New Offense Won’t Faze Chris Godwin
January 21st, 2026
The Bucs will have yet another new offense this season. The coordinator merry-go-round won’t stop.
Whomever calls the Bucs plays will have his own spin and language and nuances.
It’s got to be draining on players, and hopefully not affecting their ability to play fast.
One man who it seems will be fine with another new playbook is receiver Chris Godwin, who will enter his 10th season in 2026. (Where has the time gone?)
Bucs receivers coach Bryan McClendon, a man highly regarded at One Buc Palace, talked recently about how Godwin is a wizard at quick mastery.
“CG has a uncanny ability to be able to take what he knows and apply it right away,” McClendon told the Buccaneers Radio Network. “You know, some guys, they need reps at it. Some guys actively gotta go out there and screw it up, quite frankly. before they get it right.
“And some people gotta walk through it, but, you know, he’s one of those guys you can tell him and he can digest it and then go out there and do it. A lot of that is because he’s so intelligent, obviously. And then, the other part of it, man, he’s able to put himself there mentally like it’s physical, if that makes any sense. And so he can see exactly what you’re saying. He knows it and he can kind of put his body through it right now mentally to be able to go out there and get it done. A lot of that is just his time on task and doing what he knows that he can do, and him being just the overall student of the game — him understanding football and understanding the defenses, understanding what they’re trying to do to stop you, and knowing where he needs to be and knowing the little small parts right now football-wise, too.”
Huge year ahead for Godwin. He looked to be his old self as a player in the final few games of this season. Godwin turns 30 in February and should still be in his prime — while 2026 is his final season of guaranteed money from the Bucs.
January 21st, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Anyone who thought it would be Monken or McDaniel has too high of an opinion about the perception of the Bucs around the league.
The Bucs are viewed as a sinking ship. Bowles has no job stability credibility. Licht is now exposed for multiple mediocre draft picks.
This team’s owners are putting money over winning.
It’s not a top half franchise anymore.
And the season ticket holders are paying full price for a half assed organization’s lousy team and coaches.
If Mike Evans leaves, I would not blame him.
January 21st, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Like Harbaugh said in his presser, that you build a team around the QB!
The Bucs NEED an OC/HC to build a consistent winning team season after season… These poor players been stuck with IBS as DC/HC and rotating OCs ruining their NFL career and youth!!
January 21st, 2026 at 2:30 pm
it wont faze him until the 4th quarter when baker throws an INT!!!
GO BUCS!!!
January 21st, 2026 at 2:41 pm
813bucboi Says:
January 21st, 2026 at 2:30 pm
it wont faze him until the 4th quarter when baker throws an INT!!!
GO BUCS!!!
Ok. So you don’t like Mayfield. We get that so move on and tell us what you like about the Bucs or who you would like for a QB that will make you happy
January 21st, 2026 at 2:43 pm
With the all star games coming up (i.e. East/West Shrine, Senior Bowl), it sure would be nice to have coaches in place to go and evaluate these guys.
January 21st, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Since Godwin is getting up there in age why not move him to tight end eventually ? Didn’t we do that with Ike Hilliard if I remember correct.
January 21st, 2026 at 2:46 pm
CG has been unfazed and ready to roll since day one of his arrival…
hopefully that foot gets even more right with another offseason and he’s ready…
there were definite glimmers of the old chris as the season wore on in 2025, which was really good to see
January 21st, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Joe I have one major question, is it possible for a NFL team to have a OC and co OC especially with defensive mined coaches and has it ever been done before. I mean, if you have a OC that leaves for a HC job you still have the co OC to fill in who should be able to keep some consistency with the offensive scheme
January 21st, 2026 at 2:50 pm
i bring big mike back…just because he’s big mike…
but actually he’s a heck of a competitor…
so………….
after not getting his 1k yards and having his season derail and flop out due to injury – there is a big big chance, that big big mike…is big big hungry AF to get out there and ball…
both chris and mike could very well have a “let me get back at it” hunger going into next season…
if the bucs aren’t trying to do a soft and quiet tank of some secretive sort of speculation 🙂
January 21st, 2026 at 2:55 pm
So for the OC candidates Pitcher, Callahan and Robison who has the better stats and who out of the 3 has not been a play caller Also who’s a strong leader of men
January 21st, 2026 at 3:05 pm
if you need a strong leader of men, go find the great great grandson of one napoleon
January 21st, 2026 at 3:09 pm
Not phased by the multiple schematic changes he and others have had to adjust to, and was a reliable enough target in all of them to look good
From Koetter with the 4 verts
BA with his scheme steeped in vertical, Air Coryell type scheme
To the dink and dunkery we’ve had as an offense since Leftwich got canned.
Chris Godwin will make ya some money as a QB
January 21st, 2026 at 3:26 pm
I don’t understand the criticism of Jason Licht. The guy has been great. Yes, free agency and non-trades for needed edge rush have been questionable. But, he did do some great stuff in free agency with JPP and Suh. I think Jason has been exceptional over time.
