Elite Mike Evans
March 28th, 2019
Dangerous deep threat.
Lost in all the hand-wringing the past couple of years over the nonsense of malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson is that the Bucs very likely had a more dangerous weapon on the roster.
Yeah, Jackson sure did overshadow Mike Evans, the Pro Bowl receiver of the Bucs and in Joe’s mind the best wide receiver in franchise history.
Not many people think Evans is a deep threat but leave it to the PFF tribe to be the contrarians. For a change, Joe found something these guys Twittered was labeled with the word “grade.”
Evans, per the PFF tribe, is one of the most dangerous deep threats in the game.
Joe always thought one of the most beautiful aspects of Evans’ game was his footwork along the sidelines. It’s Lynn Swann-like. As good as Evans is along the sidelines, he may be even better as a deep threat as the stats below suggest.
Mike Evans was just 1 of 2 receivers to check in on both the highest average depth of target AND most yards per target in 2018. pic.twitter.com/0SFgSuIVFQ
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) March 27, 2019
March 28th, 2019 at 12:14 am
Desean Jackson couldn’t sniff Mikezilla’s jock in terms of being a complete NFL wide out. Mike’s double moves are wicked and his deceptive speed lulls cornerbacks to sleep, only for them to wake up with Evans tracking a beautiful deep strike over the shoulder from the-worst-deep-ball-thrower-ever-EVER-Probowler-America’s-Quarterback-Jameis-Winston for almost half a decade now.
Louder for the people in the back.
March 28th, 2019 at 12:48 am
Mikey is a first down waiting to happen. He is a beast and easily the
best most complete receiver I have seen in a Bucs uniform.
I was reading your post PriMech like dang he is dead on until you brought up Jameis. Which makes me wonder if you really believe that or have you never seen deep passing statistics? Because conventional wisdom and pages of stats says you are dead wrong and talking out your a$$.
March 28th, 2019 at 1:06 am
It’s funny how when you agree with the “tribe” you post the numbers or what not but on Twitter when I brought up Ryan Jensen grade and how poor it was they don’t know what the hell they’re talking about! Because you don’t think he is part of the offensive line problems!
March 28th, 2019 at 1:16 am
Alaskan,
NFL next-gen, on throws 20yds + Winston finished last year at the 35th position. Dead last on deep ball accuracy. 2 seasons ago it’s possible to claim a shoulder injury was responsible for his deep ball accuracy. Not this year.
March 28th, 2019 at 1:22 am
Toppcoach ,
PFF is good at some stats and not very good with others. It’s much more difficult to grade a linemen when you have no idea what the play design and or line adjustment was for a particular play. Recievers are much simpler, did he catch the ball…
So no Joe isn’t hypocritical, a charge so predictable after any article mentioning a stat or grade that if you could bet on it in Vegas , you could bet your home without a care in the world. As you’ve just proven. Congrats.
Topcoach….is that graded by PFF ?
March 28th, 2019 at 1:44 am
Oh look, pro football focus
March 28th, 2019 at 1:50 am
Mike is a great receiver. This season will be a huge test for him as he will most likely fight against more double teams than he has faced so far in any season. Another receiver on this team will have to emerge to take the place of your malcontent consistently helping draw the extra defender and keeping Mike relatively clean in single coverage. Will defenses respect Godwin and Perriman like they did your malcontent? I say in the beginning DC’s will defend these guys with single cover and double Mike until someone else can garner their respect.
March 28th, 2019 at 2:06 am
Joe thinks more of a third-grader’s “grades” than what the PFF tribe pumps out which is why Joe referenced in the post this is the first time in months he’s seen that outfit publish something about the Bucs that was a “grade.”
Only time Joe will ever publish a “grade” from the PFF tribe is when it is totally ludicrous such as when they claim O.J. Howard graded out as the second-worst rookie of his class, worse even than John Ross which is absolutely hysterical.
