- 1 day ago
Willard and Dibs discuss how good Mike Evans has been for the 49ers. Is he the best 49ers wide receiver since Terrell Owens?
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00:00Back to the phones, and then we're going to give you a little Kyle Shanahan reacting to the Dre Greenlaw
00:04suspension.
00:04By the way, we should keep mentioning the news of the day.
00:08Dre Greenlaw has been suspended for Monday night against the Commanders.
00:12Number one, Debo Samuel is expected to miss, quote, from Kyle Shanahan at least a couple weeks,
00:17which essentially kind of means at least three because it goes Washington, Atlanta, and then bye.
00:24So can Debo Samuel be back after the bye, which I think is against the Raiders?
00:29Is that the first game back from the bye, if I'm remembering the schedule correctly?
00:33Yes, that's correct.
00:34All right, so can Debo be back for the Raiders in four weeks?
00:36That's a maybe, but that sounds like that's maybe the target.
00:39Okay, Cameron in Stockton.
00:41Hi, Cameron.
00:42Thanks for calling us.
00:44Hey, I appreciate it, man.
00:46You guys are great.
00:47Congrats on the five years, honestly.
00:48Thanks, man.
00:50Appreciate you.
00:51I just wanted to get back to Mike Evans, and I was just looking back at all the wide receivers
00:55we've had in the past.
00:57Mike Evans, hands down, one of the best wide receivers we've had since Charles Owens.
01:01You know, I can't really think of anyone else that's been any better.
01:05And having Mike this year, honestly, it's just a game changer on the offense.
01:10See how Brock Purdy's playing and everything.
01:13So, you know, everything's gelling together.
01:15The coaches on both sides are doing great.
01:17You know, so, I mean, I'm really excited for this year.
01:20See how it ends up.
01:21Cameron, thanks, man.
01:23I don't know how you all feel about the state, but I made in the crossover, I really mean it.
01:27Just watching the tiny little things that Mike Evans does to get open or make a catch,
01:33and you think about the times that Brock Purdy has improvised and thrown to Mike Evans on the sideline,
01:38right in front of the end zone, when it looks like there's like two inches of space,
01:42and Mike makes the catch.
01:43Or how about the touchdown catch that I think, was it against Miami, I think?
01:50The one in the end zone where he didn't put his hands up until the very last second,
01:54and therefore the defender did not know that the ball was coming.
01:57The little things that Mike does, from a tactical standpoint,
02:01I think he is the best tactical wide receiver that's worn a 49er uniform since Jerry Rice.
02:09Now, not the best.
02:10I'm not going to say he's better than Terrell Owens, but from just the little tactical things that he does,
02:18to me, I feel like I'm learning more about the wide receiver position now that I'm getting the chance to
02:24watch him every single play.
02:25Well, when you watch him and you realize, especially when he takes the helmet off,
02:29and you realize that he's kind of an older guy, like losing his hair,
02:33he's somebody who is, you know, early 30s, which is old by football standards,
02:37and he doesn't wow you with his breakneck speed, and he just runs precise routes.
02:42He's got unbelievable hands, and he's a big guy.
02:46And so Brock Purdy knows that he can throw the ball in spots where Mike Evans is more likely to
02:51go ahead
02:51and catch it than most other people, and that's just kind of what he's done this year.
02:55You're listening to 95.7 The Game, KGMZ FM and HD1 San Francisco on Odyssey Sports Station,
03:02and the home of the Golden State Warriors and Valkyries, always live on the free Odyssey app,
03:06coming to you live from the Laughing Monk Studios.
03:07It is a victory Monday.
03:09That was the, hell, that was easily the biggest game of the year for sure,
03:16and in many ways we think the game and the drive that 49er fans have been waiting for.
03:23So we're talking that out, and how does that sort of change your outlook on the season
03:29now that the Niners have done that?
03:32I should mention this too, you know how we were talking earlier,
03:35Mike Evans is the best Bay Area free agent signing since blank.
03:39Grandy threw out Gabby Williams.
03:41You were racking your brain for someone for the Giants.
03:44The answer's no one, even the 49ers.
03:48Good buddy texted in and said, he wants Iguodala.
03:54Best free agent signing since Andre Iguodala.
03:58And I love it because, now look, that led to a bunch of championships,
04:02and obviously Mike Evans, we'll see where this goes,
04:05and he's not going to be playing long enough to be here as long as Iguodala does.
04:08But doesn't it feel like he kind of brings the same energy as Iguodala?
04:13Like, he just walked into the room and brought the whole adulthood of it all.
04:19The calming presence.
04:20The guy you go to on a third down or in the fourth quarter, the death lineup, whatever.
04:25It does feel, and what a compliment that we're feeling that way after five games.
04:32Five games.
04:33And we're already having a conversation like that.
04:35But I think it's a good comp because it feels like the same energy Mike Evans has brought to the
04:4049ers
04:40as Iguodala did to the Warriors.
04:42Yeah.
04:42The only thing is I thought that Iguodala was acquired via a trade the first time back in,
04:49I guess it was 2013, so to speak.
04:53Was it?
