Might Chris Godwin Stay Inside?
March 1st, 2024
Jason Licht explains.
Is Chris Godwin the best third-round draft pick in Bucs history? Joe doesn’t know about that. Some guy named “Rondé Barber” was drafted in the third round, too. He did OK.
Godwin is an excellent receiver, one of the NFL’s best. Hey, when national talking heads like screamin’ Stephen A. Smith know his name, you know you’ve left a mark in the league.
And Joe is confident Godwin will have his name up in the Ring of Honor someday.
Godwin was a good receiver since the day he put on a Bucs jersey. His career really took off when Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in town and moved him to slot.
Arians saw a little Hines Ward and Larry Fitzgerald in Godwin, receivers Arians moved inside when he coached at Pittsburgh and Arizona, respectively. In Ward’s case, he blew up into a potential Hall of Fame receiver. Fitzgerald had his stellar career extended and rejuvenated by Arians’ call.
The same happened to Godwin. Now last year then-Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales initially moved Godwin to the outside. It had limited success.
Toward the end of the season [after something happened on social media that Joe gets in trouble for if Joe repeats it], the Bucs/Canales decided to use Godwin more inside like he had been the previous four seasons.
Boom! Godwin explodes and the Bucs start winning. Coincidence? Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences.
The way Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht spoke of Godwin in the beehive of #NFLMedia earlier this week at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, it seems Godwin will get his fair share of snaps inside this fall.
“He’s a phenomenal person, a phenomenal player, [and] a great example to this entire team,” Licht said. “You know, you just, you almost take him for granted, he’s there every day working his [butt] off.
“He came back from a brutal injury and came back faster than everybody expected. You know, he’s just Mr. Consistency.”
Consistently damn good, especially if he plays slot.
Joe hopes new offensive coordinator Liam Coen doesn’t try to change something that works so well. Godwin’s physicality and aggressivness helps make him superior and dependable inside.
As Joe loves to say, “Don’t fix something that is not broken.” Just ask Canales.
March 1st, 2024 at 11:13 am
If Evans is signed I wouldn’t be surprise if CG is traded, just saying…
March 1st, 2024 at 11:18 am
Slot seems to be Godwins sweet spot.
You are spot on about that Joe
March 1st, 2024 at 11:24 am
Bruh if cggets traded that would be another stupid move by the Bucs cg needs a little more respect on his name
March 1st, 2024 at 11:30 am
Quick, get can-anals on the line, offer them CG for their 2nd
Seriously tho, Chris should be stronger this season. Hope he gets 1200
^^mtn^^
since ’76
March 1st, 2024 at 11:33 am
Godwin’s and Evan’s strengths complement each other perfectly
March 1st, 2024 at 11:35 am
Love the way the Chris blocks too
^^mtn^^
since ’76
March 1st, 2024 at 11:54 am
Well, both guys helped get us a Super Bowl, and since I’ve met both of them, I’ll go with the one that was more humble and nice–Chris Godwin.
March 1st, 2024 at 11:55 am
We all know why Godwin got more plays…
You are absolutely correct, Joe.
March 1st, 2024 at 12:35 pm
When Canales moved Godwin to the outside it was the dumbest thing he did as OC. Every post I was screaming put Godwin back at slot and when he did”because of Mariah” we started winning and his production went up. One of many coaching mistakes last season. I liked Canales because he started making adjustments when he made mistakes but I hope he completely fails in Carolina
March 1st, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Hurtfeelingoma call Morgan and Morgan
March 1st, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Proudbucsfan–boy, do I agree with you.
March 1st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Baker didn’t want to be the QB that didn’t get Evans his 1000 yards. That’s why Godwin wasn’t targeted as much as he should’ve been most of the season. After Evans got his 1000, more balls went to Godwin, and the rest.
March 1st, 2024 at 1:43 pm
“His career really took off when Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in town and moved him to slow.”
Lol. You mean slot?
March 1st, 2024 at 2:05 pm
I’m with Hodad.
March 1st, 2024 at 2:27 pm
I believe Coen addressed this explicitly. Saying he saw Godwin as having the Cooper Kupp role in the offense. So yeah, he’s gonna play inside more. Duh.
March 1st, 2024 at 2:29 pm
CG has made a killing out of playing slot with receivers that demand a double team. Would be wise to get the most out of him there. My concern is that inside is now his only viable spot. He is a very expensive slot receiver. Evans beat single and double coverage last season, while CG made tough catches in coverage. We anticipated Father Time catching up with the wrong receiver.
March 1st, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Right !
There was another bonehead move by C anal es , run up the middle with a so so back and a poor OL , and move CG to the outside. A lot of good that did the first 10+ games.
March 1st, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Inside? Outside? He can surf between the two spots.
March 1st, 2024 at 3:01 pm
if m1k3 is resigned, seems a bit crazy to be paying 45-50mil a year for 2 WRs, along with a 60mil secondary that isnt too great sans AWJ
March 1st, 2024 at 3:09 pm
As Joe loves to say, “Don’t fix something that is not broken.”
_________
Tristan Wirfs to LT
March 1st, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Best 3rd round pick in team history. Ronde was drafted 3rd round in 1997
March 1st, 2024 at 4:16 pm
When people tell me what a genius Canales is, I ask them about his use of Godwin. They usually shut up.
March 1st, 2024 at 4:59 pm
I could see Godwin getting trade too. I really like CG but with ME rumored to be at like 25-30 million and CG with a 20 million cap hit that’s too much money at the position.
March 1st, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Sorry 27 million dollar cap hit for CG
March 1st, 2024 at 8:19 pm
If you only have one good WR he gets doubled and tripled
March 1st, 2024 at 9:25 pm
When I turned 59 I got moved to slow too.
March 1st, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Godwin is great, but without Evans, our offense would be toast.
March 2nd, 2024 at 12:10 am
Mrs. Godwin spoke for every fan with half a brain. If anyone in the Bucs organization is mad about that fact then cry more.
In fact, as long as I’m alive and still watching this team, I will happily point out that a player’s wife had a better understanding of why the offense was struggling most of the year than any of the coaches the Glazers cut a check to. That is inexcusable.
Had we’d not made the playoffs and guys start losing jobs, one of part of the autopsy would be the absolute failure to utilize Chris Godwin last year. Again, why?
So thank you Joe for continuing to write about it. And thank you to the Mariah for speaking up. The Godwins have been excellent Buccaneers since Day One.
March 2nd, 2024 at 8:10 pm
Does anyone remember when the offense ran a 2TE 2WR formation last year with Otton and Durham on the outside and Godwin and Evans on the inside? I thought it was very intriguing and had a lot of potential to mess up defensive alignments.