Mike Evans shares Brock Purdy is a ‘big reason' why he signed with 49ers
49ers wide receiver Mike Evans speaks to reporters after San Francisco's practice on Wednesday in Santa Clara.
Mike Evans shares Brock Purdy is a 'big reason' why he signed with 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
The amount of work you would do in, in OTAs if you were s- still in Tampa, I mean, or did you, you wanna kind of get out there with, with Brock and- Yeah the new system and things like that?
the past couple years I've been having new offense coordinators in Tampa, so it was smarter to me to just go out there and, and get some reps, get familiar with the offense.
And here I have to learn new offense anyway, but obviously get the timing down with Brock.
So it's been good work.
Ha- having been here now for, for a few months, has, has, has it felt like, I think you mentioned in your opening press conference, a little revitalization, just something, something new.
What, what has it been like now that you've been here for a few months?
Oh, it's been smooth so far.
Really smooth.
the practices have been competitive.
the, the weather has been amazing, and I talked about that before, but that's, that's been great right now.
When you think about the fact that we've asked Aaron when it's coming here about your addition to the team, and Trent was saying, you know, that's a Hall of Famer, and Kittle was saying it's hard for people not to fan, or to- Trent said I'm a Hall of Famer?
Yeah.
All right, y'all hear that, right?
A Hall of The first ballot Hall of Famer said that about me, so He said that, and he said it's hard for everyone not to fan girl about the fact that you're in the locker room.
Just out of curiosity, how has the transition been for the 49ers, and do you kind of feel that when you step out there with everyone?
Yeah.
I mean, it's been, it's been smooth.
I mean, I know I've been, I was in Tampa for a really long time, but I mean, it's football at the end of the day.
The guys on this team, the staff, they, they've made me feel welcome.
and I came here for a reason, so I mean, this transition's been smooth.
Ask you as a wide receiver coach about the younger guys like Ricky and obviously Stripling kind of leaning on you possibly for some options that happened up to this point, and if so, like, how have those conversations gone?
Not, not really.
I mean, those dudes are really smart, polished, they're professional.
we talk here and there about certain things like in the past, but they haven't like, you know, picked my brain as much.
But I'm pretty sure in training camp and as the season goes, you know, I'm always here to, to listen and help a younger player out.
Mike, you've been a consistent red zone producer throughout your whole really college and pro career.
What's the key to that?
What, what, for a receiver, what's the key- Well, obviously it's my frame.
My frame is a big part of that.
But, you gotta win in, in tight situations down there in the red zone, and I have the leaping ability, I have the, the awareness and, a lot of reps at, at doing it, and I, I love getting in that red area and, and adding a different dynamic, to this team.
Maybe mentioned yesterday the red zone and you, you had a bunch of touchdowns.
was that mostly from Purdy?
And then, and do you feel like it's a maybe a sign of where the connection is?
It's just practice and we're just, you know, repping and trying to get good reps. they put me in good spots.
I think they set that up, you know, gave me some, some one-on-one coverage, which I love.
and I just pride myself on, you know, getting in the end zone, winning versus bad leverage and one-on-one opportunities I gotta, you know, get open for Brock.
Did Shanahan have you on the, on the big board during a meeting recently?
What was that- Did he?
I don't even, I don't even know.
He had me up on the big board?
Showing up on it.
Oh, did he?
No, I don't talk about what happens in the team room, so y'all trying to get me in trouble.
Mike, what impact do you want, to have on, this offense, this team going into training camp?
I mean, you've been in the league for quite some time and you have such a strong veteran presence.
What, what do you want these, these guys to know about you coming in?
I just wanna continue to do what I've been doing my whole career.
You know, that's making plays, being a, the ultimate team player and the ultimate playmaker.
So that, that's what I really want and, just let these guys know that, you know, not to take this shit for granted because, like, you never know, you know, what could happen.
And, you know, our roster is a great roster.
We stack up with the best of the best in the league, so just not taking this, these opportunities for granted.
One more, guys.
Of, you knew of Brock Purdy before you got here.
Of course.
Now that you've been with him for a couple leagues, what are your impressions?
Love Brock, man.
He's a, he's a big reason why I came here.
I said that in my initial Zoom call with you guys.
Throws a really great ball.
I'm getting to, to timing down with him now.
Super smart.
he's about his business too.
Comes to work every single day.
He's a, he's a quiet guy, but you know, me and him talk, you know, about not just football, but you know, life and, really cool guy.
I look forward to having a great connection with him this year.
Without having depth along, you know, just multiple positions, a guy that struggled to stay healthy at pass earlier is Jacob Conover.
What do you see from him?
I know it's early, but, what do you see from Jacob Conover as far as plays?
A lot of juice.
He has a lot of juice and, he could add a lot to this team.
the, the speed down the field, the quickness.
he's having-- I've been here a few weeks and he's made a lot of plays so far.
Football is about adjustment and you, you've had to adjust to a lot of different quarterbacks in Tampa Bay over your long career.
Does that make it a little bit, easier now, you know- I, I guess it makes it easier, you know, playing with But these, these guys are NFL quarterbacks.
I mean, when I was in high school, I played with a high school quarterback.
So it don't matter who the quarterback is, it's always been in my mind, my job to get open for them and make plays for them and make their job a little bit easier.
Mike, last, last year, the injury obviously snapped your streak of 1,000 yard seasons.
Oh, shoot.
I love that.
Yeah, I know.
I'm just kidding.
No.
Breaking, breaking news.
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
how, I mean, how much of a point of pride is that?
I mean, obviously I'm sure you'd like to top Cherry Rice, but you're tied with Cherry Rice.
And, and also I guess, how disappointing was it to, to have that end?
I was super disappointed.
I'm, I'm extremely competitive and for me not to break that record, I thought I was gonna be able to break it easy.
You know what I mean?
How hungry I was going into that season.
And, you know, in life, some things, it's not gonna go your way.
And so, but I look at that injury as a blessing in disguise 'cause I'm feeling really fresh, I'm feeling rejuvenated.
I'm in a new spot, new change like I, I felt I needed and, I'm looking forward to get back on that.
It's not a streak anymore, but do what I've been doing before that injury.
If I may ask a, a f- not a, a follow-up, but how are you as a AAU basketball coach?
I feel like I'm a fair coach.
I coach them hard, but, I coach girls, so 14-year-old girls, so that's a lot of, it's a lot to deal with.
but you know, we, we've been doing well.
our last tournament wasn't a great showing, but you know, this year we've gotten better compared to last year.
So looking forward to finish up this summer strong.
Thanks, Mike.
I met Jerry, yeah.
We've done a, a commercial together.
Yeah.
It was, pretty cool to, to pick his brain and understand why he's the best to ever do it, and, yeah, it was a, it was a fun moment.
It was a couple years ago.
We did it.
Got to sit down and spend some time with him, so it was cool.
Same guy.
Yep.
All right, y'all have a good one.
