Mike Smith: Evans Has “Pro Bowl Capability”
September 5th, 2018
Man, Mike Smith sure lit up today when Joe asked him about second-year safety Justin Evans.
As opening day approaches, Evans represents the Bucs’ stellar-so-far 2017 draft class on defense. So Joe asked Smith about what he expects from Evans as a Year 2 guy who typically would make a big leap in his sophomore year.
Smith (for Smith) opened up saying Evans has “Pro Bowl capability” and Smith expects Evans’ familiarity with quarterbacks and his enhanced comfort in the system to equate to not allowing explosive plays, “uh-oh plays” as Smith called them.
He even went on to call Evans one of the most talented safeties he’s been around.
This really stands out to Joe because Smith rarely glows like this about any young players. It tells Joe a lot about how Evans’ training camp and work rate behind the scenes is viewed at One Buc Palace.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
I thought he was pretty impressive as a rookie last year. Hope the new CB’s and Whitehead workout as we will have a good young secondary for years to come.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
stop BSing us smitty…..I like evans but he’s not more talented than ed reed or reggie nelson….haven’t you been around those 2?….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 5th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
I believe it. I believe this kid is that good.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
When it comes to being a safety you’ve got to have RANGE.
Justin Evans has great skills tracking the ball in the air and anticipation when in pursuit (run or pass). Last year he had the 1st pick of Tom Tom in over 230(?) throws, bad throw be damned. And it was a big game (Thursday night, all eyes on us).
He’s the type of player you want roaming the field when the ducks get thrown to the wind (due to the improved DL, right!?).
Sunday cannot come soon enough!
September 5th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
What’s funny is people all freaked out on Gm JL with the Evans pick an then this year with the M.J. Stewart pick the man knows what he’s doing no every pick works out but I like our odds with JL gobucs
September 5th, 2018 at 2:44 pm
Kid can play
Things slowing down for him. Hope he can stay healthy
September 5th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
i was hearing similar noise about noah spence being on the verge of greatness this time last year….every player\situation is different but the common thread to me is that i’ll believe it when i see it. i’ve seen too many veterans on too many losing teams gushing about young guys that amounted to nothing to really get excited about it anymore. i’m obviously rooting for him and the talent is real, but i’ll wait and see what he does with all that potential before getting too invested in the kid
September 5th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
@Buchead5588
I agree and will confess to letting out a “Who?” When Evans was selected. I am not big into college football and am only aware of the top 25 players that ESPN and the various outlets push to the masses.
Licht has proven to me that he saw ‘Playmaker’ in this kid.
September 5th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
I’d take that S from the Hokies
6’3 202 and heart……
September 5th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Justin Evans showed quite a bit his rookie year.
I’m excited to see what he can do in year 2.
Not just Evans though…
OJ, Evans, Godwin, Beckwith – This is Grand Slam #2 for GM Licht.
Bucs Draft class of 2017 is about to make some noise in this pro league.
Every one of those players should have been selected higher than where the Bucs drafted them.
Good fortune met up with good planning by Jason and his staff for days 1 and 2 of that draft. Licht had his cards in within 30 seconds on both the OJ and Godwin picks – I guarantee it. And Jason paid a laughably small price to move up for Beckwith once he deemed the value irresistible.
“Sophomore Sensations” – Let’s see it!!
September 5th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
@813bucboi, he said “ONE OF THE MOST”.. not the MOST.. Ed Reed takes that cap hands down lol
September 5th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
If we could make this a very young amazing secondary, I might cry. D-line is easier to draft and get in FA. I’ve always loved the safety position and the Bucs haven’t had a decent tandem since Lynch left. Evans and Whitehead could be beautiful if they continue to rise.
September 5th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
In college Justin Evan was known for his cover skills. He had great hips and range and was probably the one of the best cover safety to come out in the draft last year. The only knock on him was that he was a poor tackler which he obviously improved last year. I think he could backfill as a CB if need be.
September 5th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
“Kid sucks. Probably the worst tackling safety in the NFL. Cant cover receivers / TE one on one if his life depended on it…Same BS as Nowhere Spence getting 10 sacks this year”
Kobe Faker
September 5th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
jmark- Love that Farley kid! I’m biased though. I’m Hokie alum.
Notice how quiet it is in FSU-ville!
