NFL.com: Bucs Should Thank Mike Evans And Chris Godwin
December 4th, 2023
Carried Bucs.
Either Joe is the dumbest guy to ever watch football or Joe, Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales have core differences in how get the most out of an offense.
Joe remembers hearing a Nick Saban story. Saban was a high school a quarterback trailing late in a playoff game. Fourth down deep in his opponents’ real estate. Time out.
Saban comes to the sideline and his coach tells him that he has one of the fastest halfbacks in the state and a three-time All-State receiver. Saban was told to call any play so long as one of those two got the ball.
Saban complied and his team scored to win the game. The lesson Saban learned and carries with him to this day: Get the ball in your best players’ hands.
Joe has been screaming this since the start of the 2023 season. And if the Bucs can’t figure this out finally after last night, then Joe doesn’t know what to say.
Even Michael Baca of NFL.com typed that without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Bucs take an “L” yesterday.
Simply put, Evans put the Bucs on his back with a monster game because he is a monster player, and Baker Mayfield found ways to get Evans the ball. And the Bucs won. See?
If the people calling the shots on the field for the Bucs cannot do this simple math, maybe it is time for Team Glazer to bring someone in who can. Talk about an irresponsible waste of talent.
And you know what, if the Bucs cannot figure out how to scheme Godwin open, how about calling an offensive guru who is on the team payroll living on a lakehouse in Georgia?
Would it bruise people’s egos too much if they bit their lip, called Bucco Bruce Arians and asked him after a round of golf, “Hey Bruce, we’re having trouble figuring out how to get Godwin open. Can you draw up a couple of plays?”
Joe is starting to think Canales is being ordered not to target Godwin, who had zero catches and three targets yesterday. That’s the only thing that makes a lick of sense. Or maybe Joe is really that stupid thinking to win in the NFL your best players have to get the ball?
Godwin has just 29 targets in his last five games. That number should be about 75 percent higher. His only touch yesterday was a 19-yard touchdown run.
(When Godwin was targeted on the Bucs’ second play on offense, Joe turned to Ira Kaufman and said, “Godwin may as well sit down until the second half. He’s had his requisite one target in the first half.”)
Evans is the Bucs best player. Period. And Evans blowing up last night is why the Bucs won.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:20 am
Wasn’t Godwin dealing with a sore neck? He was a game time decision, that might have something to do with it? Mayfield at least found Evans. It wasn’t one of Baker’s better days. Maybe lack of talent at QB has something to do with it too.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:33 am
That Superman flight inside the pylon was a play:video for the ages
December 4th, 2023 at 6:34 am
Mike Evans
5 years. 100 million.
50 million signing bonus. 75 million guaranteed.
Done.
He deserves every cent. He has transformed the Bucs locker room.
He deserves
December 4th, 2023 at 6:36 am
Cajones doesn’t know how to scheme players open just run run pass or run pass run or run run run. He doesn’t know about the hurry up offense either just like Bowles doesn’t know how to coach to win
December 4th, 2023 at 6:36 am
He deserves it.
We wasted money on Desean Jackson and dozens of other divas and thieves.
Mike Evans deserves to be paid!
Set a precedent Licht.
Reward players who are honorable men.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:38 am
Mike took the game over as some would say! Could have been a much more dominant game too if Baker would throw to him… or not short arm it.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:43 am
The QB has poor field vision and struggles with batted balls. Those issues aren’t so visible when he throws to Evans, because Evans has a huge catch radius and runs deeper routes (and is a HoF player). But those issues cause big problems for Godwin, who runs a lot of intermediate routes in the middle of the field. I would bet money Canales is dialing up plays for Godwin, but Mayfield looks elsewhere.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:48 am
Wayta go 1000k X 10 Sir Mike
December 4th, 2023 at 7:14 am
Godwin probably didn’t practice Thursday and Friday and was a game time decision – so he probably wasn’t much part of the game plan- no way the Bucs intentionally avoided targeting Godwin.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:28 am
No excuses for Godwin’s disappointing season. I feel for the guy, he has a lot of pride and earned the respect of Bruce Arians only to be the forgotten guy by Todd “keep those timeout and red flags in my pocket” Bowles.
The Glazers have to see the regression in the Bucs offense ever since Bowles took over. Every season there are young coaches putting in systems that unlock the talent of the players. The Bucs under Bowles have not shown any improvement in productivity or results. Whatever happens the rest of the season is already cemented in what has happened in those 7 losses.
How important is it to beat the Falcons, Saints and Panthers if the Eagles, Lions, 49ers, Bills, Colts and Texans make your defense look silly.