March 28th, 2019 at 2:51 am
Assuming we’re able to get a little better o-line play and have even an average running game, then there’s no reason this offense shouldn’t explode every single week. (It should have for the last 3 years IMO, as db55 says wtfdik….)
Evans and OJ alone should be a nightmare for any team. Add in Godwin and Brate, plus a 3rd WR and/or RB. Cmon man! No reason to not be piling up points week in and week out.
That much firepower, only they can stop themselves.
I’m ready to see Jameis take that next step once and for all.
Lets fkn go
March 28th, 2019 at 2:55 am
Well I wrote out something long and thoughtful but then POOF!
It gone 🙁
March 28th, 2019 at 2:56 am
Joe says *Only time Joe will ever publish a “grade” from the PFF tribe is when it is totally ludicrous such as when they claim O.J. Howard graded out as the second-worst rookie of his class, worse even than John Ross which is absolutely hysterical.
No doubt Joe that was one of the absolute worst inaccurate grade I’ve seen from the tribe n they r just as bad if not worse with linemen
March 28th, 2019 at 5:08 am
D1- I cannot find that stat you said anywhere but I did find some stats on next gen Winston is top 3 in. Doing more research trying to find this deep pass accuracy led me to more articles that confirmed that winston is either average or above average in pretty much every passing metric.
March 28th, 2019 at 5:33 am
If memory serves Evans hauled in 32 of 40 passes completed over 20 yards last year. DJAX presence did give Mike more opportunities to enjoy single coverage. I don’t know which offensive coach is responsible for this, but using Mike primarily as a posession receiver in previous years was not something I agreed with. The chemistry between Mike and Jameis has improved. Mike found more balls out there in front of him without having to make adjustments.
March 28th, 2019 at 5:46 am
I’ve never understood how anyone can compare receivers without also including their QBs (and coaches) in the same discussion. ME13 (6’5″ & 231 lbs) is already a great WR in my book, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that his ‘stats’ will improve significantly under BA. Mike’s done quite well in his 5 yrs here (55.5% catch-to-targets ratio) but I predict he’ll do considerably better in this new regime.
Why? Two reasons: (1) How BA uses him; and (2) how Jameis SHOULD improve with better coaching. A good comparative example would be WR Larry Fitzgerald (6’3″ & 218 lbs) with the Cards. From 2004-2012 he caught 56.7% of the balls thrown to him (by 12 different QBs, to include Kurt Warner). From 2013-2017 (under BA) he caught 67.7% of the balls thrown to him (by 4 different QBs, but mostly Carson Palmer). His annual number of targets stayed roughly the same (150 per yr 2004-2012 and 139 per year 2013-2017 on average).
Only point being that Larry Fitzgerald, a great receiver IMO by any standard, became CONSIDERABLY BETTER (11% better?) while BA was using him. It’s not too much of a stretch IMO to conclude that Fitzgerald also benefitted from having a quality QB in Carson Palmer throwing to him (and Jameis’ completion %s are already better than what Carson Palmer had). Only time will tell though.
March 28th, 2019 at 5:46 am
D1,
Not one to make excuses for Jameis but the passes between 30 and 35 yards
did improve last year. That seems to be his sweet spot. In 2015 he completed
over 60 passes over 20 yards, and has only broke 40 in one of his seasons since then.
March 28th, 2019 at 6:08 am
Defense,
Just my take, but BA had the luxury of a John Brown to fill the role of a deep threat,
moving Larry to the slot in his later years. Larry Fitzgerald is one of my all time favorites. I remember a playoff game where he took in a pass over the middle ,juked Clay Mathews and took it to the house. It changed the momentum of the game. He just has a way of finding a little something extra when needed.
That said, I think the Bucs finally found a way to get the most out Evans a little too late last year.
