The Pewter Plank
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Five Buccaneers Who Must Step Up in 2016

By Alan Schechter

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter speaks to the media during the NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter speaks to the media during the NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) prior to the snap in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) prior to the snap in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Evans

No, Evans has never been “bad”, and he hasn’t been selected because he believes it was a disappointing second year.  Fact is that his receptions went from 68 to 74, his yards went up from 1,051 to 1,206, and his yards per game jumped up from 70 to 80.  Overall, it’s hard to call either season a disappointment.  So why does he need to step things up?

The touchdowns.  It’s all about the touchdowns.

His touchdown numbers went from 12 down to 3.  That is a number that just isn’t good enough for a guy that stands at 6’5″ tall.  He should be eating up red zone chances, and he isn’t.  He wasn’t targeted much in the red zone, only 14 times out of 148 total targets.  A number like that is evidence that he is not working hard down there.  Out of the 14 targets, he only caught two passes.

That must get better.

Next: A Pro Bowl Defender?

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