“Undisputed Focal Point”
December 2nd, 2016
High praise. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
It’s pretty clear by now if one had to rank the best receivers in the NFL as of the second day of December 2016, at worst, Bucs receiver Mike Evans would be No. 3.
While Joe and his respected employee, the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman, may disagree on this — Ira thinks Evans is the best in the NFL; Joe can’t go there yet — there is no question Evans has the biggest impact of any NFL receiver to his team.
One football analyst Joe both knows and respects, Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report (true story: when Tanier was a high school math teacher he once had a pupil named “Joe Flacco.” Yeah, that Joe Flacco!) recently watched the film of Evans squaring off against Richard Sherman and Tanier absolutely marveled at Evans’ skills and hustle.
Evans has always been able to outleap defenders along the sidelines for touchdowns, as he did against Sherman. What was more impressive on Sunday was Evans’ ability to work to get open. He slipped behind defenders in zones, came back for Winston during scrambles and throttled down in seams to catch tight-window passes. Evans is quickly developing from “big-play guy” into a complete receiver.
…Evans now has had 100-plus receiving yards in three of his last four games and three multi-touchdown games this season. Overall, he’s 73-1,020-10 and the undisputed focal point of the Buccaneers offense.
This may be a broken record and Joe apologizes if fans and readers get that sense, but damn, imagine how lethal Evans could be if he had another receiver of above-average quality to pull heat away from him? Man!
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:09 am
The only reason I would put Julio and Antonio above Evans is their ability for run after the catch. Evans has an unbelievable knack for getting open, as well as making contested catches, but I can’t think of one long run after catch he’s had his entire career. That being said, there isn’t one WR I’d rather have on our team than Evans .
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:12 am
KY hands??? Who you calling KY hands bro..
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:36 am
The Buc Realist Says:
December 1st, 2016 at 10:21 am
While some of you are cheering and counting the days until ME13 makes the pro-bowl!!! The Buc Realist is watching with a worried eye!!!!! Get this man some help!!!! He is the most targeted WR in the League!!!!! Which means he gets tackled the most in the league!!!! We cannot have ME13 be like Calvin Johnson and be a 1 man offense, putting up franchise numbers only to retire early due to injuries!!!!!!! I know that NFL GM Licht top priority is taking the pressure of ME13 by finding other weapons!!!!!
NFL 2017 draft WR, TE, Safety!!!!!
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:36 am
HawainBuc then you missed the 70 yard catch and run he put up against the Gmen last year. It was on the greatest route in all of football……………the crossing route. Jameis hit him perfectly in stride 30 or 40 yards and he ran like 30 or 40 yards. Best pass Fameis ever threw.
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:41 am
Just imagine if they can nab Mike Williams out of Clemson or juju out of usc! Both those guys can take off Mike right away.
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:49 am
He may fall short of being the best all around WR in the league but hes the best catcher in the league. When he squeezes that ball with his big mitts the ball almost disappears. It’s like watching Paul Bunyan catch a baseball. It. Is. Beautiful!!
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:55 am
If we get a good weapon to go with him his numbers will likely go down as Winston will be able to spread the ball around more.
He’s leading the NFL in targets with at least 11 targets per week outside of 1 week with 5. There are weeks where he gets thrown the ball 13-17 times. That’s insane lol.
If anything a #2 WR will open up the offense and Winston to ME will be more efficient in terms of completion % since he won’t have to force the issue in double coverage as much.
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:57 am
“We cannot have ME13 be like Calvin Johnson and be a 1 man offense, putting up franchise numbers only to retire early due to injuries!”
Good point. What’s interesting is Stafford puts up better #s without Calvin because he can spread the ball around; and get’s to my post about additional weapons being good for the offense more so than ME (even though he will benefit for sure)
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:02 pm
@Realist- Yea, I think that what you’re saying is a no-brainer. Think of it in terms of how much it will expand this offense in general too. More weapons for Jameis, make it happen!
Great job Mike! #1 in my book!
