Originally Posted November 26th, 2022

Mike Evans is a MONSTER on the field. There should be no doubt about that. 

Standing at 6'5" and weighing around 231 pounds, he's one of the biggest wide receivers in the history of the NFL. There have been only a few as big or bigger in physical stature. And only a few of them are/were nearly as productive or consistent as the nine-year veteran. His being the only player to start his career with eight straight seasons as a 1 K-yard receiver is evidence of physical dominance and a testament to his ability beyond size. Being big means nothing without heart, drive, and actual catching ability at the position.

Through ten weeks of play this season, he's proven still to be the most crucial piece in the BUCS' offense. Evans makes everything else on the offense so much easier. Generally, he attracts at least two defenders. Wherever he lines up, a cornerback and a safety have to account for him and whatever he does. And since every opponent doesn't have a premier starter at the cornerback position that can match either size or skill with Evans, it should be seen as a clear advantage. Right?

With the BUCS offense struggling to score as severely as it has this season, one of the biggest questions that come to mind is, "Why isn't Mike getting the ball more"?

Heading into Week 12, the Buccaneers lead the NFL in pass attempts(428). While Evans leads the team in targets(76), it's not by much. He has three more targets than Chris Godwin, who has been working his way back to form since the ACL surgery that ended his 2021 season early. And Evans' 671 receiving yards are almost 200 more than Godwins' 475 yards though the former has just one more reception than the latter.  No other top WR in the League shares a target split as close as Godwin and Evans.

It feels as if Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich and QB Tom Brady need to find out where their bread is buttered. One can understand spreading the ball around to get everyone involved. That's just good football. But when one player has such a big advantage over the opposition, why wouldn't you emphasize it week in and week out?

Some of the notable games, when Mike Evans' usage became a huge issue, are when teams were missing most of their top players in the secondary. Or when there's a weakness in the secondary anyway.

In the Week 6 matchup in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were missing Cameron Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Levi Wallace, their CB1, CB2, and CB3. They were also missing star safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Somehow, the BUCS only managed to get Evans 4 targets with the team facing 2nd and 3rd string players. Chris Godwin ended up with 12 targets and 95 yards in the 18-20 loss. 

Over the subsequent weeks, Evans and Godwins have had nearly the same number of targets regardless of their matchups. Evans was targeted on 37 passes to Godwin's 34, with Evans gaining 105 yards more with his opportunities. 

Evans has never been selfish about sharing the ball. He's been a team player since he's been in Tampa. But his presence sets the tone for everyone else to get free. Everyone who has played alongside him in Tampa has benefitted from his stature and unselfishness. There are 18 receivers in NFL that have more targets than he does. Two of them, T.J. Hockensen (TE) and Adam Thielen, with 77 targets each, aren't the WR1 for their team. They play with one of the biggest threats at the position, and they don't lack production. Many of their opportunities come because Justin Jefferson(116 targets) gets so much attention from the defense. It comes down to prioritizing talent and matchups in the game plan. You can look at other receiver tandems like D.K Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Seattle and say they've got a similar number of targets like Evans and Godwin. But the Seahawks throw the ball less than the Buccaneers. And Metcalf, the undisputed WR1, accounts for 25% of the pass targets in that offense while Locket gets 23%. In the BUCS offense, Evans receives 20% of the targets to Godwin's 21%.

It's not just about the number of targets a player gets. It's also about when those targets come. When a player is used for setting the tone by getting him involved early, opposing defenses have to consider his effectiveness. The top WRs in the League have been getting targeted early and often. Evans has 36 targets in the 1st Half of games this year. That's among the lowest of the top WR1s in the League.

The offensive staff in Tampa has put one of the most physically gifted talents in a passive role, and it's reflected on the scoreboard every week. The offense has been taking what defenses have been giving rather than forcing an issue and making them react to the team's biggest weapon. The BUCS no longer have multiple dominant receiving options on the offense. They have one. For the remainder of this season and maybe the rest of Leftwich's and Brady's tenure in Tampa, it may behoove them to prioritize Number 13 in the game plan and get him the ball and into the end zone.

UPDATE: The streak of games with no touchdowns extended to 11 games. In Week 17, Evans caught his first TD since Week 5