Ranking Mike Evans
July 5th, 2018
Lack of respect.
In Joe’s eyes, Mike Evans is on the cusp of being an elite receiver. He is already the best receiver the Bucs have ever had.
Not sure why national writers don’t give the props you would think Evans warrants, but he doesn’t move the needle for some. Perhaps it is just like it is for Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David and America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston; he has more losses on his resume than wins.
In another in the summer tradition of ranking NFL players and coaches, Evans barely cracked the top 10 for Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News. He ranked Evans at No. 9.
Evans’ exceptional 2016 season is reason for the Buccaneers to think he will rebound from a disappointing 2017 campaign and return to his most efficient, explosive self. The mega contract extension is out of the way, so that should help. Even without Jameis Winston for three games, with more help from Chris Godwin drawing attention, Evans can produce more downfield dominance. He turns only 25 in August.
Joe recently had a college offensive coordinator tell him Evans is a possession receiver so he’s not expected to rack up YAC. Maybe that is why Evans isn’t thought of as elite?
Iyer has DeAndre Hopkins ranked No. 2 (Joe has never thought this guy was a top-five receiver), Michael Thomas at No. 7 (he’s good but not as good as Evans), Josh Brown at No. 8 (How? He’s been out of the league for two years.)
July 5th, 2018 at 11:08 am
Forgive me for stating the obvious. It’s Al Davis….”Just win baby”.
Buc players do not play in a major media market so they’re not going to get any bump like New York and LA Players get and to a lesser degree Philly, Chicago,Boston.
But this is not an insurmountable obstacle to getting one’s props. But it takes the entire team…no individual can break out…see Joe’s examples…but if the team wins…to the degree they win…their players will get their proper respect.
I LOVE Tampa/St. Pete but let’s be honest guys to much of the rest of the nation we are just a quiet little backwater. The ONLY way to get props in our market is to win!
See Tampa Bay Lightning.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Evans is top a 7 receiver. I’m not sure how he was left off the top 100 players list. Blows my mind.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:19 am
JJ
AB
AJ
D-HOP
ODB
are above ME imo…..mike is in that second tier with
k.allen
Michael Thomas
josh Gordon
j.landry
devonte adams
ty Hilton
mike has to become a little bit more consistent…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 5th, 2018 at 11:26 am
If we ran more slant routes he would get good yac but dirks playcalling has changed from 2015 and from his days in atlanta…..not sure why
July 5th, 2018 at 11:39 am
dirks playcalling has changed from 2015 and from his days in atlanta…..not sure why
thats because he had an HC holding his hand….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 5th, 2018 at 11:45 am
It is difficult to get a ton of YAC when you are thrown balls relying on your height and physicality for the catches, rather than hitting you in stride while you are able to continue to separate from the DB. And if we are at the bottom in team YAC, I suggest that is possibly a function of the way Jameis delivers the ball.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:45 am
I love ME13 BUT the truth is he is neither a guy that can consistently blow the top of the defense OR a guy that has any RAC ability. Basically he is Keyshawn Johnson with a much much better attitude. Mike just does not move the needle because only guys who can change the game in one play move the needle and ME13 is just not that guy, period.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:48 am
ndog… we have a guy that can “blow the top” off of defenses…a couple in fact….but in case you didn’t notice last year, we don’t seem to have a QB that can deliver the ball to him/them with consistent accuracy.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:52 am
Every top 10 receiver could easily switch spots if they switched teams. I’d put Evans about 9 too. Now if Dirk added different routes into his offense he could easily climb to 3. Teams sit on the bucs routes. Hard to get yac when the defense knows youre running a comeback 15 yards away so theres 2 guys waiting on the tackle if the other doesnt deflect or pick it. Evans falls down alot after the catch now so he doesnt get decapitated. I wish Dirk would stop being so predictable. That offense could be really good.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Does mark watch football?? 🙂 Are you 17 years old, “2001”?? This would explain ALOT…HAHAHA!!
July 5th, 2018 at 11:59 am
Hopkins is way better than Evans and it’s not even close
Last year Mike Evans looked like a better Michael Clayton.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Mark2001
Your first comment is spot-on.
JW does not know how to lead a receiver. I think ME’s ability to get the jump balls made a lot of fans think we had a much better QB than we actually did.
Hit any of our receivers in stride and watch the difference it makes.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Wow Bucs fans must me nursing hangovers cuz there’s a whole lot of stupid going around here today.
Hit a receiver in stride and watch him rack up YAC.