September 5th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
@Joe … “This really stands out to Joe because Smith rarely glows like this about any young players.” I’m sure that’s because we all know that Smitty & his defensive coaches can’t develop young players. You have to be at least 35 years old to play in Smitty’s Secondary. (OK, sarcasm font off).
September 5th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Let me add that he baited Tommy into two more(!!) would-be picks and just couldn’t keep the ball in his mitts.
You guys remember Tanard “Always in a haze” Jackson? Haven’t replaced that playmaker since he decided to roll his blunts with his NFL checks.
I agree with having a young pair of playmakers on the back-end of our secondary.
Greatly needed.
September 5th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Evans has a swagger you can’t really describe. Just confident as f*ck looking dude. I was sketched by the pick when it happened but sold by his play last year.
No S we’ve had recently has made as good a play as the one last year where he crossed sideline to sideline deep in the back field for a pick imo. That center field ability is rare.
September 5th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Evan’s range + Whitehead’s downhill pop = Sweetness in the secondary.
September 5th, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Fanman
I like his skills, but mostly because I think he set out to do something, and flat out did it.. Would have liked to see him hit, but his coverage skills looked sweet. That whole team, especially the D was Smokin’.
Bad Loss, Jameis is in time out…All quiet on the Seminole front…
September 5th, 2018 at 6:31 pm
My neighbor is a Bucs exec and pretty involved in the draft process. I spoke with him shortly after the draft last year and even though we had picked up OJ and Godwin, he said he was most excited about the Evans pick. After watching him play last year I could see why he was so high on Evans. Hoping for big things this season.
September 5th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
He flashes but still as plays where he takes awful angels
September 5th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
I agree, him and Whitehead should be back there for a long time. Now if VH3 can be what we thought he should be and those rookies can progress while Grimes fights off time for another year, there’s a lot of potential there.
As usual though, the DBs will only be as good as a consistent pass rush
September 5th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Hey Joe, you write a lot of Articles so it can be tricky to keep up with everything, but did you ever write a piece about the 2016 game against UCLA and Josh Rosen acting all cocky because he was leading the Bruins on a game winning drive against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field with little time remaining.
Rosen had thrown for two INT’s on the day, but he was hot in the fourth with two scoring drives one capped off by a 64 yard touchdown to tie the game up, shaking off the 2 INT’s including the last one 8 minutes before this up coming play.
There we are, 40 something seconds left in the game, 24-24, aggies’ fans going nuts. Rosen hikes the ball, tosses it up, and for the second time in 8 minutes, Rosen throws and interception to Justin Evans to save the game and force OT where the aggies drove down the field and won the game.
The interesting thing about this is, there is a video of all of this where Justin Evans is seen after the play, popping his knee back into place, but he claims he was stretching.
Good look, make for a good piece on the legend of JE
September 5th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Hey Joe, you write a lot of Articles so it can be tricky to keep up with everything, but did you ever write a piece about the 2016 game against UCLA and Josh Rosen acting all cocky because he was leading the Bruins on a game winning drive against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field with little time remaining.
Rosen had thrown for two INT’s on the day, but he was hot in the fourth with two scoring drives one capped off by a 64 yard touchdown to tie the game up, shaking off the 2 INT’s including the last one 8 minutes before this up coming play.
There we are, 40 something seconds left in the game, 24-24, aggies’ fans going nuts. Rosen hikes the ball, tosses it up, and for the second time in 8 minutes, Rosen throws and interception to Justin Evans to save the game and force OT where the aggies drove down the field and won the game.
The interesting thing about this is, there is a video of all of this where Justin Evans is seen after the play, popping his knee back into place, but he claims he was stretching.
Good look, make for a good piece of the legend of JE
September 5th, 2018 at 11:05 pm
Hey Joe, you write a lot of Articles so it can be tricky to keep up with everything, but did you ever write a piece about the 2016 game against UCLA and Josh Rosen acting all cocky because he was leading the Bruins on a game winning drive against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field with little time remaining.
Rosen had thrown for two INT’s on the day, but he was hot in the fourth with two scoring drives one capped off by a 64 yard touchdown to tie the game up, shaking off the 2 INT’s including the last one 8 minutes before this up coming play.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:16 pm
No.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:16 pm
No.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:16 pm
No.
September 6th, 2018 at 12:38 am
evans popped his collar after the game…not his knee
September 6th, 2018 at 6:32 am
Whitehead is the rookie who caught my attention this preseason. He and Evans sans Buc Luck will be a great pair soon.