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The NFL does NOT provide official stats on drops. Unreliable stat-geek outfits do, but Joe doesn’t trust their data.

So after the seemingly countless drops by Mike Evans last year, Joe entered 2016 determined to study the film, chronicle drops and avoid confusion.

Week 4 vs. Denver – 1 drop, two “maybes”

Joe’s film study awards another drop to Vincent Jackson. With 6:29 remaining in the third quarter, Jameis Winston offers a play-action fake to Charles Sims and fires right about 17 yards to V-Jax running from left to right. The ball is well thrown and V-Jax is pretty well covered. Not an easy catch, but the ball is where it’s supposed to be and V-Jax gets two hands on it.

Two possible drops awarded to Cameron Brate, with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter and 3:56 left in the game. Film is inconclusive on both. Excellent throw by Jameis on the first one, which was dropped in over Brate’s shoulder, but Joe could not determine if a defender got his hand in for a breakup. The fourth-quarter throw was a little high and behind Brate, but not much.

2016 Drops Tally:
Vincent Jackson – 4 drops
Charles Sims – 2 drops
Mike Evans – 1 drop

Possible Drops Tally

Cameron Brate – 2 possibles
Mike Evans – 1 possible

WEEK 3 vs. Los Angeles – 2 drops plus 1 “bonus screwup”

Extraordinarily costly drops in this game, led by Charles Sims’ juggle with 2:32 remaining in the first half. Sims couldn’t squeeze the short throw out of the backfield to the left, and then he got drilled, leading to a Mark Barron interception.

Vincent Jackson gets the next one, his third of the year. V-Jax was alone at the 10 yard line with :54 remaining the game. He was square to the ball as the high throw hit both his hands. V-Jax didn’t even have to jump.

**Bonehead bonus play goes to tight end Brandon Myers, who forgot where he was on a short second-half throw to the right sideline. He floated out of bounds and caught the ball.

WEEK 2 vs. Arizona; 3 drops plus 1 “maybe.”

Charles Sims gets the first drop, with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. Yes, the short pass to Sims was tipped a the line of scrimmage, but Sims got two paws on the ball and was looking right at it. He couldn’t squeeze it and re-tipped, which led to an interception.

Vincent Jackson returns for his second drop of the season with 2:12 remaining in the third quarterback. V-Jax went up for a 20-yard throw over the middle at the 4 yard line. He got two hands on it, squeezed it and didn’t hold on.

Mike Evans is issued a drop for his two hands on a well-thrown ball from America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. No question here after the film is studied. Evans is hit in stride on the right flank. The defender did not break up that pass.

**Possible drop goes to Evans with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter. It’s a slant pass. Video, including the All-22 coach’s film, is inconclusive.

WEEK 1 vs. Falcons – Joe assigned the first drop of the year to Vincent Jackson, and only one drop for the game.

It came with 59 seconds remaining in the first half. The Bucs were on the Falcons’ 41-yard line, and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, dropped back to pass with no rush. Jackson, on the right flank, broke inside and then took his route outside to the sideline. Jameis put the ball on the money at the 25-yard line. The ball entered Jackson’s gut and he couldn’t squeeze it.

After the play, the TV cameras caught V-Jax giving sort of an “it’s-on-me” wave back toward the huddle.

Bad drop, for sure.

It surely wasn’t a great game for V-Jax. Receivers coach/offensive coordinator Todd Monken said V-Jax was at fault on the miscommunication that led to Jameis’ interception.