“Hall Of Fame Numbers”
December 11th, 2016
National voice all-in on Mike Evans.
Joe understands Bucs fans crave national attention.
Winning four games in a row and being tied for first in December (feels really weird) will draw national types to Tampa like moths to a porch light.
Already this week Joe has seen representatives from BSPN and NFL Network at One Buc Palace. Joe hasn’t seen that type of coverage since America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, took part in his first training camp.
On Friday, a guy who has always seemed tuned in to Tampa Bay, Peter Schrager, was at One Buc Palace. The co-host of “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network did a live hit from Tampa on the show. And Schrager is all in on Mike Evans being the best receiver in the league.
“There is a lot of confidence [with the Bucs] that this guy [Evans] is the best receiver in the NFL,” Schrager said. “And when you look at the draft class that he came in with: it was Sammy Watkins, it was Odell Beckham, it was Jarvis Landry. There was a lot of big names. Mike Evans — we’re talking about Steve Smith heading to Canton, Hall of Fame career — Mike Evans is putting up Hall of Fame numbers. …
“Mike Evans is my guy to watch on Sunday.”
Joe is eager to see what the Bucs can do against a porous Saints defense. If Evans can catch two touchdowns and rack up over 100 yards receiving, then Joe has a hunch the Bucs will be alright today.
December 11th, 2016 at 7:17 am
Porous Saints defense? Against the pass … most definitely (ranked #31 in pass defense in terms of yardage given up). Against the run … Saints are actually fairly stout (ranked #11 in terms of yardage given up; average of 3.9 yds against the run). Personally expecting Bucs will attempt to run the ball and if successful keep it up. More than likely though they’ll use the run to set up play-action passes to get Rodgers & Sims especially in space, then strike with a periodic intermediate or deep pass. ME13 may get the 100 yds receiving Joe, but my hunch is that he’ll only get targeted 8-10 times max.
December 11th, 2016 at 7:19 am
Calvin Johnson has hall of fame career and numbers. But, because he never had help on the other side or other receiving options, his career was shorten and the team really never went anywhere!!! There is a lesson in all this!!!!!
NFL Bucs draft 2017 WR. TE . and safety!!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!
And Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 7:31 am
I’m with Realist!!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 7:36 am
WHOA!!!!
………….he’s only in his third season
SLOW DOWN!
December 11th, 2016 at 7:48 am
“…Evans can catch two touchdowns and rack up over 100 yards receiving…”
That is very doable! Bucs win today!
December 11th, 2016 at 7:54 am
Personally, I think our focus in the draft should be D. As talented as Winston is, and having Brate and super talented Evans, the other WR positions can be easily filled in with FAs and lower round draft picks.
When we get to championship games, it will be against the likes of Rogers, Brady, etc. and we will have to stop them in order to win. Just like with the Broncos, Patriots (remember the INT at the end?), Seattle, Giants over the Pats, etc.
December 11th, 2016 at 7:58 am
We can all agree Mike Evans is incredibly talented. I still think the catch he made against the falcons IS the catch of the year. He’s very tough and not many CBs can match his strength. Hall of fame numbers? you know what I’m ok with him saying that, when teams know that your going to get the ball and Evans still comes through with big play after big first down after first down, he’s doing what elite WRs should be doing and an elite receiver, if consistent throughout their career, can look forward to being in Canton.
December 11th, 2016 at 8:06 am
I think the bucs are so close to having an unstoppable offense. We might as well go for it and make our team absolutely dominant on offense. It would take another player or 2. With some slight retooling each year. I say go for it. The defense will do better when the offense can score 30+ every game. Besides the defense pretty good as it stands. A few pieces here and there. I don’t see any reason why not to address needs on both sides.
The offense stalls at times. Giving the defense a short rest period. That is usually when opposing teams start to run up the score on us. But if you give Winston the weapons, hopefully more drives can be sustained, giving the defense more rest, and more points on the board so the defense can play their game and not play on their heels.
