No Debate; Final Tally Is Five Ugly Drops
September 30th, 2015
This is NOT one of Mike Evans’ three drops on Sunday. Great defense by Texans corner Jonathan Joseph.
There are well known stat-geek types who believe Bucs receivers only dropped two balls on Jameis Winston on Sunday. And there are other fans, misguided fans, (Jameis haters?) who think the same thing and apparently don’t know what a drop is.
Joe has reviewed every offensive snap at least once and Joe has identified five clear cut drops.
The first was by Brandon Myers on a short route in the second quarter, then Russell Shepard dropped a quick screen right in his hands. The next three drops are courtesy of Mike Evans. The drops are undebatable, and they include when Evans went over the middle caught the ball, fumbled but was ruled down by contact. The Texans threw the challenge flag, and officials ruled Evans didn’t keep possession of the ball through the catch, so it was incomplete. If you don’t think that’s a “drop,” then you’re living on a different planet than Joe.
Joe is not including an early great breakup on Evans by Texans cornerback Jonathan Joseph, who played a whale of a game, or the ball thrown a little behind Evans deep in Texans territory late in the game. Evans got two hands on it, but it was too rough of a catch to call a drop.
Joe really felt the need to set the record straight here, and Joe would encourage anyone to go watch the snaps on NFL Game Pass.
Also, take a look at America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, starting fast and delivering two elite-QB throws in his first two throws.
Shame on any Bucs fan who thinks Jameis lost that game for Tampa Bay.
September 30th, 2015 at 8:40 am
The national media is dogging Jameis for being under 50% completions. Take out the drops, he’s around the respectable 60% mark. Jameis has passed the eye test 2 weeks in a row now. The rest of the offense needs to step up, including Koetter.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:00 am
Nailed it. Stupid to argue otherwise.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:20 am
Last season 75% of the passes thrown by Captain ‘Check down’ were dink passes. This year too many passes are thrown down field. Koetter needs a more balanced game plan.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:25 am
Evans has been a disapointment so far. Hopefully he has the pride to improve. But he started playing soft begging for penalties and allowing interceptions in the preseason, and now he is weak after the ball still. 17 targets and 7 hit your hands and you dont get a completion… pretty weak for someone who was nicknamed godzilla. Ever think that would happen to julio or the wr on the giants?
September 30th, 2015 at 9:28 am
*five
September 30th, 2015 at 9:31 am
I can only recall one drop that hit Evans right in the hands. I remember one that was well thrown but just a really good pass break up. The rest could have been caught, but weren’t well thrown balls. They were high, behind… just over all not very accurate.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:32 am
I’m sorry, Mike Clayton Evans is very disappointing. Not only is he showing little effort fighting for contested balls and securing makeable catches but he complains to refs every single time the pass is contested. Shut up and fight for a catch instead of expecting the refs to give you a call. It’s embarrassing.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:41 am
The play in the above pic was a good defensive play. The repeated throws to Evans were unwise and totally predictable. He had a productive game but became too much the center of attention. The game plan was quick passes to take the anticipated rush off of Winston, the Bucs rightfully concerned with the hyped buildup of that Texans rush and keeping Winston in one piece. The game could have been won by the Bucs with a better defensive showing. Winston was not bad, a few errant throws. Not enough quick open receivers to choose from.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:42 am
This was Evans first real game this season and he didn’t look to be in sync with Winston so I’ll give him a pass for a week or 2. Hopefully they’ll get VJax more involved until he’s back up to game speed.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Whoa there people!!! “Disappointment” “Michael Clayton” “Embarrassment”??? Evans had one bad game that resulted in 7 catches for 100 yards. When average receivers have bad games, they hardly show up in the box score. Mike Evans is a phenom who was a little rusty and is playing with a bad hammy. Re-effing-LAX.
September 30th, 2015 at 9:56 am
I agree wity WATERBOY!
September 30th, 2015 at 9:57 am
*with
September 30th, 2015 at 9:58 am
@nick you couldn’t have said it better
September 30th, 2015 at 10:04 am
Jim Palm Harbor Says
“Last season 75% of the passes thrown by Captain ‘Check down’ were dink passes. This year too many passes are thrown down field. Koetter needs a more balanced game plan.”
I think he’s doing this on purpose. He knows the best time to develop that part of Jameis’ game is when he’s starting off in his development.
The more practiced he becomes, the better he’ll get. Honestly, although wins are nice…it really isn’t about winning right now. It’s about development. It’s about the future. Not saying they are not trying to win…just that it means less if they lose.
Also, consider the offensive line. The longer they have to block on each play, at this stage of their development, the faster they’ll develop.
The future.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:06 am
@Nick
You nailed it. Evans may have had some blocks, but he still had a 100 yard game. He’s a little rusty is all.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Jim Palm Harbor Said:
“Last season 75% of the passes thrown by Captain ‘Check down’ were dink passes.”
Exactly what do you ‘think’ is an acceptable percentage of ‘deep’ (OVER 15 yds) throws? Peyton Manning threw 78% “dink” passes and Brady threw over 82% “dink” passes. Wow, we may have a new “Captain ‘Check down'”.
