Godzilla Is The “Next One”
November 17th, 2014
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
Joe liked when Bucs general manager Jason Licht referred to Bucs rookie wide receiver Mike Evans as “a Godzilla.” It just happened to be mentioned the same weekend the movie by the same name debuted.
Whatever you want to call Evans, “damned good” would be just fine. He is approaching Antonio Bryant as a skilled wide receiver. It has been a while since the Bucs had that type of weapon.
Even Tampa Tribune humorist Martin Fennelly believes Evans is approaching elite status.
This is how it works when you’re on fire like Mike Evans is on fire, when you are breaking out, when you have 21 catches and five touchdowns your past three games. You make it up as you go along. You make like you’re back on the playground, or at Texas A&M, playing catch with your friend Johnny Football.
The Bucs had 329 yards of offense Sunday. Evans had 209. He was the Bucs offense. He owned Washington.
“I feel like I’m in college again,” Evans said. “You know, just playing fast, having fun out there.”
Of course, it helps that dopey Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett was stupid enough to have linebackers in coverage against Evans at times. That all but assured Evans was going to be open.
Pretty soon defensive coordinators are going to start double-covering Evans. Let’s see how he fights free from that. Joe doesn’t expect that to happen against the Bears. Chicago defensive coordinator Mel Tucker likes to give good receivers a seven-yard cushion. Evans ought to go wild with that type of coverage.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:50 am
I just honestly hope that bucs management and fans are smart enough to see without vjax pulling that coverage and AsJ pulling coverage as well at times this wouldn’t be possible. Pay v Jax next year as well. Let this kid develop. Jackson has been through this before and there is no better on field teacher than him.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:59 am
“He is approaching Antonio Bryant as a skilled wide receiver. It has been a while since the Bucs had that type of weapon.”
That’s an odd comment Joe. IMO, Vincent Jackson is a more “skilled” receiver than Antonio Bryant was for the short time he was with the team.
Evans is showing already that he is very capable of becoming one of the best receivers in the league.
November 17th, 2014 at 7:50 am
Im just curious why it took the bucs so damn long to just feed him?? Ion get to watch much bucs games living in VA but I saw dem play yesterday. I mean did anyone see him dominate last year any?? He dominated t he SEC not vandy kentucky and them. I’m talking bout auburn and kirby and saban at Bama. If I hear somebody mention Mike Clayton I’m going slam off
November 17th, 2014 at 8:17 am
If he’s covered you still have to take your shots downfield to him every now and again he can go get it but you still have a 6’6 tight end occupying the middle of the field give him a chance at some deep shots down the middle and guess what?? You have another 6’5 wideout on the other side. I don’t care if you’re in your year or not if you can’t figure out with what to do you shouldnt be coaching in the nfl
November 17th, 2014 at 8:29 am
I think our best bet is to not even mention the name… the name of the Bucs rookie WR who shares the name with George Clooney movie. .. hope they can leave this kid be and just let him play!
November 17th, 2014 at 8:41 am
@pickgrin – I’d say Bryant was a more complete weapon than VJax
November 17th, 2014 at 8:52 am
No running game but isn’t it ironic the passing game went nuts against the team whose secondary coach is Raheem Morris?
November 17th, 2014 at 8:58 am
If Godzilla gets double covered it will free up Jackson, Jenkins or Sims. It will also help the running game.
Honestly though, I foreee them coming harder after the QB instead. Everyone knows the online sucks.
We still need a Quarterback. Even if we win out, we will still need a quarterback. Any wins now hurt us in that regard.
Win out and make the playoffs and suck the next 5-6 years, or lose out THIS YEAR and be good the next ten years. The good of the team is obvious.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:49 am
Rarely do you get a big running and passing day, unless against the bucs earlier in the season.
I thought 34 looked promising.
To heck with playing for draft choices to rebuild with. Keep turning it around like in Dungy’s first year.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:57 am
Oh lordy here comes the Dungy’s first year comparisons. That didn’t take too long for someone to come out the woodwork and fire away with Lovie = Dungy’s first year CRAP!
I have a STRONG feeling that Evans is going to be a threat in this league for many years to come. Now go get him a QB and build up that gawd awful O-line.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:59 am
Manziel owes his ability to pull and his first round draft status to Mr. Evans. Drafting Manziel would have been a disaster, draftign Evans was the only move to make.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:44 am
No tanking!!
November 17th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
You can win a few games for morale and still trade up for a franchise quarterback.
November 17th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Keith Says:
November 17th, 2014 at 8:41 am
@pickgrin – I’d say Bryant was a more complete weapon than VJax
———————————————————————————
Well that is certainly debatable – Stats definitely say otherwise.
See for yourself. Here are the stats for the 2 full years each had with the Bucs.
Antonio Bryant:
RECEIVING
Year Team G Rec Yds Avg Yds/G Lng TD 20+ 40+ 1st FUM
2009 Tampa 13 39 600 15.4 46.2 42T 4 14 2 25 0
2008 Tampa 16 83 1,248 15.0 78.0 71T 7 16 4 60 1
Vincent Jackson
RECEIVING
Year Team G Rec Yds Avg Yds/G Lng TD 20+ 40+ 1st FUM
2013 Tampa 16 78 1,224 15.7 76.5 60 7 19 5 60 1
2012 Tampa 16 72 1,384 19.2 86.5 95 8 24 6 61 0
Bryant only had 2 seasons in his career where he broke 1000 yards. Vjax has done it 5 times.
November 17th, 2014 at 5:09 pm
Randy Moss benefitted greatly by playing with Chris Carter.
If we want to help Mike Evans, we need to keep Vincent for the next two years.
Mike’s rookie deal is not that bad. The average for the 2 of them is quite reasonable.
I say we keep J-Jax and let Dashon go.
Go Bucs!
November 17th, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Interesting 2013 stats:
Manziel completed 300 passes- 69 (23%) of those caught by ME.
JF threw for 4,114 yds- 1,394yds (34%) caught by ME
Of Manziel’s 37 TDs, 12 (32%) of them were caught by ME.
And Manziel’s the legend?
November 18th, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Yeah, we need to keep Vjax or bring in someone equally as threatening to keep the coverage on Evans 1 on 1.