Chris Godwin And The Slot
May 20th, 2019
New position. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
If any Bucs offensive player could blow up this season playing for Bucco Bruce Arians, it could be Chris Godwin.
With malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson out of the picture, Godwin will be a full-time starter, as best as a slot receiver can be a full-time starter.
Despite never missing a game, Godwin has only started seven times in his NFL career, all with the Bucs. The former third-round pick showed as a rookie he can go deep. That’s not his only trait.
Godwin, like he showed in college at Penn State, can fight for a ball in traffic. He’s a very physical receiver. Joe wonders if that is one reason why Arians decided to put Godwin in the slot because he thinks Godwin can the way he also fights for passes so well?
Earlier in underwear football, Joe remembered Arians discussing how slot receivers need to be good blockers. That right there tells Joe Arians wouldn’t put Godwin at slot if he thought he’d fail.
Joe also remembers once former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter was asked if Godwin could play slot and he enthusiastically replied, “Oh sure!”
So for Joe, it will be very interesting to see how Godwin plays this year. Just judging by his history, Joe’s willing to wager Godwin does just fine.
May 20th, 2019 at 9:17 am
Godwin will be fine. all the feel good story fans are going to chime in how bucs are going to miss a slow, boring udfa with no upside and low ceiling… nobody falls for an easily replaceable #5 or #6 wr like low standard bucfan…. cry hump fan boys cry….
May 20th, 2019 at 9:37 am
Yeah in fantasy rankings they had him ranked as the 23 best wide receiver. So they have high expectations for him. He as a number 2 is ranked ahead of 10 other teams number one.
May 20th, 2019 at 9:41 am
I believe Godwin could be a great slot, but would he really want that. Football is a business and players want to get paid and have long careers. Seems the slot guys get creamed often by LB’s and Safeties.
I think Mike Evans would be a better pick for the slot, he’s already gotten paid and his style of going up for the ball, get the 1st down and then hit the turf is perfect for that position. It would also create a lot of mismatches that would really favor ME.
I think Perriman should be used to stretch the field with that blinding speed.
May 20th, 2019 at 9:55 am
“People are going to find out the huge difference between BAs and Klueless pass route designs. 10x more open receivers as they will now be catching balls on the run away from defenders
no more comeback and sitting in a zone but much more crossing patterns and throwing to open areas”
Kobe Faker
May 20th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Godwin would do fine as a slot receiver, but so would several others. Gut feel is that we’ll see at least 3-4 different guys in the slot this year. Unpredictability is a good thing.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Humphries signed for 36 million unaware of TPax’s existence. TPax lives in his Mom’s basement making fun of Humphries. Which would you rather be?
May 20th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Joe,
A big reason why Arians moves Godwin to slot is Arians uses the slot vertically. Posts, Overs,
Corner, etc.. The routes won’t be the same as Humphries was running with DK’S scheme.
Having a big, fast slot who can press the safeties vertically is perfect for BA.
Kobe,
Comebacks and hitches are a big part of BA’s play design. BA uses them against LB ‘s and box safeties . DK ran them against mostly corners. So that’s probably what you’re referring to.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:44 am
It’s adorable how fixated t max gets with Adam Humphries- the guy who happened to have the highest catch percentage and most YAC out of any of our WRs.
I think Godwin gets opportunities in the slot as well as on the outside. I expect BA and Leftwich to mix it up. We’ll see Evans in the slot a bunch as well. Gotta keep the defense guessing. It’s called unpredictability, something that Koetter was lacking far too often, despite his great offensive mind.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:47 am
Joe,
Just waiting for the occasional Sid Luckman 1960’s reference when you breakdown Arians scheme.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:48 am
Re-read what Kobe said.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:52 am
Luckman didn’t play in the 1960s. 🙂
May 20th, 2019 at 10:54 am
SCBucsFan
nice try pal…. enjoying semi retirement between 2 awesome cities…. how about attacking the FACTS i post versus me personally. you can’t dispute the on field results nor the fact this small market minor league franchise is a complete joke… keep those altar boys safe hypocrite…
May 20th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Glad Humphries is gone, he is a good guy not a winner. He choose the titans over the patriots because he verbally agreed. I’m sorry but you take the patriots and have a chance at a super bowl the next 2-4 years. Not taking passes from Mariota?! Like wth glad this goober is gone.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:00 am
unbelievable
highest catch percentage and most YAC out of any of our WRs.
