Slot Creativity, Deception Keep Chris Godwin “Locked In”
May 22nd, 2024
Comfortable in the grind.
The more you put on Chris Godwin’s shoulders, the happier he says he will be.
Godwin was practicing at the Bucs’ volunteer OTA session yesterday and told media types afterwards that he’s feeling great about knowing he’ll play more at slot receiver this season. Godwin loves mixing it up inside with the big boys on run plays and navigating the middle of the field with the many route options for slot receivers.
“I think what I learned over the last four or five years, I’m really comfortable there,” Godwin said.
Some of that comfort is the joy Godwin gets in having multiple roles with which to make an impact.
“I think that the flexiblity of being inside just allows me to be able to get more creative, you know. It allows me to be a little bit more involved like in the run game without it being so obvious,” he said.
Of course, Godwin played primarily as an outside receiver in 2023. Did the Bucs ever throw him a deep shot, a go-ball? Ever?
Under new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Godwin said he likes the offense’s emphasis on versatility — and that’s highlighted by the slot receiver’s huge role.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’s a mental like strain, as well. Having to know so much more, I think it keeps me really locked in,” Godwin said of playing in the slot. “It just gets me learning or improving my knowledge of the game.”
May 22nd, 2024 at 1:19 pm
I like what I’ve been hearing about Coen’s creativity, having a diverse offense and not slamming R. White straight into Hainsey’s backside ad nauseum. However I keep hearing that the system is complex and not really like what Canales was doing at all. I have a gnawing feeling though that we may not see the offense hit its’ stride til November – Decemberish. Too little too late?
May 22nd, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Awesome!!
Maybe we’ll figure out how to run up the middle with Godwin as the lead block!
Lol
May 22nd, 2024 at 1:22 pm
I want to read what Dave Pear as to share!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 22nd, 2024 at 1:50 pm
This is the same article as earlier…j/k Joe.
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Seeing how Godwin was used last season tells me Canales is one and done as a head coach. Maybe even a .5 and done.
Think about it. He couldn’t get an awesome player like Godwin the ball AND he didn’t learn from the best coach in Bucs’ history. You know, BA, the guy who put Godwin in the slot.
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Seeing how Godwin was used last season tells me Canales is one and done as a head coach. Maybe even a .5 and done.
Think about it. He couldn’t get an awesome player like Godwin the ball AND he didn’t learn from the best coach in Bucs’ history. You know, BA, the guy who put Godwin in the slot.
***
One has little to do with the other. One of the best coaches in the NFL, John Harbaugh, coached neither offense nor defense; he was a special teams coach. Being an excellent scheme guy doesn’t mean you become a great head coach, and being a mediocre scheme guy doesn’t mean you’ll be a bad head coach.
A head coach is usually a CEO. He’s the one that sets the culture. He’s the one that motivates the troops. He’s the one that gets everyone to believe they’ll win.
I have no idea if Canales will be successful or not, but he is a hugely positive person, and he blew away Todd Bowles in their interview, and blew away the Panthers in their interview for a reason. I would not be surprised if he does very well in Carolina.
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Baking with Evans Says:
May 22nd, 2024 at 1:22 pm
I want to read what Dave Pear as to share!!!!!!!!!!!!
Careful!!!! He might think you are serious!!!!
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Im pretty sure it will have to do with Todd Bowles dumbing down the defense to resemble a more peewee football approach so he can keep up!!!!
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Personally I believe our offense will be at least 5 points better per game on offense. If the D can play solid I like out chances.
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:39 pm
“He couldn’t get an awesome player like Godwin the ball AND he didn’t learn from the best coach in Bucs’ history.”
Godwin caught the most passes on the team last season.
Had the second most targets.
2nd most first downs as a receiver on offense having one less than Mikes’ 55 first downs.
The crime was, Chris only had rec 2 TDs behind Evans, Otton, Palmer, & Rachaad
5 TDs combined in ’22 & ’23. Chris had 5 TDs in 2021 w/his career high being 9 from the 2019 season.
Also, why do we talk about the OC to WR w/o mentioning the QB?
