“He’s Like A Power Forward”
September 21st, 2021
Hoop dreams set him apart.
Sometimes, ball skills from one sport to the next do indeed translate.
In the past couple of decades, college basketball players who have made the transition from hoops to NFL tight end pretty well. Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates are a couple that spring to mind.
Well, Mike Evans is doing the same thing, only as a wide receiver.
For those unaware, Evans was a high school basketball star in Texas. He had dreams of playing college and, if lucky enough, in the NBA. He was a high-flying power forward.
Evans only played high school football as a senior and because of that wasn’t highly recruited. Now Evans is likely on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Brian Baldinger, a former offensive lineman and now an analyst for NFL Network, broke down tape of Evans scoring a touchdown in the win over the Dixie Chicks.
Baldinger referred to Evans as a “power forward,” pretty accurate since he was. And Baldinger raved about Evans’ moves and what he belives is rare athletic ability on the football field among big receivers.
You can enjoy Baldinger talk up Evans in the video below.
.@Buccaneers runs this route like he a small point guard; except he is a big power forward. CB has no chance after he sells the slant. #router #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/iZXNDjL31g
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 20, 2021
September 21st, 2021 at 9:11 am
baldi describing the #ShakeAndBake move
September 21st, 2021 at 9:14 am
At 6’5″ Evans is more of a big-body guard. Since we have no idea about his ball skills, I’d project him as that SG that muscles himself into the low post.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:15 am
After 8 years, Mike finally learned how to run a Dig Route (i guarantee TB12 forced him to try & learn it).
September 21st, 2021 at 9:16 am
HOFer Mike Evans. His size at the goal line makes such a difference for us being able to score down there. Between him and Gronk we have two elite goal to goal targets. That makes Godwin and AB 3rd and 4th passing options. How beautiful is that for a team trying to score on a goal to goal situation.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:23 am
Medicated Pete Says:
September 21st, 2021 at 9:15 am
After 8 years, Mike finally learned how to run a Dig Route (i guarantee TB12 forced him to try & learn it).
After 8 years he finally doesn’t have to make circus catches 3-4 times a gm.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:29 am
i’m surprised since brady has arrived we don’t see him throwing it high up in the back of the end zone by the goal posts, and let mike go up and get it…
should be a simple yet highly successful red zone play …
it was a very successful play for us when jamies was here and should be simple for brady and evans to routinely execute
September 21st, 2021 at 9:33 am
i haven’t seen brady particularly capitalize on mike’s 6′ 5″ size since he’s been here…
jameis did play to mike’s height often…
maybe brady is so nice, he doesn’t care what size his receivers are…
when he puts the ball up there for someone to go get it, it seems to usually be gronk…
#InGronkHeTrusts #TrustingTheGronkster
September 21st, 2021 at 9:37 am
That play was a thing of beauty !
September 21st, 2021 at 9:46 am
There are morons that post among us who say Mike is a scrub, should be traded, wouldn’t be missed, etc.
These idiots should be forced to watch endless training camp footage of Kenny Bell.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:52 am
Adam Brady literally was abusing people in the end zone with Mike all last season. He’ll go watch Mike highlights my brother!!!
September 21st, 2021 at 9:54 am
One of the top 3 best BUcs ever…..Talented. great teammate, no diva, humble, working ethics as no one…….Great pick!!!! One of the best!!!
September 21st, 2021 at 9:57 am
The fade was nice but that whip route for the other score made the CB almost fall on his a$$. Tremendous.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:05 am
Still convinced Mike Evans and Fred VanVleet are the same person, which would make him a Super Bowl and NBA Champion.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:35 am
He’s no scrub….he’s there for the jump balls, quick outs/slants and the occassional over the top…..but he’s no route runner like Godwin or AB.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:01 am
That’s a Julian Edelman special. See Pats vs Seahawks SB.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:17 am
@Kentuky – if I remember correctly they ran this play twice at that SB. First one did not work, but the second one did.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:43 am
That’s the exact same route AB ran in the Superbowl for a TD. So hard to defend, but it’s crazy a big man like Evans can be that quick. Great stuff, let’s keep it going.
September 21st, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Adam, JW wasn’t intending to through high to Evans those were just normal passes by him.
September 21st, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Adam the NY anti Brady fan.. Youtube “Mike Evans end zone jump ball TD catch vs Panthers” ….
September 21st, 2021 at 1:49 pm
@adam from ny
So are you arguing that Brady isn’t effective in the red zone? If that’s the case, what games have you been watching? Brady has been efficient and effective in the red zone, having thrown TDs to Gronk, Evans, AB & Godwin. Brady is focused on scoring, not who gets the ball or the type of pass thrown.
September 21st, 2021 at 2:07 pm
So apparently Robert doesn’t know what a “route” is Maroon
September 21st, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Adam we don’t seem to have any trouble scoring points.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Baldinger does an excellent job, it’s interesting watching all his stuff, not just about the Bucs. You’d think with something like a network, dedicated to the NFL, they might do something like just have an hour show each day where you breakdown film like this and talk about plays — but nah, you need a mindless morning talk show aimed at women where they wear funny hats and have fake arguments.
Also, to trigger the dopes that don’t know football, I’ll point one of the videos that Brian Baldinger has is looking at the Saints – Panthers game. First off, it shows the Panthers getting incredible pressure, which is a concern for Tampa since the Saints are supposed to have a very good offensive line. However, the reason they can get that pressure is, as he shows, the Saints WRs absolutely can not get open, so they can blitz at will. Against Tampa, they obviously can’t do that, but the Panthers did us a favor and show how you beat the Saints this year, just blitz, blitz, blitz and know their garbage receivers can’t get open. Now the Saints can counter that by just sticking to a running game and playing good defense, and they were down multiple defensive starters and a ton of coaches this week, so it’s not going to be that easy every week. But if we play the Saints, and their garbage WRs can get open vs our corners, that’s when you bring in Sherman, Ronde Barber, Wayne Haddix, it doesn’t matter, because literally anyone would be better than what we have. BUT we haven’t got to that point yet so don’t panic.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Glad to see Mike getting some love early last game. Too often if he does r get it early he gets forgotten. Also liked seeing him catch some stuff closer to the middle of the field. Felt like he spent too much time last year and even first week running straight down the field too much. He definitely has looked trimmed down the last couple of years, bit I never felt like that was his bread and butter. He’s still a bit physical guy.. like a possession receiver who can go up and get it, make toe tapping sideline catches, but still has the ability to run down field if need be and might
September 21st, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Thx rod I love the excuses keep them coming it will never end. What’s funny is on the so called Hail Mary play (no it wasn’t). There’s a receiver run open the same direction winston is rolling out. He about a yard shy of the marker go watch it.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Our best home grown offensive player ever and he is already a top 10 all time Buccaneer. Licht’s best draft pick ever and it’s not even close.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Ros Munch —
Wayne Haddix! ROTFLMAO!!!
September 21st, 2021 at 6:40 pm
Youngbucs – Did you watch the video? Of course not, because that would destroy your fake narrative and make you less of a dumbass.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:40 pm
Swampbuc – Wayne Haddix, Tecmo Super Bowl Defensive MVP!
September 22nd, 2021 at 12:36 am
@Rob. of course, he watched the video. His question was had you watched it.
September 22nd, 2021 at 12:37 am
I Love Michael Lynn Evans!