Galling Lack Of Creativity With Mike Evans
December 15th, 2022
Hung out to dry.
Joe first thought it was a joke.
But it’s real. And just for this alone, at the very least, failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich ought to be demoted.
In the wake of the death of Mike Leach, one thing Leach was lauded for was his creativity in the passing game. Joe watched on Good Morning Football this week how 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was labeled a “genius” for his inventive ways of using Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy on Sunday against the Bucs.
On the other side of the field was Leftwich.
Now with good reason, folks were freaking out how little Bucs receiver Mike Evans was used on the left coast. The fact he was rarely targeted early in the game (one was wiped off the board due to a holding call) unnerved former defensive back and NFL suit Louis Riddick of BSPN so much that he called it a felony.
He’s not wrong.
So last night looking at NextGen Stats, Joe noticed the routes Evans ran on balls thrown his way last Sunday. All but one was on the right side of the field (including the touchdown nixed by the hold).
The lone route Evans ran left began on the right side.
How can you have a future Hall of Fame receiver and only set up plays for him on one side of the ball? Not even between the hashmarks. All of Evans’ routes when targeted with the exception of a look-in pass that originated from the right side were to the right of the hashmarks.
Leftwich is so non-creative, he can’t even draw up a seam route for Evans.
This is just unbelievable to Joe.
December 15th, 2022 at 5:39 am
Arians seems to want BL to succeed more than he wants the Bucs to succeed. Not the same thing.
December 15th, 2022 at 6:04 am
lefto X evans = sad situation
December 15th, 2022 at 6:26 am
Dungy. If arians wants Leftwich to succeed he sure isn’t showing it. Look at that route tree. And people wonder why it’s hard for the wrs to get open. You’re talking about the best QB ever a hof wr and other great offensive players. He won’t even put make up on this pig and pretend it’s pretty for a week or two. Opposing defensive coordinators love Leftwich!
December 15th, 2022 at 6:28 am
Clown show.
December 15th, 2022 at 6:41 am
Looks like they are trying to turn Evans into a posession receiver. While its true Julio’s got more speed and has come down with at least a couple of great catches on the left side, the use Scotty Miller on deep routes makes little sense to me. He is only effective deep if he has good separation,and he has little chance of making a contested catch in part because he is always trying to make a basket catch with his body.
December 15th, 2022 at 6:49 am
Sickening what we’ve become. Welcome back to Loserville everybody!! And be sure to thank your pilot Todd Bowles for getting u to your destination in record time!!
December 15th, 2022 at 6:59 am
DungyDance Says:
“Arians seems to want BL to succeed more than he wants the Bucs to succeed.”
.
.
Bruce Arrogance and his savior complex. He went from Super Bowl legacy in Tampa to a legacy of failure in nepotism. Kinda cancel each other out.
There is a reason that honors like “ring ceremonies” usually are done after several years have passed.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:10 am
So where are all these wide open routes many speak of? So I guess it’s not Brady’s fault. Both Evan’s and Brady’s reputations are getting tarnished by the killer B’s. That includes the instigator Mr. INVISIBLE BeffingA! He killed the Bucs.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:18 am
BL is in over his head. Arians says BL “doesn’t read the papers,” and then Arians continues to give BL his unwavering support (and ostensibly Brady does too). Darin, what we’re seeing is Arians showing it, wuth each passing day that BL is still employed. I’m sorry to say that this looks like a big vanity move on Arians part. He was a fantastic head coach, but this loyalty to BL has killed this team.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:29 am
The Glazers better be searching for a good offensive minded coach to take over next year. This duo just isn’t getting the job done and by all accounts giving them time to work out the kinks is by all appearances a losing strategy.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:34 am
Wait, are you trying to tell us that Leftwich isn’t creative?
No Schit Joe
December 15th, 2022 at 7:35 am
Is this really the whole game? That shows that he only ran 9 routes total.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:37 am
Bob … Why Scotty is still on the team baffles me. IF he catches the ball, his go-to move is to fall down. Looking at his YAC confirms that. This year his YAC per reception is an astounding 1.2 yards/catch. I mean, 1.2 yards is LESS than 4 feet. A person could fall forward without taking a step and get more than that. In all fairness though, Scotty did average 1.8 yards/reception after the catch last season and that is a little better than 5 feet, so there’s that.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:40 am
Thanks Joe, I’ve been waiting for someone to spell this out. The other issue we have is lack of red zone touchdowns. Evans used to be Mr. Touchdown in the red zone, especially inside the five. What happened to the fade or the quick back shoulder throw that Brady is so good at in the end zone for Evans. It’s almost like the Bucs brain trust is trying to make Mike irrelevant in this offense.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:44 am
I have a question that even Joe Biden could answer. Why in Hell isn’t Bowles on the hot seat????????????????????? Under BA we won a superbowl. the next year we make it to the champ game and lost (Todd as DC). Then because of BA wants to be a social hero and wokemaster. they hire a minority who won 60% of his games t NY. I’d like to think he was hired because he was the most qualified. NOOOOOO he was hired simply because he is a minority. I’m sure the Tampa fans have their arse in an uproar. You’d think
December 15th, 2022 at 7:46 am
BTW, i wouldn’t care if they hired Charles Manson if he could take us to the SB or at least have a winning record. Even a Charles Manson person of color
December 15th, 2022 at 7:48 am
LakelandSteve … ‘the Bucs brain trust’.