on a team that was in the basement those cherry picked meaningless stats mean absolutely NOTHING…. did they win with hump in a key role? NO they NOT… did hump scare any defensive coordinators ABSOLUTELY NOT…. of course he got some garbage stats given the fact evans, djax and godwin actually concern defensive coordinators. nice cherry picking of the stats while conveniently leaving out the fact d coordinators gave hump his catches so evans and djax would not burn them. low standard bucfan is almost afraid of talent and upside as they are personalities.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:04 am
Joe,
True. But isn’t that how you guys referenced him?
BTW, Godwin did play in the slot with DK. First year was, I’m guessing about 40% of his catches came out of the slot and last year less but still at minimum 25% .
May 20th, 2019 at 11:22 am
he’ll do good wherever you line him up….
GO BUCS!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 11:26 am
OK, putting him in the slot, who’s No. 2? Not sure they have one.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:29 am
Yes, I’m sure defensive coordinators were putting together game plans and said, “hey, let’s purposely let hump get open and rack up 900 yards”
lol, get real bro. And by the way, YOU are the one who brought up Hump, not anyone else here.
But I get it, you always need something to whine about.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:50 am
Hump will be just fine! I have always stated that we needed to upgrade our receivers!! Now having done that…lets see what top notch coaching can do!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 11:56 am
unbeliviable
dude, when a defensive coordinators doubles evans and djax leaving a slow player with no upside like hump single covered by the 4 or 5 db on the field yes that is giving hump his….
May 20th, 2019 at 11:59 am
Seems Arians like seam routes, and the slot is perfect for seams.
I expect Godwin to have a great year if he’s the primary slot guy.
May 20th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Watson at one time was given props from Buccaneers.com during the anti-media OTAs. I think it’s just a matter of time and opportunity for him to explode, especially now with a year under his belt. He was great on special teams last year and has good strength. Love to see him and Godwin rotate and blow up the slot spot.
May 20th, 2019 at 1:26 pm
I’d also like to see OJ Howard occasionally in the slot. Good luck defending that.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:02 pm
Bucs are loaded at WR. The least of our worries – even with the loss of Me-Jax and Hump.
Watson is just waiting for his chances – if he gets many this regular season – he will be considered the new up and comer (like Godwin last year).
If Perriman actually works out decently in his designated speedster, “take the top off” role – this will be a SCARY group of receivers for opposing secondaries to face.
Especially when you consider OJ Howard and Cam Brate will get their share of looks and balls in the passing game as well….
Just need that OLine to run block better (which we haven’t seen since Mankins retired) and give Jameis the time and throwing lanes so that he kind find these great receiving options coming open. Not throw to a spot and hope his guy gets there because Winston had to release the ball too early – we’ve seen too much of that the past few years.
The Center, LG and LT should all be vying for the Pro-Bowl this year with the $ they are all making. Lets SEE IT this year OLINE!!
May 20th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
If Jameis continues to use his skill of getting out of the pocket pulling DBs off receivers like he did the end of last year, BA slot and TE routes will work out to the nastiest of nasty.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
God I hope not. Playing the slot with Winston throwing will take 5 years off this guy’s career.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
Cobraboy Says:
May 20th, 2019 at 11:59 am
Seems Arians like seam routes, and the slot is perfect for seams.
I expect Godwin to have a great year if he’s the primary slot guy.
^^^Yep but Winston can’t throw skinny’s my bad he’s thrown 1 good one, in Atlanta 3 years ago hahaha
May 20th, 2019 at 7:45 pm
@Tom Edrington Godwin is our number 2. He’ll just move inside in 3 receiver sets which will presumably allow Perriman to do what he does best by using his speed and stretching the field.