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Love hearing about Coen and the emphasis on versatility, flexibility, creativity… Happy to hear Godwin is all in on it while mentally having fun. It’s all coming together!
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Todd will be happy when route busts approach coverage busts for frequency. Dr Complexity can’t wait.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:11 pm
WHAT’S REALLY WEIRD …
1-Godwin thrives in the slot as a WR and run blocker.
2-Mayfield excels at short throws.
3-The Bucs wanted to run more.
What was Canales thinking moving Godwin outside?
This isn’t brilliant of Coen. It’s obvious … and obviously Canales had no clue what he was doing.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:16 pm
If you don’t think Liam Cohen is a far superior offensive mind than Dave Canales then you ain’t black.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Sly – I think you’re right. The Bucs got a blessing by D-bag Tepper reaching for the Canoles. Of course it wasn’t only on our former OC.
The head coach had to approve. And if he didn’t, he’s not a head coach.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:43 pm
I don’t buy for one minute coen will be different from lefty and canales until I see it on the field. Bake does not have the vision to utilize the weapons he has at WR either.
they should be lighting people up over the middle, which would back the LB off the LOS.
I know… a difficult concept.
I love 1 yard and a cloud of dust.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Boss – Todd really really loves one yard and a cloud of dust. Grinds the clock. Rests his defense for 2 minutes so they can go on those 14 play, 80 yard, 8 minute defensive series.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Dave Pear = Realisto
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:55 pm
Since I have read that Coen uses the WCO a lot, having Godwin in the slot makes a lot of sense. Just hope he can stay injury free in all the traffic in the middle.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Hey, when Todd pokes his head one game above .500 as a head coach, I’ll lay off. It doesn’t even have to include the Jets. Just the Bucs.
If Todd starts 2024 at 3-1, I’ll cork up the truth about Todd until two weeks later when he again slips below .500
May 22nd, 2024 at 4:13 pm
joe in michigan = d o u c h e n o z z l e
May 22nd, 2024 at 4:18 pm
I like Todd Bowles and think we will see more improvement this season. The team really respects him, and that says a lot. However, one thing that frustrated me last season about him was not using time-outs. Drove me crazy!
May 22nd, 2024 at 4:20 pm
WilieG Says: “Seeing how Godwin was used last season tells me Canales is one and done as a head coach. Maybe even a .5 and done.”
Maybe, or maybe he’s a better leader and mentor than OC, in which case he might do just fine if he lets Idzik call the plays. Either way, I like the Bucs’ odds with Coen.
May 22nd, 2024 at 4:31 pm
@Joe in Michigan:
Dave Pear + Boss + Realisto (!!!!!!!!) is probably the same troll.
May 22nd, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Canales is a cheerleader. That’s how he got two promotions in two consecutive seasons. Without Evans, Canales is still an OC, or maybe not. I’d mention Mayfield, but Mike Evans produces no matter who’s the QB.
The Bucs don’t need another cheerleader. We need coaches, and hopefully we have addressed that problem. I believe the Carolina Panthers did us a huge favor.
May 22nd, 2024 at 7:20 pm
Godwin simply wasn’t targeted my near the goal line, I seem to remember his TD’s coming from far out (For that natter, neither was Evans, kept waiting for the obvious corner fade to the 6’5″ dude, rarely came)
May 22nd, 2024 at 11:47 pm
Todd Bowles likes continuity during a season, hence not changing coordinators in year 1, but firing leftwich after season. Then he picks an OC that is brand new and developed his own playbook, which was likely not good scheming in year 1. Bowles was probably happy canales got the job. Now he has more of an offensive guru. From a fan’s perception of how things should be managed, I think Bowles has played his cards right. Mistakes sure, but given the hand Bowles has been dealt, including very high dead cap numbers, we weathered the storm with 2 straight division championships. That’s good coaching.
May 22nd, 2024 at 11:50 pm
And all our players want to stay in Tampa, with the good players setting an excellent example of what it takes to stay. Getting a really good feeling about this upcoming season!