March 28th, 2019 at 6:09 am
He is open on every play. His size and freakish quicks to go with those long strides …instoppable…
Arians should be in his lab right now with Leftwich trying to create plays to get him more single coverage
March 28th, 2019 at 6:10 am
Unstoppable
March 28th, 2019 at 6:25 am
One thing Joe mentioned is the sideline footwork, and I don’t think we seen enough of that recently. Its a throw I believe Jameis can make. Only question is can we get the O line to sustain blocks long enough for it to develope it.
March 28th, 2019 at 6:35 am
Evans stats would be higher if Jamies was better on his long throw
No Doubt Evans is ELITE a Game Changer
March 28th, 2019 at 6:47 am
D1 the dude has had a bunch of drive stalling/ending penalties that’s why it was probably easy to grade him by any damn body regardless how the play was designed unsportsmanlike penalties like he had doesn’t matter when it comes to all that b.s. you just mentioned
March 28th, 2019 at 6:47 am
“Meme Evans the most overrated player in the NFL
good player but 1 trick pony
The new pass interference rule should be changed to “Mike Evans Push”
MeMe will cost us minimum 5 Tds when he pushes off to separate. MeMe, cant stop using his hands and will get called for constant offensive pass interference by the defense he will be useless by the end of the year ”
Kobe Faker
March 28th, 2019 at 6:47 am
Bob to be clear there is not a throw Jameis can’t make, so that’s not a problem.
March 28th, 2019 at 6:51 am
Bob … Larry Fitzgerald is one of my all-time favorites too. Both he and ME13 seem to have a unique ability to catch in traffic, which is something DJax never seemed to demonstrate IMO.
March 28th, 2019 at 6:57 am
@Kobe … “good player but 1 trick pony”. Seriously Kobe? A 1-trick pony? Mike’s missed only THREE games in FIVE years. He’s averaged over 1,200 yards & over 15 yards/reception per season, and 8 TDs per season average.
That’s called PRODUCTION. Whatever his 1-trick is, wish we had more like that.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:05 am
When Evans was selected, a local blogger was almost apoplectic that the Bucs chose him over Johnny football. Day after day of complaints. Guess we all can make terrible draft choices – not just GMs. Glad to have Mike.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:08 am
Ndog
Completing only 6 passes over 40 yards shows there is room for improvement.
His completion percentage in this area the last time I checked was around 20%
March 28th, 2019 at 7:21 am
Topcoach,
PFF does a good job of breaking down the easy plays. To the extent that some teams use them for this purpose. One area teams don’t buy their data is in the offensive line metrics.
If NFL teams are willing to buy data on recievers and not offensive line players that should tell you all you need to know.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:32 am
Meh
I’m sick of over analyzing stats to get excited about a season let’s get some Wins
March 28th, 2019 at 7:34 am
Kobe Thats just too silly ,even for you. Lets even the playing field if defenders
want to put their hands on Mike , I got no beef with him removing them. Defenders get away with too much clutching and grabbing ,IMO.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:36 am
Is it just me or did we just have a Mike Evans article so we could endure more complaints about Djax?
March 28th, 2019 at 7:37 am
Alaskan,
I’ve seen the numbers regarding the area you call Jameis sweet spot . He seems to have zero issues in that range. Football outsiders , deep ball project, is the where you’ll find the numbers.
They use next gen data for ball and receivers data , theyre compiling data to find out how accurate a QB is .
The most frequently used method is receptions. That’s why the numbers are different. Receptions are just that, did a reciever catch the ball. If He did, under that method, the QB would be credited with a completion regardless of where the ball was thrown. Accuracy is not, or should not be determined by completion percentage. I’m fully aware that is and has been the case for years. But that doesn’t mean it’s a proper method. Basically, it’s two completely different actions trying to extrapolate one from the other isn’t a sound practice.
If you have any trouble locating the numbers, let me know and I’ll find it and post a link.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:43 am
Very good point.
Do know for a fact NFL people think their offensive grades are the funniest thing out there since Seinfeld.
