Josh McCown And Mike Evans
July 30th, 2014
Josh McCown has become WR Mike Evans’ big brother
A lot has been made of Vincent Jackson helping out rookie teammate Mike Evans learn the ropes in the NFL. It always helps when a vet tries to make things smoother for a rookie’s transition.
However, it may be another veteran, who isn’t even a wide receiver, playing as big of a role as Jackson in Evans’ development. And it wouldn’t surprise Bucs coach Lovie Smith one bit.
That would be quarterback Josh McCown. Lovie simply gushes about McCown’s leadership and hearing from McCown’s teammates, specifically fellow offensive types, McCown is everything Josh Freeman wasn’t. And that’s why McCown is here and helping Evans, among others, writes ornery Alan Dell of the Bradenton Herald.
Evans is a heralded rookie, but a rookie, and McCown knows about the obstacles he will face.
“In college, consistently you don’t see great cornerbacks,” McCown said. “In this league, every week there’s another guy and another guy and another guy,” the quarterback said. “You have to be on your A game, and so I think the key is consistency and having plans for different things. You are going to see different coverages and different techniques.”
“What the young guys have to embrace is that’s going to take a lot. You have to be diligent in just the little things because when the lights turn on and this guy that you’ve been watching for the last four years on Monday Night Football is standing across from you and you gotta beat him, you gotta have a plan and have the poise to execute that.”
From the moment Evans arrived in Tampa the day after he was drafted, McCown took Evans under his wing and began teaching him how to be an NFL player, not a college star.
“As soon as I got here, Josh started talking to me about being a professional and got me in the film room. He makes sure everyone is on the right page,” Evans said. “He sees our frame, throws it up there and gives us a chance to make a play.”
Joe is not (yet) willing to drop cash that the Bucs will make a playoff run this year. Joe has heard from too many people whose football knowledge he respects to tap the brakes (Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, specifically).
If the Bucs do make a push for meaningful January football games, then a good chunk of the reasoning should go to McCown’s work behind the scenes with his teammates, both young and old.
July 30th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Glad my team took this TAMU Star instead of his teammate!
July 30th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
McCown’s best attribute may be the fact he has been in the league long enough to know how to help younger guys focus on maintaining a long NFL career. Even though I don’t see him suddenly blossoming into ‘the guy’ Bucs fans have do desperately wanted a QB to become I am glad he is on the team to pass on some of his knowledge of the game on and off the field to the younger guys. MG8 will undoubtedly benefit from ‘good Josh’
July 30th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
ToesOnTheLine Says:
July 30th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
McCown’s best attribute may be the fact he has been in the league long enough to know how to help younger guys
you might be wrong Toes, I think it was when he was out of the league and coaching high school.
July 30th, 2014 at 2:07 pm
@Toes On The Line
“MG8 will undoubtedly benefit from ‘good Josh’”
There is no doubt about that and I’ll bet you can add a host of other players McCown will help…..Herron, Sims, Wright, ASJ….even Edwards and Pamphile.
Everyone can debate McCown’s potential going forward, but I think his value as a team leader is unquestionable!!!
July 30th, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Not holding my breath for playoffs.
40 new faces. Think about it, L&L have 40 guys not around at this time last year. I would be ecstatic with 8-8.
July 30th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
I just hope that Old man McCown is still “as helpful” during week eleven when Glennon is starting.
July 30th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
TBR, if your negative predictions don’t come true, are u going to change your name to The Buc Pessimist? Since your prediction never became reality? Imo, it’s highly unlikely that Glennon beats out McCown & is our starter by week 11 (barring injury) … we would be having a horrible season in that scenario & our record would probably be below .500. I definitely think we’ll have a better season than that, personally.
July 30th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
The more I read, the more I believe this season hinges on the starting quarterback.
If the offense is above average then it can be a very interesting season.
July 30th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
@buc teh haters
no, I will not change my name. I have been posting since at JBF since Gruden was here, when there were only 5 posters, and I still have the same name.
July 30th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
considering our 4-12 record, 40 new faces is exciting and should spark optimism!
July 30th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
If we can win early we have a chance.
July 30th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
Why do I get the feeling that to seal the deal with McCowan Lovie offered not only a starting gig, and a draft filled with offensive weapons but the possibility of being the Bucs quarterback coach one day.
July 30th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Joe, How many new guys was on the Superbowl team?
July 30th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Gruden had 26 new players to the 53 man roster
July 30th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
And it won’t be 40 new this year once we get to 53
July 30th, 2014 at 7:58 pm
Virtually a new offense.
July 30th, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Joe, I have the argument all the time with people who say it was Dungy’s team that won the Superbowl but are not willing to acknowledge that the offense had so many changes that it most certainly was Gruden’s team.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:44 am
Can’t reason with fools. smh 🙁