Koetter: Justin Evans To Start
October 5th, 2017
Starting tonight. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
UPDATED: 7:28 a.m. – The rookie is going to get his chance.
The second-round pick this spring, safety Justin Evans, got 45 snaps on Sunday, by far the most action of his career, And now winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, appearing on “All Access” seen on Buccaneers.com, tells moderator Scott Smith that Evans is expected to start tonight against the Belicheats.
Yes, against Tom Brady.
“I think for this game, Justin Evans is going to get his first start,” Koetter told Smith. “He is getting real close to breaking out. His athleticism has really jumped out in practice. Excited to see him play. First start you are going against Tom Brady, that will be a good challenge.”
Evans was pressed into duty Sunday when Keith Tandy left the game with an injured hip. Already T.J. Ward has been sidelined and slowed by a sore hip. which leaves only fan favorite Chris Conte and Evans as the lone healthy Bucs safeties.
At least when Evans was in the game against the Giants, Joe didn’t notice him embarrassing himself facing Eli Manning.
October 5th, 2017 at 5:05 am
That tells you what desperate shape were in. Oh well, good luck young man.
October 5th, 2017 at 5:24 am
I’m good with it. Tandy earned starter in a long road of hard knocks. Evans clearly has instand upside by being a second round pick in itself. I know, sometimes there are busts, but it’s too early to tell. And as Joe said, he didn’t embarrass during time with Eli. It’s harder to come in and be a DB right off the draft list than many other positions, but it doesn’t mean he can’t shine.
October 5th, 2017 at 5:31 am
If he can just improve his tackling, he wont let this job go.
He has great free safety skills
October 5th, 2017 at 6:11 am
That’s why jaquies smith was let go. That have to bring up another safety from practice squad in case another safety gets hurt
I guess guys just don’t play thru injuries anymore cause of medical staff . No guys like Ronnie Lott cutting off half a finger so he could play in super bowl
October 5th, 2017 at 6:12 am
We need some guys to man up
October 5th, 2017 at 6:15 am
We will see if he was worth a second round pick…last second round pick whiffed bad. I bet Jason’s butt puckers every time TB goes back to pass tonight…at least Evans can’t miss wide right.
October 5th, 2017 at 6:27 am
Interestingly, Ryan Smith showed improvement.
He didnt play last year. This is his rookie season also.
I think Evans and Smith will flash their talent, and make some rookie mistakes.
What else could you possibly expect?
But They will both end up being good players. Meybe better than that.
Hargreaves is the ine I’m worried about.
I have loved every Light draft but one.
The Hargreaves/Spence draft
I posted that day, that both suffer from the same affliction
Short and Slow.
Spence just needs to play the right position, which at 6’2″ 250 lbs , Aint DE.
Think Von Miller type Lb. otherwise, hes just gonna keep getting hurt by 300 pound Olinemen
Hargreaves is the same size as Bret Grimes. But Grimes has Springs for legs. He is a unique and incredible talent.
I dont know ablout Hargreaves. Its still early, and I have my fingers crossed.
But hes struggling this year. Badly
October 5th, 2017 at 6:40 am
Lol if Tom Brady is reading this he’s telling Gronk to get ready. Good luck young man. Please wrap up though!!
October 5th, 2017 at 6:44 am
Don’t know whether Justin Evans is ready to start of not, but fact is Bucs have little choice with Tandy & Ward both banged up. So now Bucs have 3 rookies starting once again … Howard, Beckwith & Evans. Oh and for all practical purposes, Bond is really a rookie too since he was hurt all last year. So that’s 3 ‘rookies’ starting on defense now, all at LB & Safety. What could possibly go wrong against Tom Brady & the Patriots? Admittedly the Pats are having a down year (2-2) but they’re still averaging 32 points a game against some decent defenses (Chiefs, Texans, Panthers).
Starting to feel like a broken record, but it’s time for the Bucs offense to step up, and do it in a big way. Lay 7 TDs on the Pats, control the clock and minimize turnovers & penalties and we’ll win … in a high scoring game. This’ll either be REALLY exciting or we’ll never be allowed to play on Thursday Night Football again.