It’s really Simple as that, folks.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
He’s be even better with a QB that hit him in stride with a well placed ball…instead of a QB that throws 50/50 balls counting on his
“wide catch radius”…WR to caulk up another reception in the cockeyed QB stat sheet
July 5th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Dooshlarue….exactly. Evens catches many balls that are thrown up for grabs, with the reasonable expectation that he will come down with them regularly…which he has. But as unbelievable has also said, they aren’t very often in stride where he can rack up the YAC.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
ME13 has too much chemistry with JW to his detriment. When the deep ball is thrown, ME13 has to do his swan dance to catch it and by that time whatever defender he had a step or two advantage on is now in prime position to tackle him. That’s how ME13 has gotten a reputation as a spot reciever in the NFL even though Johnny Football could hit him in stride at Texas A&M.
Contrast that with D-Jax who doesn’t adjust his play downfield because his bread and butter is keeping that two step advantage on the defender. The coaches keep on swearing that D-Jax is not doing anything wrong and he is running his routes and tmes perfectly, he just isn’t adjusting to the ever slightly off balls thrown by JW. If the balls were on target, D-Jax could maintain his legendary momentum and speed like he has been known for his entire career, the deep threat that strikes fear into corners.
People like to point to Chris Godwin as proof that JW isn’t the problem but for me the sample size is still too small. Godwin played good, but he only had a couple catches in a couple games at the end of the season. The Jury is still out on Jameis’s deep ball accuracy.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
ndog can blow the top off #3
July 5th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
I agree with mark2001. JW is fortunate to have such good WRs and TEs to adjust to his errant passes. Fitz is actually better at leading his receivers and hitting them in the hands in stride. Something that Brady is remarkably good at. JW will never be more than an overly cocky mediocre rah rah QB with a penchant for taking advantage of women. Time to cut the loss and move on
July 5th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Chris
JW almost got Godwin killed over the middle last year, I forget what game but good thing for him he’s tough.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Man you guys sure like making stuff up. How about you actually try watching the games instead of just throwing junk against the wall. Actually it is even easier just go watch some Mike Evans highlights and see how many times he just falls to the ground for no good reason after catching a perfect ball from any QB. You guys hate JW so much you just make garbage up.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Evans moves the chains. He’s not that receiver that will get ya the YAC. He’s physical and will fight for America’s QB plus the Bucs sucked last year no one deserved to be in the top 100 Or the top 10 of their position
July 5th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Again I hate that I defending Jameis at this very moment, but it is purely football related. I really think the problem with people and judging QB’s in general is that no one really understands what they are looking at. For instance if a TE runs a seam route but breaks outside a linebacker instead of inside the linebacker that is a huge difference as to where the ball should be placed. Jameis has time and again made perfect throw after perfect throw to Brate in the seam and that throw cannot be made without tremendous touch, accuracy and anticipation, including leading the TE upfield. Also the style of offense that we run does not lend itself to a ton of YAC and we are throwing deep dig routes, corner routes, and flies down the sideline. In order to get YAC you need to be throwing routes like the quick slant, which BTW we did to Djax against NE and it was a perfect throw that went for a ton of yards, but I guess that didn’t happen, or post route.
July 5th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
“with more help from Chris Godwin drawing attention”
LOL it’s like DJax doesn’t exist. (he doesn’t)
July 5th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Josh Gordon ranked ahead if him is laughable. That’s a topic for another day though.
Jarvis Landry doesn’t deserve to be top 10… He is basically a glorified slot receiver.
July 5th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Ndog,
That’s a money take.
If I add this on, YAC when looking at it isolated from every other factors that can be misleading and the numbers without context will have avg fan chasing unicorns to prove a point they already believes exists.
YAC is lacking in comparison with what? League average, another franchise, player so the next thing is to immediately point to jameis, koetter or Evans and blame or excuse that person. Basically it is how conditioned animals behave.
Humans have the ability to reason which is unique in the animal kingdom. Yet when YAC or many other situations arise it’s devolved into a Pavlovian whistle with two opposing sides each claiming their superiority but all reacting to the same whistle.
YAC is required by schemes that rely on speed and accuracy. If they have no YAC they are ineffective or require multiple plays without mistakes to produce
The other way is to gain yes on the throw not a throw,catch and run
One favors speed and accuracy. The other doesn’t. The short game requires more plays. It’s risk adverse and turn overs are doubly injurious to the scheme
Conservative, game managers, win by eliminating risk rather than increasing it.
There’s something quite ridiculous going on when a fan accuses DK of being risk adverse or conservative then says the team needs slants and short routes. Which are the most risk adverse conservative plays. There’s a few truly stupid fans who have convinced themselves that day is night and night is day. Just as they reversed conservative and aggressive in this case.
Two philosophies responding to the same needs
You don’t penalize one tactically for not being statistically equal or below the other . Because the strategy is driven by the philosophy and they employ different tactics to be effective.
