Liam Coen Raves About Mike Evans The Football Player
January 2nd, 2025
Total pro, Liam Coen says.
Many Bucs fans are on pins and needles wondering if the Bucs can feed future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans the ball enough to gain 85 yards and get to 1,000 receiving yards Sunday.
Understandable.
That would extend his consecutive streak of 1000-yard seasons to 11 years, tying the great Jerry Rice.
However, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen wants fans to understand what a complete professional football player Evans is.
He’s not just about receiving records or catching ball. Coen raved how Evans is still a yes-sir, no-sir receiver willing to do whatever it takes for his offense to score touchdowns and win games.
“Look at the things he does without the ball, as well,” Coen said. “The way he’s blocked this year for us — talk about somebody that has bought into what we’re trying to do, that didn’t really have to do that all that often. That just speaks to the character of the person, the leader, the man.
“That’s just who he is. He doesn’t say much; he just keeps going about his business and doing it the right way. We’ve probably gotten him out of his comfort zone, maybe in some ways, not just in the pass game but more so in the run game. That’s stuff that he hadn’t had to do much of before.
“Credit him, he just put his head down and went [out] and continued to work. The results speak for themselves.”
In an age where it seems almost every receiver is all about “me,” Evans is a guy who’s all about “we.”
The Bucs are so, so fortunate to have a superior receiver who also is a great example to younger receivers on how to go about the game. Talk about hitting the draft lottery.
As much as Evans is the full definition of a pro football player, Joe sure hopes Coen and the Bucs empty their playbook to get Evans open on Sunday (after a win is secured) if he still needs plays to cross the finish line with 1,000 yards.
January 2nd, 2025 at 4:41 pm
We better see a play action deep shot to Mike early Sunday Liam!
January 2nd, 2025 at 4:52 pm
To be great you have to do something great. What has Mike Evans done that is great. That’s right, the consecutive 1,000 yard to begin a career but it comes with an asterisk as the great Jerry Rice has the most consecutive 1000 yards period. Cement Evans greatness by matching Rice this year and hopefully surpassing him next year. It’s all on Evans on getting them catches, on Baker on giving him accurate passes, on Coen to game plan 10 to 12 targets, and on Bowles to keep him in there until the objective is achieved.
January 2nd, 2025 at 4:59 pm
And don’t go all chicken little about maybe injuries this injuries that. The Pats were in the playoffs year in and year out playing with many meaningless games at the of the regular season. Do you think Beliechik kept out his starters? No except one time. That one time, they rested their starters they came out cold in the playoffs and were one and done. The Bucs are on a tear. Playing as a dark horse SB favorite. When the Pats were on a role they kept the peddle to the metal and kept that momentum trough to the playoffs. The Bucs need to do the same and not only try and win the game but dominate it I they can .. meaning don’t rest starters until the 4th quarter.
January 2nd, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Don’t matter to me…He kicks A222
January 2nd, 2025 at 5:42 pm
ME13 is the consummate professional. I expected nothing less. Now go get that record in a game that secures the playoffs for your team. My man!
LFG!!!
January 2nd, 2025 at 6:09 pm
For anyone who thinks there’s not enough motivation for Mike to get his 1k.
Mike is set to trigger a $3 million incentive for hitting 70+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 10+ touchdowns, in addition to a $666,000 bonus for being in the top 10 in the league in receiving scores.
That’s 3 mil for getting those remaining yards. It would take something catastrophic happening to keep Baker, Liam, and Todd from securing that bag of $.
I’m giving Mike a lot of credit for being such a great example for J-Mac too. When (not if) this guy becomes a top 10 receiver it’ll be, partially at least, because Mike showed him how to work at it.
January 2nd, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Don’t know what Coen is talking about with Mike’s blocking. Evans has been one of the best blocking receivers in the league. Godwin right there with him.
January 2nd, 2025 at 6:32 pm
Way off topic, sorry Joes.
Early this year there was alot of guys here on this site complaining about the press conferences and how we couldn’t hear the questions that the reporters were asking.
I was one of the fans bi@/hing about it.
Now, it seems the reporters are miced up. I give all the credit for that to JBF and the guys here that pushed and complained.
Thank you much, Joes. The press conferences are way yonder easier to follow when you can hear both the question and the answer.
