“When I Watch Tape, That’s What I See”
November 12th, 2020
Greatness is evident and could present a challenge, notes a former Buccaneer.
A Buccaneers icon, albeit for blocking, laid out some clear assessments this week of our beloved team.
Former Bucs receiver Michael Clayton (2004-preseason 2010) watches a lot of Bucs film and often talks about it through various mediums.
This week, he was barking on WDAE radio and noting how the newest Buccaneer, seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown, is a cut above the other Bucs receivers and it’s already visible.
“I like what I see out of Antonio Brown, and I can’t mention enough that hey, man, it’s a different caliber of wide receiver on the field comparing him to [Chris] Godwin and [Mike] Evans,” Clayton said. “No knock to those guys; those guys are very, very good. But Antonio Brown is great at what he does and when I watch tape that’s what I see. And I know Tom Brady’s excited to have that as a new weapon.”
Hmmm, so what happens if Tom Brady sees the same thing Clayton sees on film — that Brown is his best receiver?
Clayton addressed Bucco Bruce Arians going public with comments that Evans has been open and not seeing balls come his way, in other words saying Brady isn’t seeing him.
“That’s a subliminal way of [saying] we want to feed our guy. So that we don’t create tension in that room,” Clayton said.
“Mike Evans is a guy that’s been tremendous for our football team, he’s been tremendous in the community and you really want to keep him in a positive light. You don’t want to create chaos with the emergence of Antonio Brown. [Arians] wants to make sure that Mike Evans is getting his targets, if he has to plant that seed in Tom Brady any way possible. ‘Hey, let’s force feed Mike Evans; I’m ok with that, but we want to make sure we do that because that’s going to help the mentality of this football team. The better Mike Evans does the better this team does.’
“That’s probably what he’s saying. I’m not 100 percent sure, I just kind of feel like that’s the message he’s trying to send to Tom Brady.”
Joe isn’t buying what Clayton is selling there, but it sure is interesting.
Clayton added that the Bucs execution was so bad on Sunday that it’s on the players in so many ways and it’s hardly just a bad game plan. So fans need to lay off offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. “Stop with that crap,” Clayton said. … “I wish people would shut their damn mouth about Byron Leftwich because it’s on the players, and the players should really say that.”
Clayton added that the Bucs running game “ain’t nothing to rely on” and he wants to see Brady and Rob Gronkowski need to tighten up. He also noted that a lot of blame shouldn’t go to Todd Bowles for his players making repeated mistakes in coverage.
Watch Sunday’s Bucs-Panthers game at Big Storm with fired up Bucs fans Ira Kaufman. Kickoff at 1 p.m. Sage Ira rolls in at noon. GORGEOUS covered outdoor seating and Florida’s best craft beer.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:03 pm
Hahahahahahaha that guys clueless.. just listen to him after games..
November 12th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
ME getting separation before AB is almost impossible, so they better feed ME 5 yard slant routes or he aint getting the ball.
Put ME as a TE at this point.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:17 pm
Two of his catches just look different than other guys. The one in the flat where he came across in motion and the ball that was high he picked out of the air on the post/slant. He just faster & more fluid. It’s easy to see too, if you actually care to look Joe. The teacher will only teach when the student is willing. There’s a reason he was voted # 2 player in the NFL by his peers in the top 100 just a year ago. Not #2 WR, #2 player.
Is he a terrible guy? Probably. Will he bring down the team? Who knows. . Is he our best WR? Most likely.
The plays he made reminded me of last year when I just wanted to see a flash of why White was picked #5. I saw nothing until the 2nd Carolina game when he made a play on CMC in the backfield that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone be able to do. At that moment, I knew he was a different athlete and saw why he was the pick. It was easy for me to see the same type of stuff with AB. He’s just different.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Brady played with Moss. Do you not think he knows? Just listen to how he talks about Evans. He’s good, but he doesn’t sound excited. He sounds excited when talking about Godwin. He knows what he has seen in Brown.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:22 pm
About Mike not getting the ball. Maybe it’s personal with Brady. He’s been known to phase people out before. I remember a game Randy Moss didn’t get any targets. Colin Cowherd said the next day that Moss not getting targeted was Brady’s way of telling him he was on his way out. I scoffed but sure enough Moss was gone within a week or two. That don’t mean I think Mike is on his way out. It means Brady likes his favorite guys and isn’t afraid to phase out guys he don’t care for. I have my own theory but half the people here would lose their damn minds if I shared my speculation. That’s a hint 😂
November 12th, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Right. So now Bowles is now getting more in the habit of dropping Barrett and JPP into pass coverage. Watch the film on how that is working out. Why because the secondary needs that much help? Go back and look what happen when he did it in Bears game. It’s not the players. It’ how you use them. Plus the players making mistakes.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
I’m all for people losing minds clodhopper. Please share. 😂. Maybe when BA said last year that the picks weren’t Jameis’ fault he wasn’t lying and the difference is Brady won’t keep throwing guys the ball as I say. Hence Justin Watson’s career as a buccaneer. The last 3 outs he has been targeted were pick 6s going back to Jameis. Brady completely stopped throwing him the ball. Maybe the same of Evans. You see they force feed him on goal to go because it’s usually 1 on 1 and Mike doesn’t have to read the play. Get him TDs keep him happy or should I say quiet.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:36 pm
I could certainly buy that AB is better than Evans & Godwin……but they are different kind of receivers…..
