Dean, LVD and Evans all in one off season
Last season LVD was one of the worst LBers in the league
Evans was 30/368 and 3 TDs
Dean had his best season in years and he only played in 14 games, 40ish tackles. The 3 picks will be missed.
THAT ^^^ is what you are replacing
In other words, if rookies are discounted because they only have "potential" then dont you have to evaluate the veteran "loss of talent" as it existed in 2025? That is what the Bucs are actually replacing.
The Bucs are better off at LBer. Easily. LVD even admitted to loafing last season and he would be 37?
Evans will do well with 49ers (if he stays healthy) but for the Bucs the loss compared to 2025 is mostly leadership. Not discounting that, just saying that one of their receivers will certainly replace 30/368 and 3 TDs. Evans had the "potential" to return to more meaningful form with the Bucs, but potential means nothing, right? Godwin was on the upswing, but he is discounted in the 2026 analysis, but Evans is not?
And Dean would be fat, happy "just got paid" Dean not " let me get paid" Dean lol, so 10-14 games etc.
Yes but from the Panthers point of view is that they upgraded by moving on from the players the Bucs signed by picking up Wharton and Lloyd to replace Rozeboom and Robinson.
It is all relative.
Plus, the leadership aspect of Evans and LVD can not be ignored because down the meltdown stretch it was really LVD and Evans that were throwing everything they had to avoid the slide.
Dean had the best year as a Bucs arguably and it will hard to replicate that from either CB spot in 2026, and that is with some questionable team pressure success.
really LVD and Evans that were throwing everything they had to avoid the slide.
LVD was at his worst during the end of season slide.
aside from his EPIC performance against the Falcons Evans was pretty average. Look at his receptions to targets.
really LVD and Evans that were throwing everything they had to avoid the slide.
LVD was at his worst during the end of season slide.
aside from his EPIC performance against the Falcons Evans was pretty average. Look at his receptions to targets.
there was no doubt that Evans isn't the guy he used to be but he still has some pop left. I would suggest that despite father time, he was still easily our best WR.
still easily our best WR
He had the best ability for sure but that ability stopped showing up consistently. Given our WR room and how young it is, I would say someone in Tampa, maybe two someones, will have superior #s to Evans this season.
McMillan catches everything.
still easily our best WR
He had the best ability for sure but that ability stopped showing up consistently. Given our WR room and how young it is, I would say someone in Tampa, maybe two someones, will have superior #s to Evans this season.
McMillan catches everything.
When it comes to Wide Receivers, you're the guy to listen to:
I’ll put money on McMillan being the receiver with the most yards this (2025) year.
Name the bet. He (McMillan) finishes in the top 2 in receptions this year. Debate your mom...
still easily our best WR
He had the best ability for sure but that ability stopped showing up consistently. Given our WR room and how young it is, I would say someone in Tampa, maybe two someones, will have superior #s to Evans this season.
McMillan catches everything.
When it comes to Wide Receivers, you're the guy to listen to:
I’ll put money on McMillan being the receiver with the most yards this (2025) year.
Name the bet. He (McMillan) finishes in the top 2 in receptions this year. Debate your mom...
Let’s bring in Teddy Bridewater and see how many WR he can send to the hospital…
really LVD and Evans that were throwing everything they had to avoid the slide.
LVD was at his worst during the end of season slide.
aside from his EPIC performance against the Falcons Evans was pretty average. Look at his receptions to targets.
there was no doubt that Evans isn't the guy he used to be but he still has some pop left. I would suggest that despite father time, he was still easily our best WR.
Even though he was not, production-wise? which was my point. His production last season was closer to Sterling Shepherd. Injuries, OC, age, loss of speed (maybe?)
Dont get me wrong hes a HOFer and freaking awesome - the Falcons game was one of the ages - but if you are trying to judge the 2026 WR room without him he was "leadership" and modest production, in part because of injuries. And because his play had evolved to more motion and slot, there is (or would be) some opportunity cost with him because they moved Egbuka outside and just like Godwin under Canales, he struggled.
So, is Mike Evans currently the game altering X receiver because he is going to destroy any isolated man cover off the line? Not sure about that, at least on the Bucs. Is he still a very good receiver, yes confident about that and also confident that with his current skill set and his added "prove people wrong" motivation HE MIGHT EXPLODE FOR THE 49ERS.
Not sure he does for Bowles and the Bucs though and just like LVD, if he does not the positive he does add to the Bucs is offset some by the impact on other younger receivers.
Its a new day in Tampa Bay, for worse and for better (hopefully)
The most talented team in the division is not the title I care to have and anyone lauding that I would question their sanity (when it comes to football). Being the most talented team has not ever - that I can recall - yielded a Super Bowl winner. It takes guys playing in the right role with the right coaching staff. We have some really great pieces. Even though I am 100% a Mike Evans homer, the WR room probably got better when he walked because those young guys are studs. The defense is still going to be really suspect because of two reasons: (1) They are going to continue to operate under Bowles 1987 stupidity instead of the way the game is played now, AND, (2) They missed the boat on getting some desperately needed pieces especially in the middle of the defense. I could care less how talented we claim to be. I want to see a product on the field that competes EVERY game, not this shitshow we have seen since Bowles was handed the job he didn't earn.
McMillan catches everything.
Yet, last season, had a higher drop percentage than Tez, Mike, Godwin, Sheppard, and...checks notes...CADE OTTON.
The year before?
