Inside The Four Mike Evans Targets
October 17th, 2022
Mike Evans
Joe already warned that “the quote” is coming soon. It’s an annual tradition, so it’s not the end of the world.
However, it’s worth looking at just how glaring yesterday’s Mike Evans omission was.
Evans was targeted just five times against an undermanned Steelers secondary that likely was praying he didn’t get more targets. Officially, it was four targets for the greatest receiver in Bucs history, since one second-half incompletion to Evans was erased in the red zone in favor of defensive holding.
That play gave the Bucs 1st-and-goal on the Steelers’ 4 yard line, but the next three plays were a -2 yard run by Leonard Fournette, an incompletion to Russell Gage, and a dropped touchdown pass by Gage. Not one throw to Big Mike.
Among those four official targets, the Bucs threw to Evans just once on first down and NEVER targeted him on third down all day. Huh?
Is it any surprise the Bucs were 4-of-14 on third down converstions?
Don’t tell Joe that Evans was hurt. Late in the game, on a key 4th-and-1 run, the Bucs lined Evans up to make a key block to help Leonard Fournette move the chains. Evans attacked it like a beast and threw a hell of a block.
Team Glazer should sneak into One Buc Palace this morning and put up an Evans poster in the offices of Todd Bowles and Byron Leftwich.
October 17th, 2022 at 2:24 am
THE MASTERMIND knows all.
When will he get his shot at HC?
It’s a travesty if he doesn’t.
October 17th, 2022 at 2:56 am
Someone needs to ask why.
October 17th, 2022 at 3:25 am
Man, I know a lot of cats in Vegas loved the Steelers winning along with the ATL, Jets and to a lesser extent the Giants. Somehow, I bet the moneyline for Bucs Carolina will not be as big as the Steeler line. Anyhow the OC has proven that he can not adapt and adjust. He does not formulate gameplans to attack weaknesses, he calls offensive plays as vanilla as those called on defense by Mike Smith 2018.
Joe, you know that the Bucs will target Evans in the Carolina game but the thing is that everyone else including the Carolina defenders will expect it as well. Leftwich is way too predictable to be a good coordinator. Yesterday reminded me off a Koetter-Smith-Jameis game (sans the Jameis nominal 3+ turnovers) as far as preparation, attitude and complicity. Inexcuseable.
October 17th, 2022 at 4:28 am
I was expecting the fade route to Evans in the red zone, never saw any video of him. Are the “all 22” videos available to the public?
October 17th, 2022 at 4:52 am
Mike Evans is the “Man” , Lefty just don’t know it, but we all do.
B.L. play callings are a joke
October 17th, 2022 at 5:19 am
It’s time we get BA and his red pen back involved with the game plan.
October 17th, 2022 at 5:37 am
On the two point try the Bucs ran all of the receivers to the middle of the end zone like they were trying a Hail Mary from the two yard line no fade route for Evans. The play calling was terrible the whole game.
October 17th, 2022 at 5:55 am
Seems pretty simple, HOF WR against banged up secondary.
Coaching matters.
My Steelers fan friends were all talking about how the Bucs were going to run roughshod over the hapless Steelers yesterday. Unfortunately what I told them came to fruition. Mike Tomlin would have his team ready to play.
Coaching matters!
October 17th, 2022 at 6:12 am
This team is a joke. Should be 1-5
October 17th, 2022 at 6:57 am
Passing against that secondary should have been as easy as kicking baby chicks off the back porch, but there was several factors going into our ineptness. Not just the boneheaded play calling of BL. Our offensive line was as bad as they have been in three years. Brady was shaky at times trying to force some balls into tight windows, and even though the catches would have been hard, we couldn’t seem to catch a couple of low throws. But in Brady’s defense no one was getting separation. In that case if you have to resort to forcing balls in to tight windows he should have tried getting the ball to Evans more.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:20 am
The sad part is the Bucs will double down and not correct the current dereliction of duty by Leftwich. Reminds me of Animal House, where amongst the chaos, Kevin Bacon’s character is screaming ‘all is well’.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:26 am
^^^^^^
That right there is a bonafide Poke County colloquialism if thar ever was one.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:31 am
You media types need to start doing your job and ask very direct pointed questions and do not let them off easy if they fail to give an appropriate answer.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:37 am
I wish I had a dollar for everytime my wife of all people kept asking me, where’s Mike Evans? Is he in the game? Why aren’t they throwing to Mike Evans? I’d be rich. Honey I don’t know why they’re not throwing to Evans, hell, I don’t know why they’re not throwing at all. I don’t know why they’re running into a stacked box. Please stop asking me where’s Mike Evans. That’s how I enjoyed watching the Bucs yesterday.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:49 am
Hey guys, Mike’s not great. Never has been and never will be. He’s a good solid WR. Lacks elite speed and hands. Has lots of garbage time yards in his career. When it really matters, Mikey goes silent.