January 2nd, 2025 at 6:54 pm
When Rice set that record, with a shorter season, I doubt anyone was designing their offense to help him out. Play to win, and let the cards fall where they may.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:20 pm
JustVisiting, they kind of go hand in hand. Getting Mike the ball is playing to win.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:45 pm
How about 1 85 yard early TD to Mike from the 15. Then sit him the rest of the game.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:50 pm
I got Bucs to make playoffs 2 to 1,,, Bucs to win division at 4 to1 ,, Bucs to win Super Bowl at 90-1,,, have made tons of money on Baker throwing over yards this year and Bucky rushing ,,, even Baker rushing ,,,, but the easiest ,, most sure bet of the year is Mikes over yards this week,, Book and and thank Vinny Monday
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:25 pm
Just visiting, they didn’t need to design the offense to help Rice out because they already had the offense designed to keep feeding Rice the ball. Rice got about 10 targets a game on average while Evans is closer to 8.5. That’s a big difference over an entire career.
January 2nd, 2025 at 10:17 pm
I am very proud to wear my red ME13 jersey. He is all that and more.
January 2nd, 2025 at 11:04 pm
Agree with Hodad ,
Mike was always blocking when Chris was running the ball around his side.
Another player, Humphries gained a lot of yards on screens on Mike’s side of the line.
I’ m pretty sure Mike wasn’t standing there watching him.
January 2nd, 2025 at 11:44 pm
I’m pretty sure the Saints will keep him double covered most of the time. A few long runs and a ton of short passes to the other side and they’ll have to limit how often they can do that. Well unless they want another 50 burger laid on them.
January 2nd, 2025 at 11:47 pm
Ont big factor to getting Mike his yards will be getting the Saints offense off the field. Lotsa plays means lotsa yards.
January 3rd, 2025 at 1:15 am
“The way he’s blocked this year for us”
Coen is not wrong! I for one have taken notice. Not just him, but others have bought in and it shows.
Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2025 at 4:31 am
The #1 Evans can do is get open quicker than everyone else and who do you think Baker’s going to feed if that happens? I’ve seen some of the videos of Evans blocking very Tenacioys D of him
January 3rd, 2025 at 4:54 am
“We” is what our team is all about. It’s not about “Me” when you have players like Mike and others. Hope to see him get 1000 yards this Sunday!
Reading between the lines and the other article about Coen talking about being HC at some point, he is very happy with the Bucs and being here. Everything he is saying is telling us so.
January 3rd, 2025 at 5:12 am
i want mike to have 5k more yards in his long azz tom brady like career…
i want mike to just keep going like tom brady did…
and be siting only behind jerry rice in the all time receiving yards spot…
nestled in nicely between rice and fitzgerald…
mike needs to just keep going…and when he leaves the game, even if it’s 5-6 years from now – (which is an old man by nfl standards) – he will still be a very ver young and very very rich man…
long game thinking is the move if i’m big mike…
it can be done if big mike is thinking long game…
i sound like ME13’s number 1 fan…and i might just be 🙂
January 3rd, 2025 at 6:00 am
Well said, adam from ny!
I have been Mike’s number 1 fan too since A&M when he played with QB JM. Then Mike came to the Bucs. We are all so lucky.
January 3rd, 2025 at 6:29 am
I remember games that Mike had only 4 targets but got well over 100 yards. Its a quick and easy way to achieve his 1000 yards and doesn’t require Baker to hold the ball too long.
January 3rd, 2025 at 6:32 am
^^^^catches^^^^
January 3rd, 2025 at 10:11 am
If Mike is healthy Sunday, he’ll get his yards. Coen will design some special plays and Bake will help. With Lattimore gone, I think the Saints DB’s will act professionally and not so dirty. Even the Saints respect Mike as a man and a HOF player.
January 3rd, 2025 at 11:36 am
All Consuming Records
If Mike gets 1K, I want him to come back for two more years. Have 13x1K seasons for #13.
If Mike doesn’t get 1K, I’d prefer he retires at the end of his contract to make room for a younger (more affordable) WR.
January 4th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
geno smith could make twice what evans could in week 18. it’s all falling into place. for some owners to take a mini-beating woohoo