Times, They Are A Changin’
January 4th, 2015
Better than Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald?
Not long ago (months, even), rookie receivers simply were not expected to do much. NFL history suggested they needed time adjusting.
Not any more. With the likes of Odell Beckham, Sammy Watkins and Kelvin Benjamin, this year’s NFL rookie receiver class has turned the NFL on its ears.
And in Joe’s eyes, that group was led by Bucs rookie receiver Mike Evans.
If Evans can continue the same performance he pulled off this season, catching 68 passes for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns, he will be an unquestioned home run by Bucs general manager Jason Licht.
Consider that as a rookie, Calvin Johnson with the Lions caught 48 passes for 756 yards and but four scores. Joe also took a peek at Larry Fitzgerald’s numbers as a rookie with the Cardinals. He had 58 catches for 780 yards and eight touchdowns.
Before training camp, Joe talked to a high-level Bucs official who told Joe the Bucs had modest goals for Evans this season and were not dreaming Evans would surpass Johnson or Fitzgerald’s rookie numbers.
If Evans can be consistent, his selection isn’t just a home run, it’s an Albert Pujols-upper deck blast that breaks a McDonald’s sign.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Evans is the truth. Winston and him will be a force for the next decade.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Got to like that evans guy…
January 4th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
If we can get better QB play next year, he should have no problems building on his impressive rookie season. Hoping that Mariota or Winston is better than McCown and Glennon.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
And to think some people wanted Johnny Part Time instead of this dude. Maybe Gil Brandt was right best hands since Megatron. And remember an NFC scout did say Evans made Johnny Part Time…
January 4th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
“Before training camp, Joe talked to a high-level Bucs official who told Joe the Bucs had modest goals for Evans this season “…yep speaks to the talent evaluation and vision of those running the show….they can’t even get right…right…
January 4th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
let’s remember that Michael Clayton had a slam-bang rookie year. Let’s talk next Christmas.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:17 pm
The only the Clayton and Evan have in common is size and blocking. Evans is superior in every way and that includes blocking…oh did I mention that he catches the ball like Clayton could only dream about.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
I think Evans with Mariota going to do some work next season
January 4th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Finally….something most of us agree on…..ME13 is a real stud and should be for a long, long time.
Give the QB more time……(another QB)…..a running game, a healthy more experienced ASJ…..and some speed in the slot…..and Evans will be even better.
We need to either keep Jackson or pick up someone like Maclin to replace him. No going backwards with our WR corps.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Yeah Mariota will over throw him wide open 3 times a game too. Just like the rose bowl. Lmfao.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Can he do it again next year? We’ve seen our share of one year wonders in Tampa. Continuity matters.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Love this dudes swag. He plays like he’s pissed off.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Trade Jackson before the draft.
He can get us a first round pick (later) or early 2nd rounder.
I don’t see the point of keeping an aging WR on the roster, making top dollar, when we’ll have a rookie QB who will take 1-2 years to become useful behind a developing offensive line.
Jackson’s trading stock is up. Pull the trigger now, or regret it later.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Needs to be a better route runner. The limited route tree he ran. Not sure if it was scheme or because he’s limited… What say you Joe?
January 4th, 2015 at 3:47 pm
We need a quick twitch receiver on the outside. Can move Jackson to the slot. Also when ASJ is healthy we move Jackson to TE. 2 TE sets with ASJ and Jackson. WR Evans and a quick twitch receiver in the Beckham Jr mold on the outside. whhhoooo… would be tough O to stop.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
I am very excited about Mike Evans Buccaneer future… Let’s hope he doesn’t fall into the Michael Clayton whole and can build on this years success and be even better for years to come…
Now what should we do with V. Jax? I think we are crazy if we get rid of him… Before you consider trading him to New England for a 6th round pick, ask yourself “who will replace him?” and remember V. Jax played with a broken wrist for most of this season…
January 4th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Savage Mike is the complete package. He can run crisp routes, he has separation speed, he can catch, and most importantly he can block.
