Mike Evans Has Saved Lovie
December 7th, 2014
Man, there is really only one reason to watch the Bucs this year. It has been the play of wide receiver Mike Evans.
If overlord of football operations Lovie Smith got one thing right this past offseason, it was drafting the rookie from Texas A&M. Man, he is something special, as he again tore apart an opposing defense, scoring two touchdowns today.
Evans’ second touchdown was a thing of beauty. He caught a pass that looked to be awkward for him to catch along the left sideline of the end zone, Evans has to do a tap-dance with this feet, all the while falling forward and trying to maintain control of the football.
Evans may be the best Bucs receiver Joe has ever seen. He’s a game-changer. And he has saved Lovie’s bacon.
Just look at all the offseason moves Lovie made, and with the exception of Evans and Alterraun Verner, nearly all have all blown up in his face. From draft picks who can’t get out of the hot tub, to draft picks who are largely mediocre, to draft picks you don’t even know are on the roster. From free agent pick ups like Michael Johnson to that slug Mike Jenkins, the past offseason was beyond horrible for Lovie.
The selection of Evans is helping folks forget about all the swings and misses in the rest of the free agent/draft pick evaluations.
“Mike has made a lot of big plays for us,” Lovie told the Buccaneers Radio Network after today’s game. “On days like today you have to look at the bright spots and Miek has made them. He is a good football player.”
Joe only wishes the Bucs got great plays out of the rest of the guys Lovie added to the roster this past offseason. Joe hopes Lovie never sees the inside of his suburban Chicago basement again.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
It sucks when a season is lost and there is not much hope for the next several seasons either.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:07 pm
At this point, griping about how bad this team plays is akin to kicking a dead, lifeless rotting corpse.
Jim Caldwell called the dogs off early so as not to embarrass Lovie, as if Lovie hasn’t been embarrassed enough already this season.
Yep, you can really rejoice when someone makes a great choice with their first round pick. Aren’t first rounders supposed to become stars? You make your living on rounds 3, 4 and 5.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
Aint that the truth! Evans is confrontational when running routes, he is in fighting mode not taking any crap. I’m amazed he seems to get away with some pushing. I don’t really see any other Buc matching his grit and determination.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
There is a lot of hope and that is getting an incredible franchise changing player in marcus mariota
December 7th, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Imagine how pathetic the offense would be without Evans. It would be even more unwatchable.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Any word on LD’s concussion?
December 7th, 2014 at 6:12 pm
I guess vjax still got it!! Criticizing Lovie at this point is pointless season is done and players lost their hunger the week before this loss. Lovies back next year for sure so thats a big year for him.. now it’s about the draft, keeping our good players (vjax), and finding offensive coordinators. Forget about free agency just add a couple cheap piece..
December 7th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
@ Brent
Glad to see someone give Vjax some credit today…..he got open and made a ton of catches….I’m sure having Evans helped him and vice versa!!!
Mike Evans has great hands and a real feel for the in bounds foot taps….what a great long term reciever the Bucs snagged….
December 7th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
Honestly: THE ONLY GUY I ENJOY WATCHING ON THIS TEAM!
December 7th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
@ Joe
Lovie took over a roster with tons of holes and did what he could to try and right the ship. Your credibility is at stake for not mentioning this and I wonder what kind of favors Mark Dominic does for Joe. You’re one of those who blames the current national debt on the current president. What a shame..
December 7th, 2014 at 6:45 pm
A pick in the top 10 of any draft is supposed to be a hit. It’s not going to get you fired or a new contract. GMC didn’t get his coach fired or hired neither did the bust mark Barron but the drafting of a quarterback bust yea that will get you fired every time
December 7th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
Evans is a great player and like buccfan37 said, he fights and blocks on every single play! I enjoy watching this kid play!!
December 7th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
With ME13 and VJax we have quite a pair of receivers and don’t think they don’t complement each other, VJaz had a hell of a day today. Just think if we had a QB that could throw the ball where they are at or going for a change, what they could do.
