After losing wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries, the Buccaneers were met with a challenge. Their top two weapons were unavailable, and the room was full of young, relatively unproven talent.
Questions concerning the offense keeping the pace and productivity sprung up after a loss to Baltimore, but the offense came to answer in a positive way. Against the Falcons, Mayfield spread the ball around and finished the day with three touchdowns. His number one target was starting tight end Cade Otton.
Otton has become one of Mayfield's favorite targets in the past few weeks. Two weeks ago against Baltimore, Otton finished with 8 catches off of 10 targets, collecting 100 receiving yards. Last week vs. Atlanta, the tight end finished with 9 catches off of 10 targets, collecting 89 yards and catching two touchdowns.
Mayfield was asked about Otton's performance and what he's seen over the past two weeks from his starting tight end.
"Cade's a guy – I mentioned it after the game – when we have Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] out there, the offense just looks different. You know, you're scheming things up for those guys, and Cade does a lot of the dirty work. So right now, Cade is able to showcase his physical talent and he's such a smart football player, unselfish guy. But he understands in some of these zone coverages, what he's supposed to do, where he's supposed to attack it, and you're seeing him thrive because of that," Mayfield said.
Even as Mayfield was showing love for Otton’s athleticism, he cracked a joke about his ability to gain those hard-earned yards after the catch.
“I don't know. That was somewhat of a hurdle on that long run. Let's not give him all that," Mayfield laughed.
But Mayfield's biggest gripe with Otton was that he parted ways with his mustache after Creamsicle week.
“He shaved his mustache and I'm not really happy with him right now. Mustache Cade is a different animal so we'll see if he can keep this going…," Mayfield joked.
The good news is that mustaches grow back quickly.
For Mayfield, having Otton show up and continue the production he’s shown in the past two weeks will be important as the Buccaneers travel to Kansas City for a Monday Night Football matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Monday, November 4, 8:15 p.m. ET
Arrowhead Stadium (capacity: 76,416)
Kansas City, Missouri
Television: ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 (ManningCast)
TV Broadcast Team: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
After losing wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries, the Buccaneers were met with a challenge. Their top two weapons were unavailable, and the room was full of young, relatively unproven talent.
Questions concerning the offense keeping the pace and productivity sprung up after a loss to Baltimore, but the offense came to answer in a positive way. Against the Falcons, Mayfield spread the ball around and finished the day with three touchdowns. His number one target was starting tight end Cade Otton.
Otton has become one of Mayfield's favorite targets in the past few weeks. Two weeks ago against Baltimore, Otton finished with 8 catches off of 10 targets, collecting 100 receiving yards. Last week vs. Atlanta, the tight end finished with 9 catches off of 10 targets, collecting 89 yards and catching two touchdowns.
Mayfield was asked about Otton's performance and what he's seen over the past two weeks from his starting tight end.
"Cade's a guy – I mentioned it after the game – when we have Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] out there, the offense just looks different. You know, you're scheming things up for those guys, and Cade does a lot of the dirty work. So right now, Cade is able to showcase his physical talent and he's such a smart football player, unselfish guy. But he understands in some of these zone coverages, what he's supposed to do, where he's supposed to attack it, and you're seeing him thrive because of that," Mayfield said.
Even as Mayfield was showing love for Otton’s athleticism, he cracked a joke about his ability to gain those hard-earned yards after the catch.
“I don't know. That was somewhat of a hurdle on that long run. Let's not give him all that," Mayfield laughed.
But Mayfield's biggest gripe with Otton was that he parted ways with his mustache after Creamsicle week.
“He shaved his mustache and I'm not really happy with him right now. Mustache Cade is a different animal so we'll see if he can keep this going…," Mayfield joked.
The good news is that mustaches grow back quickly.
For Mayfield, having Otton show up and continue the production he’s shown in the past two weeks will be important as the Buccaneers travel to Kansas City for a Monday Night Football matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Monday, November 4, 8:15 p.m. ET
Arrowhead Stadium (capacity: 76,416)
Kansas City, Missouri
Television: ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 (ManningCast)
TV Broadcast Team: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
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