History On The Line
December 24th, 2020
Mike Evans has the extra attention of his head coach
Mike Evans is on cusp of major NFL history and he might need his head coach’s help to get there.
So Joe asked Bucco Bruce Arians about the situation today.
Evans’ stellar career started with six consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards or more receiving. That tied an all-time record set by Randy Moss (1998-2003). Now in Year 7, Evans has 779 receiving yards with two games to play — against poor pass defenses.
Here was Joe’s exchange with Arians this afternoon:
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, Mike Evans is about 220 yards from hitting that 1,000-yard mark and setting a new NFL record. Is that something in the back of your mind as this game goes along, and is it something maybe you’ve talked about with your quarterback?
Bruce Arians: It’s something in my mind. I haven’t talked to the quarterback. I don’t want the quarterbacks forcing things. But yeah, it’s in my mind. When guys have a chance to, in the history of the NFL, make something happen, you want to see it happen. I would love for Mike to get that record.
Joe sure hopes Arians goes the extra mile for Evans on Saturday, especially if the Bucs get a nice lead, and especially early in the game.
It would be ideal for Evans to get at least within 100 yards of the record before the season finale.
There’s more on this subject in today’s episode of The Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford. (See the home page.)
December 24th, 2020 at 12:48 pm
The team should start the game with the mindset that it is halftime and they are two TDs behind.
December 24th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
History… it was a win against the Lions in the last game in the Ole Sombrero that set Dungy and the Bucs to the Playoffs for the first time since John McKay was coaching the team!
December 24th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Go Mike go! One more thing Ira can talk about when he presents Mike for consideration for HOF. Should already be a done deal.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Feed HIM!!! He deserves it!
December 24th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
He needs to put up 140 this week, with 2 TDs.
LFG!!
December 24th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Go for the record, just don’t pull an effing hammy trying too hard.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
ME13 doesn’t strike me as a Hall Of Famer yet – he’ll need to change up his game to get there
He is a very good possession receiver but his YAC is really bad. At times, he makes a good catch, secures the first down and then looks for a place to fall down.
Definitely not a game breaker but rock solid at moving the chains.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
@Davenport – I’d invite you to look at a few of his catches from the last few weeks.
Different routes lend themselves to more YAC. And his YAC is also much better when he doesn’t have to do a 360 degree turn 4 feet up in the air and make a circus catch.
But he’s not a burner, never was.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Spot on davenport, unless the end zone is within 5 yards then he’s hell bent on getting 6. You don’t get 6 straight 1000 yard seasons getting blown up fighting for a few extra yards. 1st down secured, get out of bounds. I don’t blame him, his change of direction or agility isn’t great so he’s probably not gonna get muvh yac anyways, why take the hits? You also avoid fumbles this way. This is why i love the ab81 signing. Now that’s a guy making moves after the catch. I bet Saturday he dsa few miss, might even take a short pass to the house
December 24th, 2020 at 1:50 pm
Casual Observer Says
“The team should start the game with the mindset that it is halftime and they are two TDs behind.”
LOL
Frankly, I don’t care if he makes history or not. Get a ring, and that will be history enough. Heck, just get to the Superbowl and be the first team in history to have home field advantage…that’s good enough for me.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:51 pm
There are possession WRs in the HoF.
December 24th, 2020 at 1:53 pm
If the Bucs make it to a second playoff game, odds are Arians will get coach of the year again.
December 24th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Do it. Do it.
December 24th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Unbelievable – nail on head. While I think Evans is a HOF receiver, he’s a diff kind of guy than say Davante Adams or DeAndre Hopkins – you can scheme more routes with those guys because of their short area quickness. Mike isn’t that, as all his routes are vertical based and isn’t a high volume guy as a result. He has really good long speed but A.B is more the one you want in space. Atlanta game was a perfect example of how they’d get him more involved, lined in slot and running up the seam, an out/fade that sorta thing. Also I think Brady SHOULD take a chance or two and let Mike go fight for a football.
December 24th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
Amazing all the crappy QB’s that #13 played with to get 6 straight 1000 yards season. And the all-time GOAT QB comes in and ME is huffing and puffing to get there for a 7th. Some of those early games where he got no looks might come back to hurt his chances. Would love to see it happen for him and the Bucs…
December 24th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Make it happen jerk- the Lions don’t even have any damn coaches who have called plays before- he should have 220 in one game- tired of your incompetence- Force him the ball- JW did it and he got 6 1000 seasons-
Do t blow his legacy because your an incompetent fool.
December 24th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
The real question is: Is Tom Brady aware of the record situation??
I think the goat will make sure M1K3 gets his 1000 yards.
December 24th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
I think he’ll get it. Just don’t force something deep to him. Hit those 8 to 15 yard passes to Evans in both games all day long… the deep one will present itself
December 24th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai if BA gets coach of the year, Brady should be hands down league MVP.
December 24th, 2020 at 5:05 pm
I can tell one way to help Evans. Detroit hires Todd Bo. for that 1 game
December 24th, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Have all you guys been paying attention the last 20 yrs??? I can tell you right now that the only way Tom will deviate from the game plan is if we get a big lead. Come on guys this isn’t the NCAA. Tom and Bill lived by the words of the late great Vince Lombardi. “winning isn’t the most important thing, it’s the ONLY thing” Tom will do whatever it takes to win. If Mike gets that record, FANTASTIC!!! and BTW, it will be Tompa’s 300th. game
December 24th, 2020 at 5:18 pm
one more thing. In those consecutive 1000 game seasons, what was their record?? Also it’s a good thing they don’t subtract the int yardage by JW haha
December 24th, 2020 at 5:34 pm
ME13 has worked harder the last couple of weeks than ever before. I would be afraid of pushing him too hard, his hamstrings have a few problems.
I would rather see he ready to make a push into the playoffs than make history today.
December 24th, 2020 at 6:09 pm
Dont get me wrong, i think Evans is a great receiver but receiver is the most difficult position to make the HOF.
Compared to his HOF competition that is currently playing, i dont think he’s even in the top 5.
All that said, he deserves this milestone and i hope Tom is in a position to feed him the ball over the next couple of weeks.
December 24th, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai, gotta disagree with you. It ain’t enough to just get to the Super Bowl in your own stadium, you have to WIN! Second place means nothing. Let the other teams in the league be satisfied losing Super Bowls.
December 24th, 2020 at 7:08 pm
When healthy, Mike is the best receiver outside of Antonio Brown to play in the NFL since Randy Moss and has been underrated and underappreciated since day one, even by our own local media (*cough cough* Ira). Having a unique record (Ronde Barber is the only DB with at least 45 interceptions and 25 sacks in a career) does not guarantee a spot in the HOF due to the homerism and flagrant bias of the Northeastern sports media, but it sure as hell can’t hurt. 😜
December 24th, 2020 at 7:55 pm
I feel like JBF criticised Jameis when he said he was feeding Mike to get to 1000.
If it happens, it happens. Playoffs is the only objective. We’re not good enough to get cocky
December 24th, 2020 at 8:21 pm
The ONLY record tomorrow is a win that goes into the books… unless it is a blowout don’t force or feature the ball to ME chasing a stat !
A win tomorrow is the Only thing that matters in the closing games of 2020.., even if it’s a blow out… sit him for the next week!
December 25th, 2020 at 12:04 pm
The win is more important, that being said if we are way ahead feed him the ball. Back in the day I remember the Bucs fed James Wilder the ball to reach over 2000 all purpose yards they even let him return a kick off against the Jets. Good luck Mike.