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:02 pm
This game Sunday should be an offensive barn burner. Our young, rapidly developing offense against a proven offensive NFL juggernaut for years. YEAH!!!! BTW, DK is developing receiving help for ME13: Brate, Hump (if he doesn’t get murdered on PR duty), Shep (if he doesn’t get murdered on ST duty), DM22, Sims, etc. Just wait until the draft next year. Go Mighty Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:12 pm
My new favorite pic of Godzilla
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Agreed Hawaiian
First, congrats to ME13 for putting the work to actually turn his KY hands not into good but now his hands are weapons in his skillset
BUT, his run after catch skills are pitiful. If he caught a pass at LOS he looks like Donavon Smith trying to get away from defenders. Its not even good.
there are 3 levels and mike excels on the intermittent and deep routes. he is putrid at the short LOS to 10 yards. thats why koetter cant move him around the slot because he cant catch a slant if his life depended
the truely greats, OBJ, AB, JJ, aj green and amari cooper
the most unbelievable stat that is just uncomprehending is that with ME13 having all those yards and targets, how few yards he gets after catch
ME13 is ranked 105th among receivers in YAC
http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/receiving/sort/receivingYardsAfterCatch/qualified/false/count/81
better route running might create that separation at the LOS but he will never possess the stop and go acceleration like the best BUT he can gain that separation from learning to create target areas with body position
thats why KOBE is and will never be on the forrest gump bandwagon. Gump should have brought in floridas own anquan boldin and teach ME13 skills to make him undefensible
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Kobe ME will never be like AB / OBJ / JJ / Cooper. He’s just not the same athlete.
Julio is the only guy with ME’s size that has that kind of athletic ability.
While AB or OBJ are way more athletic they’re not going to win a jump ball with ME. All AB’s production comes on back shoulder throws / slants / deep balls where he can get over the top of a D. But if you throw it at him deep with good coverage it’s going to be intercepted most the time; whereas ME catches a lot of those type of balls almost routinely.
They’re just different types of players. Nothing wrong with it.
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:44 pm
My new favorite picture too!!! Omg. What a beautiful site to behold! Pictures tell a thousand stories!!
December 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Let me add that ME13 will get better at the LOS routes because he is determined to be great ala jameis…
Its that the learning curve will take longer now without the tutelage of anquan boldin
At 6’5″ 230lb he is the least physical reciever among the bigs at the LOS
December 2nd, 2016 at 1:26 pm
“Gump should have brought in floridas own anquan boldin and teach ME13 skills to make him undefensible”
How do you know he didn’t try? Oh yeah you don’t lol
December 2nd, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Every picture tells a story don’t it? Without Evans the Bucs would be in deep doodoo.
December 2nd, 2016 at 1:52 pm
I’m not so sure that getting another lethal receiver is going to do that much for Mike Evans. It will be great for the team but the net result will be fewer forced passes towards Evans and fewer attempts to make those diving amazing catches.
#3 will simply spread the ball around more. Great for #3 and the Bucs offense but not great for ME’s PR and numbers. Not that ME will mind..winning heals everything and ME knows the potential of this group.
December 2nd, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Anquan and his family is from 2 hours away from tampa. He is a FSU great. Jaboo spent time with anquan at his youth camp this summer…
If tampa wanted him, he would be in pewter
December 2nd, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Sunday @1605
WE ULEASH HELL!!!
December 2nd, 2016 at 2:58 pm
I can’t believe you people still waste time even responding to Kobe… smh…
As far as Evans getting better with additional help.. I would think that it’s possible his number could increase and here’s why.
With another legitimate threat on the other side, specifically one that is a really good route runner and can take the top off a defense, Mike Evans would no longer be double teamed damn near every play. As crazy as it seems, that would likely open up more opportunities for Evans, considering that most of us on here know what type of threat Evans can be one-on-one.
December 2nd, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Kobe you’re entertaining I’ll say that. Good for random things like Russel Wilson hand size analysis. You at least talk sh1t in a comedic way; so even if I find something completely wrong it’s not that annoying.
I wanted Boldin probably the most out of all the FA WRs. Also liked Travis Benjamin to stretch the field but Benjmain hasn’t really done that great in SD.
Was not as high on Sanu or Jones given their prices. Not sure who is available in FA next year
December 2nd, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Best player on our team.
Mojiska Says:
December 2nd, 2016 at 11:41 am
Just imagine if they can nab Mike Williams out of Clemson or juju out of usc! Both those guys can take off Mike right away.
OMG been saying that for weeks, cool if he fell to us. I’m sure you saw his highlights this past wkd!
December 2nd, 2016 at 3:21 pm
LC
Tampa is trending up
these next 5 games going to be exciting as hell
LETS GO BUCS!
LETS GO CHIEFS!
December 2nd, 2016 at 3:29 pm
…”we got that swag…”