Tying Greatness
October 23rd, 2023
Yes, it’s ok to feel warm and fuzzy for a brief moment on this dark Monday following yesteday’s crap show on Tampa Bay’s home turf.
Joe’s appreciation and good feeling, albeit fleeting, comes from the greatest receiver in Bucs history: Mike Evans.
Evans caught a 40-yard bomb from Baker Mayfield in the first half yesterday. It was a classic go-ball with Evans being covered by good Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, their 2020 first-round draft pick. Mayfield released the throw when Terrell and Evans were even and streaking down the left sideline. Evans got the separation and the touchdown.
That was Evans’ 85th regular season TD catch. That moved him up on the all-time list to No. 18 in career touchdown receptions. That ties Evans with Hall of Fame receivers Lance Alworth and Paul Warfield, as well as Steelers great Hines Ward, who needed 14 years to hit the mark. Evans is in his 10th season.
Evans is healthy and cruising toward a monster statistical 2023 season. Joe is just grateful that the dropsies eluded Evans yesterday and he and Mayfield were on the same page.
If the Bucs are going to do anything this season, it sure looks like Evans and Chris Godwin will have to carry a monster load.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:29 am
I love Mike and Chris. Its sad they have deal with inept coaching. Seriously, how crazy could their numbers be if they had coaches that thought the way you/we do.
Get the ball in the hands of the two best offensive players and let the chips fall where they may.
“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent” -A Bronx Tale
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:32 am
when they were yelling grip 13 the stick um came in……..glad ME was able to get the help he needed.
MAD Props!
you go boi!
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:32 am
“If the Bucs are going to do anything this season, it sure looks like Evans and Chris Godwin will have to carry a monster load.”
Someone send a memo to Todd and the Seattle jock washer he hired to pretend to be an OC. Quit wasting downs trying to run all talk/no do White and waste of a roster spot Vaughn.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:34 am
off topic but anyone else notice everything seems to have fully gone over the cliff after they wore the creamcicle unis?
Burn them things and leave them cursed things in the past….
BUT yes!… Mike Evans is one of the small positives on this team right now…
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:34 am
Joe says “it sure looks like Evans and Chris Godwin will have to carry a monster load.”
As in load them up as running backs and tight ends to go along with their receiving.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:36 am
Best Buc Receiver Ever! But I hope he gets to go to a place like KC. He has suffered enough losing here. He has a ring and can probably get more but it won’t be here.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:38 am
Evans is a STUD.
“Boss” is a dud.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:40 am
evans did his job…..for once.
Elite receiver are game changers. not guys judt do their job and catch the damn ball.
The only games ME changes are for Losses. Have yet to see hime take over a game. i.e. randy moss style….
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:40 am
@Tye – seems to me it was bye week.
This team has been soft and flat since our bye. Which btw, IS a staple of Todd Bowles teams. Go check his history. The guy is garbage after having a bye week.
And he’s basically already raised the white flag of surrender for the Buffalo game.
A cowardly team led by a cowardly coach.
We’ve still got some dogs (Evans, Wirfs, Godwin, Winfield, David, Izien, Vea, and maybe some of the rookies like Kancey and Diaby), and the kickers / punters are great.
But everyone else is just a guy, guys with no heart or will, including both of our 7 figure press cornerbacks that we have play zone for 90% of every game.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:41 am
Trade Evans to a Contender!!!
BENEFITS:
1. We get good team to root for.
2. Bucs get rebuilding assets.
3. Mike gets a shot at chip #2 and HOF recognition.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:41 am
Do what’s right by him trade him to a contending team and ger a good draft pick this team ain’t goin anywhere anyway
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:43 am
He’s not a HOFer. He’s a good to very good WR who has had some great games. Having said that he drops way too many passes and is not really an impact player anymore. His best days are way behind him. Having said that he’s a great teammate, High character person and very coachable. Ring of honour for sure. Greatest Buc receiver ever.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:46 am
Frustrating loss yesterday but Evans had a solid game.
Teams will continue to cheat up and stack the box to stop the run as long as our QB continues to struggle hitting deeper routes.
Yes we hit one pass for 40 yards but Mayfield isn’t hitting these passes consistently enough for the defense to respect it.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:55 am
Teams do not stack the box against the Bucs because they don’t have to. The Falcons played cover 2 most of the game including the whole 2nd half.
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:57 am
Evans is as good as his QB. He has had terrible body language the past couple games. I also saw CG with bad body language yesterday. We know the offense isn’t right… I think the players are simmering and the locker room could turn soon if the coaches can’t figure out how to beat Cover 4.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Mike Evans should get into the Hall of Fame just for being able to get 1,000 receiving yards while being the #2 receiver from Josh McCown’s sorry as
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Marine Buc
BINGO!