04:53I mean, so many free agent signings in the NBA end up being trades after the fact.
04:58Do you know what I mean?
04:59Like, Klay Thompson signs with the Dallas Mavericks, and then the next thing you know,
05:02it's like, oh, we're going to like.
05:04It was a sign and trade type of thing.
05:06We're going to uncork some sort of thing.
05:07Maybe it was that, but I thought, I thought he just, I thought he just signed with the Warriors.
05:12I could be wrong.
05:13Yeah.
05:13But anyway, the NBA version of it.
05:17I like the comp in terms of a veteran player, although, you know, Evans had obviously won a Super Bowl
05:23already
05:23and Iguodala had not, but the same sort of like somebody who is an absolute vet who comes in
05:29and is the perfect piece at the perfect time.
05:31And right now you've got McCaffrey already and Kittle, great weapons, and you've got young receivers.
05:36You needed somebody to come in and be a veteran to stabilize the room, and he's done that.
05:41And not only has he done that, and maybe he can go on and do what Iguodala did, which was
05:47be Finals MVP.
05:48Could Mike Evans go on to be the Super Bowl MVP?
05:51Wouldn't that be awesome?
05:52It's possible.
05:54The president of Brockistan doesn't love the idea, but I mean.
05:58Right.
05:58I mean.
05:59Good Lord.
05:59If they win the Super Bowl, you can make the MVP some fan in the stands for all I care.
06:04Although it's funny you say that because Sam Darnold wins the Super Bowl, and it's, you know, Kenneth Walker.
06:09Yep.
06:09Who's the MVP, and you know, JSN, and the defense, and oh yeah, Sam Darnold is the Super Bowl winning
06:14quarterback,
06:15and already Brock is fighting uphill against draftism, so if he has the same kind of game
06:20that Sam did in the Super Bowl, and Fred Warner's got 17 tackles and a punch out, and Nick Bosa's
06:27got two sacks, a sack of Rooney and a shrug, and McCaffrey two touchdowns, and Evans 11 catches,
06:33like would people still be saying, oh, they won it despite Brock?
06:36You know what?
06:37And we're getting way ahead of ourselves.
06:38We're getting worse ahead of ourselves.
06:39And I mean, while we're there, it's interesting.
06:44I don't know if I see a defense in the AFC that could stifle an NFC offense to that level.
06:54Like, I mean, they could have a good game.
06:56You know what I mean?
06:56And hold them under 30 or whatever.
06:58I think the Jags have a good defense.
07:00You know, they've already kind of tackled the whole Denver of it all.
07:03We'll see where this all goes.
07:05But to me, the best defenses right now in the NFL reside in the NFC.
07:10I think Seattle, especially when they're at home, obviously what they've achieved, Minnesota
07:14right now looks amazing.
07:16I think the Niners are an underrated defense and are going to continue to get people back.
07:21And we'll see what the Rams look like if they ever get a healthy, full steam ahead.
07:25Miles Garrett, you know, they're supposed to be an awesome defense.
07:29But the defenses we were worried about in the AFC, Denver, looks like their quarterback
07:34is just going to be preventative.
07:36Houston started the year one and four and doesn't look right.
07:40Jacksonville's got a good defense.
07:41I don't know if it's a great one.
07:42But I don't know.
07:44You know what I mean?
07:44If Buffalo ends up in the Super Bowl, Brock's busting 34 on that team.
07:50Like, no doubt in my mind.
07:51It seems like it.
07:52And, you know, it'd be a one-sided or a two-way kind of up-tempo affair.
07:56Just looking at the EPA stats, the expected points added, you've got the top defense in
08:03the AFC is Jacksonville.
08:05They're number three.
08:06And then you have to go down to the Chargers at number seven.
08:09Baltimore's number nine.
08:11The Jets are number 10.
08:12There you go.
08:12So those are your top AFC defenses, according to EPA.
08:16And the Jets, I don't think, will be in the Super Bowl.
08:18I'm going to remove the Chargers, too.
08:20Baltimore, maybe.
08:22I mean, maybe.
08:22And, I mean, Jacksonville is, I mean, based on yesterday, they've got a lot of work to
08:27do.
08:27But it feels like, you know, the number of teams that are really good on offense and
08:32really good on defense, there aren't more than maybe two or three, if that.
08:35Yeah.
08:36Yeah.
08:36But, again, we're five weeks into this whole thing.
08:41Raymond in San Jose.
08:42Raymond, thank you for calling us, man.
08:44What's up?
08:47What's up, guys, man?
08:48I just wanted to say, like, it's my second time calling.
08:52Really appreciate both of you guys on how you guys just go about your business and how
08:56everything is handled, right?
08:57I really love it, guys.
08:59I really love, enjoy talking to you guys.
09:01I really enjoy listening to you guys.
09:03And you're crazy to bait, right?
09:07I feel like there's a butt coming, Raymond.
09:09Where's the butt?
09:14I 100% believe David is correct on how he's talking about Greenlaw, right?
09:22If everybody was in his face, on his face, what do you expect a guy to do, right?
09:27What are you going to do when somebody's in your face, right?
09:29Like, should he be more professional?