January 4th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Everyone needs to calm down. Evans is a two route wonder. to compare him with either of those guys. They are future HOF’s. Evans had a very good year. He may or may not become great. Let’s hope he does!
January 4th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
this just shows you we should have drafted a qb first, then a receiver! receiver was stacked last year and will be again this season. same as drafting a rb in the 3rd.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
come on man. evans does not have separation speed. he is also soft. he has a long way to go to become fitzgerald or megatron.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Most of his touchdowns came on fades and flys. Doesn’t really matter if he can’t run all the routes yet. He runs by people and jumps over them.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
ME13 has shown great work ethic and attitude, which is exactly what you want from a rookie. He’ll learn more routes, he’s only played football a few years. Don’t know how anyone could say he is soft tho.
As for Jackson, there is nothing we will get in return that is worth getting rid of him! Don’t need more holes on this team. Dude has had THREE 1000+ receiving yard seasons here, why would you get rid of him? we’re not I’d bad cap shape.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
*in bad cap shape anyway
January 4th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
This guy catches most everything thrown at him and gets his feet inbounds….what is not to like…..except for the disgruntled few that will complain about everything we do if it isn’t their specific choice.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
soft because of his little injuries. remember the game where he got tapped and he couldn’t or didn’t know how to get off at the end of the game? there was another incident where he gets “hurt” by taps.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
@ lurker
Sorry to see you go….even though I don’t agree with you on Evans……I hope you change your mind. Tomorrow is the much belated, much requested poll…..at least stay to see if Joe continues his Winston promotion after that.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Real deal ME13!
January 4th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
1000 yards and 12 tds with mclown throwing to him is impressive. He could have done more with a better qb. He only needs to run 2-3 routes like a fade, streak n deep post bc he can’t be stopped.
At the same time, his hands are not great with shorter routes like comebacks diggs n outs. His block on Newman was lucky timing as he was jumping when he got hit. Yacs n PI are to other areas he could improve on.
I liked mike william’s rookie year better but mike Evans will be great given the time to learn and adapt his game.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Great pick by Lovie.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo wants lurker to stay with JBF…..Pablo want’s lurker to refer to himself in the third person like Pablo. Pablo likes Nelson Cruz better than Evans. Pablo really liked Ochocinco until Pablo found out he changed his name”
January 4th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
@mac……..that’s what the Buccaneers do unfortunately; they send their good players away with no plan on replacing them. That’s what’ll happen to Jackson.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
26-10 colts w 12mins to play but I’m sure you already knew that.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
As long as he keeps his nose clean I think Evand will be able to adjust just fine.
January 4th, 2015 at 4:48 pm
True. Let’s talk about this in a few years ie Clayton, Cadillac, etc
January 4th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
“Eric Says:
Great pick by Lovie.
—————————
There is no doubt that Evans has exceeded expectations but you shouldn’t miss on that high of a pick.
On the whole, his roster moves have been a disaster.
January 4th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
@Biff Barker… Remember the #7 overall pick from Dom and Schiano? Yup THAT guy, so this franchise as recently as of a couple years ago MISSED on that pick….but hey at least the Rams were dumb enough to give the Bucs a 4th and 6th for him
January 4th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Add Mariota, a couple O-linemen, a good OC, and get all our guys back healthy next year and we could have some serious offensive firepower. So glad we picked Evans instead of Johnny Football. Just like I’ll be so happy when we pick Mariota instead of Winston. Joe loves the bad boys for some reason just like some females I know.
January 4th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
One of the only good things to come from Liar and Lapdog’s poor decision making skills. Evans is a monster and IMO deserves rookie of the year because other than VJax he was the ONLY bright spot on this offense.
January 4th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
I’m as excited as the next guy about Evans but maybe we should slow down with all the historic talk. Sure he could end up being one of the greats but also understand he could end up being the next Michael Clayton. I seem to remember him also having an outstanding rookie campaign followed by a miserable and undistinguished career that died a long, slow death.
