“It Is Just Football”

October 5th, 2017

Doing his job.

Talk about getting baptized by fire.

As Dirk Koetter announced on Buccaneers.com yesterday, rookie safety Justin Evans is expected to start tonight, his first NFL start.

However, Evans is not facing just any old Joe Montana Case Keenum. No sir. In his first start, Evans will try to temper the right arm of perhaps the greatest quarterback to take an NFL field, Tom Brady.

Welcome to the NFL, son!

Joe spoke with Evans this week. At the time, no one outside One Buc Palace was aware Evans would get the start — with both T.J. Ward and Keith Tandy nursing hip injuries, it was next-man-up for Evans — but Evans did tell Joe he expected his snap counts to increase against the Patriots.

And while he is well-aware of who will be taking snaps on the other side of the line of scrimmage, Evans said he has to worry about his job first and foremost.

“It is just football,” Evans said. “We are just out there playing football, trying to win. Yeah, it is Tom Brady out there. But it is just football.”

Last week Evans was forced into duty due to the aforementioned injuries. And he didn’t embarrass himself. Joe hopes being able to hold his own against a two-time Super Bowl winner like Eli Manning will help boost Evans’ confidence going against maybe the greatest.

31 Responses to ““It Is Just Football””

  1. The Buc Realist Says:

    Hopefully this will start the dawn of Evans and Ward holding down the fort at the Safety position!!!!!!!! which could very well be the long term plan!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!

  2. Lord Cornelius Says:

    He was all over OBJ on that one play in the end zone but I wasn’t really watching him other than that. Dude definitely carries some I don’t give a f*ck type of swag that I like. Eli didn’t go his direction very often – hopefully because the coverage was solid.

  3. Sydney Says:

    He should have kept his mouth shut. How bad is Gronk going to punk this rookie tonight? It’s going to be UGLY back there!

  4. Stanglassman Says:

    I update I just got was Gronk is not a sure thing to be active and if he is he’ll be limited.

  5. Stanglassman Says:

    Gronk is out tonight.

  6. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Sydney…Gronk is very limted tonight..might get a few snaps but will not play is usual self…

  7. AlteredEgo Says:

    Hopefully he and Brady will be on the bench watching the whole second half !

  8. Kellen Says:

    Sydney, Gronk isn’t even going to play tonight

  9. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    UPDATE: Gronk is officially out for tonight..YEAH!!!

    And Altered Ego..that would be nice!!

  10. unbelievable Says:

    Well at least Gronk being out helps considering all the injuries we have. Evans will certainly get tested tonight but hey that’s the only way you learn. Hopefully he takes full advantage of it! Go Bucs!

  11. AlteredEgo Says:

    Bucs D make Giselle cry….

  12. Doctor Stroud Says:

    Yes, Gronk is out, but let’s hope that the defense doesn’t make his backups, Dwayne Allen and UDFA Jacob Hollister, look like Pro Bowl Hall of Famers. The Bucs offense has to step up and score. Go Bucs!

  13. sorryitriggeredyou Says:

    BUCS CAN HANDLE GRONK! BRING ON GRONK!

  14. Conte Piscateli Says:

    So since our pass rush is less than spectacular, it seems teams have had some success rushing 3 and dropping 8 into coverage against Brady this year. Do we have three bodies to drop 8 tonight?

  15. SB Says:

    3 man rush All night and we win the game!!

  16. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Does anyone know where the pregame with Ira will air tonight?

  17. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Never mind, found it. Channel 10 at 7 pm.

  18. Capt.Tim Says:

    This young man is very smooth in coverage, and he has better range than any other safety we have.
    A born free safety.
    Just has to focus on tackling, instead of hitting, and he’ll be our free safety for a long time.

    Really happy that Gronk is watching, not playing tonight.

  19. Zwak Says:

    Good luck enjoy your night and have fun!!

  20. Pickgrin Says:

    Go get em Justin!

  21. BlogTalkFootball Says:

    This is worse than the Giants game. Way more Pats fans. Yell louder Stick Carriers!

  22. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Justin Evans sucks…….seriously

    A safety that can’t tackle????

    His pass coverage is suspect…..

    Gee, what does those two qualities remind you of??????

    Hummmmmmmm????????

    Is he Chris Conte 2.0????

    Brady is going to tear this secondary apart and make another otherwise bad secondary look horribly rank and stank!!!!

    It won’t be our offense, or dline, or linebackers that will lose us this game. …..it will be our crappy secondary (minus Brent Grimes)!!!!

  23. ScottyinFatAntonio Says:

    I want to see Yards After Catch from our receivers and TEs tonight

  24. orlbucfan Says:

    Gronkowski is out. Well, makes it a little easier for the D. The weather looks good, too. Go Bucs!!

  25. ElioT Says:

    Game is going to be a shootout, if the Bucs are lucky.

    NE’s defense is bad, the Buc’s defense is just so beat up.

    Brady vs. Winston tonight!

    Come on Jameis, make a statement and show the world you’re ready!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!

  26. AlteredEgo Says:

    Justin Evans…..all anyone thats says he can’t tackle are too stuoid to know anymore than what they heard come out of some talking head draft night…when he was criticized for missing tackles trying to make a big hit….DAMN…what a thing to get hung on you ….he his FAST….likes to hit….and I am quite sure understands tonight he will make the tackle first….group thinkers….

  27. Dewey Selmon Says:

    Midway thru the 3nd quarter isaiah johnson might be your new safety and Evans in therapy after brady shows him what a goat is.

  28. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    Same exact tugging motion that wasnt called on the patriots 3 plays ago gets called on us.

    Oh boy.

  29. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    @AlteredEgo

    You clearly didnt watch any college film of Justin Evans, or watch him in preseason.

    Not hating on the kid, and I love his upside, but his tackling technique coming out of the draft was really bad.

  30. Ocala Says:

    He tackled and covered very well tonight and got a pick

  31. Kstoges Says:

    ^ your 100 percent right he did