09:32Yes, absolutely, right?
09:34But, Stiney, I love you, dude.
09:36But you got to kind of go with what's there, right?
09:42What's there and what's happening, right?
09:45And that's all I'm saying.
09:47That's all I'm saying.
09:47And I love you, okay?
09:48I love you, dude.
09:49I love speaking with you, or not speaking with you, but hearing you, right?
09:53But I got to side with him.
09:56Should I ask him what my name is?
09:58It feels like you guys want me to ask him what my name is.
10:02Is that, Raymond, are you still there?
10:04Your name was, I'm so sorry.
10:05What's that?
10:06Yeah, no, I'm still here.
10:07I'm so sorry.
10:07Okay, so you know what the two show host names are, right?
10:13Right, hold on.
10:14Tell me.
10:15I'm so sorry.
10:15Well, no, it's a test, Raymond.
10:19I thought it was Dibs and Stiney.
10:20I thought it was Dibs and Stiney.
10:21Okay, Raymond, you know how much better I feel when you call in and disagree with me,
10:25but you think I'm Stiney?
10:27Raymond, thank you so much for calling.
10:28We appreciate it here on Willard and Dibs.
10:32Your name is Stiney Willard, though.
10:34Like, your first name is Stiney, last name Willard.
10:37Stein Mark Willard, yes.
10:38That's exactly what the name is.
10:41But anyway.
10:42Your mother is Jewish, so that actually would play.
10:44Second time in my life that I've been mistaken for Stiney.
10:47It's not the Steve Kerr one.
10:49It was both here and then one time at the pool at Silverado.
10:54That's right.
10:54Yeah, but anyway, outside of that, all good.
10:58And I actually, there's some nuance to this conversation I'd like to bring back.
11:03I'm not actually offended by anything Dre Greenlaw did at all.
11:07I mean that in a football sense.
11:09I'm not in this one.
11:11And here is, by the way, Kyle Shanahan's, you're really not, Stiney.
11:16Here's his reaction to the Dre Greenlaw suspension on today's conference call.
11:20I was disappointed they decided to do that, but it is what it is.
11:24I just found out a little bit ago or when you guys did, so just finished up with the coaches.
11:27But yeah, just disappointed and had to deal with it.
11:30And this is what Kyle said yesterday about Dre.
11:33No, not at all.
11:34I didn't totally see it.
11:35I was told, but that's how it is.
11:36You're going to get baited big time when, especially when you're on their bench, they're going to get clothed.
11:40And they told me that he headbutted a guy without a helmet.
11:42So if that's exactly what happened, then yeah, we're going to be a lot smarter than that.
11:46Then that's really all I'm getting at.
11:48I'm not saying I don't understand what happened to Dre.
11:51I'm not saying that, you know, Seattle is, they were all perfect gentlemen on the sideline.
11:57I'm like, hello, y'all.
11:59This is a massive rivalry football game.
12:01What do you think happens when somebody hits a quarterback out of bounds on the opposing team's sideline?
12:07Do you think the 49ers all would have just looked at, you know, if Eamon Worry came over and whacked
12:15Brock Purdy into the bench?
12:16You think the Niners would have been like, oh, bummer.
12:19That's unfortunate.
12:19No, they're going to get up, they're going to try to get him, and they're going to try to bait
12:24him into losing his bananas so he gets knocked out of the game.
12:27And you have to not do that.
12:30And I don't even think you disagree with me on that.
12:33No, I'm just not defending what Dre Greenlaw did at all.
12:36They got him.
12:37They got him.
12:38And I don't think what they did, you can think it's like, you know, weenie behavior, but to me it's
12:44very predictable behavior.
12:45I've never seen a player not do that.
12:48We all sign up to watch an NBA where players are flopping 250-pound bodies all over the floor constantly
12:55to try to draw contact or attention from a ref.
12:59That's all this was in my mind.
13:01So I don't see how Seattle would have acted any differently.
13:04Of course they were going to do that.
13:06Right, and I'm saying that because you're a football player who got in the face of another football player and
13:11you got a little bit of a helmet headbutt to your head, you should act like the tough guy that
13:17you thought you were when you went over there.
13:19That's all.
13:19I'm not excusing what Dre Greenlaw did because it is an obvious automatic 15-yarder and turns out an ejection
13:27and a suspension.
13:28It's garden variety, and just think about when the Niners took on Philadelphia, I think a couple years ago, and
13:35he got into it with Big Dom.
13:37Big Dom, who's a security enforcer person, and he and Dre Greenlaw got into it.
13:43Yeah, and I think that had a lot to do with the decision today.
13:46Right.
13:47I don't know if it did or if it didn't.
13:48It seems to be, you know what I mean?
13:49If you read the rule in the book, it's pretty like boilerplate where you do something outside of the sportsmanship,
13:55blah, blah, blah.
13:56You can apply that to almost anything you see on a football field.
13:59You can.
13:59I mean, you tried to have, you know, use jacket fined for drinking an air juice box, and so that
14:06got rescinded.
14:06I don't think that this one gets reversed, but, you know, you can certainly enforce whatever you want.