October 5th, 2017 at 6:50 am
@ Capt. Tim
I’ve been saying the exact same thing about Spence. That’s why I doubts about Mike Smith. He claims he is here to scheme around the players and not force them into unfavourable positions. But yet it’s clear as day that Noah Spence is not an overly effective DE in the traditional sense. They need to use him like Denver uses Von Miller and ATL uses Vic Beasley. Everybody thought Vic Beastly was a bust after his miserable rookie year, but he switched positions and led the league in sacks the next year. Coincidence ?? I think not
October 5th, 2017 at 6:55 am
Capt. Tim I agree with you on VH. He seems to lack confidence bc when He gets beat he resorts to playing 10 yards off the wr and qbs are able to have a field day against him… nothing worse than being on the field and lacking confidence, hopefully I’m wrong.
October 5th, 2017 at 7:05 am
Nothing we can do at this point except Cheer him on!
Not his fault about the situation.
Go out there young man and have fun, play hard, just leave it all out there.
GO BUCS!
October 5th, 2017 at 7:15 am
USMC, exactly. Any other sentiment is worthless. Go get ’em, Justin. Show what you got. Play fast, trust yourself and wrap ’em up.
October 5th, 2017 at 7:20 am
This number 21 is a very nasty player. Long kid with pointy shoulder pads. Uncoils on guys like a cobra. He will soften up Gronk I hope. Go bucs!
October 5th, 2017 at 7:26 am
Gulp
October 5th, 2017 at 7:32 am
I suppose in an emergency or for a breather we still have Ryan Smith… also have that special teams ace… name escapes me
October 5th, 2017 at 7:36 am
Time 2 Ride son.
No excuses
We need a signature win.
So beat the damn -Patriots!
Go Bucs!!
October 5th, 2017 at 7:36 am
Non story he’s the only other safety available lol
October 5th, 2017 at 7:48 am
been waiting for this, i beat he blitzes for a sack before he bats a ball down or picks a pass off, I’m callin it
October 5th, 2017 at 7:56 am
So Pats will score at least 42…so jameis better be ready to throw and throw….i slightly remember that mike smiths defense was so difficult to understand the communications it took seasoned pros over half the year to get the communication down in the back end, so justin evans head will be spinning and cooks and gronk and the gang will be running uncovered up the seams all night….another national tv embarrassment for the bucs in a game
October 5th, 2017 at 8:04 am
Evans has shown incredible speed and quickness….he seems to be in position to make plays….let’s hope his tackling improves….I think he has a chance to be very good.
Spence needs to be in a 3-4 defense.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:16 am
Koetter better hold back on his field goal fetish tonight
we need 7 pts all night long
October 5th, 2017 at 8:17 am
#21…git a pick 6 !
October 5th, 2017 at 8:34 am
Bird Says
“That’s why jaquies smith was let go. That have to bring up another safety from practice squad in case another safety gets hurt.”
Isaiah Johnson is the only safety on the Bucs practice squad. I don’t know anything about him.
If they activate him, let’s hope he impresses.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:34 am
I’ll smile if I observe Justin Evans,Conte,McClain,Grimes,VH3,Javien Elliot and Josh Robinson all on the field at same time..
October 5th, 2017 at 8:37 am
They signed TJ Ward for a reason. If they foresaw Justin Evans being ready this season, the would not have signed Ward.
But…maybe he will surprise.
I doubt it though. What I do expect is Brady to pick on both him and VHIII.
Only way we win this game is if we suddenly have exceptional pass defense and we can win a shootout. Even if our pass rush suddenly kicks it into gear, Brady can still produce.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:37 am
We’re low on LBs too. We could see Bully activated.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:38 am
Super Sunday came around I didn’t recognize half those dudes on the field. Didn’t matter what their skill level was. Its hard completing passes When so bodies are occupying the passing windows. Go watch it again,see for yourself how long they were forcing brady to hold onto the ball. After a sack you could see it in his face like “where the f@+÷ an I suppose to throw the ball”.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Exactly Bonzi,all the more reason to go heavy nickle and heavy dime coverage. H3ll heavy quarters as well.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:46 am
This could get ugly
October 5th, 2017 at 8:52 am
let’s get it!! i don’t know about y’all but i’m excited to see what the young man does. 3 games in and you guys have already written him off like he wasn’t gonna play all year and was a bust. i got news for ya so much has been made about the communication of this defense that no matter how good he is he wasn’t going to start off the bat. same thing with tj ward. maybe in the next few games he’s going to continue to take away snaps from conte and our starting safety spot will be filled by evans and ward. a hell of a lot more upside in that group than with tandy and conte
October 5th, 2017 at 8:52 am
Let’s go Bucs !!!! Meet up for the Walk be loud all game long our team needs us it’s gonna be tough but not impossible to beat Brady we got this !
