Jalen McMillan Has A Big Supporter In Mike Evans
December 18th, 2024
Doesn’t forget rookie teammate.
A little background on Mike Evans’ sharp eye for talent at receiver.
Many a receiver in Evans’ shoes in the Bucs’ locker room Sunday, after his team just completed a landmark road against a quality team, would hog the spotlight. After all, Evans had just racked up 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.
All sorts of receivers would milk that opportunity for self-promotion. But Evans isn’t like a lot of receivers and that’s one reason he’s special.
Back in 2017, Chris Godwin’s rookie season, Godwin caught a bomb from America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, to beat the slimy Saints 31-24 on the final offensive play of the season for the Bucs.
Joe talked to Evans in the Bucs locker room after that game and Evans said Godwin was a no-doubt-about-it No. 1 receiver.
There was Evans, already clearly the Bucs’ best receiver, saying a rookie teammate was a No. 1 receiver. When Joe replied, “Mike, I thought you were a No. 1 receiver?” Evans shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, “I am.”
That’s Evans. Always humble.
So Sunday after the Bucs borrowed a fungo bat from the Dodgers and used it to pummel the Chargers, Joe asked Evans about another rookie receiver, Jalen McMillan. After seven games of putting up goose eggs, McMillan has caught fire lately with three touchdowns in his last two games, including one against the Chargers for the Bucs’ first score.
(The Bucs are 8-1 this year when scoring first, and winless when not.)
Like Evans did when Godwin was a rookie, Evans raved about McMillan.
“I’ve been telling everybody he’s going to be a really great player for us,” Evans said. “He started us off. Touchdown. Big third-down grabs all night. Great performance by him.”
And that’s Evans. On a night when he should have been — and was — one of the focal points of a significant Bucs win, Evans made sure Joe and fans knew that McMillan will be a stud, too.
December 18th, 2024 at 2:11 am
mike propin’ up his guy…way to go…!
mike knows he can’t do it alone out there…
but if he had to, he probably could 😉
December 18th, 2024 at 2:50 am
joes:
i think we really need to discuss the identity of this team…in detail…
because i’m not entirely sure how to describe it actually…
we went from a wide receiver focused team, to a ground and pound, juke and shimmy, road grader type thing…
after 14 weeks let’s talk team identity at some point…
what exactly is the teams identity after 15 weeks of ball…?
or does baker & lavonte = team identity on both sides of the ball…?
just thought i’d throw it out there…for the joes, pros, hoes and foes alike 🙂
December 18th, 2024 at 3:30 am
We’re a ‘take what the opposing defence gives us’ team, which is great. Having the ability to dink and dunk and have YAC, throw deep to spread, or run the ball, should mean opposing teams can’t shut down every avenue of attack and we can keep scoring in various ways
December 18th, 2024 at 3:33 am
Make up your mind already Joe! Which is it? A chain, a frozen pipe, or a fungo bat?
December 18th, 2024 at 6:08 am
The Bucs have what I have always dreamed they would have one year. A balanced offense. First and ten from the 30 to the other teams thirty try to guess what they are going to do. And by the way, the QB from the past that Baker reminds of is none other than Brett Favre. He shows the same sort of gritty leadership and ability to extend plays, and on the flip side he has the same weakness, a willingnes to put the ball into dangerous spots, thus the high number of picks. Just like with Favre, you get a lot of TD’s too.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:14 am
Mike is an excellent mentor for Jalen and others. He is always supportive and encouraging.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:41 am
@Kenton..it’s easy. ALL of the above.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:50 am
McMillan will have all the opportunity in the world to reset his career day for a third week in a row with Mike on the other side this Sunday.
December 18th, 2024 at 7:45 am
Now if we could start getting the other eligible pass catchers involved in the game!
December 18th, 2024 at 8:14 am
The Bucs need to beat the Cowboys and win out. Every player and coach needs to perform, so we need Mike’s leadership to ensure no letdown after the Chargers win.
Trample America’s team on national TV! LFG!
December 18th, 2024 at 8:25 am
I’ve seen the term “curb stomping” more than once, which if you really think about it, is gory and horribly graphic.
That’s about right!
Me likey.
December 18th, 2024 at 8:28 am
@Mark A Swygert… and hopefully he’ll get us another Lombardi like Favre did for Green Bay. I am absolutely comfortable with a Favre comparison, he had Green Bay dangerous for well over a decade.
December 18th, 2024 at 8:47 am
i remember the play right sideline against good coverage?
December 18th, 2024 at 8:49 am
who would be a better big brother than mike? he’d borderline kill for u haha
December 18th, 2024 at 9:01 am
KABucs, Me likey your way of thinking!
December 18th, 2024 at 9:10 am
The WR look up to ME13, you can see it on the sidelines
December 18th, 2024 at 9:44 am
If ME13 says it, you can bet this fan believes it. Okay, Jalen, go get ’em. Help Mike out like CG14 did. And Defense, I know you guys are the walking wounded, but how about one or two pick6s?? THAT would shut Jones up for mebbe, one minute. Beat Dallas and beware of the refs, Bucs!
December 18th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
For Joe, this is too easy.
Identity of this team? Zero edge rush. ☹️
December 18th, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Geez! Can somebody in this organization draft a stinking edge rusher! First Round! A 21 year old kid who can get us a sack a game for the next 9 years! Joe, I don’t want to let you down but the Identity of this team is not “Zero edge rush”.
December 18th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Our best edge rusher seems to be Kancey. Put him outside.
December 18th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
ME 13 is taking Jalen McMillin under his wing in the same way Vincent Jackson helped groom ME13! Evans’ legacy will be felt in the same way as 63, 55, 99, 47, 20, 40, Father Dungy, Chucky, Jason Licht, and I’m happy to say that the list goes on…………
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 18th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
Really, that’s your idea of our TEAM identity? If only we’d made a move for Reddick right?