

You’ll be able to learn Josh Queipo’s full deep dive right here, with evaluation on Otton’s enhancements as a blocker, in addition to Durham’s strengths and what Tampa Bay might look to do with its floor recreation on Sunday night time.

Bucs Elevate Punter For A Third Time

Bucs P Jack Browning – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Along with downgrading Cade Otton for Sunday’s recreation, the Bucs additionally introduced that they’ve elevated punter Jack Browning from the apply squad for a 3rd week in a row.

Browning wasn’t all that busy in final Sunday’s win over the Chargers, because the Bucs didn’t punt as soon as. He does deal with the kickoff duties for Tampa Bay, although, so it’s not as if he had the entire afternoon and night off in Los Angeles.

In his Buccaneer debut the earlier week, Browning punted 3 times for a gross common of 42.7 yards.

Browning is the Bucs’ third punter this season, following Jake Camarda and Trenton Gill. With this being his third elevation from the apply squad, he has reached the restrict. If Tampa Bay needs to maintain him round for Week 17 and past, it must signal him to the energetic roster.

Whether or not Sunday night time can be Browning’s final audition to make his case to stay round or the group has already seen sufficient stays to be seen.