“I’m Going To Calm It Down”
July 28th, 2016
Time to chill.
Last year, it seemed, gifted Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans was more interested in drawing flags than catching balls.
After a stellar rookie season, Evans regressed. Oh, the talent is still there, but maybe his head wasn’t. Too often, Evans would be hollering at a ref to throw a flag and he would give up on a play with the ball still in the air.
And we all remember the season finale, when trash-talking Josh Norman got in his head and Evans lost it and was tossed from the game.
Like a man yesterday, Evans admitted he was too fired up and maybe too emotional last year, and he noted one goal this season is to dial back the juice.
“Yeah, last year I had a lot of personal foul penalties and offensive pass interference and things like that,” Evans said. “This year I think it’ll be much different. I’m going to calm it down and just play my game and not worry about what those guys are doing.”
Bravo! Joe must stand and applaud. The first step into resolving issues is to understand the issue. Evans didn’t seem focused on his key responsibility: catching the damn ball.
All the other nonsense is horse manure. Trying to draw flags, hollering at the refs and jawing at opposing cornerbacks is just nonsense. Concentrate on the game and if there is a penalty, a flag will be thrown. The last thing a receiver needs to worry about is drawing a penalty. Worry about the ball!
Joe swears Evans barked at the refs so much last year, he became the second coming of Kellen Winslow II. Evans became a target of referees and anything close would get Evans flagged, not the corners.
July 28th, 2016 at 8:51 am
I am confident Evans will rebound and get to the next level..
July 28th, 2016 at 8:54 am
@tmaxcon
LOL, Great “dunkaneers” reference!!!! He is going to “rebound”!!!!!!!!!! Next VJ83 will say that the redzone offense will be a “lay-up”!!!!!!!!
July 28th, 2016 at 8:55 am
He just confirmed what I have been saying since preseason last year. He must be a “hater”!
Seeing is believing Mike Clayton-Evans.
July 28th, 2016 at 8:55 am
To think that if Evans didn’t lead the league in drops, if our kickers made two more FGs, and if Kwon wasn’t suspended this team could have been playoff bound.
July 28th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Easier said than done.
That being said I hope its easily done for Evans lol. He needs to fix those issues
July 28th, 2016 at 9:15 am
@D-Rome the black lining to your silver cloud….Lovie would still be the coach.
July 28th, 2016 at 9:22 am
I actually think Evans catch and yardage numbers will be less than in previous seasons. Wait, what did I just say? Oh well. I’ll just stick with it. Another receiver will emerge to take some of the load and pressure off of Mike. If I’m wrong, well join the crowd, it won’t be the first time and hardly the last.
July 28th, 2016 at 9:48 am
Lets see mike clayton 2955 yards in 6 seasons.Mike evans over 2250 yards
in two years.I’d think harder on that comparison,dallas.
July 28th, 2016 at 9:56 am
@D Rome
not sure if Lovie could of found a win with the all the things you mentioned.
But after Tennesee ready,almost better to not make the playoffs.Lovie getting his team playoff ready is a scary thought.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Buccfan37, I agree with you, providing that VJax stays healthy (if not, we’ll see a repeat of last year in terms of ME13 getting more touches than if VJax was on the field). Gut feel is that Coach Koetter and Jameis will spread the ball around even more than last year. Sims will get more passes, as will Brate and ASJ (hopefully, oh so hopefully). Still not sure how Humphries, Bell, Vitale and Stocker will fare in terms of the passing game, or if Murph will make it back (hope he does though; he’s still one of my favorite Bucs).
I can see the Bucs getting significantly more total plays this year and scoring more total points, thanks largely to the defense doing better on 3rd down stops and also getting increased sacks & turnovers (all that benefits the offense). Gut feel is that Jameis will improve steadily as the year rolls on, but I doubt that his completion % will be much above 60% this year unless Coach really starts favoring the short passes more.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:14 am
DallasBuc Says
“Seeing is believing Mike Clayton-Evans.”
Evans is far removed from Clayton. If Mike Evans has seasons like last year the rest of his career, he would still be considered elite.
Mike Clayton had 32 receptions for 372 yards in his second year.
Mike Evans did not regress at all. He had 74 receptions for 1,206 yards.
(which was better than his first year: 68 receptions for 1,051 yards)
This “regression” people talk about is a myth.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:16 am
Bonzi
Evans went from 12 tds to 3 tds that is regression
July 28th, 2016 at 10:32 am
@tmaxcon…that’s only 1 category…he was still very productive even with all the drops and penalties…..a regression is a decrease in all statistical categories…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 28th, 2016 at 10:37 am
@Tmax and jameis needs to do his part.plant his feet each and every time and square up on his receiver.With Evans being the only Lagid wideout much of the season. Jameis forced some passes that were not catchable.No question Evans
can clean up drops,penalties, and focus.
In order to make this tandem better, passes need to be in Evans target zone
and Evans has to haul them in.