Does anyone really think the Bucs could beat Dallas in a playoff game?
December 4th, 2023 at 7:50 am
They do thank them with a paycheck and yes they should resign Mike but moving on from older players is not some new concept although it would be dumb to let him go
December 4th, 2023 at 8:16 am
Licht will let Mike walk and sign White to a 5 year 100 million. Bowles says White is the leader of the defense.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Joe, I had the same realization about a month ago, ” The Bucs need a new set of eyes on the offense it’s a shame there isn’t someone out there who could take a look. Hey waitaminute!!! There’s a guy in Georgia whose already on the payroll with some success in that department. Make the call.”
December 4th, 2023 at 8:42 am
This conversation has wore me out! You have zero business coaching in this league if you haven’t figured out that you are not a running team and more importantly that you not only have one of the best receivers to ever play the game but you have 2. I’ll say it for the second time, Chris Godwins lack of inclusion in this offense is absolutely criminal. There should be a Buccaneers jail and both Dave and Todd should be locked up in it. Smfh
December 4th, 2023 at 9:22 am
That is EXACTLY what I have posted here a few times…Bowles WON’T LET Canales do the job they hired him for…BOWLES GOTS TO GO….PERIOD…MIKE EVANS GOTS TO STAY…PERIOD.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:43 am
@teacherman777
Are you out of your mind?
I’ve been defending ME13 since ever when most of people here in this site wanted to trade him, or were moaning because he dropped a couple.
But,
5 years. 100 million.50 million signing bonus. 75 million guaranteed.
Is simply ridiculous….That’s what is overpaying and send franchises to the toilet.
Jason Licht took some risk on not resigning ME, and now you have to deal the consequences, the amount you are proposing is just ridiculous.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:57 am
I think the real culprit in why Godwin isn’t being targeted is because Baker only plays within half the field most times. He either plays left or right, shallow or deep (mostly shallow). He’s getting the ball out quick and playing less hero ball because he knows this is his last shot to get another contract.
There was a replay where they showed Baker missing a fairly wide open Mike Evans, so it’s not that he is only targeting Mike, he just likes certain routes or matchups. Who knows. Why wouldn’t you use another WR like Chris Godwin? Nothing else makes sense.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
They may have not targeted him as much on purpose yesterday not wanting to get him hurt worse than he was with his neck. With Godwin on the field he does draw attention because even if the Bucs don’t realize it, the rest of the league knows that Godwin can have a huge impact on a game when he is being utilized properly.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Obviously, Mike Evans is the best receiver, Trey Palmer is the worst, so Palmer’s basically always got single coverage and open plenty of times. Rachaad White is also a pretty good receiver, Mayfield gets enough pressure that he usually doesn’t have time to scan “the whole field”, remember, 2 seconds to release is what a QB is supposed to work with. Then consider, if you think about it, Godwin has dropped multiple passes that were right on his hands. So while he’s great, he’s not the first choice to get the ball. So if you look at all that, buried in there is probably the reason Godwin isn’t being used more.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Evans was targeted to get his 1000 yards apparently- so now Godwin can get his. Mayfield was stressed about that – right? Instead of hitting the open man, he is forcing it to Mike to ensure the streak. Great. Smh
December 4th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Godwin is on pace for about 850 yards. He’d need some whopper games to hit 1000. You have a guy coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, paying him 25M/year and can’t find a way to get him open and throw to the guy? With Mayfield having to rush so many throws, some hot reads to Godwin would be nice for a change.
December 4th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
It’s because Baker Mayfield cannot throw the ball. Unless it’s like 5 yards I mean maybe one out of every 30 times he’ll get a deep pass and somebody’s hands otherwise it’s an interception or just totally Off the Mark you know this as well as I do if you ask me we need to see what Trask has got and that way do we know what we need to draft because I’m praying we don’t sign Baker again
December 4th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
And please make sure we signed Mike Evans
December 4th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
teacherman777 Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 6:34 am
Mike Evans
5 years. 100 million.
50 million signing bonus. 75 million guaranteed.
Done.
He deserves every cent. He has transformed the Bucs locker room.
He deserves
__
Contracts are paid for future performance. Mike is a hof but the smart decision would be to move on. Let him go chase a second Super Bowl.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:03 pm
Couldn’t you say that about any two stars on almost every team?
… Get rid of McCaffrey and Deebo, and see if San Fran beats Philly
December 5th, 2023 at 7:25 am
How long are you going to search for the obvious answers come on Joe. Baker has NEVER supported two reasonably productive WRs, and this play calling/play design has been real bad. It’s not that hard.