“If You Get Him Involved Early, Things Are Better For Mike”
September 26th, 2024
Feeding Mike Evans.
There is data and analysis showing Mike Evans’ slumping numbers have nothing to do with his ability to get separation.
So if Evans is getting open, why isn’t he getting the ball? It’s a complex issue and Joe is just going to guess it indirectly has to do with the offensive line collapsing in the past two games with Luke Goedeke on the shelf with a concussion.
Today, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen was asked about Evans’ lack of targets in the past two games. Only nine, so that’s a hair over a target a quarter.
A guy like Evans, provided he is open, should be getting many more, that’s all there is to it. Coen was asked about Evans almost becoming a spectator.
“We weren’t in rhythm,” Coen said of the offense. “We were a little fast at times getting out of the pocket. So we did end up missing him a little bit.”
Fast getting out of the pocket? Was that because Mayfield wanted to save his scalp? Mayfield the past two games has been sacked 12 (!) times and been hit 18 times. So if Mayfield is a bit jumpy as a result, Joe can’t blame him.
Joe remembers seeing a documentary on Bill Walsh on NFL Network. Former Bucs quarterback Steve Young, who played for Walsh, noted how Walsh was a stickler about timing. If a quarterback dances or deviates in his dropback, it throws the entire play out of whack because Walsh expected passes to be thrown at specific times.
Still, Coen admitted he needs to do a better job of getting Evans the ball. On the second play of the Bucs’ first drive against Denver, Coen noted Evans was supposed to be the intended target but the play was blown up.
“We just have to be diligent about moving him around,” Coen said. “Getting him in positions where they can’t double him.
“And also we have to be on time and in rhythm to be able to throw [Evans] a football. … Usually if you get him involved early, things are better for Mike.”
And if things are better for Mike, things are better for the offense — and much better for Bucs as a whole.
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September 26th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
The opposing D is in the backfield so quickly they’re even blowing up dump-offs and screens. Makes it extremely difficult to hit Evans on the intermediate and long developing pass plays.
September 26th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Spoken like a guy that never watched Mike until this year.
September 26th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Bucnjim
NO
September 26th, 2024 at 5:18 pm
I thought the point of being able to move Mike all over the field would eliminate that excuse. He doesn’t just run go routes in this offense. I won’t judge this strange coordinators methods yet since he doesn’t have a right tackle or a tight end who could block a 5 star recruit.
September 26th, 2024 at 5:37 pm
LOL I’ve been screaming the title of this article repeatedly for like 6 years now 🙄
September 26th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
I love MIke. However, if you do not target him early he takes himself out mentally. Totally different player. He does it sometimes when you do target him early. That early interception killed our entire offense last Sunday. The entire tone changed after that. Even Baker was being more conservative to protect his stat line. Dink, and dunk for the rest of the game, or hold the ball and get sacked.
September 26th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
LongTimeBucaneer
NO
September 26th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
The Baker Shaker club is now trying to make our FIRST BALOT HOFer the Scape Goat.
Give is a couple articles and Joe will validate the Shaker Baker Cult
September 26th, 2024 at 6:05 pm
Walsh would have this offense humming to 35 points a game.
September 26th, 2024 at 6:06 pm
WiseCrack No what? Doesn’t matter who you want to blame! You can blame the position of the moon for all I care, but the team has almost no sacks and has given up 20 combined pressures & sacks. Those are just facts. When we did throw it to Evans it was intercepted. Surtain has shut down every WR he’s faced so far this year and the Broncos were sliding protection just in case.
September 26th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Bucnjim
NO to your original post.
NO comment on your second post trying to make another point to validate your first post that is just…… well, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 26th, 2024 at 6:17 pm
WiseCrack you should be running for President
September 26th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
Bucnjim
Keep in mind, my entire angle is what my name suggests. I have no real emotional investment in “professional sports” anymore. To me, they are all RIGGED. Not Fixed but RIGGED.