October 5th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Pressure impacts Tom Brady more than any NFL quarterback.
Especially A-gap pressure.
If wanna beat the best pocket passer of this era – Put Brady on his back.
October 5th, 2017 at 8:56 am
and anyone saying it’s gonna be another national tv embarrassment for us…go follow another team gd… always so negative your really that concerned that we’re replacing tandy with justin evans?? so we’re replacing someone who’s smart and knows the system with a guy with a lot more athleticism who’s still learning but your not going to learn unless you play. tom brady is going to get his points that’s obvious but i. have faith that mike smith isn’t going to leave this kid out to dry i expect him to be playing a lot of deep single high zone and a lot of quarters i don’t really expect to see him 1 on 1 very often
October 5th, 2017 at 9:01 am
LUV I’ve seen some awfully mean defenses put brady on his backside a number of times,that dude does not rattle from that. The first time I’ve ever seen his eyes look uncertain was in the superbowl. They totally caught off guard by atlanta umbrella coverage. Broncos pounded brady in the afc championship a couple years ago game came down to wire. giants nascar defense pounded brady game came down to the wire. seahawks hounded him that superbowl,duke stood strong and won that one at the wire. Atlanta’s philosophy had them up 25,they nutted up and gift wrap that game to the pats at the wire.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:02 am
@buccaneer bonzai
How can you say they singed Ward because Evans wasnt ready? They are two different types of safeties. To me the signing of Ward was about them feeling Tandy wasnt ready to be a full time starter and that showed on field as Ward wound up taking his snaps.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:06 am
The Patriots offensive line has allowed the fourth-most pressures in the NFL
Brady’s feeling the heat on 43.8% of the Patriots’ passing plays.
Note: New England offensive line surrendered 3 sacks to Carolina.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:10 am
NOSBOS
That’s how the Giants beat him twice.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:25 am
I thought he played pretty solid against the Giants.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:26 am
LUVMYBUCS Says
“The Patriots offensive line has allowed the fourth-most pressures in the NFL
Brady’s feeling the heat on 43.8% of the Patriots’ passing plays.”
And yet. He still scores a lot.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:26 am
Could the Pats be tanking? Brady is getting up there and they’ll need a replacement QB soon.
October 5th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Also in that Super Bowl.
Atlanta was bring the heat in the 1st half.
Though he didn’t get a sack – That kid from Minnesota De’Vondre Campbell was balling. They ran a whole lot games up front w/ Campbell,Upshaw & Beasley.
With some nice combo coverages on the backend.
Then Campbell goes down in the 3rd.
Atlanta for some odd reason – abandoned the game plan.
Weird
October 5th, 2017 at 9:30 am
So did Joe Montana aka the G.O,A.T
But do you remember this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyV5eqBx7ws
October 5th, 2017 at 9:30 am
^Bonzai^
October 5th, 2017 at 9:40 am
So if Conte or Evans gets hurt, who do we putin?
October 5th, 2017 at 9:47 am
Grimes should be ok in a lot of 1 on 1 coverages, so I say just focus on Gronk seam passes. I can see him stepping up for an incerception and taking it to the house. He is VERY athletic and closes quicker than Tandy so all is noy bad. Hargreaves concerns me much more. Come on Smitty. Bump and run with this guy. Off coverages are for the birds.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:14 am
Still wonder about Smith?? There was a reason why dixie chicks let him go. However, good luck to #21. Go get ’em, JE!! So, old man Brady doesn’t like to be pressured? That’s a strong point of the walking wounded aka defense. No matter, offense has to win the game. Go Bucs!!! Throw the Putz into Tampa Bay!!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:18 am
I think he’s more likely to embarrass himself trying to tackle than defending the pass.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:18 am
I’m ready to see Evans play. We know what Tandy and Conte can do… and it’s not great. Maybe this kid can play? He’s got the skills.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:20 am
NOS
I agree….putting those db’s in would make me happy…..
BOLD PREDICTION:
VHG gets a pick and GMC gets 2 sacks….GO BUCS!!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:04 am
“No guys like Ronnie Lott cutting off half a finger so he could play in super bowl”
which he regrets doing!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Brady 500 yds tonight