Four Consecutive Wins For Mike Evans
November 3rd, 2015
Mike Evans balanced bad hands and averaged numbers with big plays and a knockout
The folks at BSPN engaged in a deep look at quality Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, who just happened to lock horns quite a bit with Mike Evans on Sunday.
Writer Vaughn McClure spent the week leading up to the Bucs game following Trufant, one of the NFL’s better corners.
As you can imagine, there was plenty of preparation for Mike Evans, and Sunday’s diary detailed how Evans bested Trufant on four consecutive plays. Here’s that interesting snippet:
On the fourth play of Tampa Bay’s first series, Trufant has his first encounter with Evans. It’s a run play, so the two never really engage. Later in the first quarter, with Tampa Bay facing second-and-9 from the Falcons’ 20, Winston targets Evans with Trufant as the defender. Evans uses a double move, as Trufant expects, to create separation. Evans even gets a step, but Winston throws the ball too high and incomplete.
The next three pass plays involving the two players go in favor of Evans. The first is a third-and-14 from the Falcons’ 41-yard line with 43 seconds left before halftime. Trufant plays off coverage, but Evans gets enough depth and uses his length to haul in a 21-yard reception, setting up a touchdown.
Then on the second Tampa Bay drive of the third quarter, Trufant gets whistled for consecutive pass interference plays while contending with Evans, costing his team 47 yards and another touchdown. On the second penalty, Trufant lands awkwardly on the ground after leaping to contest the pass. He exits the game with a lower back injury and doesn’t return. The frustration is visible in his expression as he sits on the sideline receiving treatment.
Bucs fans, Joe included, often bang their heads against walls because Evans seems to complain about so many non-calls — and offensive pass interference calls — by officials.
It’s a bad look, making Evans seem like he cares more about officiating than playing to the whistle.
But on Sunday, Evans got the calls, knocked out Trufant, and made a couple of big plays.
It wasn’t a Pro Bowl day for Evans, and he had a nasty drop, but his three catches for 48 yards were good enough.
November 3rd, 2015 at 11:30 am
Imagine that game for Evans if ASJ & Vjax were playing…..
Evans is very big and very physical……I think the refs usually don’t give him the benefit of the doubt on PI…..and, he has been called for OPI several times when it was very questionable….
As far as penalties go…..did anyone notice last night that very few penalties were called late in the game and overtime?……there were opportunities, for sure.
November 3rd, 2015 at 11:51 am
Yes, I kept waiting for a flag on McCoy for going for the QB’s legs on the last play. It would have been an absolutely horrible call but that’s the kind of BS calls we usually get. I agree that the OPI call on Evans in the end zone last week in Washington was a ridiculous call and cost us the game ultimately. Then in Atlanta Trufant runs into him and knocks him down before the ball gets there and it’s a no call. At least they did make up for it by calling the two PI penalties in the third quarter. Is it just me or is the officiating terrible across the NFL this year? I just see a lot of obvious calls missed and a lot of questionable calls made. Makes me think the refs are playing in a Fantasy Football league or something.
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:01 pm
I don’t get this “ASJ” clamoring by TBBF…….the guy has done NOTHING!!!!
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Evans did up his game against the Falcons. Sometimes he wins the pass interference battles and other times not, depends on the refs. I was worried he strained the hamstring again in the game. His healthy presence is needed for sure. Go Evans!
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:36 pm
GET IT BIG MIKE!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I’m sure GLAD LOVIE AND LICHT DRAFTED THIS BEAST!!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith “Texan, born and bred baby!”
“Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
“So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:44 pm
@ Tom
ASJ has provided Jameis with a big target over the middle….has performed well when healthy…..I believe he will be a force when he returns.
Ask Jameis what he thinks?
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:44 pm
@Bobby, they didn’t throw the flag bc McCoy didn’t fall into his knee/legs. He fell to the ground and the. Reached out and grabbed his legs. That is legal.
@Tom, you are correct he hasn’t done much, however the threat of him as a pass catcher due to his size makes the defense HAVE to account for him.
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:46 pm
As for the penalties…….here is a suggestion….
Let the coaches challenge anything they want……same rules.irrefutable evidence….same number of challenges….lose a time out if unsuccessful.
I know they are judgement calls…..but so are fumbles, runner down by contact etc.
Why not?
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:47 pm
are OneLove and JAB the same person? Looks like they’re posting the same repetitive quotes after all their comments the last few days…
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:03 pm
@unbelievable
That’s a negative Ghost Rider! But I’ll take that as a COMPLIMENT! For the record, it has only been “I” posting the same repetitive(insightful) quotes! 😀
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith “Texan, born and bred baby!”
“Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
“So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King
November 3rd, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Fumbles and down bt contact are not “judgement” calls. Either the ball is funbled before the runner is down, or not. There is no judgement there. Pass interference calls involve some judgement. Sometimes a little hand slapping is not a penalty and sometimes mike evans gets called on it. Sometimes a cb can hold down mike evans arms and it won’t get called. It’s pure judgement.
With that said, i agree all plays even penalties should be able to be reviewed. Even these “judgment” calls. Sometimes things get missed, or there is a bad angle from the ref. And he makes the wrong “judgement”.
November 3rd, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Wow-
I thought i was the only one who noticed how much Evans looks for calls. Its embarrassing seeing our team want the refs to bail them out. Don’t worry about the ref, catch the ball! We are the Bucs, right now the calls don’t deserve calls to go our way.