Mike Evans And Double-Teams
December 17th, 2016
Targeted
Through damned near the entire season, Mike Evans was putting up sick numbers. Not just Pro Bowl numbers, but All-Pro.
But in the past two games, Evans has been locked down by defenses and has caught just seven passes for 80 yards. San Diego and New Orleans put the clamp on him.
The big reason is obvious: injuries have the Bucs sifting through food pantries looking for any able-bodied men who can run and catch.
Defenses know they only need to be concerned with taking Evans out and it is showing. And Evans is seeing first-hand how teams are game-planning him.
Joe talked to Evans about this and asked if getting fewer targets because he’s getting mobbed gives him personal satisfaction, knowing teams are so determined to take him out that other receivers will have chances to make plays.
“I have seen doubles more this year than last year and I saw a lot of doubles last year, especially towards the end of the season,” Evans said. “That is the sign of respect in my eyes. We will take that any day of the week. If our other guys are getting one-on-one matchups. We will take that.”
But this begs the question: If teams focus so much manpower on Evans, why are other receivers not getting open more?
Well, there is a reason the likes of Freddie Martino and his Band of Renown and Josh Huff were found when Bucs officials were on street corners handing out “Help Wanted” flyers.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:21 am
Maybe, just maybe, we don’t have a great group of receivers who can get open. No offense to Hump, but he isn’t a quality #2 yet. I honestly think if we released any of them, no top teir team would pick any of them off our roster….
December 17th, 2016 at 8:28 am
Had a quality receiver on the street and let the Patriots pick him up.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:32 am
Ummm Huff was released for his Gun and Weed arrest. Should use a different example. Nice try though…
Huff was on the street and cleared waivers, meaning every team passed on him. And the Bucs put him on their practice squad, where no other team made a move to sign him to their active roster.–Joe
December 17th, 2016 at 8:33 am
The holding on to Vincent Jackson a year too long ( whereas Pats and other perenial contenders tend to cut bait a year early if anything ) is factoring in here. I’m all for a Vincent Jackson 9 million dollar severance/ golden parachute ( not my loot )….but that earmarked money took away from some very viable receiving options…Sanu, Boldin…perhaps a flyer on T. Pryor to name a few. Licht has drafted well for the most part and tightened up his FA game. But even the Joes…who are unabashedly fanboys of Licht admit he should have shored up the receiver spot before the season. It may be what upends the pursuit of the playoffs this season.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:34 am
I sure do hope, Huff and Martino, changes Joes tune about them, I expect to see Huff more involved, Dirk has put in plays for him and I still believe that he held back play calling last week because we will see the Saints again in a week. Dirk understands that winning the division games are more important than the Dallas game, that not to say the Dallas win isn’t important. If dirty birds slip up in a division game, and Bucs handle their business, division belongs to Tampa
December 17th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Between tight ends and RBS, I think we’re good. Especially with the underneath game that’ll be open in dallas. Get sims in the slot. Vs the saints, we split him out and find a mismatch on a LB….we have catchers, Winston will find them.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:39 am
“We will take that any day of the week”
This is what separates Mike Evans from the likes of this franchise’s previous best receiver – Meshawn Johnson.
“We”. Its all about the team – the family.
This young man has sure matured nicely over the last year. He has become everything we would want and expect from a top 10 pick – and then some.
Get Mike and Jameis some legit help in the WR room Jason Licht and this Buccaneer offensive will become a powerhouse.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:43 am
Not sure what people mean when the say #2. AH11 plays the slot.. never the X and may rarely if ever line up as the Z. ME3 played strictly X the last 2 seasons however this year has been moving around. Are they referring to option? There is no question we need better Options at WR. We need OBJ type quick twitch WR that can play outside (X,Z) for those who don’t know their alphabet.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:55 am
Fameis J’s trio is back: Hump, ME13, and Brate. I’m glad the NFL has put in the concussion protocol. FJ also has two more healthy receivers: DM22 and Sims. I’m still not sure who will win cos it’s in Dallas. But, GO MIGHTY BUCS!!
December 17th, 2016 at 8:56 am
Agree with No-Buc
last year both sims and martin were effective at screens and dumpoffs respectively.The Oline has to come out and pass protect long enough for longer plays to develop.Right side of line didn’t block well enough on runs
and killed drives with penalties last week. Backs can’t get out of the backfield if they
have to stay in and block.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:57 am
You can also see the maturity in how he handles contact with DBs. Where would we be without him?
