“It Seems Like He’s Getting Better”
September 11th, 2024
Mike Evans at practice.
Don’t tell Bucs officials that Mike Evans is past his prime — or even that he’s played his best football.
“It seems like he’s getting better,,” Licht said of Evans yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “He just makes some incredble catches that we’re used to seeing over the years. But he’s in great shape. He showed it through camp. He’s better than he was as a rookie. He’s amazing.”
Licht talked about the steady growth of chemistry between Evans and Baker Mayfield, and on the same broadcast, head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield has now has a “better feel of where to put the football even when [Evans] is covered.”
None of this should surprise anyone. So what if Evans is 31 years old. Most receivers are in decline at that age, but Evans isn’t most receivers.
Evans’ high-level training and exceptional durability, enhanced by adopting some Tom Brady-inspired routines, has Joe confident that Father Time is barely visible in the rearview mirror.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:00 am
In the postgame interview, ME13 was all business and sounds like a man on a mission. Whoever covers him better bring their A+ game.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:00 am
Dude is amazing. What’s more amazing is, this might turn out to be the best offense he’s played on in the last 10 years. Bar is high with 20, 21, but I can see it happening, and Mike is a big reason why.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:03 am
Mike was as crisp as I’ve seen him. He looked like a first team All-Pro out there. Godwin wasn’t far behind. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:05 am
His first touchdown down the left sideline, defender had him fully covered, was jaw dropping. He does seem like he’s getting better. If that’s even possible.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:09 am
Love the practice photo. Evans is indeed in great shape. He was magnificent on Sunday and is going to be breaking records this season.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:10 am
“Evans is 31 years old. Most receivers are in decline at that age.”
REALLY, JOE? Which HOF receivers are you talking about?
Rice, age 32, 1800 yards
Fitz, age 32, 1215
Moss, age 32, 1264
Owens, age 31, 1200
Bruce, age 32, 1262
Most HOF WR’s best years 31-33. Why don’t we write a story about Evans in his PRIME? I saw prime Evans on Sunday.
Throwing shade at the best player in Bucs history? Welcome to Joe Island.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:10 am
In other news……interested to know who will be in the secondary in Detroit against Goff, ASB, and that lethal attack. Huge challenge even if all the starters were in perfect health, and out D-line had a healthy Kancey.
Bucs will have to score like it’s the Fitzmagic opener against the Saints in 2018.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:11 am
It would be advantageous if more of the team used some variation of the TB12 method.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:14 am
SlyPirate- Joe said “most receivers” not “most HoF receivers”. Hundreds of receivers have played the game and I bet the vast majority were out of the league by age 31-32. But yeah, go ahead and run everything through your “I’m smarter than Joe” filter because it’s funny for thinking adults when you say something so ridiculous.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:28 am
So will Jason give Evans a huge raise next year or will he give Godwin a huge contract paying him more than Mike ? I want to keep them both but Mike deserves to be paid more than the #2. I hope Chris doesn’t end up walking away for huge money when we could have gotten something in return. Maybe with the improving cap situation both can get paid.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:33 am
SlyPirate, No more coffee for you today, there’s no shade to be seen here. The article totally lauds ME13’s work effort and continued dominance.
September 11th, 2024 at 10:14 am
How bout a poll on when Russell Ga….errr Callijah Kancey will be back on the field?
September 11th, 2024 at 10:25 am
@BucU – Lay off Kancey. No one wants him to play more than he does. Callijah can’t control a non-contact muscle pull/strain.
Remember GMC completely tore his right bicep twice in less than a year before becoming a six time pro-bowler? Think good thoughts.
September 11th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Plenty of great receivers have had some of their best seasons in their 30s: Jerry Rice, Andre Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Megatron, etc.
Evans is right up there with them.
September 11th, 2024 at 11:53 am
Who pissed in ButtPirates cheerios this morning. Good lord. Lol
September 11th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Most receivers aren’t HOF receivers.
Remember when Sammy Watkins was touted to be the next great NFL WR? He was picked ahead of Evans. He’s out of the league. Just about everyone in Evans’ draft class is out of the league. In other words, not only are most receivers in decline by their early 30s, but most are out of the league by then.
September 11th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
That number for Rice is insane.
September 11th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
I was the first to say he is HOF bound in his 3rd year. I have watched everyone of his games and virtually all the games since that first win in 1977. Go Mike!!! Chasing history!!!
September 11th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Cometowin- I was the first to say “why in the hell are we drafting a receiver when we need a QB! Johnny Football is the best player available and it’s at a position of need. Ridiculous! This Evans dude will probably be out of the league in few years and we will still need a QB.”
In other news, I was a moron.
September 11th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Evans is on a HOF projection but he still has to play at or near his best this year and next year to get there. Plus 1 or 2 years of stat padding when he is 33 and 34.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Looking at Evans contemporaries:
Older guys. He is behind Julio Jones and Antonio Brown. JJ will get in hOF at some point. AB would have been if not for his big concussion and subsequently not all there in the head.
Similar age guys. Evans is more or less even with Deandre Hopkins and Devante Adams. Only 1 of these 3 will likely go to HOF. Hopkins and Adam seem to be on decline while Evans is still playing at the top of his game plus he is 1 year younger. Advantage Evans.
Younger guys. Evans is ahead of Diggs, Keenan, Cooper and they aren’t good enough to catch up. Tyreek Hill however is already a HOF lock if he retired at end of the year.
Much Younger guys. Too early to project but Justin Jefferson is building an impressive resume.
So TH and JJ is in HoF, then Evans if he can play about 3 to 5 more years and clearly surpasses Hopkins and Adams.
So JJ and TH in HOF, with
Younger guys. Evans is ahead of Keenan
September 11th, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Hey Fun Fact. In addition to the fact that Mike has been a perfect 10 for 10 to start his career with 1,000 yards receiving. Never done before. He is a surprising stat, Mike Evans is MORE efficient than Jerry Rice. Mike Evans averages MORE YARDS PER GAME than Jerry Rice. 75.7 to 75.6 Albeit by the slimmest of margins, it’s still an amazing accomplishment after 10 years in the league.
September 12th, 2024 at 4:57 am
One area that Mike himself has stated that he wants to get better in is YAC.
He has improved but I think if you asked him he would say he has room to grow there.
Go Bucs!