July 5th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
The worst professional sports franchise on planet earth does not deserve a single player ranked. Rankings are as meaningless as pro bowls when your team resides in basement of division year in and year out. Wins are all that matter everything is meaningless bs
July 5th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
I was really happy when the Bucs drafted Evans. The guy is a stud. In college he made Manziel look good bu using his size to grab his weak-armed jump balls, and in the pros he makes Winston look good by using his size to be able to grab his off-target and inaccurate throws. I think Evans is a future star in the making
July 5th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
You guys should get as pissed off about the nearly 2 decades of losing as you do with meaningless rankings
July 5th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Total offensive yards or total passing yards is important. YAC, air yds, are the dividers of the previous two batch stats
You don’t know how this works then you’re going to be wrong right from jump.
Obviously, there’s too many jumpers
July 5th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
D1 perhaps you could explain yourself…. keep it simple…. SYH..
July 5th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Ndog,
The seam pass ex. The throw can be made without touch on a consistent basis.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Preach on Captain! Too much talent on both sides of the ball to keep Jameis on the field if he is not playing like his sluppers claim he is…Horace Copeland blew out his knee and never recovered contorting catchiness high and behind Dilfer ball. Jameis is Trent Dilfer with a gregarious personality and and smile… of course all the FSU homers with their pride on the line
July 5th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Simple explanation….Mike Evans has had Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, Jameis in his rookie year and Fitzgerald….That’s FOUR QBs in 4 yrs….he’s missed 3 games.
I would argue his stats would be much better with consistent QB play. His best QB has been Winston who at best is middle of the road. Evans is a stud, you put him with Rothlisberger, Brees, Brady….he would put up ridiculous numbers.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Mike Evans is an absolute beast….makes catches with DBs hanging all over him….grabbing, pushing, holding and groping him.
He is a top 50 player much less top 100….
Every team in the NFL would love to have him…..he would be # 1 on 25 teams, at least.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
D1 against man the seam can be thrown without touch but against zones, which we see often, touch is most certainly required. That ball must be thrown over the underneath linebacker yet in front of the saftey and inside the nickel corner. I call it a touch throw cause if it sails pick, if it is too flat pick, if it is too outside or late pick. It actually is my favorite throw to make outside of what we called the post corner where we would break off the post to the sideline, which some also refer to as a cornet route. Both of those routes required great touch and accuracy and were unstoppable when thrown well.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Joe…Your opinion of DeAndre Hopkins is highly questionable. His stats from last year says that he is every bit a top five receiver. Evans has been in the league longer than Michael Thomas but to say that Thomas is not as good makes no sense based on comments alone? You gave no explanation as to why Thomas isn’t Evans equal so it must be an opinion. We all have those. Give me empirical evidence.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Joe…Pretty sure that last years stats says that DeAndre Hopkins is a top 5 receiver. So I am curious, why do you think Evans is better than Michael Thomas? You said that’s your opinion but gave no reason why.
July 5th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
It’s not Josh Brown.
It’s Josh Gordon who hasn’t played.
But I still think this list is close. He is a true baller and should be taken in the 2nd round of fantasy drafts soooooo………
July 5th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Agreed TBBF
July 5th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Broken record here, Evans a little too handsy with the defenders but a very good receiver for the Bucs. Big, tough, reliable and arguably the top player on the Bucs offense.
July 5th, 2018 at 6:35 pm
The elephant in the room is his lack of maturity. It’s great he is an emotional guy and great he sticks to his own principles, but his behavior has hurt his team at times, as well as his image (kneeldowns rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way), causing some sponsors lose interest in him. To be considered elite, it helps most that everyone doing the judging has to like you. Not enough to just be good.
July 5th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
13 is good
Is 13 great…….. I dont think we can say that
July 5th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Joe! get some pics of baby Ant! The baby is here and honestly in the one pic from TB times he looks like Jameis! I know we should stay Angry! at Jameis but I am ready to move on and put it completely behind us until he throws some bonehead wtf was that passes. I am happy baby Ant is healthy and has two dedicated parents–AWESOME!
July 5th, 2018 at 6:54 pm
Roy T Buford reminds me Michael Savage. Luckily they were born in the thirties and forties so all we need is a little patience. #1863 #1964
July 5th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
DB55, I’m glad you are fan of mine. I’m not sure what you eat to make yourself so stupid, but whatever it is, it works.
July 5th, 2018 at 7:19 pm
NDog,
I am not disagreement with the first part. I’m saying that you describe 1 way. And yeah, it’s about timing and touch vs zone. But v man, outside or inside leverage, the throw can be made without touch but w a change of angle and rocketing the ball in front of the receiver. If you don’t believe that, if you want to see it, let me know and I will film it. And send it to you. You see it and it will change how you play or coach it
Btw, I will throw it myself so you can see that a quick release, off angle, is a must. If your release is slow, ain’t happening. The ball never falls only rises. Never higher than helmet level
July 5th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
No Ira podcast due to July 4th or just slackin on the podcasts this week Joe?? Lol j/k don’t put me in the cooler please
July 5th, 2018 at 8:06 pm
Don’t fret Roy. DB has been smoking some not so kosher stuff the last yr or so. He will probably come back to normal soon.