December 7th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Can’t even call Verner a good signing considering the money spent on him and Meyers and McCown could’ve kept Revis who is having a historically great season.
Verner isn’t very good either.
December 7th, 2014 at 7:26 pm
McCown sucks. Bringing in a guy a like him and handing him the starting job is the kind of move that can get a coach and/or gm fired. Especially if they go 2-14.
December 7th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
He is a good player, not great yet and there are no sure bets.
That being said we should have drafted JF.
You have to have a QB to win meaningful games and we don’t.
By the way The Raiders are about to beat SF
December 7th, 2014 at 9:09 pm
This team needs a fire lit under them on both sides. Sign Greg hardy in the off season. Draft qb line and mlb
December 7th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
Savage Mike!!!!!!
December 7th, 2014 at 11:29 pm
Wow. Stretch much. Lovie is done. Evans saved nothing.
Lovie has failed in every possible way as a HC. Even the GM he helped pick was a failure.
Terrible FA signings
Forced a 35yo career backup on team
Dumped Revis, Barron for no reason apart from lack of vision on how to use them
Mediocre draft with Evans being the only real stand out. Manziel still would have been a better option.
Penalties
Lack of preparation
Mental mistakes every week
Tedford disaster
Hired a freshly fire HC as his DC (why)
You would hard pressed to say Evans or Superman could save Lovie’s job. He has been an embarrassing mistake. And this is the short version of the recap.
December 8th, 2014 at 10:14 am
history has shown that bucs who have phenomenal rookie campaigns seem to never live up to it again. especially on the offensive side of the ball. let’s hope evans is the exception
December 8th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Yep, Mike Evans is and is destined to be one heck of a ball player so long as he can avoid injury.
Now, it’s time for the Bucs’ management and their fans, who already clamoring to draft Marcus Mariotta (sic) to get realistic. It’s time for the Bucs to stop paying lip service to the adage that “it all starts up front” and use some high draft choices on offensive and defensive linemen.
We’ll never know how good Josh McKowan or the 2014 Bucs could have been because Lovie Smith gutted what was a decent if not good offensive line and replaced it with I don’t know what to call the new player in the O-Line. Then he went and bought all kinds of high priced help for the D-line and one, the main piece Michael Johnson, is a bust.
Lovie’s ill conceived moves, especially on the O-Line, everyone he got rid of Donald Penn, Davin Joseph and Jeremy Zuttah are all starters and doing well where they landed, compounded Mark Domniic’s, I don’t draft O-linemen philosophy to leave the Bucs with the football equivalent of Swiss cheese.
Also, using a Tampa 2 scheme, even if it is Tampa 2 Light or 2.0 without a strong frontline is akin to driving your car off the Gandy Bridge.
It’s time to knock off the franchise quarterback nonsense off and build this team the right way, from front to back.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Mike Evans deserves all the credit he’s getting, but I feel mention should be made of the benefit I’m sure he’s received from watching & learning from VJ
December 8th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
This year is shot but it’s crystal clear the glaring problem is Marcus Aroyo the defense and special teams are getting better but the offense just sucks.
We do need to draft premier Oline and Dline players
December 9th, 2014 at 12:05 am
When Barron was drafted we were originally sitting at No. 5 overa with everyone expecting Schiano to jump up and grab Trent Richardson. Instead Dominik and Schiano move back two spots and take Mark Barron. Every intelligent person was shocked at that move. Why would you draft an overrated Safety who played for Alabama. The guy was never asked to cover anybody just help with run support. Alabama’s D line makes all the D backs looked way much better than they actually are because they are Alabama and they kill QB’s.
Buc fans should be LIVID about this trade. Barron was the 7th overall pick. The 7th!!!! And we traded him for what a 5th rounder? Not to mention
the two very next picks in that draft were Ryan Tannehill followed by Luke Keuchly. When will Tampa Bay ever get somebody in their that knows what the hell they’re doing? No more hiring defensive back coaches, small college coaches, and people who haven’t coach for > 12 months as head coaches. On top of that, we’re still paying Schiano millions per year for the next couple years. Looking forward to 2020