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:05 pm
Red Pen they have a cover 2 shell then bring the LBs and a safety tight.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:07 pm
How do you beat a cover 2?
Run seam routes and force LBs into mismatches.
Too bad Baker can’t make those throws. Those balls get tipped.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:36 pm
After Buffalo, put in Trask. Ride him to the end. We either get a great QB or a high pick. Good with either…this year.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Trade SlyPirate to the Saints. He had no loyalty.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:15 pm
It sure seems like ME is gone at the of the season. He was barely used in the 2nd half, not targeted in the red zone, and not targeted when the game was on the line.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Throw Evans the Damn Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike deep along sideline is ALWAYS open , even when it is not. 6-5 225 GET IT?????????
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
I can see Mike Evans playing for a discount
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:20 pm
I can see ME playing for a discount for a SB contender such as the Chiefs.
He is marginally in or out of the HOF. He has to pass older players such as Julio Jones. He needs to keep pace with contemporaries such as AHop, D Adams, and Keenan Allen. He needs to look favourable compared to slightly younger players such T Hill and Stephan Diggs.
Unfortunately, the beat thing for ME to up his game is to go to a team with a tip shelf QB with a pass first philosophy.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
They doubled Mike and Chris in the second half. No one else could win.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Mike Evans had a very good game, as we are use to, despite a very poor offense, I don’t care how or how much….Get a deal done….
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
I see Evans as on his way out of Tampa. Good player grown older and naturally declining with
the wear and tear expected in a long career of greatness here in TB. Thanks Mike!
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Joe, is there a particular reason the Bucs no longer attempt to throw a fade with Evans when we are in the Red Zone? I know Evans was targeted once yesterday over the middle in the end zone but why do they not use him like they used to. When we got near the end zone it was Mike Evans time. Are defenses just doubling him every time we get down there?
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:26 pm
Also trade Buccaneer Bonzai, Munch and other fair weather fans. We’re 3-3 guys. As I said earlier, suck it up!
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Still burning dbs deep after 9 seasons. I see all the talk of trading him to a contender, but I dont recall hearing him say he wants to play for one. He isnt going to take a discount to play anywhere else. He wants the longer commitment, and he should get it from this team. He must be half of the team’s scoring, and at least a quarter of the offense. You will not get that value in trade, and with CG having to carry CG’s load, there arent enough receivers on the team to fill his shoes. He is also the last person you get rid of if you are looking to draft a qb.
October 23rd, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Licht needs to resign him
October 23rd, 2023 at 4:11 pm
ME needs to resign.
go play for the falcons, kitties, ar saints…
give us a chance to win some and get free OPI penalties!
October 23rd, 2023 at 4:18 pm
The only reason we should not be shopping Evans (and everybody not named Wirfs or Winfield or current rookies) at the trade deadline is for sentimental reasons. This team has too many holes and too many highly paid guys who are between below average and almost good. We have very few difference makers at key positions and as much as we love Evans and Godwin, they are replaceable. WR is the easiest position to fill with real talent. Not saying we can get guys who are immediately as good, but it’s easier to rebuild a WR corps than the OL room.
Of course this would be better if they cleaned house coaching wise in the offseason realizing a rebuild is going to have to happen.
We have huge holes at G,C,TE,RB,QB and OLB,CB,S to fill. That’s not a 1 year reload. That’s a 2 year rebuild with cap space and draft picks. Our cap situation will get better but not enough to do what is necessary.
October 23rd, 2023 at 5:06 pm
Yeah, he’s great. He just takes over games and elevates everyone… pfft. Trade Evans while he had value! This is not a Super Bowl team and he’s 30. He can be back for his Ring of Honor induction, but he’s not a difference maker on a Baker Mayfield led offense.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Fun fact: There are only 6 WRs with more touchdowns so far this year than Mike Evans.
But yea he’s a bum who does nothing to help us win games.
Thank God Jason Licht isn’t half as dumb as most of the commenters on here.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Yes JOE they will have to carry a monster load if we want to win games but that’s just it they can and they should be targeted more. Pass to set up the run cause running to set up the pass isn’t working hell running isn’t working period. White is o my good at recieving out of the backfield but he’s actually really good at it. He’s got moves and can make people miss in space but he lacks vision for running the ball behind the LOS. Play to these guys strengths
October 24th, 2023 at 12:13 am
I don’t think Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should be asked to carry a Monster LOAD every week. Spew it all over Todd Bowles face!!!!!
October 24th, 2023 at 10:14 am
The defense keeps us in the game always. I see other teams run the ball with 2 or 3 different running backs and gain alot of yards. We don’t have no one to break consistently. Are is it a lame offensive philosophy. Mike Evans is great, he is not the issue. Coaching is the issue.