No “Complacency”
April 29th, 2015Unlike Jameis Winston, Bucs stud receiver Mike Evans is a 21-year-old with a fantastic rookie season under his belt — on and off the field.
Evans is a budding superstar, though Joe is a tad uneasy about Evans’s drastic drop in production over the final six games of the season, when he averaged less than 50 yards receiving per game. But Joe is chalking that up to defenses adjusting, and Marcus Arroyo and Josh McCown being incapable of responding accordingly.
Dirk Koetter should do wonders for Evans.
Vincent Jackson thinks Evans is primed for greatness. Speaking yesterday at One Buc Palace, Jackson was confident Evans will avoid any kind of sophomore slump.
“Mike’s just a great talent, you know what I mean? He’s a big kid, but he works hard at his craft and you can tell that he wants to continue to improve. By no means did I see at the end of that season, or even starting up early in this offseason, any kind of complacency with him,” Jackson said. “He’s hungry; he wants to continue to learn the game. Obviously we’re all dealing with a new offense right now – it’s a new language and stuff. It’s taken a lot of time and effort, but you can just tell he’s putting in that effort.”
Savvy football observers know great players typically make a huge leap from Year 1 to Year 2 of their careers. Evans should follow suit.
There’s only one reason, besides injury, why Evans could fall off the map. That would be the loss of Jackson. The Bucs have no legitimate third receiving threat. With a steady diet of double coverage, Evans would be neutered.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:34 am
Great Great article on why Mariota will be the pick tomorrow night, and I agree 100 percent. http://arushtojudgment.com/2015/04/bucs/
April 29th, 2015 at 10:35 am
He can still out jump most db’s, and is pretty good at snagging balls out of the air with his height…….not worried about Mike Evans being doubled teamed.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:44 am
A lot of denial still going on.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:44 am
I chalk up Evans slump at the end of the season to McCown.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:47 am
@sam
Joe Murgia has been trolling local media with his Mariota nonsense for months (he’s probably ‘Mariota Joe’ on these boards but can’t verify). Not to mention, it looks like he created that blog for the sole purpose of that one post. He’s not a member of the media. He’s closer to a 9/11-truther. A Mariota-truther..
April 29th, 2015 at 10:49 am
HAHA I LOVE THIS PART! AND SO RIGHT, First, Lovie’s comments from the Combine. I won’t quote everything he and Licht said about being comfortable with Jamies and how they feel about his off the field issues. If either of them had a serious problem with anything that Winston did during college, they wouldn’t come out and say it. Could you see Lovie or Licht saying something like this? “Jumping on a table and yelling an obscene gesture not long after finding out you weren’t being charged with rape? Yeah, that’s not really the guy we want quarterbacking our team. But nonetheless, we’re comfortable with him.”
Yeah, me either. For the most part, it’s coach and GM-speak and making sure they don’t say something that could hurt a player’s draft stock with another team in case they pass on them. Let’s stick to any hints that Mariota could have been the front runner at this point…
April 29th, 2015 at 10:49 am
SuperSam, I just mentioned that on another article. I’m a Winston guy, but looking at that article with an open mind, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that we’ve been smokescreened for the last 3 months! The only part I like is Chip Kelly getting the high hard one from the Glazers! I still want Jameis though! I’d take the risk.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:50 am
Watch defenses double Evans this year, and man-up VJ ( who turns 33 this season ).
April 29th, 2015 at 10:51 am
Kelvin Benjamin burnt Richard Sherman and earl Thomas on a bad a$$ play last year. He was fighting double coverage all year. Hopefully, mike can do the same.
April 29th, 2015 at 10:51 am
hope he doesnt go like the other michael, clayton that is…what a dud
April 29th, 2015 at 10:52 am
charactermatters Says:
April 29th, 2015 at 10:44 am
I chalk up Evans slump at the end of the season to McCown.
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that’s the talk that disappoints fans all over the league. lavonte david was good and followed it up with an even better season. we thought the same thing about Cadillac Williams and Michael clayton after their rookie season. rookies can have great seasons go on to be average like Michael clayton, average rookie seasons can make a jump and become great players like warren sapp.
just saying….takes more than your rookie year to be great, we thought the same thing about Adrian clayborn also when he came in as a rookie with 7.5 sacks. at this point we can only judge players on our team by the effect they have on wins and losses
April 29th, 2015 at 11:26 am
I look forward to watching Evans’ Buccaneer career. In a year with questionable QB play and bad play-calling, he managed to shine. Imagine the possibilities with a legit offense and hopefully, better QB play!
Best of all, the kid’s got fire. We could use a few more like him on offense.
April 29th, 2015 at 11:36 am
Evans and VJax will be fine. I’d feel a lot better though if we had a Joey Galloway type player to compliment them and ASJ. Plenty of big possession receivers but where is the speed. Murphy is supposedly fast. Ran the anchor leg for the state champion 4X100 team and has reportedly recorded a 4.22 40 time with 4.43 in the combine and a 4.32 on a pro day.
April 29th, 2015 at 11:41 am
Maybe it was the rookie wall? If so, he will be better adjusted this year…
And that article was the king of denial…
April 29th, 2015 at 11:45 am
This is gonna be one, if not the most, formidable qb/wr duo the next 6-7 years, imho.
April 29th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Bucfanman another one with equal fire is coming… Thank the Gods this wait is now over. WINSton to Evans over the next decade makes my heart glean with appreciation.
April 30th, 2015 at 3:52 am
bucs4lyfe Says:
we thought the same thing about Cadillac Williams and Michael clayton after their rookie season.
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Err, Cadillac blew out his knees. Just sayin.