December 17th, 2016 at 9:02 am
100% mvp of team, guy has grown a ton and a win sunday night he goes into national talk of best WR in NFL
December 17th, 2016 at 9:26 am
ME13 is fantastic, but the Bucs have to get him some help this coming year in the draft or FA. Pretty hard to stretch the field when you have only 1 deep threat, unless that deep threat happens to be a real speed burner (not ME13’s biggest attribute). Short, underneath game works best when there’s a credible intermediate/deep threat that the opposition has to honor. Once we lost Cecil our deep threat potential was lessened considerably (we’ve tried using Shep it looks like but deep threat isn’t his strength … seems to have trouble getting separation deep). Right now the Bucs seem to be hog-tied in that area. Really hoping that Josh Huff adds a deep complement to ME13. WR with speed (and great hands obviously) should definitely be one of our top priorities next year.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:38 am
ONLY 26 PASS ATTEMPTS?
REALLY KOETTER?
Our Jacksonville Off coordinator Koetter is trying to turn us to jacksonville jaguars
How can you blame the receivers without targets?
run, run, pass predicable Koetter is trying to stall our offense when we dont have a good run blocking offensive line and fat dougie groundhog
No patience and vision for holes but our groundhog is tripping headon to the ground to dig to China
our opponent defense has not stopped us, but our clowns playcalling. We do have the receivers and the trigger man to be explosive and productive
where the rb screens? the slants to sims and shep. the top playcallers know how to loosen the stacked box but our clown is too conservative and scared to lose
Happy groundhog day tampa bay fans.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:41 am
I think this week against the Cowboys we will see what we really got in Huff. He has had plenty of time to acclimate and should be on the same page as Jameis. I would be surprised to see a dramatic improvement in our passing game as a result of Humphries return. Might take a game or two to regain form after CP. Brate and Cross are the wild cards. The way Dallas covers our tight ends will have a bearing on the games outcome. Then there is aways Sheps contribution.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:55 am
STFU Kobe Welcher. Go Away! Nobody cares what you think nor wants to read your drivel.
You lost your bet. Now Scram – Scat – Skeedaddle – LEAVE!
December 17th, 2016 at 10:04 am
Mike Evans was putting up sick numbers. Not just Pro Bowl numbers, but All-Pro.
————–
#KY
P.S.
Drop it in the basket Jameis. A. C. C. U. R. A. C. Y
December 17th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Special guest poster Kobe Faker will be in attendance at Abes watch party sunday at clearwater
I will attend only If my food and beer bill is paid. with my contributions here, I believe that is only right
please confirm with the 2 joes and they will get back to me
**Kobe doesnt bring any cash(I dont believe in tipping)
*Kobe has many times hauled ass and left eating establishments without paying
December 17th, 2016 at 10:25 am
It will help having Humphries back. Shep has also had some good games. We need Hump, Shep, Brate and Simms to get open and give Jameis some places to go with the ball other than just ME13. Would also help if we could get our running game going but if the Saints could basically shut it down, I do not see us having success running againts Dallas. Go Bucs!!!
December 17th, 2016 at 10:38 am
I’m sorry man I know kobe isn’t welcome around here by many but I kinda agree with his take on coach K. This offense was more aggresive last season. I text SB during last week’s game saying “the only thing may hold us back from winning a chip this year is coach K”. Waayy too consevative all of a sudden.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:40 am
I also wanna add what stated prior to the season starting. The hawks won a chip baldwin and kearse as they’re starting WRs.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:22 am
Damn you JOE for not banning Kobe
Help him be a man of his/HER word of not being on this SACRED of sites anymore
December 17th, 2016 at 11:25 am
Savage Mike still gets open on double teams. The Messiah has missed him a couple of times in those two games. The ball has been sailing on him when he throws to Savage Mike. Shockwave will get his Sunday night though. You wait and see.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:32 am
Ray Rice
Uh lol who is Shockwave
I love the nickname
Wish JOE would let us post pics in our comments. I’ve got a great screenshot of #3 The Messiah throwing to GODZILLA
December 17th, 2016 at 11:42 am
@Whatda
Shockwave=Savage Mike
December 17th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
You guys hat are worried about the offense Bing conservative are funny. If all the starters were healthy they could open the offense up. Sometimes you have to tuck it in because of the talent you are using. There are no style points, a win is a win in the NFL.