July 5th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Because EVVVVERRRRYBODY loooves BRADY!!!!! Lol!!! Look at, Nancy-boy, Roy desperate for fanboys approval. Speaks volumes.
July 5th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
He just catches everything thrown his way. Brate too. hmmmmmm
July 5th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
First let me say I couldn’t be happier Evans is a Buccaneer we need more physical players who want to win badly. As a receiver he is also one of the best in the league and most everyone agrees. The only difference is when you are called a possession usually means lack of effort after the catch. To put it even more simply every catch he makes he is bracing for impact. Whether that means going to the ground or ducking towards the sideline it is what it is. If you want to see the opposite look at Steve Smith highlights where HE is looking for someone to hit.
July 5th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Can you imagine the All Pro numbers that Mr. Evans would be putting up if he had a Real QB, somebody like maybe… Nick Foles throwing him the football? It would be Bucs record breaking ….
July 5th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
I watched all of ME13s highlights today after ndog got upset at some posters here and to my view JW almost always throws to him when he is completely blanketed. He RARELY has the Chance to get YAC. He did step out of bounds a few times when he could get more yards but I think that was mostly ball placement. Kid is all Juiced up to win and works Hard. What more can you ask for?
July 5th, 2018 at 8:35 pm
SB
Not in Billings?……FYI, I know someone who lives in Red Lodge….
July 5th, 2018 at 8:49 pm
SB,
I love Evans my boys have his jersey. Nothing more than an observation. He avoids contact a lot for a player of his size and intensity. There are smaller players who run over defenders. Keyshawn Johnson did the same thing and he was a pretty good player.
July 5th, 2018 at 8:55 pm
TBBF I am not in Billings. I’m in West Yellowstone.
I vacationed in Red Lodge last summer. Bear Tooth Highway is Awesome and Scary!
July 5th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
SB
Not in Great Falls tonight, I presume.
July 5th, 2018 at 9:08 pm
No, there is actually a town called “West Yellowstone”. We are the westernmost entrance to the park.
July 5th, 2018 at 9:09 pm
SB
Just kidding…Great Falls is where the Trump rally is tonight.
July 5th, 2018 at 9:10 pm
SB
Got edited so this may be a repeat…
Great falls is where the Pres rally is tonight.
July 5th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Yeah TBBF there is no Possible way I could care less about his rally!
No offense.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Body of work.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:14 pm
You answered your own question.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Let me break it down for you:
+ Evans is not as good as he thinks he is
+ He is a hot heat and losing his poise in almost every game he plays, this turns off media types.
+ He disrespects his coaching staff
***and wait there’s more: He has a horrific QB (Winocheo) throwing him the ball. He is, at best, a top 12-16 WR.
I speak the truth, I am the truth…. and the TRUTH hurts.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:49 pm
SB
Hot offended at all….
July 5th, 2018 at 10:53 pm
JameisNOT
Truth is you’re a choirboy loving pansy that confuses passion with being a hot head. Must be a mccoy fan. Loving a career loser with no heart or drive to be great right up your alley. Just accept losing while losing quietly must be your motto
July 6th, 2018 at 1:19 am
NDog,
I love the shake route as well especially when the backside runs an over and add a playside bubble, bench , arrow basically anything that creates a hi/low w a fill from the over. Like taking candy from a corpse.
July 6th, 2018 at 1:37 am
RealityMax: have you paid your child support and alimony for this month? Also, have you called your kids and told them sorry?
July 6th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Really it’s simple. To get more national recognition, Mike Evans has to up his YAC and his long range TD production. Face it the receivers who get the national hype are the ones who turn a 10-yard pitch and catch into a 20-40 yard gain with an exciting run after catch. We also see the receivers who make highlight reel TD catches regularly getting the national attention.
For Evans, some of the problem is also on Jameis Winston, who can’t seem to deliver catchable “jump balls” to Evans on a regular basis. Along with upping his YAC, if Ryan Fitzpatrick or Winston can deliver catchable jump balls to Evans, he’ll make more highlight reels and get more national attention.
July 6th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Lol. Watch some more game film on Hopkins Joe. Not to mention all the garbage quarterbacks he’s played with. Needed a good laugh this morning
July 6th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
You once said Jonathan Banks was on the “cusp” of being an “elite” corner.
I’m wary when you start talking about cusps of elitism. You toss that term around like Rosie tosses empty KFC buckets.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:27 pm
I like Evans, but he’s a possession receiver who has had great games, but has never taken over a game. He’s not a threat to go to the house.