Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Cohen maintains one of the best offenses in the NFL, working with big-name players like running backs Rashard White and Bucky Irving and tight end Cade Otton. . Despite missing star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Cohen’s makeshift offense has put up 24 points per game in each of the last two weeks against Atlanta and Kansas City.
Now, having covered this team for a few years now, I’m acutely aware that White, Irving, and Otton are all great weapons as part of an Arsenal with bigger weapons. However, no coordinator in their right mind would want these three players to headline the offense.
Bucks OC Liam Cohen creates shot play opportunities
Bucks OC Liam Cohen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Last week, there was Breakdown of BUCS ALL-22, He detailed how offensive coordinator Liam Cohen turned tight end Cade Otton into a poor third-and-medium Chris Godwin. In doing so, he gave the Bucs big explosive shooting opportunities up the field and nearly turned around Tampa Bay’s fortunes in Week 8 against Atlanta.
Now that the league has taken a closer look at how Cohen is creating opportunities for Otto, it will be important for the young play-caller to find new ways to create opportunities for the starting tight end to flourish.
Cohen returned to the lab last week and found a way to once again create yards and ultimately score a big touchdown. In another BUCS ALL-22 BREAKDOWN on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel, we see how Cohen uses a simple motion flat route concept to give Otto a chance to get the ball quickly with leeway to try and make yards after the catch. The method is explained in detail.
Four of Otton’s first five targets were based on this motion flat concept. They resulted in gains of 9, 11, 2, and 4 yards for an average of 6.0 yards per target. But most importantly, it created a trend.
Kansas City’s tendency to jump late in games.
And that’s when Cohen, Otton and the Bucks’ offense were ready to pounce.
Cade Otton touchdown and 4 point lead
Bucks TE Cade Otto Photo Credit: USA Today
With 11:40 remaining in the third quarter, the Bucs were facing a first-and-10 threat at Kansas City’s own 11-yard line. Quarterback Baker Mayfield moved tight end Cade Otton from shotgun across the formation from right to left, forming a 3×1 formation on the left. The motion caused Kansas City to change the defense from a two-high shell to a single-high, with both safeties moving in the same direction as Otton and the field-side safety moving down to the line of scrimmage.
Safety Justin Reed tried to rush what he thought was a motion flat that Otton was running on. But two problems arose that put Reed in an impossible situation. First, he was late in getting in line because he was moving slowly. Then Bucs wide receiver Ryan Miller effectively designated Reed to route, freeing Otton to route.
On top of that, Otton didn’t run the same motion flat routes that the Bucks spammed in the first half. After getting past Reed on a Miller pick, Otton converted upfield into the space vacated by a field corner that ran into Miller’s penetrating vertical route. Mayfield then lofted a beautiful ball into the waiting hands of Otto, giving the Bucks the lead.
Great concept by Cohen, moving Otten to the wheel route.
Good job Ryan Miller adjusted the route to create legitimate friction. pic.twitter.com/9StjcKswJz
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnaracy) November 6, 2024
What Cohen was doing early in the season was impressive. He cited Tampa Bay as one of the best passing offenses in the league. Over the past month, Cohen has figured out the Bucs’ run game and turned it into a top-10 unit.
After two games without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Bucs are still averaging 24 points per game with a motley group of receivers and Otto leading the way. Otton finished the game with a team-high eight catches for 77 yards and one touchdown, pushing his receiving total over one point. past 3 games He had 25 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
It was really moving to watch.
Check out the BUCS ALL-22 Breakdown video below or follow along. link Visit the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
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