Target: Mike Evans
June 24th, 2021
Bucs WR Mike Evans.
Make no mistake about it, Bucs fans. Mike Evans is still the dawg in the full kennel that is the Tampa Bay wide receivers room.
And this comes from no less an authority than former All-Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
In breaking down the Bucs receivers for NFL.com, MJD says Evans will still command the most targets from Tom Brady no matter how good Chris Godwin and furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown are this fall.
Mike Evans has logged seven consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards, so yeah, I’d say it’s safe to slot him in as Tom Brady’s top target. Evans routinely wins battles thanks to his size, speed, body control and hands. Chris Godwin is another big-bodied receiver who’ll get his opportunities after having a 77.4 percent catch rate (highest of any Bucs WR) in his first season with Brady. Antonio Brown is poised for a big year after being a force in Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl run. Brown’s production should see an increase now that he’ll have a full offseason with the team. That leaves Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller. Johnson could have a limited role behind Brown, while Miller could again see several big-play opportunities considering the Bucs’ desire to push the ball downfield.
Joe was very curious about targets and looked them up. Turns out Evans indeed had the most last season and was the only Bucs receiver who had over 100 regular-season targets (109). Evans had 25 more than Godwin. Foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski had 77. Brown had the most targets per games played.
Evans was targeted just a hair under seven times per game. Brown played in eight games and had 62 targets, almost eight a game.
When the postseason rolled around, Chris Godwin led the pack with eight targets per game. Evans was at 5.5. Brown missed one January game and was targeted just four times per game in the postseason.
If Brown — who did not have a dropped pass last year — is targeted eight times a game this fall, Joe has a hunch Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard seasons could end.
June 24th, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Too much emphasis on individual stats, imo. The only important stat is the number of games won – including the super bowl.
June 24th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Don’t forget Darden.
He might be a nice surprise.
June 24th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
One on one, on the sidelines, in the end zone and in the middle. This guy catches everything. He plays hurt. He does not complain. Ever.
How can anyone not love Mike Evans as a player, a teammate and a man? Truly one of the greats in the NFL and Tampa. Get #8!!!
June 24th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
In the first two games of ’20, Evans have very few yards (remember the game where Evans had 2 catches for 2 yards and 2 TDs), yet still reached 1000 yards. Now we have an extra game (17), so reaching 1000 again should not be a problem. He would need 58.83 yards per game to reach 1000, not that 1000 yards will mean a whole lot anymore with 17 games.
Go Bucs!
June 24th, 2021 at 3:31 pm
Creamsicle is back in 22!
June 24th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
With 17 games, Evans will get his 1000 yards — but if Brown stays healthy I think he’ll lead the team in catches, but will likely be just under 1000 yards. Godwin will be in the middle of the two, I’m guessing.
But it all depends on guys staying healthy, which has been an issue for a while now. Was Evans 100% for any game last year? He played a bunch of the season on one leg. Godwin obviously missed a bunch of games. Brown was injured in the playoffs.
That’s why having so much depth is important.
June 24th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
I so badly want Evans to post another 1,000 yd season. Would love the streak to continue for as long as possible. Godwin and AB will get their targets, but I think Evans will come out on top.
June 24th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
All 3 will be over 1000yds and we will have 2 1000yd rushers!!!!😬😬😬
June 24th, 2021 at 3:45 pm
Side note and not on track with this thread, but alternate helmets approved for 2022.
June 24th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Godlovesbucs – that’s good, but why 2022? They really can’t get it done for 2021? Anyways, finally, throwback jerseys. I just hope Brady is still around to play in them — that will be the best selling single uniform ever made I suspect.
June 24th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
With Brady and Evans having a full season under their belts and knowing what each other is going to do, I think Evans gets another 1000 yard season… as long as he’s healthy. Last year they didn’t really look like they had any chemistry. This year should be a good year for anyone catching the ball. You can’t double anyone on this offense of everyone is healthy. 2 things that will stop Evans getting 1000 yards…. One, he gets hurt. Two, the D shuts down teams and the running game is just killing the clock.
June 24th, 2021 at 5:13 pm
17 Games. Plenty of opportunities to get yardage after catches. Just keep Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady upright and his bionic arm tuned up.
June 24th, 2021 at 5:32 pm
TB12 rarely forces the ball. He knows his options and takes what the defense gives him.
June 24th, 2021 at 5:35 pm
One thing I’ve never understood is why they don’t throw more deep crossing routes to him instead of the grabs down the sidelines. He can take 20 yard pass and turn into 50 yards every time he runs them.
June 24th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
SEE! I kept telling you guys that Godwin had a 77.4 catch % despite having a broken finger!
I still ask Anyone to find me a WR with a better catch% Last Yr!
June 24th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
“If Brown — who did not have a dropped pass last year — is targeted eight times a game this fall, Joe has a hunch Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard seasons could end.”
…………….
If AB “did not have a dropped pass last yr” then how is his catch % lower than Godwins?
72.5 for AB
77.4 for Godwin.
This is Pro Football Reference. Not me.
Catch percentage has a lot to do with the throw. –Joe
June 24th, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Mike Evans can make ANY QB!
Just ask Johnny Manziel, Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, Jameis Winston and FItz.
Just icing on the cake for TB12!
June 24th, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Catch percentage has a lot to do with the throw. –Joe
So by that logic Brady threw SO badly to AB that he could only catch 72.5%.
Yet Godwin caught 5% better with a broken finger for several games.
Just sayin. Math is a MFer without all of the tangents
What are you talking about? They both had great catch percentages, which is simply how many times you caught a ball thrown in your direction. Loads of variables, from distance to coverage, to separation and many more. –Joe
June 24th, 2021 at 7:37 pm
I love Mike, but if Brown regains his old form, he will be our best receiver. Lot of “if’s” with that dude though, so I’m not counting on anything.
June 24th, 2021 at 10:31 pm
So, who will reach a thousand yards before the seventeenth game?
June 24th, 2021 at 11:32 pm
What are you talking about? They both had great catch percentages, which is simply how many times you caught a ball thrown in your direction. Loads of variables, from distance to coverage, to separation and many more. –Joe
…………..
You are saying he had Zero drops and a catch % of 72.5.
Think about it. Zero drops means you caught everything catchable.
That math says TB12 was off target on 27.5 of his passes to AB while AB was actually % as he ‘didn’t drop a pass’.
June 24th, 2021 at 11:42 pm
Mike is too good and will continue his 1000 yd season streak. Brady will know Mike’s tendencies better in season 2. Gonna be crazy good for Bucs fans.
Brady might pass for over 6K yards with his weapons this year with 3 WR’s logging 1000 yrds (ME, AB, Godwin) and with TE’s/RB’s/rest of WR’s averaging 500 yds each.
So wild to know that opposing teams are drafting and signing FA’s with intent of focusing on beating our BUCS. Damn – feels good to be chased! Go BUCS!
June 25th, 2021 at 2:27 am
SB said You are saying he had Zero drops and a catch % of 72.5.
Think about it. Zero drops means you caught everything catchable.
That math says TB12 was off target on 27.5 of his passes to AB while AB was actually % as he ‘didn’t drop a pass’.
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The defense has a say in if you catch a ball. So Brady could throw a perfect ball, but if the defense knocks it down or makes a play on the ball, that is not considered a block. So yes, between some bad throws(every QB has bad throws, even the great ones), pass deflections, good coverage, being hit while trying to catch the ball, there were some passes thrown to Brown that he didn’t catch. But every catchable thrown his way he caught.