Fourth-Quarter Evans?
October 12th, 2018
Interesting take by Dirk Koetter to the Atlanta media this week.
During a conference call with his old friends in Atlanta, Koetter was asked about Mike Evans.
Naturally, Koetter glowed about his No. 1 wide receiver, and he explained that Evans has reached a new level of fitness that’s allowing him to play at 100 percent nearly every down.
It was a great reminder that the NFL isn’t a Madden game. Receivers aren’t robots programmed with speed ratings and can’t perform like them.
Here’s a chunk of Koetter as transcribed by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
On the play of Mike Evans. “Mike is one of the top receivers in the league. Mike is really coming into the prime of his career. He’s figured out exactly what his routine should be during the season. How to maximize taking care of his body. Mike is really doing a good job. … This is the best stamina that he’s had in his career. That’s allowed him to run every route at close to full speed. Like Mike Evans is to our offense is what Julio Jones is to (the Falcons’) offense.”
Joe is dialed in to the “best stamina” line and Evans getting close to running at “full speed” consistently. This improvement made Joe wonder whether Koetter and Todd Monken will change how they view Evans as a fourth-quarter receiver.
Also, if you think of a guy like Evans having inconsistent speeds because of fatigue, well, that sure could affect a quarterback’s timing.
October 12th, 2018 at 7:21 am
“well, that sure could affect a quarterback’s timing.”
HAHA…
October 12th, 2018 at 7:22 am
i can’t take it i need football…
#FoootballWithdrawal
October 12th, 2018 at 7:22 am
If Bucs have weapons like Evans, DJax and Godwin, and Monken and Jameis throw half the passes to Brate and Humphries, Bucs will be in numerous 3rd down situations where opposing defense will tee off and blitz and that’s where the turnovers happen.
Use the weapons!
October 12th, 2018 at 7:36 am
@ Joe
” Also if you think of a guy like Evans having inconsistent speeds because
of fatigue,well that sure could affect a quarterback’s timing”
This seems like an attempt to blame Jameis ‘s struggles with the deep ball on Evans. I’m not buying it, because there is no question he has also been inconsistent with DJAX . Sorry Joe, IMO, you are overthinking this. Ha! Joe is overthinking? Joe is just stating the obvious. You’re the one overthinking. A guy being a quarter step slower late in a game or inconsistent with speeds, of course that “could” make a difference. It could lead, over the course of a season to catching 52 percent of the balls thrown your way versus 55, for example. Nobody has an answer to what’s happening on every throw. –Joe
Not only are balls overthrown by Jameis at times, but receivers often have to adjust to passes that are also underthrown or thrown to the wrong side of the receiver on go routes. In the first two games Fitz was throwing the ball where receivers could catch the ball and also get YAC yards. I hope to see the same from Jameis.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:06 am
Mike Evans is a complete beast…….notice how he takes a fierce hit…..looks like he should go on IR, shakes it off and comes in the next play…..this man is as close to a Superhero as you can get.
We are so lucky to have him locked up….
October 12th, 2018 at 8:31 am
I’ll take Godwin over Evans any day. Evans is fragile n often flinches when anticipating a hit. He drop passes that should be caught. He is soft,one demensional, n his skill set is jump ball only. His YAC is awful. Godwin brings durability n tenacity. He gets the extra yards when needed. He’s had one bad game which was against the Steelers. Evans continues to push off n complain which he’s good at. He hurts the team then always apologizes (“I gotta play smarter than that”) during post conference.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Every time I see OBJ on the sideline acting like a petulant child, it makes me appreciate Mike Evans even more.
I’m biased but to me, Evans is easily one of the top WRs in the league. Now he’s in better shape?! WHAT!!! Good luck DBs!
October 12th, 2018 at 8:33 am
And can you imagine if he at least improves his speed by half a second?this year it looks like Mike has mastered the double move and he looks alot quicker breaking out of his routes. Can we please get that compliment at RB now?!
@Joe I read an article yesterday where the Ew-gles are favorites to land bell and if not them the Steelers then Tampa…..OFR A 3RD ROUND PICK!if that’s the case I would take a gamble. Heck we gave NY a 3rd for JPP why would,shouldn’t we do it for Bell? A lot of people on here say he’s a drama queen but the same was said of Desean and look how he turned out.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:33 am
@Bob in Valrico … ” Sorry Joe, IMO, you are overthinking this.” LMAO Bob.
@Joe … “Ha! Joe is overthinking? Joe is just stating the obvious.” LMAO Joe.