March 28th, 2019 at 7:55 am
Depth per target and yards per target? What’s the difference? More depth for outside WRs than slot? Seems like a bs stat
March 28th, 2019 at 8:24 am
“MeMe is a 50/50 jump reciever and nothing else
There are over 30 recievers that can get those stats with all those targets
You think MeMe is going to work on not using his hands or is this entitled Manziel twin going to nonstop cry and nag toward the refs
Watch what Kobe is stating…
“I cant YAC so I YAP” Evans is going cost this offense all year because he cant or wont stop commiting offensive pass interference”
Kobe Faker
March 28th, 2019 at 8:40 am
More ridiculous takes by Kobe.
It’s why people rarely read your posts.
March 28th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Kobe,
Just because Mike Evans has had some offensive PI penalties that does not make him a one trick pony. Evans can run every route unlike the true one trick pony MeSean.
March 28th, 2019 at 9:33 am
I’m with Andrew, here. What is “depth of target” & “yards of target” mean? Does “depth”= the point on the route when the ball arrives and “yards”= his per reception average?
Please help All-Knowing JBF GMs.
March 28th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Jean Lafitte Says
“Mike is a great receiver. This season will be a huge test for him as he will most likely fight against more double teams than he has faced so far in any season.”
Actually, Evans was double covered constantly before Desean Jackson arrived…and had his best years while being double covered.
Desean Jackson did nothing to benefit this team. The plain and simple truth is that he stole opportunities from his teammates. That would not have been so bad if he had been more successful on those plays.
Can’t speak for you or others, but it always stuck in my craw when people blamed Jameis for Jackson’s lack of success here. While Jameis wasn’t perfect, he was able to connect with everyone else when throwing to them, and he had zero problems connecting with Vincent Jackson before Desean came here. (I’m not saying you did this)
As I pointed out when Desean Jackson was originally signed (and time proved my statements right here), DJax had his stats padded by excessive opportunities. He had a LOT of incomplete passes everywhere he went, but QBs were always forced to throw to him a lot…so eventually, he WOULD make a catch, and his yards after catch drove up his numbers.
As a result, he broke 1,000 yards with fewer completions.
As I said even before he was signed, speed doesn’t make a witt of difference if he cannot catch.
March 28th, 2019 at 9:58 am
BringBucsBack Says:
March 28th, 2019 at 9:33 am
I’m with Andrew, here. What is “depth of target” & “yards of target” mean?
.
Not hard. ‘Targeted’ is the number of times he was thrown to. ‘Yards’ is the result if he made the catches.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:02 am
Kobe Faker Says:
March 28th, 2019 at 8:24 am
“Watch what Kobe is stating…”
Speaking strictly for myself, I usually ignore everything Kobe says. His gimmick is obviously a cry for attention.
I prefer honest, straightforward posts…not gimmicks or one-trick-ponies like Tmax.
March 28th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Imagine what mikes numbers would look like with a top 10 qb and solid running game ?? Wow
March 28th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
I wonder what tmax has to say about Evans not that anything he or Kobe says is tru but it’s always hilarious to read what these clowns have to say
March 28th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Bonzai, I think we are interpreting the same thing with “yards of target” but, “depth of target” doesn’t mean the same thing as “targeted” or “the number of times thrown to”. Those numbers represent yards not catches or pass attempts.
So, I believe I have it straight. “Depth of target” = the number of yards the route took the receiver down the field at the time of the pass-attempt.
Am I making sense? Peace!
March 28th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
@Alaskan
Conventional wisdom actually states that Jameis has been just fine hitting every receiver he’s ever had just fine on a deep ball aside from Desean Jackson, from high school all the way to the NFL. The deep sideline 9 route is the lowest percentage throw in all of football, and it always will be. Funny how those stats and this narrative never existed before the heartless Jackson arrived in Tampa.
It was a tongue in cheek comment in the style of Joe, meant to troll the likes of yourself. Congratulations, genius.
March 28th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Sorry priMech, I gots to lay off the hashish!
March 28th, 2019 at 5:56 pm
no worries bro… I would never recommend that but it’s pretty good reasoning to me! lol