Mike Evans: Rookie Of The Year?
November 18th, 2014
There are few things to like about this current Bucs season. It is almost like this franchise is cursed. All the lofty expectations for the club, and then — BAM! — the bottom falls out and the Bucs are in a race for the top overall pick. Nobody saw this coming.
Neither did anyone see how Bucs rookie wide receiver Mike Evans would blow up so quickly.
Oh, many expected Evans to be a force. That’s why he was drafted so high. Generally, however, rookie wide receivers have a pedestrian rookie season before exploding later.
Not Evans. He currently is 10th in receiving yards. More than Dez Bryant, Randall Cobb, Steve Smith and Larry Fitzgerald.
That’s pretty impressive. Evans has been so hot of late, that Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball box score-reading, NPR-listening, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame rethinking who he will vote for in the NFL Rookie of the Year race.
This is going to be an extremely difficult Offensive Rookie of the Year vote. It would be hard to not pick Mike Evans right now, although after Week 10 my vote would have gone to John Brown of the Cardinals because of his three game-winning receptions in the fourth quarter for the team with football’s best record. The last six weeks should provide a good ebb and flow in this race, and I agree with you—I don’t remember one with this many good candidates.
Yeah, Brown is a helluva candidate. He’s a main reason the Cardinals have the best record in the NFL. Hard not to pick a guy like that.
Still, Brown had (until recently) Carson Palmer for a quarterback. Evans had to learn the NFL ropes with turnover-prone Josh McCown and inconsistent Mike Glennon. Just a bit of a difference there.
To listen to Evans talk about his progress as a receiver, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
this man is a beast. nice 1st round pickup.
job well done by him and those who drafted him.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
After hearing all the well deserved accolades for Evans, I’m hoping ASJ wants to make some noise too. Throw him the damn ball.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:11 pm
Mike is going to be great but Benjamin is better(imo), how about more dynamic. Neither can be covered by mere mortals but Benjamin makes plays after the catch that I am yet to see from evans. Wish them both the best of luck.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
This pick looks good now.. ASJ still not scratching its true potential , Sims looks like a miss, Pamphile and Edwards are projects and Herron is also a project at this point. If would give Licht and Lovie a C as it stands because even if BPA should be the rule, you just can’t overlook the glaring holes in this team. I will hold my final judgement until we get a real OC and a real OL coach but right now it’s an ok draft not much more..
November 18th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
If the Cowboys get the 1 or 2 seed, the media will need to felate them somehow, and Zach Martin will be the winner, particularly if the Bucs are 2-14 or 3-13. Also Jordan Matthews is worth watching, silently putting up strong numbers.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:19 pm
There’s a reason they grade drafts after 3 years and not after 10 games…
November 18th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Pretty impressive especially after missing a couple of games this season. This guy is a beast!
November 18th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
DB55-
Evans has 94 YAC and Benjamin 93 YAC this season. Both rank near the bottom of the league in the category. So not sure what you are making up there.
Im not advocating Evans for ROY, but he has comparable #s to Benjamin and he missed a game and a half.
Also KB has several key drops to go along with some sloppy route running that has resulted in INTs (see Trufant interception from Sunday).
November 18th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
As long as this young man keeps his head straight and god willing stays healthy we have a big time receiver for years to come.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Justin
Not sure if you’ve seen Carolina play this year but Benjamin explodes after the catch. Not to mention he’s pretty much alway double teamed. Not taking anything away from evans just my personal preference based on what I’ve seen.
November 18th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
Truth be told I’d love to see evans and Benjamin lined up together for the NFC. Who the hell is going to cover those two guys. Impossible!
November 18th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
“Brown had (until recently) Carson Palmer for a quarterback. Evans had to learn the NFL ropes with turnover-prone Josh McCown and inconsistent Mike Glennon. Just a bit of a difference there.” – Excellent point Joe.
Thanks for sharing the audio as well. Like what I’m seeing and hearing from this young man.
I still SMH every time I see your ridiculous(ly long) lead-in to Peter King’s name Joe.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
People don’t know this yet, but Charles Sims is going to have his coming out party this Sunday 🙂
Another rookie that Lovie got it right.
GO BUCS!
November 18th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Anyone that thinks that Benjamin is better than Evans must be a Seminoles fan.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I can give a pass to Sims so far because he is clearly not in football shape after his injury. But come a couple weeks he should be, he was good in college.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Buc4lyf
Imma hold you to that brother.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
LOLOL at Benjamin being better. He IS actually! At Dropping Passes!
