“It’s Leaning Towards Mr. Evans.”
September 10th, 2024
OK, Joe will confess typing this here post is partly to brag on the JoeBucsFan.com official game photographer. You can see evidence of his craft above.
That catch of Mike Evans, which is his first of what Joe hopes are at least 10 touchdown catches this year, was something else.
Watching live at The Licht House, the first thing that jumped out at Joe as the play unfolded was the tight coverage by Benjamin St.-Juste, yet Evans fought through the defense with his hands, reached out and pulled the ball in.
Years from now when Evans is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that catch ought to be one of the highlights shown. That catch says “Hall of Fame.”
But as you can see from the photo above, from Joe’s official photographer, St.-Juste grabbed Evans as he reached out for the ball. Pretty clear evidence of interference (though it didn’t exactly appear that way live).
The throw from Baker Mayfield was spot on and after the game, Mayfield seemed to shake his head in amazement at Evans’ ability to haul in passes.
“I don’t know how he does it, man,” Mayfield said. “[I’m] just trying to put the ball in his vicinity. The first one – I don’t know how he got around him and put his paws on it but somehow he did, and that’s what he does.”
The cool thing about the touchdown catch was Evans’ reaction. Like, “Eh, whatever.” Evans didn’t know if he wanted to throw the ball into the crowd like he usually does or celebrate or just walk back to the bench.
He ended up dancing after looking bored for a few seconds. That’s what happens when a guy is a future Hall of Famer. He makes the amazing plays look so routine, even he can be unimpressed.
Like Mayfield said of Evans Sunday night, if a pass looks 50/50 and Evans is the target, it’s not 50/50. “It’s leaning towards Mr. Evans.”
Year 11 for Mike Evans. He continues to be awesome. pic.twitter.com/6HDNP9h9Yj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2024
September 10th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
That was an absolutely outrageous catch, and it sure looked like interference to me live.
September 10th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
By “live”, I just meant at the time. I wasn’t at the game, unfortunately.
September 10th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
St. Juste has ME13 in a bear hug. Is that legit or not? Remember how many times Big Mike (HOF) got the BS calls for OPI? It was beyond ridiculous, even in Buc World. ME13 had a little celebration with his buds after the TD. Joe, I know one of you was in the locker room postgame. I’m telling you, ME13 is serious about this season. He has beaucoups of respect for Coen.
September 10th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Total Stud….we are so lucky to have him
September 10th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
ME13 is a great role model for the Buc’s young receivers too!!
September 10th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Wow, great pic. But who’s the two guys blocking the picture?
September 10th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
On pace for 34
September 10th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Sometimes watching Mike Evans I am stunned in the way he catches the throws. Benjamin was all over him. And there was Mike doing what he does best. Hall of Famer!
September 10th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
I hope we all take a second to REALLY appreciate having this guy year in and year out! He should be on everyone’s ‘Bucs Mt Rushmore”!!! HOFbound!!
September 10th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Mayfield to Evans! Two more coming this Sunday!
September 10th, 2024 at 1:05 pm
You can’t cover Evans 1 on 1. That’s just facts!
September 10th, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Wow.
September 10th, 2024 at 1:11 pm
My favorite Buc for years and years. Just a great dude with mad skills.
September 10th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
What’s so spectacular is the level of trust from Baker and the knowledge of where the ball is going to be for Mike. This twosome are a thing of beauty, the graceful epitome of the game.
What’s exciting is going ahead and putting the cart before the horse. Dare to dream! What if these two had 3 or 4 more seasons to use that “special communication” to wear out DB’s!
September 10th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Beast!
September 10th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
My first thought after this catch is how some people on here belly ached to get rid of him during the contract talks. Bro, tell me you’re a casual while spelling out that you’re literally a casual! LOL.
Mike has sacrificed on his contract for years. He could have been a DVD Lamb and pouted and sat out training camp years ago if he wanted. He has lived way beyond what anyone expected out of him, even for a first rounder.
September 10th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
He has also turned into a really good dude. He used to let his emotions get the best of him, and whine about calls alot, but he truly turned the corner.
I guess he really did make Johnny Manziel look good after all.
September 10th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
“he really did make Johnny Manziel look good after all.”
