Lovie Likes Mike
December 1st, 2015
Lovie defends.
Bucs fans have developed a love/hate relationship with receiver Mike Evans.
The former first-round pick can make exceptional catches and frustrating drops, which induces fans to toss beer bottles across the room.
Evans, who may have the best footwork of any big, tall wide receiver Joe has seen in some time, can be a top-shelf, Pro Bowl receiver. But here comes the flip side that has Bucs fans growling.
Evans seems more concerned with barking at officials or trying to draw an interference flag than he is catching the ball. In other words, he does not appear to be focused on the singular task at hand: catching the damn ball.
If you believe in the very subjective stat of dropped passes, Evans leads the league in such a category. He dropped another big-time pass against the Colts that America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, dropped in his lap Sunday. It should have been a touchdown in a critical game.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Lovie Smith strongly defended Evans against rising fan backlash.
“Mike Evans is a great wide receiver,” Lovie said. “We don’t bring back all other games. That was a big pass he dropped [Sunday]. I’m not going to complain an awful lot about Mike. He would like to have one of those passes back yesterday, but that one. Don’t bring back all the other games, we don’t go back that far.”
Well, one way to forget misdeeds of the past is catching the damn ball. Yes, Evans is a spectacular receiver provided he can catch the ball. But it doesn’t take a spectacular athlete to drop the ball. A bum sleeping on the park bench can do that.
What irks fans more than his drops is the constant chirping at zebras, as if they are at fault for his drops.
It’s simple. Evans needs to focus on one thing and one thing only, and that is catching the ball. Quit trying to draw flags, quit b!tching at officials, quit whining after ever drop/missed throw.
As Keyshawn Johnson might say, just catch the damn ball.
December 1st, 2015 at 11:08 am
I like Mike 2. But I do think he gives up on routes and trying to make plays too often. In addition to his zebra barking it shows immaturity. I wish he would just hustle more. If he played hard to the whistle each and every pass some of those drops wouldn’t hurt so much. I swear there are times he could make a play but gives up.
December 1st, 2015 at 11:19 am
I’m not too down on Evans either. He may have contributed to the loss but the blame for the loss is team shared. Evans style hasnt changed and I don’t expect it to, what you see is what you get. The good outweighs the bad. Go Evans!
December 1st, 2015 at 11:25 am
Excellent take Joe. Not only is Mike’s chirping at officials whining and growing old I believe it’s starting to cost him with the zebras. They are tired of it too and that Offensive PI call on him was a joke!
A poster last night pointed out that TO had similar problems. Great receiver..great catches..intermingled with frustrating drops.
I suspect ME will be fine but the Bucs may need to groom a possession receiver for critical short third downs. Perhaps Brate or Humphries? ASJ not only has the injury bug he also has inconsistent hands.
December 1st, 2015 at 11:28 am
Did anybody else hear Jon Gruden criticizing Mike Pettine last night for sending Manziel to time out? Does he forget how he handled Keyshawn?
December 1st, 2015 at 12:07 pm
I heard Gruden say that Desanova. I thought he had no business poking his nose in there. Just inappropriate given his current job!
On to ME. He needs to stop complaining. The refs are not going to give his argument any weight if he complains all the time. Since this is his 2nd year, maybe this is what we have to expect from ME. Hopefully not ’cause he is a difficult WR to cover. In a year or two the JW to ME connection will be putting up huge numbers.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:16 pm
The sad thing is that Mike is no Larry Fitzgerald, who takes a position change to slot receiver and stills proves his value to the team through hustle, skill, and lack of the need to show off.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:32 pm
I’m chalking his season up to a sophomore slump. As far as whining goes, I haven’t seen too many receivers that don’t whine for a flag every time they miss a pass. It seems to be the nature of the game today to always blame someone else. Mike Evans will be just fine.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Whining by the receivers is nothing new, almost every one whines to the ref for a call on an incompletion. I think Mike Evans will be just fine.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Sometimes we get into the mode of expecting much more of a player because of his draft position……the selection is on the GM/Coach….and the player can’t help being drafted high.
In Evans’ case….I think the pick & position was right….and we have the right to expect great things.
Mike Evans is a spectacular WR….is very young and really has a tremendous upside…..he will work this out.
I truly think the refs don’t give Evans the benefit of the doubt is because he is superior to his competition……sort of like not calling fouls against Shaq. That, coupled with his mostly legitimate complaints causes the problem.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:46 pm
His drop vs. Colts was the turning point in the game as was his numerous drops vs. Giants. He’s a game changer alright, for all the wrong reasons. Way overrated!
December 1st, 2015 at 12:49 pm
I really feel and hope that Lovie and Koetter can get creative with this guy and call some endarounds and bubble screens to him to utilize his size and speed as well as getting him more involved in blocking with rbc screens. Pretty much get him into the game and improving his game instead of in situations where he can talk to refs.
December 1st, 2015 at 12:57 pm
With each game or looks like This guy is a really good #2 receiver which simply means we have another huge hole to fill. Ask yourselves this, What is Evans really good at? Route running, no, run after the catch, no, getting seperation, no, catching the ball consistently, no, being a team leader, no. So how is he really a good player when he does not have one elite trait?
December 1st, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Could have drafted Odell Beckham Jr….. JUST SAYING.
December 1st, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Hands of Stone
December 1st, 2015 at 7:30 pm
@Joe Cool
OUCH!
December 2nd, 2015 at 12:22 am
I think Randy Moss gave him bad advice. He probably told him to do something that only Randy can do
December 2nd, 2015 at 12:31 am
Gifted as all hell but still young immature and lacks focus. Hopefully he grows up alittle more this offseason.