And, I will have to guess that your “Captain ‘Check down'” refers to McCown, because Glennon LEAD THE LEAGUE in attempts OVER 15 yds (33%, that means his “dink” passes came in at 67%).
It does not matter whether they throw deep or short, the OC has to game-plan for success and then the ENTIRE offense needs to execute the plan as planned.
BTW, Joe, I am ‘old-school’. If it hits both hands, it is ‘catchable’. Evans has FOUR drops.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:16 am
‘play’ as planned.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:18 am
Okay, ignore that he doesn’t fight for passes, doesn’t secure makeable catches and whines like a child to the refs after every single contested pass. Just look at 100yards and ignore what you know you saw!
Classic Pollyannas who, incidentally, are in the do-no-wrong Lovie Smith camp.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:22 am
All these Evans’ bashers have very short memories. Mike had 1,000+ plus yards w/ McCown throwing to him as a rookie. 1st real game back from hamstring injury catches 100+ yards/game. He had 3 dropped passes, get over it. No big deal.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:44 am
DallasBuc
You hate JW and McCoy
And now Evans.
They, along with the LBs are the foundation of this team that will be a perennial playoff contender starting next year.
So if you hate every player they have and the coaches, by all means, LEAVE.
Go whine and complain somewhere else about a different team.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:52 am
Dave- since when do I hate Winston, McCoy or Evans?
Either you have me confused with someone else on here or you have no legit excuse to how poorly Evans played and instead feel it better to try and make sht up to run me out of here. Not going anywhere pal so either you can put up with it or you can leave.
How about Evans fights for the damn ball? How about Evans secures a catchable football? How about Evans stops crying for a flag after every contested pass?
Get off my jock pal. Evans has played like crap since the first preseason game when he has actually been out there.
September 30th, 2015 at 10:57 am
LOL at some of these people calling out Winston’s ball placement. You are an NFL wr/te, if it hits you in both hands you make the catch, its what you are paid to do. As some have mentioned, Evans not giving his all, he run some very lazy routes in the game, but could also be due to rust.
September 30th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Evans had an ugly game, plain and simple to anyone who was truly watching. 100 yrds receiving is not a big deal when you consider that 3 or 4 of those drops were on critical 3rd downs or for would-be touchdowns.
I’m not calling him Clayton yet, that would certainly big jumping the gun. Let’s just hope he was still a bit rusty and his hands look much better this week. I do have to agree with Dallas about him crying to the refs, we saw it in preseason and in both games so far this season. Worry about out-muscling the DB, if the flag comes, it will come. Or maybe he’s “not old enough to get that call,” like Cam…
September 30th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
I forget what part of the game it was but Winston was under pressure and was hit as he threw the ball. The ball made it to Evans with no DB pressure on him and he dropped it. He had to come back to it but there was no reason why that pass should have been dropped.
I feel like that was the final drive of the first half?
Though I am of the mind that these guys are getting paid millions and are an NFL athlete. Their drops are not the same as everday Joes drops. These catches are made week in and week out by plenty of players. For so many to happen in one game.. Not acceptable.
September 30th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Can’t compare Evans to Clayton. Clayton never got open. Evans does seep rate and is a polished route runner.
As a rookie he made some incredible touchdown and sideline catches that in his best games, Michael Clayton never would have made.
I will agree that he played a poor game vs Texans.
Let’s see if he can return to form next couple of weeks before comparing him to one of the all time biggest busts in Buccaneer history of bad first round picks.
September 30th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Ed- as long as Evans is going to give his best impression of Michael Clayton on Sundays I am going to hammer him with it. Screw all the excuses. Catch the damn ball and quit complaining to refs.
September 30th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
it seems like the goal was to get houston worrying about evans a little too much and then work in the secondary guys. unfortunately between drops, penalties, and 3rd down awfulness, we really limited our chances to work any kind of game plan.
this offense really needs evans to knock the rust off. having ASJ wouldn’t hurt either. the line will be a liability all year, but if you execute a few of the plays that were botched today, all of a sudden koetter and winston are working from a much deeper playbook.
September 30th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
mike evans has to make those catches…stop looking forg all the time…he’s bigger than every corner he plays against but jus doesn’t play like it…yeah a few passes were off target but not by much..we have a rookie qb..help the man out and make a play…im looking for him to step up this week…GO BUCS!!!
September 30th, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Evans does give the little hand check to the defender often when the ball is arriving. He has been called for offensive pass interference a few times I can remember. This can lead to more penalties at the judgment of refs. That’s worrisome.
October 1st, 2015 at 9:54 am
I was watching the NFL Game Pass replay (which is free for 7 days, trial basis) and I count four passes dropped. Three for Evans, one for Shepard. The pass for Brandon Myers at first looks like a overthrow. Then on further review it appears as though Myers ran a bad route. He actually ran back towards the line of scrimmage or the pass would have been catchable. What I did notice was the great throws Jameis was making. Did anyone else feel the VJAX TD catch in the 3rd should not have been overturned? The call was BS. There was something wrong with the turf there. It appeared like it was lifting at times? The Bucs were in this game until the very end. They should have won it. They need to figure out how to win and not how to lose. Evans will rebound this week. Check out the Panthers OL. Bucs are going to own them.