October 17th, 2022 at 7:51 am
And BTW, I nailed yesterday’s game. Called an easy Steelers win and I was right. When you’ve watched the train wreck that is the Yucs for so many years you can see it happening.
October 17th, 2022 at 8:05 am
Malfeasance. Incompetence. Lack of creativity. Stupidity. You name it. It fits Leftwich. And Bowles is complicit by not stepping in.
October 17th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Lefty think establishing the run is better his negative to 2 yard run calls are more then adequate. What you don’t like seeing Leonard fournette try to avoid 4 dudes behind Luke goedeke behind the line of scrimmage? Why would you try and set up our pitiful run game with short passes or open up the defense with our wrs and pass blocking oline? Lefty’s offense is so unpredictable! Your telling me a run play in the middle or off to the right or the left of the guard is predictable sheesh learn football man!?!
October 17th, 2022 at 8:11 am
?????????
Jeff Says:
October 17th, 2022 at 7:49 am
Hey guys, Mike’s not great. Never has been and never will be. He’s a good solid WR. Lacks elite speed and hands. Has lots of garbage time yards in his career. When it really matters, Mikey goes silent.
So I guess we blame Mike for only 4 targets???????????????
Get Real.
Every receiver is dependent on the QB and who is calling the plays, we all know that.
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 17th, 2022 at 8:11 am
Jeff, blind squirrel meet acorn. And ME13 is on a HOF path.
October 17th, 2022 at 8:17 am
I’m guessing there will be no compensatory pick in the future for Lefty accepting a HC job with another team.
October 17th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Jeff
You were right about the game…..but dead wrong about Evans…..Evans has great hands and is a fantastic WR…..has been from the beginning….and a great teammate & community citizen..
October 17th, 2022 at 8:28 am
FortMyersDave,
Spot on with your last sentence. This feels like the Dirk Koetter years all over again along with Jason Licht is signing free agents who under perform or aren’t on the field.
October 17th, 2022 at 9:21 am
Team Glazer should sneak into 1 Buc Palace this morning and fire Byron Leftwich and special teams coach Armstrong. For starters.
And let Bowles know that he’s on the clock.
It’s one thing to lose a couple games but the product they’re selling is straight up garbage this whole season. UNACCEPTABLE.
October 17th, 2022 at 9:28 am
Mike’s 1000 yard streak is in serious jeopardy with these coaches. Of course out offense would also be. Lot better. Seems our coaches are better at taking him outta games than our opponents
October 17th, 2022 at 10:03 am
#FireLeftwich
October 17th, 2022 at 11:10 am
At first Joe was calling Tom Brady a home invader.
Then when Bucs won the SB, Joe realized Brady is the real America’s QB, not Jameis.
Now Brady cannot be criticized when he’s obviously at fault.
Balls to Mike Evans take time to develop.
Brady does not want to stand in the pocket and get hit.
Hence Evans is not getting the ball unless there’s perfect protection.
That’s why Brady was yelling at OL.
October 17th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
why should team Glazer sneak anywhere on the premises?, they ought to help themselves into the locker room and and have words with leftwich and bowles–the 2 of them are going to take this team to the ground and soon we will be worthless just like what team Biden is doing to all of the USA–make us worthless so we will be dependent and docile
October 17th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
All-22 videos are available to the public as part of NFL+ Premium subscription. It is a great way to watch a train wreck from another angle.
October 17th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
FortMyersDave Says:
“Man, I know a lot of cats in Vegas lovedordered the Steelers winning…”
.
.
I’m pretty sure Crack Wise is on to something. I don’t know if this information is available or not, but I would bet that there was a lot more cash laid on the money line than the point spread yesterday.
Skeptics should watch the documentary on game fixing made by Jessica Savitch. There is a link to it on NewsPunch. She died just a couple of months after it aired. Just a coincidence, I am sure!
October 17th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
will someone ask leftwich , and , bowles that question at a press conference ?? And maybe the Glazers should start asking those obvious questions !!!!!
Licht knew last spring that thee were 2 key players he had to replace on the O-Line,,then in 1st wk of august there was a huge 3rd loss with Jensen’s injury.. But he chose to do nothing -, NOTHING . Now he’s got 2 wks to make a trade,, when the better players have already been picked up by his competitors !! Glazers need to ask that question also.
October 17th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Hodad Says:
“I don’t know why they’re running into a stacked box.”
.
.
Not just a stacked box, but repeatedly right into the gap where they knew the run blitz is coming.
There is an easy explanation. Crack Wise knows the answer.
October 17th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Test:
lovedorderedOctober 17th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Ya Brady also has a tendency to shy away from Evans. Look at last year look at the super bowl Evans should be first look if not open then move on. Amazing also that Evans never goes in motion. Why
October 17th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Bucboi813 had either gone into hiding or cha fed his name, now that his man crush has been exposed.
I’ve been warning y’all about Leftwich for years… welcome to the party.
October 21st, 2022 at 8:46 am
Word for this day: “converstions”. I swear the Joe’s don’t have a spell check.