You’re right on Bob; “In the first two games Fitz was throwing the ball where receivers could catch the ball and also get YAC yards.” And on those deep routes Fitz was also getting decent pass protection in those first 2 games, unlike in the last 2 games. Fitz is also a lot more experienced than Jameis in terms of progressions IMO; Fitz did a great job in those games of decision-making AND delivering an accurate ball. Whether Jameis can do equally as well is all part of the ‘interview process’ he’ll be going through for these next 12 games.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:34 am
Why settle for 55%
Improved accuracy and ball placement could quite possible lead to 65 % or even 70% . That said, defenders often get away with grabbing an arm or or jersey
to slow a a receiver which in IMO is an unfair advantage to the defender and probably would equate to more than a quarter step at times.
IMO more accurate passes will lead to a greater completion percentage increase
and more explosives from all our receiving corp.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:35 am
dmatt- Um, you have both. Godwin will be the #2 WR eventually. Evans “fragile”?! Are we talking about the same 4 straight 1,000 WR?!
October 12th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Very True, Defense Rules
Fitz has shown the way for Jameis in his first two games. As you put it:
“great decision making and delivering an accurate ball ” is a necessity for an elite Nfl QB.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Bucsfanman:
Yes I’m talking bout the 4 straight 1,000 yds “stats don’t win u games”WR. I’d like to c him during crunch time,game on the line,last minute of the game, make plays. I was impressed with Godwin during the game winner against the Saints last year. By the way has Evans ever stepped up during crunch time? He’s an good player just not in the ABrown,JJones, JEdelman mode.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:50 am
Probably the best player on the Bucs. But he still gets a case of the drops now and then.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:51 am
Savage Mike… Don’t look fragile to me. Top 3 easy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvkKGgqkIE
October 12th, 2018 at 9:10 am
dmatt- You have to have a QB throw you the ball in those situations. And of course he’s not AB, Julio, or AJ Green, or Edelman(?) but look at the QBs throwing to them. Outside of Andy Daulton they’re HOFers.
I’m not sure I understand your beef with a guy who has produced year in, year out on a pathetic football team.
He’s a top 5/top 10 WR in this league.
Lets lament a position that isn’t producing instead. Maybe like the RB?
October 12th, 2018 at 9:32 am
Bucsfanman:
U didn’t answer my question in earlier post…has Evans ever stepped up to make a play during crunch time? I don’t have beef with him I just feel he’s not a go to guy during crunch time. Yes he can pick up the yards but I would like to c him by the numbers when the game is on the line.
October 12th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Pass interference!!!!! These refs hate us!
October 12th, 2018 at 10:30 am
Alanbucsfan is SPOT ON!
$crew Humphries and Brate when we have so many better and more talented weapons.
Brate gets a pass now that OJ’s out Lol
But Brate and Hump are almost liabilities put there now
October 12th, 2018 at 10:37 am
Dnatt every TD #13 score is a crunch time play an you calling him out like he hasn’t bin the best an most consistent player we had on offense the past 4 years sure sounds like beef to me. If every player on the team played like him we would never loose a game. Why don’t you put your criticism where it belongs. Thats on the defense an not on our best player.
October 12th, 2018 at 10:48 am
LOL @ IMO more accurate passes will lead to a greater completion percentage increase.
DUH. You mean when they ball is thrown TO them they will catch more?
That’s not an opinion, that’s FACT.
October 12th, 2018 at 11:16 am
dmatt- To be frank, no I haven’t. But then again, I couldn’t tell you what I had for breakfast either! LOL!
IMO, Jameis looks for Brate a lot in crunch situations. Overall though, it would be nice to see some guys really stand out for a change. Jameis is going to have to trust his guys. Maybe that’s Mike.
You have a fair point. We just haven’t been that good in the redzone for a long time.
October 12th, 2018 at 11:22 am
OT:
Gregg Rosenthal @ nfl.com has a QB Index stating that “Jameis Winston will take advantage of this opportunity”. There is also a link to every JW3 throw from the Bears’ game.
tickrdr
October 12th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
TBBF
“Mike Evans is a complete beast…….notice how he takes a fierce hit…..looks like he should go on IR”
You know, if JW didn’t put the throws where ME had to make a circus catch and expose himself there would be less of that…See: Fitzpatrick…
October 12th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
@ sunday
Simply trying to point out accuracy and ball placement will result in greater completion percentage than the 3 % gain Joe was suggesting .because
of possible quarter step slower Mike Evans in the fourth quarter.
October 12th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
By that reasoning, wouldn’t a QB’s arm be fatigued too? And maybe not as accurate?