Breakout!
August 20th, 2018
His year?
Every year it seems like a Bucs player busts out of the pack and makes a name for himself.
Yes, even under the dreary years of Lovie Smith the Bucs had a breakout player. You may have heard of him. Mike Evans?
Well, ESPN is trying to find a Bucs breakout player this year and Jenna Laine thinks she has the candidate: defensive back Justin Evans.
He introduced himself to the world as a rookie in Week 5, picking off Tom Brady on a Thursday night in his first NFL start, and he nearly had two more picks in that game. In 2018, he could establish himself as one of the better safeties in the league. He plays the position much like an outfielder — the type who could produce a bevy of web gems — and had a stunning interception the second week of training camp off Ryan Fitzpatrick where he came out of nowhere to snatch a deep pass from rookie Justin Watson.
Evans has big-play ability, no question and now that he is getting a crash course in playing nickel, who knows, maybe he will become a stud nickel?
Joe is of the mind the breakout player for the Bucs will be Chris Godwin.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Both would be very good choices as long as Smith doesn’t mess with Evans.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
I think it will be # 36>>>> MJ Stewart………But the truth is that we need Rojo to be!!!
August 20th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Think we got several possible break outs. I’m going with Chris Godwin as about 99%. Justin Watson could be Godwin #2. If Whitehead shows his abilities to be the same as week one, no doubt Evans has a chance to break out. Peyton Barber at #1 RB has shown everyone he is worthy and could make it big.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Hopefully they both have breakout years.
Somebody in this secondary is going to have to step up and make some game changing plays, if we plan on winning some games this year!
August 20th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
BARBER GETS MY VOTE!!!!!!!
hopefully dirk or monken or whoever calls the plays stay committed to the run game….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 20th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
MJ Stewart and lets not forget Ali at LG.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
“Justin Evans sure looked BROKEN trying to tackle T Taylor on that 3 yard screenplay that went for 47 yard TD”
Kobe Realist
August 20th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
“Breakout” player this year is OJ Howard.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Be careful saying that Kobe. I have mentioned Evans couldn’t tackle Mam Maw and got blistered for it. But that was a perfect example of Evans missing a tackle. I will take heat with you Brother!!
August 20th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Kobe is 100%
Terrible angle for a safety.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Clicked on the link from last years “breakout” nine other than VH3.
This prediction means nothing. They would play 2 Conte’s if they could clone him.
August 20th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Evans still struggles with his tackling. I stated last year when he was drafted that his tackling in college was so bad that he was nearly undraftable. Poor angles, turning down contact, arm tackles… he was given a rep somehow as a big hitter due to a few guys that were already wrapped up or falling backwards and Evans laid a decent hit on him…
But last year, his tackling was below average for an NFL safety… he went from being nearly undraftable due to not being able to tackle collegiate players to being below average? Some might criticize, I call that progress and I was very happy that Evans was not a good tackler last season. Maybe this season he will be average or better. Mike Smith and his staff get much deserved flak for not being able to draft and develop a young DB. I point to Evans and suggest otherwise. I think Smith is a terrible DC but blaming the failure of Hargreaves (who is both short AND slow) and Ryan Smith (who was basically a small school rookie last season) on the defensive staff might not be fair. There’s a handful of rookies and Justin Evans that prove otherwise.
August 20th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Hey in Evans defense he is progressing nicely. I think he will eventually be very productive. Very talented and athletic. I do think he’s better suited at Cornerback. Just saying!!!
August 20th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
My vote for breakout player would be Chandler Catanzano….
After our kicker meltdowns…..we need him to be the breakout player.
August 20th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
This is too easy….
The player who will have have the “Breakout” season?
Whitehead!
Probably right before the prom too…..
August 20th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
TBbucfan
Hear Hear! Cantanzano had a great night from far distances which were constantly being pushed back from penalties. And he made that return TD saving tackle!!
August 20th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
My vote is the Kicker.m since we have a hard time actually getting into the end zone.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Evans did come from the other side of the field after the entire Bucs right side defense got put on there asses and missing tackles and that guy turning on some serious rockets.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
still reading way too much into this whole nickel thing smh how much you see him play in the nickel on saturday ? cross training DBs is not uncommon
August 20th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
The “Lucky 8” draft picks should all make this team and they will be the difference makers for the “breakout” Bucs
August 20th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Two breakouts. #1-the kicker, #2-the offense ( I hope).
August 20th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Kobe that is probably the fifth or sixth comment i have seen from you about that ONE play from Justin Evans. Give the kid a break. He makes a lot of good plays. Wait a minute. That’s Conte isn’t it? get off the comments section and back to practice Conte. No one wants you here ripping on poor ‘ol Justin Evans.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Also i think you guys kinda missed the point. Rookies can’t really have break’ out seasons because they haven’t had any seasons to break out from. Thats why they usually go with 2nd or 3rd years guys. i.e. Justin Evans.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Is it just me or hadn’t the WR already blown by everyone and Evans tried a desperate tackle but the WR was out of reach…..
The thing I do like about Evans is that he usually is at least in a position to tackle unlike others who are noway near the play.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
All signs point to Peyton Barber
August 20th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
He is an athletic safety best suited for free safety, but in my view he has to make that tackle since he is the last line of defense. I have also seen him circle back to get a better angle on the tackle after not wrapping up the first time. He is capable of creating enough enough INT’s to keep him on the field in spite of this . But I
would love to see him improve in this area.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
A kicker for MVP?! For us Buc fans it’s NOT the craziest thing!
We are truly living in an alternate universe when a kicker gets this much love!
Godwin……for the win!
August 20th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
@tampabay
Looking at the 2 views I think Evans just whiffed. I can freeze video to see that there was a point where Evans was ~ 10 yards down the field in front of Taylor and maybe 4-5 yards to the left of Taylor and seemed to see him but also seemed confused as to how he was running so wide open. He seemed to be moving tentatively thinking he’d be coming more towards the middle and by the time he started sprinting to try and meet him it was too late and he was at a bad angle.
Both our CBs got worked on that play. Stewart was taken completely out as he was playing press and immediately blocked; and Brent Grimes (playing off) took a terrible angle when he could have made that play more of a 1-5 yard gain.
I’d say Grimes failed the most on that play. As soon as Grimes saw that Stewart was being blocked to the outside he should have went the other direction to close down the hole that was opening and force Taylor to at least have to go back towards the middle where Kwon/Evans likely make the tackles. Instead he went the outside angle where MJ stewart was already being pushed and basically just watched the play unfold while not being touched.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
He will make splash plays
But he wiff a lot if u really look closely
Don’t trust his instincts
August 20th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
My three breakout candidates are:
Godwin
OJ
JPP – Returns to the pro bowl
August 21st, 2018 at 10:07 am
The way this team looks on paper – if this coaching staff cant squeeze 9 wins out of this roster there is a problem.
course there was that little problem last year sooooo.