Busting Loose
June 8th, 2014
For reasons unknown to Joe, it seems rookie wide receivers take a little longer to acclimate than, say, a rookie running back.
Former NFL scout Greg Gabriel believes Bucs rookie wide receiver Mike Evans won’t have much of a transition. In his column for NationalFootballPost.com on breakout rookies, Gabriel lists Evans as an instant star.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I know it can take a receiver some time to adjust to life in the NFL. What makes it even harder for Evans is that he only played two years of football at Texas A&M. Still, Evans has some rare traits with his size, speed and ability to adjust to the ball.
I am predicting that offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford is going to surprise people with his offense. He will find ways to utilize Evans by playing to his strengths. Granted, the Bucs have a journeyman quarterback in Josh McCown, but McCown will also surprise people by picking up where he left off last year in Chicago.
McCown knows how nice it can be playing with a talented big receiver, as last year he had Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery at his disposal. In Tampa, McCown has a similar sized duo in Evans and veteran Vincent Jackson. Look for Evans to put up better than average numbers for a rookie receiver.
This seems like a lot of hope, and we all know about that word. But with Evans, there may be reason for excitement right away.
First, he is 6-5. You can’t teach tall. Then, he has incredible leaping and catching ability. The guy is a natural. A third thing you cannot teach is heart. Evans has a burning desire and loves to block and make physical contact.
As usual, it all likely boils down to whether Bucs quarterback Josh McCown get time for Evans to get open?
June 8th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Bring the madness! Start that boy and let’s get to the playoffs!
June 8th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
I don’t know why there is a difficult transition for WRs into the NFL either. But in watching a scouting tape of Sammy and Evans on where they typically caught the ball, the difference was tremendous. A vast majority (like 80%) of Sammy’s catches were behind the line of scrimmage, whereas Evans averaged catching the ball (before YAC) around 15+ yards downfield (this is from memory, but the difference was huge). Common sense would say Sammy is going to have a longer transition period to get used to catching the ball downfield, whereas Evans is already accustomed to being an NFL type WR. It will be interesting to see if this is the case.
Now we just have to hope the Oline can block long enough for McCown to find his weapons!
June 8th, 2014 at 6:28 pm
I can’t wait to c Tedford’s offense in action. McCown three drop or roll out and throw will create mismatches for opposing defenses. This offense has the potential to mimic the 1998 Vikings which featured 6’2 wr Chris Carter, 6’3 wr Jake Reed, and 6’4 wr rookie Randy Moss. Moss had the speed but the others out jumped everyone. I watched Tedford’s offense at California and it is not designed to b boring or predictable. With Evans, Jackson, AJS, Murphy, n speedster Herron, it’s a must that this offense put TDs and not FGs on the board, especially in the redzone…com on man!!
June 8th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
If he can stay healthy he will be a star
June 8th, 2014 at 6:38 pm
IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW GOOD A RECEIVER WE GOT IN MIKE EVANS, GO TO YOUTUBE AND FIND THE SPORTS SCIENCE: SAMMY WATKINS & MIKE EVANS VIDEO. WOW! THEY COMPARE THE TWO STATISTICALLY. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.
June 8th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Thanks Bob. That video was great. Hopefully we have Megatron 2.0.
Evans along with the rest of the ball handling offensive players are a potential headache for opposing defenses. Love it. Go Bucs!
June 8th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Nice to see a national guy who’s optimistic our offense in general & our individual players & coaching. I believe in Tedford & our players, but we need Nicks to come back strong and/or assign another guard in the 2nd wave of free agency… Bucs are going to the Superbowl this year & our Probowlers will be McCown, Evans, Vjack, ASJ, Charles Sims, McCoy, David, Michael Johnson, Verner, Foster, & Barron.
June 8th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
*about our offense
June 8th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
@tdtb I’ve been calling Mike Evans Calvin Johnson 2.0 for quite sometime here. Let’s hope were both right
June 8th, 2014 at 7:27 pm
I have two dogs, one is big, kinda clumsy, and not very fast. One is small and very fast, but the big dog always gets the ball. He boxes out the little guy, bowls him over before I even throw it, or when the small dog gets it, he growls and knocks him over and takes the ball out of his mouth. I hope we see this from evans this year.
June 8th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
I think Evans lives up to the expectations Bucs fans have of him. That goes for all the new additions to the team and veterans who remain a question mark. It’s good to be positive waiting for the season to begin, to see just what this team is made of. I’m calling for a final record of around .500, give or take one game either way. That’s positive thinking.
June 8th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Wow, looking at that Sport Science I had no idea that Evan’s measurable were very close to Calvin Johnson. He is the same height with slightly wider wingspan, and a slightly shorter vertical jump. Evan’s is slightly slower at a 4.47 as opposed to Johnson’s 4.37. Man, we got a monster if he can play up to his potential.
June 8th, 2014 at 8:47 pm
This man is gonna tear the league a new one.
June 8th, 2014 at 9:55 pm
@Glenningrad
Roscoe feels sorry for your little dog
June 8th, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Even if rushers can get by our Guards, we have the best QB in the NFL for play under pressure and he is very mobile and he will be able to throw to our receivers deep, including Evans. Should he go down, we will be out of luck with Glennon, the lowest ranked QB in the NFL throwing under pressure. If Josh plays all season, we will make the playoffs!
June 9th, 2014 at 1:37 am
@GlenninGrad: Thank you for that amusing look into your homelife. The images that your words conjure up are funny! Dogs are hilarious, I need another one!
GO BUCS!!!
June 9th, 2014 at 1:39 am
@Bob: Thanks for the tip, but…
STOP YELLING AT ME.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:56 am
@Buccfan37: Great take. I think most fans should feel this way about their team when heading into a new season, especially after a regime change. We’ve been burned on the last two regime changes, but, at least to me, this regime has thusfar conducted itself impeccably, which definitely could not be said of the Morris/Schiano regimes.
The only point that I’m willing to disagree with is your 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 prediction. While the argument could be made that the new offensive and defensive schemes are a negative, I believe that the opposite will prove to be true.
First, take a look at the defensive position coaches: Cullen, the D line coach is well respected by all the right people, including Rod Marinelli. Hardy Nickerson hardly needs an introduction. He helped to right the ship. Coach Byrd played at a high level for quite a while in the NFL, and has, by all accounts, turned into a damned fine coach. Add DC Frazier, (sp?) a former HC himself, and that level of coaching success cannot be dismissed. Combine the talent of these (and other) coaches with the talent that I believe we have on that side of the ball, and I think we have the makings of, dare I say, a top-10 defense?
On offense…well, we’re all in the dark, aren’t we? Coach Tedford is the REAL Wild Card in 2014. While I take great comfort in knowing that Coach Smith’s D will be utilized this season, it’s oddly comforting NOT knowing what the offense will look like. I’m stoked just to know that it will be something that I ‘ve never seen before. We have new and established talent on offense that will (finally) be coached to their strengths, not have an ill-fitting scheme forced upon them. As a Bucs fan, I know what it is to be proud of the Defense. I really want to feel that way about the Offense, and I believe Coach Tedford will take us there. Peace out.
GO BUCS!!!