Mike Evans says the move out of Tampa Bay wasn’t about running from anything - it was about finding the right fit at this point in his career, and San Francisco gave him exactly what he was looking for.
After 12 seasons with the Buccaneers, Evans said the change has already given him a boost. He talked about loving Tampa, the fans, the front office and his teammates, but made it clear the time had come to turn the page.
“I just felt like it’s what I needed at this point in my career,” Evans said, via Niners Wire. “Love Tampa.
Been there my whole career, 12 seasons. Love the fan base, love the people in the front office, my teammates.
But just felt like it was time for a change. This team is definitely… rejuvenated me and potentially added some years on my career.
”
From Evans’ perspective, the 49ers checked every box. He pointed to a roster built to win now, strong quarterback play, a proven coaching staff and a loaded supporting cast. Even the weather got a mention.
“It was self-explanatory,” Evans said. “I mean, they had everything I was looking for.
They checked all the boxes. Try to win now.
Quarterback, great skilled players, great defense, great coaching staff, and then just great organization. And then a bonus is the weather that I didn’t even know about.”
He also believes he can be the final piece for a team that has been chasing the top of the mountain.
“I hope I am, ” Evans said about being the missing piece to the team. “And I’m grinding and I still feel really good.
I still feel like I can definitely be that piece to help this team get over the hump. ”
In the Cardinals’ camp, Tyler Allgeier isn’t treating the arrival of Jeremiyah Love like a personal slight. Arizona drafted the Notre Dame running back third overall after signing Allgeier as a free agent, but Allgeier said there’s no bad blood and no reason to make the situation bigger than it is.
“It’s not like there’s any bad blood. We’re just building that relationship and we’re pretty close right now,” Allgeier said, via the team’s official website.
“There’s no point in being a jerk about it. That’s not going to get you anywhere in life, in this business, in this sport.”
He said the communication from LaFleur helped set the table for what’s happening now, and he’s embracing the competition and the workload split deep into camp.
“There was really good communication (with LaFleur), which I can respect, because head coaches or anyone doesn’t have to do that,” Allgeier added. “I knew what I was getting into, and we’re here now deep into camp.
We’re splitting (time) and it is great competition right now. It’s probably the best thing you can do, and obviously, it saves the body.
That’s a privilege. Being able to have two or even three great guys in the room and being able to compete and being able to be a running back community.
Just having that rotation, because it’s pretty taxing.”
Across the division, Kyren Williams has a pretty straightforward standard for himself in the Rams’ offense: 1,000 rushing yards should be there if he does his job the way he expects to.
On the Up & Adams Show, Williams said the goal has been in place since his pre-draft meetings and that the combination of scheme, coaching and offensive line play should make it attainable.
“It means everything,” Williams said. “I remember coming into the NFL and going through those pre-draft meetings, and all these coaches was like, ‘What’s your goal?’
And I told them my simple goal is a 1,000-yard season every year. As a running back, if you know what you’re doing running the ball, 1,000 yards should be fairly kind of easy.
But that also comes with the great linemen that we have and the great offensive-minded coach that we have, as well, that allows me to be able to do those types of things. As a running back, that’s just something we strive for.
That’s something I strive for. That’s something I hold true to myself that I’ve got to continue to get those positive yards, those efficient yards.
When I look back at the season, I expect to see 1,000 yards.”
Williams said the bigger plays are what can change the way people view him, especially once he starts turning gains into explosive runs and touchdowns at the third level.
“I think those long runs, honestly,” Williams added. “Breaking those long runs and allowing people to see that when I get to that third level, I can make the defender miss and I’m gonna go score that.
Once I do that this year, they’re gonna really start respecting my name. Like I said, I don’t look too much into that.
I don’t care too much for that. I just know that every single day that I come out here and I’m working, I’m getting better.
The only thing I can control is what I can do, and run my own race, so I’m gonna do that to the best of my ability and see where the chips fall.”
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