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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.