Protect Brady & I don’t think anyone will have any arguments about the targets.
November 12th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
I don’t want him to ‘force feed’ Brown either. Throw to who is open!!!!!!
November 12th, 2020 at 2:58 pm
This team is going nowhere with JIMMY DEAN and SEAN MURPHY-BED in our secondary.
November 12th, 2020 at 3:44 pm
So the offenses execution was bad which is on the players, not BL and the defense made so many mistakes which is on TB not the players. WTF? How do you take that argument seriously. Sundays loss is on everyone, coaches, players, hell Im even blaming the water boys. No one was good enough.
November 12th, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Brady Bucs,
They’re super young but very talented and inexperienced.
I do fault the Bucs for not getting vet in secondary and better LT.
Not a world beater but a sound player is all you need.
November 12th, 2020 at 3:52 pm
My theory is:
Mike Evans will be traded next year for a ransom.
Godwin will sign a long term big contract.
AB will sign a short term reasonable contract with incentives but easy out clauses.
That still leaves us with Miller and Johnson also. The cap is going down so we will need to make some hard decisions and this one frees up money and brings in draft capital and Mike isn’t a crisp route running Brady type WR.
November 12th, 2020 at 4:04 pm
I’ve already ranted about the protection. The only criticism of BL is not going max protect more often. There was an open receiver on most plays, but not enough time for Tom to find them and/or receivers dropping them.
The defensive plan is something I don’t understand. Zone is a communication heavy defense that takes a long time to teach and get down. Our secondary isn’t built for that. Bowles was banking on the element of surprise I have to guess, but you have one of the best QBs throwing at you. I’d much rather them live and die with the blitz and man to man so we could at least get more hits on Brees and make him hold on to it a little longer.
November 12th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Robert – I’ll say, a “competing website” of joes did an in depth analysis of Mike Evans and in a nutshell, Mike Evans ain’t running no slants. Part of the reason as to why he’s been difficult to scheme open is that he actually has a very limited route tree, with strictly a vertical deployment. He isn’t the kind of guy to manufacture touches, or “get him in space” if you will because that’s not who he is. Mike Evans is very very good at what he does, it’s no knock, but it’s not like a DK Metcalf, or a Davante Adams or Hopkins that can produce with every single route concept there is. It’s actually a trickier situation than you’d think. Furthermore, Clayton does know receivers and he prob has a point about Antonio Brown. It doesn’t make Godwin any less of a receiver (plus he’s an all time good guy) but he isn’t the only guy that suggested brown was already a cut above just from analyzing browns 39 snaps
November 12th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Mike is a HOF guy great buc great guy, but ive always said he is more of a playmaker and not a WR technician
November 12th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
ArmchairGM Says:
November 12th, 2020 at 4:04 pm
I’ve already ranted about the protection. The only criticism of BL is not going max protect more often.
you got a point…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 12th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Brown made a nice snag…..but much like Gronk, NFL game speed takes some time to adjust to. As for the emphasis on Evans, it’s a tad bit of insight into Mike’s real mentality. If you watch him closely throughout the game, he throws temper tantrums for everything. He’s childish….he’s leading a 6-3 playoff contender in all receptions stats, yet we keep hearing his name brought up.
November 12th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Evans could very well be trade bait……we would receive a #1 pick for him from the right team…..the salary savings would help sign LVD & Godwin.
With signing AB, we would still have a great receiver corps….
The #1 pick could be capital for a future QB….
We will have immense pressure on our cap & will have to make some moves many won’t like.