The only reason I care about the Bucs is because I have invested enough money in the team for over 2 decades that I would have paid off my house by now if I knew better at the time. Instead, I am about to get Taxed out of Tampa, my 3rd generation property and NO ONE CARES.
Let alone the Bucs who are… and here is a REAL STORY…. letting go of all the internal staff at the end of the year. The ones that have taken care of the players food and well beings from day to day for over a decade. In favor of a company known for staffing people that are not able to get a DL because they lack a SS number. NO JOKE, just actual FACTs.
So to answer your question. Baker needs to get Mike the ball no matter what. The OC needs to get him the ball no matter what. EVERYTHING ELSE, is just an excuse at this point in Mikes career.
September 26th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
Bucnjim
You should just RUN. Clearly you are pulling the tail of an animal you have no idea how to handle.
September 26th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
Funny that ATM never had a hard time finding a way to get Evans the ball. Bet even Andy Dalton would find a way to get him the ball and they’re qbs but our OC has shown no propensity for rolling protections or maxing out so Mayfield has a chance to get the ball to him
September 26th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99
Or it could just be Mayfield doing what HIS RECORD SUGGEST!
In case you dont know. Cause clearly the Baker Shakers are too busy making sure the tube is drained, and the toilet is flushed.
But in case you dont know, Baker is HORRIBLALLY inconsistent. MORE SO, than the last “Franchise QB” that got tossed aside for Brady. Which is impossible to argue against. I will forever love Brady being a Buc.
But dang, we replaced Brady with a White Jaymiss <— FACT
September 26th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
OH DANG,
my bad DavidBigBucsFan99
I forgot we called him Americas Turnover Machine. I read that as At The Moment. LOL
Still, this is year two for Baker. Last year he is allowed the reason you provided. Even with a new OC this year, its 100 on Baker to KNOW what he has IMHO
September 26th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Its all on Baker for last game. He was rattled early and after the interception he NEVER threw the ball on time. We need scripted plays for him to start and let him get into a rhythm. Anything else is setting him up to fail. You can’t deny he is small of stature, so quit hoping you can leave him in the pocket and throw a guy open with a man in his face. He can’t do that. Drew Brees never had to. Play within his means and he will win you games. But as soon as he gets rattled, ITS LIGHTS OUT.
September 26th, 2024 at 7:08 pm
When you are playing 2 deep safeties and there is a ferocious pass rush, it is almost impossible to get the ball to a deep receiver like ME. For those reasons, Godwin has been featured in shorter routes. Makes sense to just take what the defense allows so hit ME on inside quick slants and just keep moving the ball 7-9 yards at a time. Eventually, safeties will move up and deeper routes will be available. Got to have Goedke back. When Baker tries to move up in pocket because outside rush is on him, inside O line not doing a good enough job giving him space to move in to. OC should not force the issue. Just keep taking what is available. This also means more Otton underneath.
September 26th, 2024 at 7:18 pm
I agree we need to get Mike involved BUT I don’t think we need to be forcing him the ball. What’s the point of having all these so called “weapons” if defenses know we’re going to try to get Mike X number of touches every game.
It’s time for J-mac, Palmer, White, Irving, Otton to get involved in the pass game. Coen needs to scheme some people open….as catchy as the “players before plays” quote he gave early on was I’m wondering if he shouldn’t focus on plays before players instead.
@WiseCrack – Jeesus, kids on your grass again?
September 26th, 2024 at 7:43 pm
BillyBucco
YES
September 26th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
Gipper
Meh,
Awesome football points, its just any die hard knows, Mike does everything AMAZING and he is ALWAYS OPEN.
That is the only chink in what is an otherwise very fair point IMHO
September 26th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
GoneGator
These days, being on GRASS is whats up. Get with the times or otherwise….. BE GoneGator
September 27th, 2024 at 4:24 am
.Evans is a rythem guy definitely will drop a ball before getting in rythem and then catching everything thereafter. Shame on the bucs staff for not having a serviceable backup RT