January 21st, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Ahh there he is, 813bucboi. He was called out and chilled out for a bit after that. Now it seems he is back. 813bucboi, can you explain why the top defense is ranked 28th+ in all major stats, but its somehow Bakers fault?
I am not saying Baker did not lost us games, but to sit there and week in and week out not call out the obvious weak link of team. That would be HC and his specialty. The Defense.
I wonder why that is…what could it be…
January 21st, 2026 at 3:43 pm
I hope he heals and can still play w/o permanent damage.
January 21st, 2026 at 3:52 pm
ModHair – Agree one million percent. And we aren’t near as talented as some want to believe.
January 21st, 2026 at 3:57 pm
So happy to see Chris looking like Chris again! I was very skeptical but he’s a true beast as a player and as a resource for our young recievers.
813bucboi
Man you sure flipped. Did you decide if you can’t beat em join em?
January 21st, 2026 at 3:57 pm
It’s never a problem for veterans
January 21st, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Just has to stay healthy… and have Baker be able to get the ball in his general area, something Baker couldn’t do when it mattered most with the playoffs on the line.
January 21st, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Even if Evans retires or goes elsewhere (I hope he doesn’t), we’ll have a pretty damn good receiving corps with Godwin, McMillan, and Egbuka. We just need another quality TE. I also think we’re going to lose a quality offensive weapon with White’s likely departure. Regardless, the focus needs to be on defense, defense, and defense. It would be so nice if Bowles gave up his DC responsibilities and let someone else handle that. I think most on this site would agree, we need a change!
January 21st, 2026 at 4:44 pm
This team will not faze the fans on the run.
January 21st, 2026 at 5:02 pm
New offense will not do anything to opponents either. The job is so good we can’t fill it. But Tods can fill his plate at the Golden Corral. Dumpster fire of a team in less than a year. Makes sense to reward a leader of losers.
January 21st, 2026 at 5:02 pm
“We just need another quality TE“
Nah, twitchy slot WR with speed. Idk if you looked at our TE production, but we barely used those guys outside of Cade and regardless of who the OC is and what he wants to do, ball usually goes where the QB wants it not just where it’s drawn up.
“813bucboi
Man you sure flipped. Did you decide if you can’t beat em join em?“
I’ve been praying for 813 and his tribulation with his fandom. It’s like he’s Daniel and this fan base is the lions den
January 21st, 2026 at 5:37 pm
The Falcons hiring the Browns OC as their new OC is pretty hilarious.
Hopefully I don’t eat those words.
January 21st, 2026 at 5:50 pm
Whoever takes over as OC hopefully will have a better “grasp “ on how to use ME13 ,CG. Egbuka and JMac. CG is a pros pro!
January 21st, 2026 at 6:07 pm
If we let Rachaad walk we’ll also need another RB. Bucky needs a pitch count and Tucker has a limited skill set.
January 21st, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Meanwhile in Atlanta they’re building a coaching staff. The Glazers are still sitting on their thumbs! Hope they have a plan!
January 21st, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Apparently if we re-sign Otton, he’d be getting $8-12 million?
January 21st, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Chris Godwin is tied with Mike Evans for my favorite receiver. I think Baker feels the same way. When we were down 20-10 to the Dolphins with a minute to play I was perplexed seeing Mike, Chris, and Baker walking onto the field. That was the game I knew either Grizzard was in over his head or Bowles was interfering with the play calling. Saw it all night. With not a call from the sideline to wreck their rythm those 3 gentleman drove the ball 92 yards in 20 seconds. That’s when I knew they were healed up. Any knucklehead that thinks we can be the same team without these 2 receivers oughta pick a new sport to watch. Seriously.
January 21st, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Resign Otten. And if we lose Rachaad we are going to need to replace him.
January 21st, 2026 at 6:58 pm
gofortheface30 … ‘And we aren’t near as talented as some want to believe.’
Unfortunately that’s much too true. If our OLine can stay healthy, that’d be a great start. But right now our RB stable isn’t impressing me (the 2 RBs returning, Bucky & Tuck, averaged 3.5 YPC together last season). Our TE group right now is led by Payne Durham who had 1 reception in 4 targets last season. Mike Evans is a UFA, so our WR room right now consists of Godwin, Egbuka, McMillan & several others. We have one QB under contract who finished poorly last season, and we’re still looking for an OC to run whatever it is we’ll end up with.
You can plan on scrapping just about half the defense (say 12 players), but heaven only knows what we’ll end up with in 2026 running Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme. Love to say it couldn’t be any worse than 2025, but we’re kinda on a downhill run in the defense department right now.
Still, you never know how things are gonna turn out. How many thought we’d be 6-2 last season at the BYE? Of course, how many thought we’d finish 2-7 in our last 9 games after the BYE?