Koetter Defends Evans (Sort Of)
September 30th, 2015
Bucs OC Dirk Koetter sort of understood, perhaps, why Mike Evans had hands of stone Sunday.
Yes, Joe already wrote about how Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said, in so many words, “Catch the damn ball,” in response today to the many questions about receivers treating passes as if the football was doused with Ebola virus in the loss to Houston.
There were more dropped passes, it seems, that hit the floor of the (formerly knowns) Reliant Stadium than lingerie on the stage at a clothing optional establishment on Dale Mabry Highway (not that Joe would know anything about that).
The biggest culprit was Mike Evans. Koetter hinted’ Evans sudden butter fingers might be attributed to lack of playing and practicing time due to a barking hamstring.
But Koetter stopped just short of absolving Evans.
“Mike didn’t have his best game, Mike will tell you that,” Koetter said. “He missed a lot of time. He missed a lot of time the past few weeks. That’s what happens when you have a guy — Mike is still a young player. He is still in his second year. He missed a lot of time. You want to get him back in there. He is one of your marquee players.
“[Houston] challenged us to throw jump balls to him. Jameis threw a lot of really good balls, jump balls. I am not telling you anything Mike wouldn’t tell you, himself. Mike is paid to make those catches.”
That is just it: If Evans was so rusty that he couldn’t have caught passes, then the Bucs should have designed more plays for Vincent Jackson, or maybe Evans should have been on the same pitch count that he was on in New Orleans.
Hopefully, with a full game under his belt, Evans no longer has rusty hands.
September 30th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Being “rusty” has nothing to do with it. It is more likely that he still wasn’t 100% (physically and/or mentally). For goodness sake, he has been catching the football since Pop Warner. If he needs to ‘re-learn’ after missing a few weeks…
He had a bad day. Let’s see how well he rebounds.
September 30th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Pass to Evans, repeat. Where are the other receivers? Murphy caught a couple. Hey Evans is open, oops. Sims got the short pass for a TD, the rest is just a blur. Jameis wasn’t laid out, that’s a win of sorts. Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Mike will be fine. He was rusty but he was open a lot which is also a good thing. Yes still a beast. And @Joe thanks for continually showing this picture of this blatant pass interference that the ref intentionally swallowed his whistle. Maybe u can get a pic of Mike’s first catch where he was called for “offensive pass interference” also. Horse$hit refs suck we get screwed every game.
September 30th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
knucknbuc:
Koetter didn’t think much of that offensive interference call. At all.
September 30th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Yeah them refs better watch out, some old fashioned high school vengeance might be in order. Nah, their football career would be over. I do get the feeling the flags are flung too frequently. Big brother with his all seeing eye in the sky spotting borderline fishy calls.
September 30th, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Drops, interceptions, fumbles, missed tackles, penalties, missed FGs , rust, lack of physical and mental preparation, no blocking. How hard can it be to give your best and concentrate for 3 hrs every Sunday? Keep the excuses rolling losers! I bet Bucs find a way to not cover Olsen on Sunday. Pathetic!!!
September 30th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Evans will be fine I’m not worried at this point. Now if you want to talk interference calls how about that ghostly offensive pushing penalty they called on Evans on either the first or second play of the game. Now that was a nit picky call.
September 30th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Maybe Lovie should send a couple of players after the ref like that High School coach did……the only problem is that they would probably miss the hit on the ref.
As for Jameis to Evans…..you’ve really got to like what you saw (minus drops)…..that could be something special…
And, for all those who are down on ASJ…..can you imagine what kind of day he would have had? ‘Nuff Said!!!
September 30th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
meek evans needs to be a real pro.
September 30th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Joe,
I am not sure this is Kosher, but here is a link to an article written by my son who is a Senior at the University of Michigan. Hope you guys enjoy. BUT BE NICE!!!!!!
http://thesportsquotient.com/nfl/2015/9/29/bucs-evans-tries-to-avoid-being-like-mike
September 30th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
@Bucs Fan Since ’76 Says
Great read 76, thanks. Maybe we get 3 joes at some point, lol.
September 30th, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Playing soft like before his injury.
Hopefully the hunger wakes up in him.
September 30th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
TAC – you never know. He lurks here all the time but won’t tell me if he posts. He just shakes his head at mine.
September 30th, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Mike is a very common name.
September 30th, 2015 at 8:12 pm
Bucs Fan Since ’76… I read that story, nice job by your son. Mike is as common as Robert, John and variations of those names. I don’t see Evans as a bust. I think he will be very good moving forward being healthy.
September 30th, 2015 at 8:30 pm
I really like Koetter’s candor.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Trust me when I tell you that we are praying For ME’s success. Personally, I think last week was the result of rust. He will be much better this week.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Mike will pick it up , but that’s not the problem , it seemed too be everyone . They need too come into these games with more confidence in themselves . Everyone shouldn’t be dropping passes . I guess it’s kinda confusing for our WRs too be catching a ball perfectly thrown right into they’re hands . These guys are trying too play too fast . Stick too basics TB , quit trying so hard!!!
October 1st, 2015 at 4:21 am
TBBF No I can’t cause he’s rarely ever healthy to know.
And Mike had a horrific game. 5 drops 3rd down drops. Terrible.