https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQDpOulDKg1/?igsh=aGNhcGt3cm5zdmhy
Watch Evans' head on both of these deep throws
Haven't had time to take a deeper dive into this, but man did he hit his head hard on that one he was trying to catch near the OB line.
Did he hit the blue tent after this play?
I don't think so and I think he was concussed there
Also, we did run screens, at least one of them very successfully. Tez Johnson's TD is a WR screen.
I think we ran a total of 3 from memory. None were of the transitional variety where you bait in the aggressive pass rush and lob it to the RB.
The Tez screen worked, and I think the other two gained like 5 yards and -2 yards (bubble screen to Sheppard from memory).
We should have done it more because it causes the edge rushers to second guess their move.
was successful and called at the right time, a play action pass on 2nd and 5 (I think). Its a game changer if Evans doesn't get hurt AFTER.
Let's use this "the play worked" argument another way.
You have a QB with a sore hamstring, you run a QB draw that results in the first down (success) but the QB gets hurt from it.
It's risk management. Is the best case outcome worth the risk.
Take out the deep shots. We forced the ball to Evans. I thought we'd use him as a decoy when he went deep to draw the safety back then go underneath (maybe that was the plan with Baker making the choice to go deep?)
It's just so good damn frustrating that we forced it deep so much in general but add in the injury + Baker being off and it truly makes no fucking sense.
was successful and called at the right time, a play action pass on 2nd and 5 (I think). Its a game changer if Evans doesn't get hurt AFTER.
Let's use this "the play worked" argument another way.
You have a QB with a sore hamstring, you run a QB draw that results in the first down (success) but the QB gets hurt from it.
It's risk management. Is the best case outcome worth the risk.
Take out the deep shots. We forced the ball to Evans. I thought we'd use him as a decoy when he went deep to draw the safety back then go underneath (maybe that was the plan with Baker making the choice to go deep?)
It's just so good damn frustrating that we forced it deep so much in general but add in the injury + Baker being off and it truly makes no fucking sense.
Well, just to avoid the "obtuse" stuff or hard feeling let me lead (again) with I totally get your point.
I just see it as hindsight stuff.
I say that because:
1. WHEN a defense goes man against us and Evans is on the field he is THE GUY.
2. Its exactly the right call and the kind of call that everyone here probably applauds if he prings back up. Set up by a run, PA pass on 2nd and 5. Switches the momentum entirely. BIG PLAY
3. Even is you accept your risk/reward scenario the "best outcome" of the Evans pass is not a first down, its a big play first down that flips the field, less man going forward, and hopefully the momentum and/or a TD. We were on our heels. He pops up, we score, Grizz and Mayfield are stars. Similarly, the risk is SMALL, right? He's probably fallen to the turf on hundreds of completions just like that. Again, not his hamstring. Clavicle and concussion. Just because something occurs doesn't mean it was likely.
4. Just reverse the scenario -- postgame Grizz is asked why he never used an UNINJURED Evans to stretch the field and he replies "because he might fall and hit his head." Not "hes still recovering from a hamstring," but "he might hit his head." If we are being honest, every person here - from you to Josh Q to SR - says something like " are you F'n kidding me . . then dont play him."
Again I am just laying out the counter so zero disrespect BUT your starting point is "Grizz is the problem" so its hard not to see your Evans argument as off a bit because that argument stretches to Evans getting "hurt from it." He didn't get hurt by the call (the "it" in your comment). He won because of the call (man, PA pass etc), like he most often does in that scenario. He just got hurt by falling in an unfortunate way.
Well it comes back to the game plan. When you make decisions you outline the pros and cons.
Evans at full speed and uninjured could certainly be used to throw deep... (Btw he barely had one step on the concussion throw, and the PI was just a jump ball) So Baker TO ME decided pre snap where he was going.
I agree on being captain hindsight but I'm just genuinely confused by the game plan. Even if Evans didn't get hurt, the hyper conservative first down run then the chuck it deep crap is exactly what didn't work for Lefty's last year and Canales.
It isn't just Evans getting hurt from 50/50 balls and over usage, it's evident around the league. The more you go to someone the more chances of injury.
Knowing all of that (as captain hindsight) I think it made way more sense to use Evans underneath and let Egbuka stretch (which he did 3 or 4 times despite Baker whiffing on those throws).
So Baker TO ME decided pre snap where he was going.
exactly. Sees that its man and Evans one on one against a back up
Even if Evans didn't get hurt, the hyper conservative first down run then the chuck it deep crap is exactly what didn't work for Lefty's last year and Canales.
On that Evans injury play its actually the anti-Lefty/Canales success of the furst down run that sets it up BUT I GET YOUR POINT
I think the only difference in our views is that I appear more willing to account for things like the line differences and no Irving. That is definitely an opinion thing, but one reason I have that opinion is because IF you use the Lions game as an example there are MULTIPLE SUCCESSFUL PLAY CALLS. Multiple. In many cases Mayfield just uncharacteristically missed, but one that should stand out is the Tez Johnson TD. if it doesnt stand out, here it is
https://www.buccaneers.com/video/tez-baker-td-lions-bucs-nfl-week-7-big-play-2025
If you watch it, it is 2nd and 8 and the WRs are in a bunch formation. It stands out to me for multiple reasons:
1. The drive - its filled with good calls and execution, even overcoming a False Start and including a tackle eligible 4th down conversion
2. Its a WR screen - very well timed, basically a Coen-like extension of the run game
3. Heck - he actually gets out an makes an open filed block. VERY, VERY rare (the execution that is usually missing)
4. Its a 7th rounder who RAN INTO His teammates twice earlier in the game lmao
5. The bunch -- the formation is Miller, Tez and Otton i think, so add in Heck with the block and its a true back up TD, which underscores the value of the play call.
BUT THE BIG ONE is watch Anzalone (#34).
He is there to make the play and stop Tez, but he turns his back on him and runs with Otton (back turned the whole time) to the End Zone. He must think Tez is going to pass the ball or something. Who knows, but the point is HE IS CONFUSED and Otton does not block him he just runs to the EZ taking him out of the play.
Its a GREAT play and a great call, so when you see stuff like that, its hard to say Grizz is anything even close to Lefty.
SR & Matt Matera spoke to an idea that this game was only good from a couple of standpoints: a decent (not great) performance by the defense - and that this was Grizz’s 7th game calling plays and was very reminiscent of Coen’s return to Earth game against Denver, last season.
Not saying there won’t be more bad games for Grizz, but it’s pretty on/par for a new play caller.
