The Next Men Up
October 1st, 2023
Iconic Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans scared the crap out of Joe and fans today, leaving the eventual beatdown of the Saints in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
What happened next has Joe joyfully cracking cans of Big Storm beer.
The Bucs shook off the loss of their top-dog receiver with ease.
Chris Godwin exploded for 8 catches for 114 yards on 11 targets. And Deven Thompkins had a career day with 4 catches for 45 yards and a backyard-football, fourth-quarter touchdown on a Baker Mayfield scramble that ended with Thompkins diving back toward Mayfield at the goal line for the score. Rookie Trey Palmer also added an athletic and well-timed TD catch on a short fade pass from Mayfield soon after Evans left the game.
Coaches love to say, “Next man up.” But it often doesn’t happen. It did today.
Joe is so damn impressed by a couple of routes Godwin and Thompkins ran for strong gains fueled by yards after the catch. Both guys were wide open after running out-looking routes and then curling early and opening up back to the quarterback. It’s the kind of creativity that had been missing from the offense in past seasons.
Remember, the Saints hadn’t allowed more than 20 points in a dozen games. That was no fluke, and the Bucs dropped 26 on them this afternoon.
(As for Evans, Joe saw him walk out of the locker room in street clothes wearing shorts. Joe noticed him limping but it was not pronounced. Joe did not see Evans wearing a wrap. Given that the Bucs have a bye week, it wouldn’t shock Joe if Evans plays in the Creamsicle game in two weeks when the Bucs host Detroit.)
October 1st, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Offense didn’t miss Evans at all. Good to see them spread it around.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Really impressed with Canales willingness to try and be creative, even with the failed trick play it shows that’s he keeping defenses on their toes. Still lots of of 1st year play caller moments but so far so good.
And hopefully we found a gem with Thompkins at WR
October 1st, 2023 at 5:11 pm
I hope somehow ME13 can make it back for the Lions game after the bye.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Don’t forget Delaney & Zion…….we shut down their deep passing….Olave with only 1 catch…..Davis was spectacular.
Zion looks like he is developing nicely. And….Izien is already there.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Mike Evans is still our best and only all world wide receiver. But kudos to our new OC for making it look like we don’t need Mike Evans to win games
October 1st, 2023 at 5:16 pm
I hate a week 5 bye, but couldn’t come at a better time with 13 out.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:21 pm
That’s the most invaluable thing about experience. These rooks can be Randy Moss in practice and look the part, but they need to know they can hang with the opposition by making some damn good plays and finally believing they belong. This was a fantastic step in the right direction against a damn good defense. My hats off to you rookies and the coaching! Go Bucs!!!
October 1st, 2023 at 5:26 pm
And talking about shedding the plain vanilla that “some” here wish to place on Canalas, he had CG14 throwing an option pass and it wasn’t thrown badly. The defender needed to face guard the target or it would have been a completion.
Some of those plays to Devin Thompkins were also creative.
It’s time CELEBRATE! Two weeks to enjoy it before the grind returns.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:28 pm
@Tbbucs3…agreed! I was screaming for some originality and creative calls. Canales gets a pale full of sh!t for just being who he is, and yall can scream and holler till you’re content, but Canales is LEARNING too. He learned from Philly, obviously, and it worked against a stout defense. I’m more inclined to be a bit more patient with this entire process. It’s gonna be good or great some weeks, and it’s gonna be ugly as sin others. It’s a Bucs life. GO bucs!
October 1st, 2023 at 5:32 pm
Happy to see Ft. Myers product adding to production.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Palmer and Thompkins looked great.
Seems like Evans has a hammy every other year. This one seems mild though, hopefully he’s over and done with it quickly.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
October 1st, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Don’t forget Delaney & Zion…….we shut down their deep passing….Olave with only 1 catch…..Davis was spectacular.
************************************************************
Olave was shellshocked after that McCollum hit, maybe even a little concussed?
He became a non-issue
Strong defensive game, and some fresh play calling on offense… Keep this up and all my complaining about game plans will go away. I’m looking forward to that!
October 1st, 2023 at 5:39 pm
When the Defense doesn’t have to carry the offense ,(looks like the O took that step today [Against a elite defense]) the Bucs might be cooking……
October 1st, 2023 at 5:40 pm
F the Saints
October 1st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Oh my……..
We CAN win without ME.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Godwin makes $20-million dollars a year, he’s hard ‘next man up’.
Next man would be Thompkins, who came in and played well.
But for the love of God, stop the wide receiver handoffs to Jarrett, if you’re going to do that, they should all go to Thompkins, he is so different than anyone else we have on the roster.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:57 pm
Like the pic, joes. I knew Godzilla14 would have a very good game. He knows who took a cheap shot at his legs, put him out for the rest of the season, and lowered his FA value. He’s 100% back.
October 1st, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Bye week rest for him. He will be back home game vs lions
October 1st, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Great pic. Canales is a breath of fresh air compared to “we gonna do what we do”
October 1st, 2023 at 6:18 pm
ME went down and we won!
It was nice to see the other WR’s get theirs and the offense looked much more balanced in the 2nd half.
October 1st, 2023 at 6:26 pm
As previously stated, I’m happy as heck with how well Zyon and Delaney are doing, they could be starters for anyone
October 1st, 2023 at 7:20 pm
Lol dumba$$ said the offense looked better without mike evans and some morons going along with it hilarious we pulled out this game bec of Todd Bowles defense and the saints offense is anemic. Relax. This offense is going nowhere without a mike and Chris centric feel to it
October 1st, 2023 at 7:35 pm
I agree. Zyon is developing very nice. Delaney looking good to. I know injuries suck but it does help get these younger guys so game time. Love and hate the bye. Love that it’s at a perfect time for our defense to hopefully heal up and hate that we don’t get to watch the Bucs next week lol
October 1st, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Hopefully now Canales starts designing plays where Palmer and Thompkins are first looks. These guys are too good to not spread the ball around. We could really keep defenses off balance.
October 1st, 2023 at 8:47 pm
It’s time to trade Mike Evans say goodbye he does not fit into our offensive scheme. He’s too slow and pick up a running back. Maybe put in a trade with the Colts for Jonathan Taylor.
October 1st, 2023 at 11:51 pm
Here’s a moronic statement: “It’s time to trade Mike Evans say goodbye he does not fit into our offensive scheme. He’s too slow and pick up a running back. Maybe put in a trade with the Colts for Jonathan Taylor.”
Just stupid.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:14 am
The Saints have given up.
They weren’t fighting. They didn’t care.
They have checked out mentally. They don’t like Carr.
The Saints are dead!
And we look like we are on fire!
A big F-U! To all the Bowles haters!
His players love him! That’s the most important thing in the NFL!