Programming Justin Evans
August 25th, 2019
Crash course with new defense. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Prior to today, the last time Justin Evans was on a football field, he was part of one of football’s most horrific defenses.
A lot has changed since. New head coach. New defensive coordinator. New teammates in the secondary. Still, all the while, Evans has been leading the floppy hat patrol. He’s had wheel issues since last season and just now is able to practice again like a normal football player.
Installing a new defense and playing in games will be a key for Evans. He’s missed all of underwear football, all of training camp and three preseason games. So today, the day after Evans was activated, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians discussed how important it is to get Evans snaps Thursday night in Dallas.
“It’s important and we’ll see if it’s feasible,” Arians said. “[Evans] went through individual [drills] today [with] no problems. We’ll probably put him in some reps tomorrow and Tuesday and walkthrough Wednesday and see how he travels.
“I’d love to get him in the game just to start getting his eyes trained in this defense, because it’s so different than what he’s played. It’s good to see him out there.”
Joe was starting to wonder if Evans would even make the cutdown to 53 men next week because he has missed so much time. But Arians wants his skills on the field. For the Bucs.
“He’s a freaky athlete and he’s a really heady, smart player,” Arians explained. “You can tell on tape – he gets it, he sees it. He’s out there making all the calls all spring. He knows it, but it’s just different. He went through drills, they were breaking on screens … slid and busted his butt. [It’s] nice to be back.”
With Mike Edwards dinged up with a bad hamstring, and no word on when he will be back, if Evans is physically able to handle it, Joe could see Evans regaining his starting job for the 49ers game to open the season. The way Jordan Whitehead has played, it’s difficult for Joe to imagine he won’t be starting two weeks from today.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Evans & Whitehead……..or Whitehead & Evans…..as long as Evans has fully recovered….he can get in game shape in two weeks…..
Wouldn’t make the 53?…….yea…..really?
August 25th, 2019 at 4:06 pm
Whitehead looked good playing single high safety. They still have a ways to go as a secondary but it looked alot better than last year.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:22 pm
When a guy misses nearly eight months due to non-major injuries, a new coaching staff comes in, brand new defense, team drafts at his position, has all the ingredients of an injury settlement or team moving on.
“Your best ability is your availability.” — Bill Parcells.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
Cool to hear that Evans is almost ready to play.
Gone quiet on news with David and VitaV. Two weeks before I close and not looking good for them 2. If we don’t hear something soon we can pretty much count them out for week 1.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Two weeks before kickoff**
August 25th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
If they are good to go for the 49ers they should be practicing once the roster cuts are done.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Not cutting one of Jason Licht’s 2nd round picks…..would put him on IR…..a healthy Justin Evans will make many team’s 53…..
August 25th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
😊Vea and LVD not playing week 1. Now that’s funny.
August 25th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
The DBs will be fine as long as we can get some push from the DLine.
August 25th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Justin will make a splash play here and there that will blow u away
But down in and down out…. the guy is mediocre at best
August 25th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Off subject…..but wondering if we will keep 7 LBs………If 6 we will likely cut either Cichy or Bond……..both good ST players……tough decision.
We will be cutting some good players this week……the upgrades will likely come on the offensive line/depth…..
We are good at RB, S, CB, LB, WR……Looking for upgrades on Dline/Oline
Will see some decent players placed on IR to save them for later or next year…..
August 25th, 2019 at 5:43 pm
TBBF……Not sure why Bond didn’t play the other night but if he’s got no injury concerns there is no chance he gets cut. He was maybe the best player on the field in the Dolphins game. No way he hasn’t earned a spot on this team. Plus he is an exceptional ST player.
August 25th, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Even freak athletes can get hurt.
Evans adds a ton more top-quality depth.
@TBBF: Bond stays no matter what because he got switched to OLB. Cichy may be a question, but there is not a lot of depth at ILB although in theory Bond can play both.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:14 pm
To add to Cobra’s imfo
The Bucs really like Bond at OLB, and think he is one best tacklers on the team.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Bond……Devonte Bond!!!
I guess Cichy won’t make it unless we keep 7 LBs……we might because of the new 3-4…..
August 25th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Bond is going no where. BA pointed out last week they finally realized what he was and that’s an outside rusher. That makes for yet another one. And he appears pretty good at it.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:43 pm
TBBF … I don’t understand. I was figuring that we’d keep 4 OLBs & 6 ILBs to run the 3-4 defense (Bond, Minter & even Bucannon seem to play some OLB at times).
o OLB – Barrett, Nassib, Nelson, Spence
o ILB – LVD, White, Bucannon, Minter, Bond, Cichy
Who’s the 7th LB you’re thinking of? I think we’ll keep both Bond & Cichy, at least for the early part of the season.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:45 pm
Joe … Mike Edwards is the one who concerns me even more than LVD & Vea. Everyone keeps saying ‘bad hamstring’ but how bad? If it’s really torn up that could take him a good part of the season to recover from.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
We need him cause d.stewart ain’t special
GO BUCS
August 25th, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Great news!
THANK YOU JOE BUCS FAN…for covering the Bucs…not the Colts. (Maybe Jenna is planning to write a book about LUCK.)
August 25th, 2019 at 7:57 pm
Speaking of injuries any more info on LVD or JPP?
August 25th, 2019 at 7:58 pm
@ Defense
Miscounted…..easy to do this time of year……there will be some difficulties keeping 4 TEs & 4RBs along with 10 LBs……….perhaps we are saved by the Gabbert injury & the suspension to Ryan Smith…..but there will be some pressure on the roster…..perhaps only 5 WRs for example…
August 25th, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Whitehead is a keeper n starter. My belief is he will score a defensive td before season’s end. He has great instincts n has a nose for the ball. He reminds me of former Buc Tanard Jackson. Whitehead was a former college rb so he’s itching to get in the end zone. He brings aggressiveness to this defense n Todd Bowles is in hog heaven knowing the toys Koetter n MSmith left him to play with.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:28 pm
Don’t expect Vea to be available until late October early November…. you know as soon as the weather cools off.
August 26th, 2019 at 2:12 am
He will need to be able to play that whole final preseason game to convince BA he’s ready and if he finishes he will be rotation at best with Mike Edwards who has already said he will be ready week 1. I don’t think LVD and JPP return until week 2 at the Panthers. Vea should be ready by week 1 I believe his injury was precaution.
August 26th, 2019 at 3:41 am
Jordan Whitehead was favorite pick. Read the archives.
He could become an All-Pro FS.
I really like stacking the box with a Center Fielder playing FS.
Justin Evans, if healthy, could be a nasty nickle/SS in the box. Hes got long arms and jams WR’s at the line very well. He has long arms.
I really like our defensive backfield.
August 26th, 2019 at 5:38 am
TBBF … Think I read that Gabbert would be out 6-8 weeks at least. I would think that’d mean they’ll put him on IR with the possibility to return, and go with 2 QBs on the roster (maybe Ryan Griffin will finally get a chance to play in a real game?). Nick Fitzgerald (who they really liked it sounded like) is on the Active NFI list. Who knows, he might be 100% any time now & get placed on the PS to get experience running scout teams, etc. VT Jr can fill that role until he returns.