Could you expand on that a little for us. We’re still searching.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:55 am
Doesn’t look like Evans will get his 1000 yards this year
December 15th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Todd Monken, OC
December 15th, 2022 at 8:03 am
Defense Rules Says:
“LakelandSteve … ‘the Bucs brain trust’.
Could you expand on that a little for us. We’re still searching.”
.
.
🎵 If we only had a brain! 🎶
December 15th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Kinda explains the short passes and why he is not thrown to.
December 15th, 2022 at 8:29 am
When the qb has only 2 seconds to throw the football from the standard 4 man defensive rush, elaborate passing schemes tend to become obsolete as everyone knows a qb cant complete a pass laying on his back.
Hey it is what it is. Come heckle come jeckle and the three stooges. Good luck with that…
December 15th, 2022 at 8:47 am
this is a weird azz season…
where the hell are our all pewter unis…
what did they eliminate them or something?
did they secretly retire them with BA or something?
December 15th, 2022 at 8:48 am
How many times can BA vote?
December 15th, 2022 at 9:43 am
They can also say what they want about Brady’s arm not deteriorating, but this route map tells me they know the limitations of their QB.
One of the best deep sideline fade recievers in the game and not a single route up the sideline and only one route beyond 20 yards, in a game they were down multiple scores no less.
O-line this, o-line that….blah blah blah. You still have to stretch the defense. Either Evans can’t run anymore, or Brady can’t throw. Which is it?
They’re trying damn hard not to expose Brady’s limitations right now, but the eye in the sky doesn’t lie.
December 15th, 2022 at 10:04 am
It is possible that evans has just started the downward slope of his career. He is 29
December 15th, 2022 at 10:22 am
LOL, gotbbucs,
As if these coaches “know” anything!!! Yer funny.
December 15th, 2022 at 11:09 am
Fire Leftdrool and also Bowels or the RayJay will be full of non-Bucs fans and crickets.
How does that sound, Glazers?!
December 15th, 2022 at 11:21 am
I don’t like to use injuries because they happen to everyone for losses and never cry about flags because the game is over. But our secondary has added another crucial blow with Dean that will end up with McCollum and Delaney starting. Those guys couldn’t cover and make an open field tackle in a HS girls flag football game. Our defensive MVP Weinfield has missed multiple games. Logan Ryan out multiple games. Another smelly laundry list year of injuries on defense
December 15th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Does it occur to anyone that Leftwitch could be bitter that bowels got The head coaching position and is sabotaging the season on purpose and now he doesn’t care about getting fired.
December 15th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
gotbucs, he can clearly throw if he over threw Julio? He also threw a perfect td pass to Evan’s in the end zone when Evan’s got his PI. It’s time to set to throw that is inhibiting the long ball and possible lack of 1on1’s, it’s about timing.
December 15th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
ProudBucsfan – I think you’re right about him being upset about not being the Head Coach , but I don’t think he would destroy his own career over it as he was a hot coach candidate the last few years. But now we all see that it was really Arians and Brady that made us the best offense in Bucs history. BL was just along for the ride and must not have paid attention in the meeting room. No wonder Arians busted out his famous RED SHARPIE ! LMFAO.. Go Bucs…. I’m still a believer in the players
December 15th, 2022 at 4:39 pm
Joe you are a great reporter, but analysis is NOT your bag.
These are balls that were THROWN HIS WAY.
Show ALL the routes he ran. That’s what matters.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:10 pm
gotbbucs Evans has really looked for the flag a lot. Not running the route till the end. Brady hasn’t been perfect by no means but the O-line took a hell of hit & when you release the ball in 2.7 sec. plays aren’t gonna develop & there’s the no running game situation. I want to see a game where Evans goes off for 100 yards, going over the middle taking hits & still making catches like year 1 & 2 w/ Brady. I still think we make playoffs and we get out the first round.
I think an L to Cincy and the next 3 can all be be W’s. Then we get healthy for the playoffs.
December 20th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
I was finally able to get Tom Brady to take my call.
I asked him what we could do to improve the offense. He suggested that we use the bunch formation where a group of 3 or 4 receivers line up on the same side of the field and going to different directions.
Unfortunately when he’s calling plays, BL is afraid to call the Brady Bunch