You have to watch college ball…and if you did you’d know it was all Evans!
September 10th, 2024 at 2:47 pm
With Mike, its 60-40, not 50-50 .
But as we all know lol, there will be a few that Mike drops, like every year, where you cannot believe it, because it was easy for Mike to make. That just proves he is a human being.
Mike Evans is a class act and he will be giving a speech with a yellow HOF blazer on 5 years after he retires,
Mike is 1 year ballot Hall of Fame really helped Mike
2 things really helped Mike early on in his career was, 1st, when he became a father, and 2nd Todd Monken. Dirk bringing in Monken, and Mike was Todds number 1 focus to help out during first year coaching with the Bucs. That year Mikes career got on a Hall of Fame trajectory in a huge way.
September 10th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
I was at the game, it totally looked like pass interference live, he was wearing the dude like a cape
September 10th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
We are lucky to have had him for 11 years, and he’s not going anywhere except the Hall of Fame.
September 10th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Looked like pass interference on the replay, and this certainly confirms it.
Great job on the photo.
September 10th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
The cheerleaders are out of focus. What kind of photography is this? Some guy catching a ball was in the way.
September 10th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Joe, on the second Evans catch for a TD, they showed one quick shot of that play from the end zone camera, and it looked like he bobbled the ball and it hit the ground. One of the Washington defenders appeared to signal that the ball touched the ground. They never showed the catch from that angle again and the TD stood. I’m certainly not complaining, but I think the Bucs finally got a break from the refs on this one. Hopefully, you can show me that I’m wrong!
September 10th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
PSL
He did bobble it but it did not touch the ground.
Good call. TD
September 10th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
PSL Bob Says:
September 10th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Joe, on the second Evans catch for a TD, they showed one quick shot of that play from the end zone camera, and it looked like he bobbled the ball and it hit the ground.
———
Yeah, as said above, the replay showed it being bobbled but he pinned it against the inside of his leg and it never hit the ground. Was a clean TD, not even close, which is why it wasn’t replay delayed or anything, remember they check every TD that is scored. Just bad timing by the Fox broadcast to cut there.
September 10th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
Memories of Joe Jurivicious playing against the Eagles in their brand new stadium in 2003. He made two really spectacular catches in that game. I now live in Fleagle territory. It gives me great pleasure that the Bucs beat them in their last game in the old stadium and then the first game in their old stadium, though, as SB Champs, the first game of 2003 should have been in Tampa.
The two best receivers the Bucs have ever had are Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. I’m confident in saying that because I have seen them all. I worked as an electrician on the expansion of Tampa Stadium.
September 10th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
I watched the game. We’re in the Washington DC viewing area (Delaware). My wife was looking at her phone and I said, “You gotta see this, Mike Evans is amazing!” It was like he created another dimension with his arms, moved into it and the ball did the same. INCREDIBLE!!
September 10th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
On the Winfield goal line tackle, that was NOT a TD. The RBs left elbow broke the plain of the goal line – problem was – the ball was in his right arm. SMH.
September 10th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
It looked like blatant pass interference to me while watching the game live. Even more obvious upon replay. He was mugging Evans for nearly half the route.
Just one of about 10 different times Washington was committing blatant penalties but the refs kept their hands in their pockets… Meanwhile we get penalized their TE trips over his own 2 feet…
September 10th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
Will always be a kneeler
September 10th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
Shut up Chris and take a jump off your cape . It’s called freedom of speech. The right to bear arms isn’t the only right the military fought to protect you un American moron!
September 11th, 2024 at 12:29 am
Evans has not been the best or even among the better WRs when it comes to contested catches. He just happened to have two of them for a TD last Sunday, but this has never been his strong suit and anyone who says it is blind as a bat. DHop, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, old Brandon Marshall, Steve Smith Sr, Anquan Boldin etc are some examples of receivers with amazing concentration and strong hands to catch through a battle of the limbs. Evans if anything has been more finesse most of his career at this quality.
September 11th, 2024 at 4:18 am
Anyone else note the granny look of the Swashbucklers? Geez!
Having a couple of friends who used to be Swashbucklers. The new mproved version is…not improved.
Not even gonna get into the dudes in hotpants thing.
Go Bucs!