“When He Is One-On-One, He Is Still Open”
July 28th, 2023
Props from Bucs QB.
It may have been a steamy, muggy morning yesterday at the practice fields of One Buc Palace, but Joe felt the shivers up his spine.
When Baker Mayfield hit Mike Evans for a touchdown, Joe had an immediate flashback to Evans’ 15-yard touchdown against the Packers in the NFC title game in 2020.
That afternoon Evans got behind the Packers’ defense in the left corner of the end zone and caught the high-pointed ball while backpedaling.
That is exactly what happened yesterday. Evans got behind the Bucs defense on the left side near the sideline crossing the goal line and caught the ball as he was backpedaling.
Cool stuff.
So yesterday, Mayfield was asked about Evans and the Oklahoma grad raved.
“He obviously makes your job extremely easy,” Mayfield said. “He is a big target even when he is one-on-one, he is still open.
“There were things yesterday that I got to see, him going full speed up against the defense, just little nuances that are what make him extremely special. He is an All-Pro for a reason.
“He does things that you really cannot teach as a receiver. He just has an innate ability of getting open and being really friendly at the top of his routes.”
Joe maintains one thing working in Mayfield’s favor (Kyle Trask, too.) is that Mayfield has never worked with receivers of the quality of Chris Godwin and Evans.
It drives Joe crazy when he reads from folks who type that Mayfield had good receivers before, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry.
PLEASE! They don’t compare to the Evans-Godwin duo.
Beckham at one time — what, six years ago? — was a dynamite player. The past three or four years he’s been living off that one-handed catch he made with the Giants on Sunday Night Football. At this point, Beckham is so overhyped it’s not funny. He’s not better than Evans, sorry.
Landry? Come on! The five-time Pro Bowler is a possession receiver in decline. He couldn’t hold Godwin’s jock.
No, Mayfield hasn’t ever had the receivers he has now.
It ought to be fun to watch these three develop chemistry — provided Trask is not your starter.
July 28th, 2023 at 7:01 am
Agree Joe regarding the evans godwin duo. However, Odell was going to be the MVP of the superbowl before he hurt his knee… just sayn
July 28th, 2023 at 7:03 am
And I hear this new guy Canales has ways of actually scheming the receivers open. What a concept.
July 28th, 2023 at 7:27 am
“… provided Trask is not your starter.”
Based on Joe’s notes so far this year I’d say Trask starting is a real possibility.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s underwear football, and Joe’s notes are not comprehensive. But if Joe’s notes were good enough to trash Trask the last two seasons when he was playing with scrubs, then Joe’s notes are good enough to praise his play now that he’s finally playing with the ones. Haters can’t have their cake and eat it too. 😛
July 28th, 2023 at 7:34 am
I’ll take Trask bakers confidence only comes off as cocky to me because he’s done nothing to date in the nfl yet comes to media day with that i know what I bring attitude. Also gained plenty of weight
July 28th, 2023 at 7:49 am
I still haven’t seen Canales sporting a flat brim.
This is a very good sign.
July 28th, 2023 at 8:31 am
I don’t think most people care who starts at QB. I/We want results. Simple as that.
July 28th, 2023 at 8:33 am
So I guess the bigger concern is who was covering Mike Evans on the play above? Was it one of our rich, over hyped CBs?
July 28th, 2023 at 8:36 am
Why is it this is the only sports blog website on the planet where u can’t reply to individual posts?
July 28th, 2023 at 8:47 am
Not so he works good with certain issues but great at finding out how he can’t get hurt. Lower his game when stressed with anxiety. Will give up a play if he can get hurt and double team. Great player but compensate for his individual needs.
July 28th, 2023 at 8:48 am
You guys give up too much hype when you people understand dynamics 😄
July 28th, 2023 at 8:57 am
“He is a big target even when he is one-on-one, he is still open.”
It’s Evans’ catch radius, could be wrong but I don’t think Mayfield has ever had a WR with the length Mike Evans provides as a target.
July 28th, 2023 at 10:12 am
A little bit of homerism to crap on OBJ. Assuming he comes back from his injury, the dude is still a beast. Not as consistent as Evans, but more explosive, especially with the ball in his hands. Landry was no slouch either.
I agree that Evans and Godwin are a better combo, but it’s not as big a difference as you’re making it out to be.
July 28th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Looking at Geno Smith’s highlight reel from last year, I was surprised at how many times the WR’s were WIDE open (not surprising since its highlights) and so I wonder if it’s the scheme or the players? I hope it’s the scheme. Both Godwin and Evans talk about improving their YAC and I think it will happen with Canales’s offense.
July 28th, 2023 at 11:50 am
ME is in the body of a basketball power forward. (OK not the NBA where some real physical freaks play). But he did love basketball and he obviously loves rebounding…er…going up over DB’s to catch a ball. And yes Mayfield has never had a receiver like that.
I have 3 major hopes for this season. The D learns to stop the run. The OL becomes a cohesive unit will all the talent reaching the top of their ability…and that the Bucs have TWO NFL quality QB’s!
July 28th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Bucu, an edit button and direct reply would be nice. Funny thing is…the other sites have those features, but very few actual posters. There’s at least 40 or 50 knowledgeable active posters here. Good software is nice, but you guys are what makes it fun to post here.
July 28th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
I’m talking Buccaneer specific sites.
July 28th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
So, Mike Evans is a pretty good WR?
I wasn’t going to say it but I’m going to say it …
“I told you so.”
July 29th, 2023 at 6:49 am
“stpetebucfan Says:
July 28th, 2023 at 11:50 am
ME is in the body of a basketball power forward.”
stpete, I have always thought the same thing especially working in the red zone.
He boxes dudes out in the end zone. He sets up guys for alot of his 50/50 catches.
Go Bucs!
July 29th, 2023 at 6:53 am
BucU Says:
July 28th, 2023 at 8:31 am
“I don’t think most people care who starts at QB. I/We want results. Simple as that.”
Umm What??