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2014/
Um……………..yeah
November 18th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Gatr buc
Uhm more tds and more yards but Benjamin is no where close to evans. How”s that better? Hey wipe your mouth you got some nut there on your cheek. Today’s flavor of kool aid is red. Enjoy!
November 18th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
LOL glad to see that you are such a mature Bucs fan
Keep up the good work.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
And FYI……..Evans has more yards and one less TD with 90 minutes less playing time. So slurp on that
November 18th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
It’s like people can’t have their own opinions. Yes evans is playing well, so are half of the other first and second round receivers. Benjamin is playing just as well as evans. PERSONALLY I like what Benjamin is doing. Wtf is so complicated about that. Would love to see them both line up on the same side of the ball just for shats and giggles. Wtf man. Some of you guys are like buc zombies. You only think what you’ve been told to think.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Now you are just being a straight out idiot DB55
I have been following this team for 38 years. I NEVER missed a home game for the first 22 years. Don’t put me in some made up class of your own. Im a Buc for life and have been through ALL of the tough times with this team
I said that anyone that thinks KB is better must be a Seminoles fan. And that is what I meant
November 18th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Evans is only just now becoming comfortable with his role. While that means he should start looking consistently good, it also means that opposing DCs will have to start game-planning against him. Let’s see how he does when they TRY to take him out of the offense. His game will have to step another notch. IMO, he can do it, but there will likely be growing pains.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
I like coke more than Pepsi, bring it on haters…and Evans is better than Benjamin because I said so!!!!!
November 18th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Problem is that now Evans has made himself a target. He pretty much was the only offensive weapon we had. RBs couldn’t run and nobody else was catching passes.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
PEPSI IS BETTER THAN coke!!!!
November 18th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2014/REG/11?module=HP11_content_stream_voting_pepsi#playerId:0ap3000000429096
Make sure you vote for Evans as rookie of the week.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
NFL.com has a majority of their analyst voting for Evans as Rookie of the year. 1 or 2 were for Watkins and John Brown. I think due to Evans making history against the Skins he will get a lot of attention and votes.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Anytime you have a rookie WR changing the play at the line of scrimmage and then scores on that play. That is a special player.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Im a Seminole fan…always have been and always will be and i will be the 1st to admit that Evans is a all around better receiver than Benjamin. Ive watched KB at fsu and any real fan will tell you he mad ALOT OF BIG PLAYS BUT DROPPED JUST AS MANY. Evans is a pure hands catcher . He doesnt drop balls . Evans is still a product far from complete. At a&m he lined up on right side and ran every route he runs from there . They never taught him to be a pure route runner. He is just learn8ng those things and thats why you are watching him get more opportunities. KB has been lining up everywhere on the feel since his sophomore year and thats why his opportunities are more at the present time . But that is soon to cuange .
November 18th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
He’s 10th with having to miss a couple games due to injury. That’s pretty impressive…. He’s honestly one of the most natural pass catchers I’ve seen in a while, he’s got the work ethic & determination to master the technical aspects of the game, and his speed is quite a bit underrated…. He’s got the potential to be one of the best receivers in the league for many years to come. Tremendous addition to our team.
November 18th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
Obviously, as a Buc fan, I love what Evans is doing, BUT, he’s working as a #2 with VJax as #1. Will be interesting to see how he responds as teams start playing him as a 1. Benjamin is a #1, so coverage is a bit tougher for him.
November 18th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
In what world is Benjamin better than Evans and this coming from a Noles fans and urs not even close. Mike Evans has the best set of hands for rookie since probably Moss. As far as yards after catch that’s probably the most underrated part of his fame. Put him in position to do something after the catch because he caught plenty of bubble screens in Sumlin’s offense last year
November 18th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Sims a miss? What’s he played? Two games? Durrrrrrrrrr
November 18th, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Lovie Smith see Matt Forte in Charles Sim, we are becoming the pass fist team
November 18th, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Given that Cadillac Williams won it in 2005… not sure I’m ready to get excited about what that means.
November 18th, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Sims hasn’t done anything. None of RBs have. Rainey had maybe one good game. Our RBs are not good.
November 18th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
One of about 5 bright spots on our team this horrible year.