December 17th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Joe is not a charity and unless you do something very special for Joe, he is not buying you food and drink. Like any other responsible and valued patron of Abe’s who shows up for the watch party, you will receive $5 off your bill, provided you actually own a piece of Bucs gear and actually where it Sunday night.
Caution: Lovie Smith attire does not count.
December 17th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Mcbuc no one complaining about winning. Some of us happen to feel like with how tenacious our D is playing their is no need for conservative play calling. You folks who complain about talent levels are the ones that tickle me. You were good enough to make an nfl roster then use his @$$. I saw romo to dez for years wit out much on the other side of the field. If you’re an offensive guru figure out ways to get the ball in your playmakers hands simple as that.
December 17th, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Again the hawks won a super bowl with baldwin and kearse.
December 17th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
I don’t care if its an incompletion,throw the d@$! ball deep down field twice a game to keep’em honest.
December 17th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc Says:
December 17th, 2016 at 10:40 am
I also wanna add what stated prior to the season starting. The hawks won a chip baldwin and kearse as they’re starting WRs
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I absolutely agree, it’s obvious that Koetter is has been going conservative with the offense, injuries or no injuries I believe that he has enough to work with to not be so predictable & conservative. On defenses like the saints with horrible pass defenses, why would we ruin it over and over again? Obviously we should be attacking their weaknesses not their strengths. This is what the patriots do on a consistent basis. That was a game that jameis should have thrown it at least 30 times. He needs to start getting Hot again if we’re going to make a push
December 17th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
LOL Joe that was hilarious. Kobe welcher shouldn’t even be allowed in the joint. He’s already promised to not pay his bill. Of course we know his promises are meaningless anyways….
The biggest issue in this game for me is cherilus. He was god awful last week against a much weaker defense. Can he step it up this week? If not, its gonna be a long ugly game.
December 17th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Unbelievable
You go out first and have the car out front …honk 3 times
I hope i dont run like Dougie groundhog and run right into and get tackled by Ira Kaufman before the front door
December 17th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
@NosBos
You forgot Golden Tate was on that roster,believe he has most yards after catch in the leaguethis year.
December 17th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Fair point Bob and he’s a quality football player. But he wouldn’t come to my mind if I were starting a franchise.
December 17th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Nole and Kobe agree
Put the game in Jameis hands and not in the hands of Dougie groundhog and the running game
December 17th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Kobe Faker is less likable than Kobe Bryant
December 17th, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Does an equal amount of hand checks by both receiver and defender avoid a penalty? Evans should be good.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Cameron Brate has clearly demonstrated he is a smart dependable receiver who does get open and has solid hands. That’s two top targets for #3 doesn’t matter which position they line up.
Then there’s Sims. He can get separation and can run from the backfield or split out wide. I loved seeing DK have him lined up in the slot. That’s a 3rd NFL quality receiver.
If Hump is able to play he’s certainly a capable 4th target as is Shep. The bottom line is that #3 does actually have some targets.
What has been missing all year and continues to be absent is scary Joey Galloway speed to take the top off the D’s. We do not have intimidating speed on the outside that’s for sure.
December 17th, 2016 at 7:24 pm
26 passes attempted
koetter likes to run the ball headon against 8 man front and wants jameis to complete 3rd and long against a pass rush
it worked out in kc but not is not high probability
yes we definitely do have the weapons, but since doug came back,…
koetter wants us to run smashmouth on 1st and 2nd down to a waiting stacked box and we stall at 3rd and short
koetter and his playcalling will be the downfall of our season
we will not make the playoffs because he is running the ball scared to lose and instead of putting the game in jameis hands
December 17th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Why is not a surprise to Joe?
December 17th, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Kobe’s alright. Just wants this ship kinetic. Enough with the potential,already. I’ll tell ya when we do cut this offense loose…damn. In the meantime winning these games with quick scores and great D has been impressive. Ya’ll know when we need the kid to step up, he will. Right now controlling TOP is huge for an offense. JW ain’t gonna let ya down. If we need him late, he knows what works.
December 18th, 2016 at 8:23 am
Thinking of Seinfeld’s George Steinbrenner singing Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” incorporating a line from Piratic and these posts:
You’re a Kobe Faker / Oath Breaker, Koetter Hater / You can’t get your booze for free.