November 12th, 2020 at 5:48 pm
I’ve asked for a Mike Evans jersey for Christmas in the pewter but something keeps nagging at me saying he won’t be here next year. If we trade him it better be a great return. I love the guy but it seems like picking WRs is something we do pretty well. If AB becomes the go to guy I could see this happening. Not sure how I’d feel about it though. Would depend on what we turned the trade into.
November 12th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Tampabaybucsfan – I tend to agree. I love Evans to death but with a super small cap next yr, and zero guarantee this hodge podge of stars that’s been thrown together is going to work, keeping an eye on future is prudent and just good business sense. There are as many as 6 first round quarterbacks this yr. Incredibly deep class and a good amount of teams now with young, great passers to build their franchise around. If there is a chance to get our Joe Burrow or Tua then you freaking do it
November 12th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
Brad…excellent summation at 2:17
Mark
Agree with your possible scenarios about trading ME13. Everybody loves him but he may not be part of the plan if AB blows up on the field and continues to be polite and well mannered off the field.
If we keep 2 of our super 3 I go with your choice of AB and CG14 as well.
As for the new salary cap and it’s constraints….that will work both ways…on teams and players. There will be a tremendous downward pressure on player salaries and they will adjust. IE I don’t believe anybody is able to truly game out cap repercussions until the off season.
November 12th, 2020 at 6:09 pm
Brown will get open, I already saw it on the Gronkowski overthrow, if that ball went to Brown instead of Gronkowski it’s a touchdown. Mike Evans is not the player he was a couple of years ago. Still want to see him get the ball but if he is not beating his coverage he becomes a #2 guy and Godwin is already that guy.
November 12th, 2020 at 7:00 pm
imagine wanting to trade mike evans away to keep a headcase like antonio brown…lol you guys know hes like 1 screw up away from being out of the nfl for good right? and dont give me this toms going to keep him in line please hes a grown man he aint living in his house forever
November 12th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Gee…..
I’ve been talking about the very real and logical decision to trade ME13 for over a year now.
Move him while he still has top value.
I usually get flamed pretty hard over it so it’s nice to see some of you finally seeing what I’ve been seeing.
He is a very good WR but we can be a great team without him and hopefully get some high picks so we can draft Brady’s replacement or a top tier LT or both.
Licht’s has a knack for drafting good receivers too.
And Bobby M ….. I know what you’re saying about his in game tantrums.
All sorts of little things seem to rattle him.
I never see Godwin acting like that.
November 12th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
What a joke for you people to start the chatter questioning Mike Evans in any way.
I think he’s had a pretty consistent start to his career. The difference here is clearly the way the new QB processes football.
Maybe just not a fit… It was great to see the monster talent that ME13 is.
Let’s give JW a bit of that credit….and I enjoyed last year’s offense just in terms of entertainment.
I get the argument- wins, no turnovers
Ok let’s see some more wins then, and the playoffs, otherwise it wasn’t worth trading out QBs
November 12th, 2020 at 10:47 pm
Put Mike in the slot and he’ll be getting more throws his way. Sweet.
November 12th, 2020 at 11:53 pm
It is on BL to scheme plays to get the ball out of Toms hand quickly. When the Oline is struggling, then help them out. Brady is a master surgeon, throwing quick and slicing teams up. You have to make simple adjustments like this. And also TB allowing Drew Brees to have enough time to sit back and have tea and crumpets is not good, when your DB’s are scared being hung out to dry by the scheme. The Coaches totally understand these simple adjustments, they are good coaches, That is all the more why you shake your head wondering why they did not adjust during the game. GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2020 at 1:57 am
Michael Clayton can’t hold any of their jocks. I suppose it’s an accident that Mike Evans has 6 consecutive seasons over 1000? He’s HOF caliber.
November 13th, 2020 at 1:59 am
Michael Clayton had one good season and then proceeded to suck over the next 7 seasons.
November 13th, 2020 at 2:11 am
Winning games is all that matters. Doesn’t matter if ME gets 1 target or 21 targets.
November 13th, 2020 at 4:37 am
Greg,
How many good seasons in the NFL did you have?
November 13th, 2020 at 5:18 pm
Wait a second, are the players the ones who called FOUR running plays the entire game?
Doubtful.
That loss is on everyone. Coaches. Coordinators. Players.
They all sucked out loud (except Brown, who actually played very well. Go figure)
November 13th, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Uh unless there were a ton of audibles I missed, it was Leftwich deciding to set an NFL record in fewest rushing attempts.