Higher drop percentage than Palmer, Godwin, and Evans (same amount of drops as Evans on half the targets).
It's weird...
still easily our best WR
He had the best ability for sure but that ability stopped showing up consistently. Given our WR room and how young it is, I would say someone in Tampa, maybe two someones, will have superior #s to Evans this season.
McMillan catches everything.
I would agree that someone on the Bucs might have better numbers than Evans but not sure that will be a slam dunk "see i told you" when you consider he will be on a better team where they may have the lead more often, they have a bell cow at running back, oh also the best receiving back in the NFL, and one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL.
As much as i like Bucky and dislike Otton, not even a comparison there. I'm not sure if it was you but someone early was arguing that Evans would get more targets there. I actually see the opposite but i guess we can see how those compare when the season plays out.
I would agree the Bucs WR room has some potential but that's just what it is right now...potential. if i had to guess, Egbuka would be the only one that might have better numbers assuming he has shaken off whatever the fuck you call his second half of season performance. I would love for Godwin to get back to pre-injury Godwin, he was playing like one of the best WR in the league but i will have to see that before i go placing bets there. McMillan is a good piece but i have him as our #3 in terms of targets/numbers, but i know you are very high on him...oh shit, he just stubbed his toe at practice, likely to miss some preseason games...
The most talented team in the division is not the title I care to have and anyone lauding that I would question their sanity (when it comes to football). Being the most talented team has not ever - that I can recall - yielded a Super Bowl winner. It takes guys playing in the right role with the right coaching staff. We have some really great pieces. Even though I am 100% a Mike Evans homer, the WR room probably got better when he walked because those young guys are studs. The defense is still going to be really suspect because of two reasons: (1) They are going to continue to operate under Bowles 1987 stupidity instead of the way the game is played now, AND, (2) They missed the boat on getting some desperately needed pieces especially in the middle of the defense. I could care less how talented we claim to be. I want to see a product on the field that competes EVERY game, not this shitshow we have seen since Bowles was handed the job he didn't earn.
Todd Bowles hangs his hat on those .500 winning percentage titles! 8-9, 9-8! what more can you ask for!
apparently bucs management and Dan Orlovsky does too
He just made a claim that we are legit NFC Contenders.
i dont know, i dont see it; until we can win 11+ games, hard to have confidence we can have a team that can go on a run against good competition.
Tier 1 - Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams
Tier 2 - Chicago, Detroit
Tier 3 - Green Bay, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Washington
Tier 4 - Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, Giants, Minnesota
Tier 5 - Arizona
I would agree that someone on the Bucs might have better numbers than Evans but not sure that will be a slam dunk "see i told you" when you consider he will be on a better team where they may have the lead more often, they have a bell cow at running back, oh also the best receiving back in the NFL, and one of the best receiving tight ends in the NF
This is why that is sort of a meaningless comparison. He could explode with the 49ers for all those reasons. The change of scenery and opportunity alone might help Evans.
That does not mean he would do the same here so that is why the comparison should really be can they replace his production and his leadership. The latter is tougher than the former, in my view.
And here with the Bucs there is another side to the coin and that is moving on to a new era, giving young players a chance etc. I mentioned in another post them moving Egbuka outside in 2025 to help Evans inside etc. At some point the old HOFer is stunting the growth and development of a younger player or two. Teams may go backwards some when they finally go to the young guy, but its a necessary transition.
If you think of it from the FRONT OFFICE/OWNERSHIP perspective they are successfully moving on from their best older player. Perception-wise, Evans left the B cs, not the other way around, and they let LVD play out as long as he wanted. I would imagine Vea is next. Godwin, maybe? AWJ?
Compare that to the exits of Sapp, Lynch, and even the greatest Bucs of all time (in my view) Derrick Brooks, who sat out a full season (2009, I think?) waiting for any team to pick him up. None did. Look at his 2008 season and it is probably the worst for him statistically? Just like LVD. Back then the Bucs turned the page in all the wrong ways, not the least of which was Dom/Morris, so it seems they have learned from that a bit. Doesn't mean the the 2026 team will be better, the 2009 team was total shit, as I recall. But now they get to see what McMillan and Egbuka and Johnson and even a couple young draft picks. And some of them might actually improve the play at certain positions.
NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would sub out a prime time Derrick Brooks for Geno Hayes lmao but I would imagine (guessing here) he outperformed Brooks last season, statistically speaking, and on a much worse team. I forget, but he was something like a 6th round pick, so sort of the SVD of that time. It was the right move, tough as it.
apparently bucs management and Dan Orlovsky does too
I dont know if you noticed by Josh Q came back in his own article and pointed out that Orlovsky left Bowles out of the analysi. Josh Q is a Bowles supporter, but even he noted that there are very reasonable argument to support the other side and so Orlovsky kind of fell short.
https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-dan-orlovsky-left-something-out/
McMillan catches everything.
Yet, last season, had a higher drop percentage than Tez, Mike, Godwin, Sheppard, and...checks notes...CADE OTTON.
The year before?
Higher drop percentage than Palmer, Godwin, and Evans (same amount of drops as Evans on half the targets).
It's weird...
This is also completely false.
McMillan catches everything.
Yet, last season, had a higher drop percentage than Tez, Mike, Godwin, Sheppard, and...checks notes...CADE OTTON.
The year before?
Higher drop percentage than Palmer, Godwin, and Evans (same amount of drops as Evans on half the targets).
It's weird...
This is also completely false.
Numbers say otherwise, lil’ fella.