Since they are working together more ,hope to see that happen.One thing that should help is Evans has focused on the Hamstring not being an issue.
That should improve the timing between them.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:46 am
I think the lack of timing between Jameis and Evans was responsible for lack of touchdowns.
If Josh McCown with all his problems in 2014 can connect with Evans for 8 TD’s. Then 10-12 TD’s is doable for this tandem.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:48 am
Bob in Valrico
I agree with you 100%. Ill take it one step further licht also needs to make sure he has a plan in place in case Humphries and Bell do not progress. Murphy is not the answer and cant be counted on. Hopefully vjax can play all 16 games which will help take pressure off evans. I am a huge evans fan but not blind to his faults.
July 28th, 2016 at 10:54 am
I still remember early in the season when Evan was called for the “phantom” PI. I forget who it was but he was holding Evans, basically being dragged by him and the offensive PI came out. For me, that was the final straw in the situation, something has to change
July 28th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Bub in Valrico- so garbage yardage is the single measure by which a wide receiver should be judged? Not oh I don’t know completing a catch, scoring points or behaving like a professional?
Okay Bub.
July 28th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Evans and his personal fouls and offensive interference penalties, he thinks it will be much different this year. He thought the same before last year.
July 28th, 2016 at 11:30 am
Saying and doing….Lets make it happen Mike!
July 28th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
This is the best news I’ve heard in the last 2 seasons, way to man up Mike.
July 28th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Aaron Donald
July 28th, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Reading the comments above, you guys are morons, I wasn’t happy with Evans last year but I have to say the offense would have Ben in trouble if Evans was not on the field. I never called for his head, I just wanted him to come out and do what he did today. Man up and take personal responsibility for his play. Now that he has done this you will see the difference in his game.
July 28th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
^^^okay so we are all morons and you are the smart one because just like all typical fanboys it doesn’t require a shred of evidence for you to support his proclamations of improvement in his play and attitude ON the football field.
Yep, you are “that guy”
July 28th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Midway through last year Evans said he needed to focus and stop mouthing off to the refs. Then he proceeded to go out and do it even more. Now its a new year and we will have to see. Hope he learned from last year and will be more wise and mature this year.
July 28th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
@dallas
Drops and immaturity aside,he has already proven that he is much more than a high priced blocking receiver.and the way to evaluate is: watch some tape on the Evans. watch his highlights. Good luck finding any on Clayton.
July 28th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
@ Tax
Your right late round receiver picks haven’t worked out so far.
Hump is dependable but much of threat after catch IMO.
July 28th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
meant @tmax
July 28th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Valrico Bub- highlights only aren’t very useful when evaluating the body of work. You can’t just set aside drops and immaturity and claim to be providing some objective analysis. This guy’s job is to catch footballs on game day when the clock is ticking and he did not do his job very well. Sounds like Clayton to me without the ferocious blocking prowess, effort and passion that at least came out of Clayton.
The passion of Evans when passes are contested strikes me as a spoiled child throwing a fit.
He is a top 10 pick and I expect him to perform that way. The issue isn’t with me or my expectations…
July 28th, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Drafting Sterling Shepard would have given Tampa 2 extra wins this year
Sterling Shepard with Jameis together would have allowed Tampa a deep run into the playoffs on 2017
Sterling Shepard and Jameis would have won the superbowl on 2018
Not drafting Sterling Shepard will be the worst mistake in the 13 year Jameis era
other than that…no big deal
July 28th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Many that actually watched the bucs would take exception to any claim of ferociousness of Clayton.He showed passion about his big payday and laughed at buc fans that were not happy about it.and if you actually watched games you would know that Evans can block as well or better. Mike clayton had no class in my book.i was at the stadium one game and he invited a bunch of new Orleans fans with New Orleans jerseys to sit front row in our stadium.Mike Evans has done more good than bad in the last two years.Thgat is all,Bub
July 28th, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Valrico Bub- I haven’t missed a Bucs game since 98′ so spare me your selective recollections. Outside of dropping well thrown passes Mike Clayton was known for being a great blocker. Unfortunately for him that duty is secondary for the position behind catching the damn ball. Evans has nowhere near the dog in him for that secondary blocking skill and is comparably inept at catching passes when it counts.
Spin it how you like but Mike Clayton Evans has problems with securing catches. If you actually watched the games last year you could not objectively argue otherwise.
July 28th, 2016 at 7:36 pm
of course he did,does it make him mike clayton,no Just don’t happen to share your high opinion of Mike clayton.when evans and Winston get their timing down
both will have better years,they need each otherto get better.
July 28th, 2016 at 8:57 pm
His inability to consistently catch the damn ball makes him Mike Clayton…not tough to see. If he quits dropping passes I’ll stop being reminded of how much his play mirrors the miserable Mike Clayton. I need to see it in order to believe it. The words he says on the subject are meaningless.