December 11th, 2016 at 8:27 am
Winning four games in a row and being tied for first in December (feels really weird) ….. Is weird only to those who are transplant and adopted the Bucs as their new team to root for when they moved here.
For those of us who only being fans of the Bucs we are fired up! We have been in this situation before. Because it has been so long and the team is in totally different mentality than previous years, and you can say that also of the beginning of this year, we have trust in this team which is 1-0 in December of 2016. Is a new team in Tampa Bay which we have never experience before.
Jameis, Ayers and Holley will keep the team in the best mentality to win.
Go Bucs!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 8:28 am
The saints will be without their starting free safety today. So the only “playmaker” they have in the secondary is sterling moore. I see us carving the Aint’s up.
Bucs 37 – Aint’s 17
December 11th, 2016 at 8:40 am
Here is an interesting quote about the Falcons – this is why I think it is better to build up the D more:
…The good thing about being a track-meet sort of team is that you’re almost never out of a game. The bad thing is that the same goes for your opponent…
But every week, it would be exciting to watch the Bucs with Evans and another stud at WR, like Alshon Jefferies
December 11th, 2016 at 8:47 am
I could care less what the National media talks about. I listen to them all day at work on XM, not sure why really. I catch them all the time proving they don’t even watch the games. A so called expert like Jim Miller talking about Humphies being out with a bad knee, Bill Polian talking about players coming off injury this week when they have been active already for 2 weeks. The list goes on and on.
December 11th, 2016 at 9:31 am
signing Alshon Jefferies looks good on paper, but he’s fragile, misses multiple games every year, plus hes going to want a top contract, better drafting a high end talent in the 2nd and groom him to be the wr2 and having a cheap contract for 4 years, and signing a second tier FA WR
December 11th, 2016 at 9:33 am
The Bucs need to make a serious run at JPP and Alshon in FA then BPA the draft.
December 11th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Right with ya TheBucsAnthem on this!
WHOA!!!!
………….he’s only in his third season
SLOW DOWN!
Come back at me with this when this is his eighth year at this level! I want this to be the case, Just as much as the rest of our Bucs crew. Until it happens what can you do?
Cheer On Mr. Evans! Tear it up! I also agree bringing in quality young WR’s to push all of our WR to get better. Mr. Evans on down. Looking like a enjoyable ride for these next 5 seasons, watching Mr. Winston and Mr. Evans toss the ball around our town. Along with the other nice pieces we have and will acquirein the seasons to be.
Bring On the Saints !
Go! Bucs!
December 11th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Defense Rules Says:
The Bucs have been this scenario before: great run D stats and terrible D stats.
Fact is you don’t have to run against the Aint’s to beat them because their pass defense is so bad. Their avg. YPC is among the leagues worst.
December 11th, 2016 at 10:12 am
The man is a MF savage……PERIOD!
December 11th, 2016 at 10:17 am
This offense is too inconsistent to beat up on a bad pass defense. Turnovers penalties and predictable play calling kills drives. Defense has carried this team 4 weeks in a row
Time for the offense to step up
December 11th, 2016 at 10:22 am
Guzzie says:
“better drafting a high end talent in the 2nd and groom him to be the wr2 and having a cheap contract for 4 years, and signing a second tier FA WR”
Agree completely Guzzie. We don’t need to be spending another $12M per year on a 2nd receiver with so many big contracts coming up for our young stars in the next 2-3 years. We will be spending that on Evans after next year so we certainly don’t need to be (and can’t be) paying $25M to 2 receivers.
Draft a stud WR prospect in the 1st or 2nd round this year and throw that $10M+ Eric Berry’s way if we are going to spend big on a player in free agency…….
December 11th, 2016 at 10:57 am
I was going to post the same thing cobraboy. When you have the worst Pass D in the league teams tend to steer away from the run which skews the numbers. Saints are in for a good old fashioned WoodShed beating today.
December 11th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
JPP just resigned with the Giants before the start of the season. He isn’t a free agent and the Giants aren’t going to cut him.
December 11th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
JPP is on a one year deal. The contract he signed was a prove it deal. He will be a 28 y/o UFA at the end of this season.