Evans looks to be special but let’s just simmer down until he actually becomes great.
January 4th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
look, hopefully evans becomes a great receiver as mentioned above. he still has things to learn. i just felt, and was proven out, that the draft was deeeep in receiver talent and that we should have gone qb. after getting mccown and drafting evans everyone said it will be like the bears…lmao. careful what you wish for. i’m sure tedford wanted a bear’s offense…lol.
this years draft is deep at receiver too. amari cooper looks dominant and fast. things coulda/shoulda been done differently but weren’t…oh well. it scares me that lovie wants his bear’s offense…his teams weren’t that good.
January 4th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
ps i’m not going anywhere tbbf…
January 4th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Agreed Lurker on the Bears offense. I disagree on QB. There was no QB worth a 7th pick. We did good. Doubt we would have taken Benjamin or Odell in the 2nd. We took an overrated RB in the 3rd.
January 4th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
We need to keep VJax for this to work, we must have two very good receivers plus a good TE for the QB to set records.
After watching both QBs in the Rose Bowl, Draft Mariots period. He thinks much faster than Winston.
January 4th, 2015 at 6:52 pm
This kid is the truth and the bucs need more players playing with this type of intensity:
https://vine.co/v/OnxwFAqW1Pw
January 4th, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Jackson HAS to stay here. He has plenty of gas in the tank. Him and Evans must stay together. We need an o line more than anything as it affects yhe offense as a whole. But Mariota is the guy. Take him numver one and fix the li e. Only thing that disappoints me is they extended murphy. Hopefully he is not our starting slot receiver and more of a rotatoonal guy…
January 4th, 2015 at 10:31 pm
Johnson and Fitzgerald reputation isn’t based on what they did as rookies but what they’ve done consistently every year….. Michael Clayton comes to mind when someone goes to far and starts assuming Evans career based on what? Playing on a team that’s always losing at halftime so always throwing the ball to catch up….. But at the same time I’d be happy if he was a top 10 receiver every year
January 4th, 2015 at 11:35 pm
If that is to suggest he was limited, well, Joe will take a rookie catching over 1,000 yards any day.
Joe has always been of the belief unless you are in the huddle, you don’t know what routes are being calledn, therefore, how can one judge if it is bad or good?
January 5th, 2015 at 12:10 am
What if after mid season when it was known we werent making the playoffs that we limited Evans’ routes to keep him healthy? The one route he needs to improve most is his out routes and comebacks. Heneeds to press it more to really get the DBs squatting. HHe’s so big that he tips his hand on those routes and dbs jump them.
Mike Evans is already a top 10 WR and he has Vincent Jackson to thank for that. I can think of 250 yards off the top of my head where Evans was underthrown. ME13 is nothing like Clayton, Me13 plays with fire. He hates losing, you can see it in his eyes.
I see what they are going to do with Sims. He’s going to catch 60-70 balls a year like Forte. He has a large catch radius and great hands. He is no Matt Forte though, let’s be clear. Forte is in a league of his own.
January 5th, 2015 at 5:56 am
Speaking of McDonalds,
“You Deserve break Today”
We got it with Mike Evans!
January 5th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Winston to Evans… One word”Dynamic”…
January 5th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
the good news: better than megatron & fitz’ rookie seasons
the bad news: in the neighborhood of mike clayton & mike williams’ rookie seasons
fun to talk about now i guess, but rookie years don’t seem to predict much in retrospect. i’m betting he had a better statistical rookie year than jerry rice too, but i’m not ready to talk GOAT with mike evans as a result
January 5th, 2015 at 2:50 pm
I can smell the same cinders that fall from Julio Jones and Dez Bryant falling from Mike Evans. He’s nothing like clayton or williams. This kid has a passion for the game,he has that I’m just good as hell stuff about him. Youtube his high school basketball clips. Guy looks like D. Wade. Those former basketball turn football players for some odd reason become beat in the nfl. See Gonzalez,Gates and Peppers. .