Movin’ Around
June 23rd, 2015
Options keep expanding
It is really a storybook young career for Bucs receiver Mike Evans. He played just one year of high school football and basketball sure seemed to be his calling. He was one of the best players in Texas.
Then, he goes to Texas A&M and becomes a standout receiver, even though he played handcuffed. Speaking recently on “Late Hits” on SiriusXM NFL Radio, co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, Evans explained to Polian how “99.9 percent of the time” he played on the right side and never played slot. And he admitted he had a limited route tree.
With the Bucs, Evans has learned to love to play slot and utilize an expanded route tree. That’s because Evans can often isolate himself into mismatches in coverage that favor him.
“Yeah, [at slot] they find different ways to get me the ball,” Evans said. “If I go to slot I can be matched up against a linebacker. I think I scored a couple of touchdowns matched up on a linebacker or a safety. It creates mismatches. I like being moved around a lot.”
Evans is expected to be the X-receiver in Dirk Koetter’s offense. That means, Evans noted, more moving around than he did in ill-suited acting offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo’s offense (?).
In short, Koetter is hoping Evans is his new Julio Jones.
June 23rd, 2015 at 8:03 am
Well gee I hope so too Joe.
June 23rd, 2015 at 8:15 am
ASJ will be working with Koetter who loves utilizing tight ends and working with young quarterbacks. Bucky Brooks, yesterday BTW, named Koetter a top 10 OC in the NFL, placing him #7 overall. Good scenario for ASJ and the Bucs
June 23rd, 2015 at 8:18 am
……now that we may be able to put ASJ into the mix with Evans and Jackson TB may have something special……and what if Bell, Wright and Simms contribute….wow!
June 23rd, 2015 at 8:55 am
Yeah, if all that happens on offense it will be like the old Sports Illustrated headline of Break up the Bucs!
June 23rd, 2015 at 9:11 am
Evans is BETTER than Julio Jones. Geesh look at Jone’s rook yr in comparison. Heck look at his whole career. Only has double digit TDs Once and he had Matt Ryan as a QB vs Josh McCown
June 23rd, 2015 at 11:30 am
I never understood why our previous OCs would not move our WRs around, be it VJ or Evans, especially into the slot. It creates mismatches against both a man or zone D. And it makes the D adjust to what you are doing instead of the other way around. I think Koetter is going to really have a big impact on the Bucs this year. Maybe the biggest impact of anyone.
June 23rd, 2015 at 12:22 pm
I’m loving the versatility we have with our playmakers on offense. V-Jax, Evans. and Wright are all capable of lining up in the slot or outside. ASJ and Meyers can both (hopefully healthy) block inline or line up outside. Then throw in some Charles Simms and some of our speedy young WRs, this offense could get really interesting!
The 2 big issues will be:
#1 – Can the o-line hold up, giving JW time to throw and more importantly giving us some form of a running game.
#2 – Can Lovie allow the offense to be aggressive and make use of all these weapons?
June 23rd, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Evans will have Rob Ryan PISSED this season. I can’t wait. The only good thing about Rob Ryan is that he coaches the defense for a team in our division.
#Ryan brothers overrated.
June 23rd, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Evans is a basketball player turned football freak. I watched tape for two seasons. EVANS made Johnny Football. Now, Johnny has “no ball.” Some say it wouldn’t do Johnny any good WITH a football.
Evolution revolution in skill sets. Seattle now has Nawlins’ freak, a Jimmy, not a Johnny. Point is, WR, TE, and hybreds are going vertical as in 6’5″ and corners with long arms, great vertical leaps and 6’1″ or above are coveted.
There will always be a place for the standard 5’9″ 180 roster listing.
Without an OLINE, Winston better practice being the third quickest arm getting rid of the ball behind the Manning Bros. We’re talking 2.5 to 2.7 seconds on the trigger. With a real NFL OLINE, the future could be “priceless” with some additions to the front DLINE to make the Tampa Two/Three cook and sizzle. (See? You have to have the PASS RUSH too make the coverage in the back end work, then you get the ball back for Evans to use that long stride to YAC his way home.) Nice football bedtime story I tell to myself some nights.)
Yes, I was a Charter 1976 Bucs Season Tix holder.