Predicting The Training Camp
August 2nd, 2017
“Darling.”
So what player is going to jump out in training camp?
Sure, the first few days of training camp have come and gone. Two days of underwear football, one day of shells, and one day of pads. Even though it is still very early, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com has a hunch who will stick out.
That would be rookie receiver Chris Godwin.
The third-round pick was one of the most consistent wide receivers in OTAs and minicamp, catching virtually everything thrown his way. One play stands out from last Thursday’s practice, as Godwin showed great concentration and body control, including leaping to catch a deflected pass while working against Brent Grimes. It was one play, but it was a heckuva move against a savvy veteran corner.
Well, Joe hates to say it but must be fully honest here. Joe has been burned by underwear football in the past. Too many times in fact, and all of them were receivers.
Yes, the best example is Kenny Bell. Dude was an underwear football All-Pro. Once the pads came on, Bucs security sent out a search party to try to find him.
Another guy was Tommy Streeter. He, too, looked like a sure thing to make the final-53 so long as he was wearing shorts. The immortal Solomon Patton was yet another, who was on and off the 53-man roster for the worst team in the NFL in 2014.
So while Joe was pretty stoked the Bucs drafted Godwin and lobbied to select him out of Penn State, Joe is in a wait-and-see mode as the team has had just one padded practice thus far.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:07 am
I love his demeanor,no bark all bite.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:13 am
I really think this kid is the real deal. Unselfish. Just wants to play football.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:21 am
I nearly broke my laptop when we passed on him in the second round. After watching scores of video (and being shocked by his combine 40), I’m not surprised at all by his progression. He had little QB talent behind him and the offense (rightly so) relied heavily on Barkley (projecting him as a top 5 pick next year) Watching when he was matched up vs Adoree Jackson in the Rose Bowl caused me to totally flip those guys on my imaginary draft board. I was nearly as shocked when he was on the board in the third as when Howard dropped in the first.
Licht is going to have to be very creative with the salary cap within the next 3 seasons.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:22 am
All of the previous underwear prospects you mentioned were all very slight builds. In other words, they were weak. Godwin does not appear to fit that mold. Hoping that in pads he looks even better as this offense has a chance to be dangerous for years to come.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:24 am
As has been said on this site before, the difference is that this guy did it at a big time school where as Kenny Bell and company did not. Mike Williams is a different deal all together because he’s a receiver named “Mike Williams” and they just don’t work out ever.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:35 am
Can we stop talking about Godwin in relation to Kenny bell. Kenny bell was afraid of contact and Godwin has a history of going after the ball. Foolish to put them in the same sentence. One was a late round flier the other is a premium receiver. You already said this on the damn podcast now I’m reading it. Again. Use whatever evaluation skills you have instead of just referencing Kenny bell. Good lord it’s so obvious how different the talent level is.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:37 am
Just want to see if Dirk stick to his the best player will play!!
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:42 am
Broy
Agree and can I add another comparison I’ve seen some posters make…not Joe.
OJ is not ASJ and comparisons are bogus.
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:43 am
Buc50
Miami, Nebraska and Gators are small football schools?
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:43 am
“The Tape never lies…..just like Kobe Faker”
Kobe Faker
Look at what he did against 3 1st round draft picks DBs of ohio st and USC last year as #1 wr.
“We will only be truely lethal when Hump is replaced by Godwin. When the Bucs are truely legit contenders of superbowels, Godwin will be averaging 85-100 receptions and the pass offense will go thru Godwin”
“Lord Cornilious posts at Bucsnation website….Kobe from now on will be referring to him as Benedict Arnold”
Kobe Faker
August 2nd, 2017 at 9:47 am
Joe – I don’t think you need to be worried about Godwin. I think he will be a guy who when the analysts re-draft this class bump him at least into the second round if not the first round.
The two guys I am the most interested in from the rookies are Beckwith and Evans. If we hit on those two picks this draft will have been a grand slam.
August 2nd, 2017 at 10:12 am
USF…. This class has a chance to be the Pick6 class. If Stevie T and Evans can develop, all 6 picks could have big impact this year.
August 2nd, 2017 at 10:37 am
Chris Godwin has a huuugggeeee opportunity to put up big numbers!!!!!! If you look at the offense and how teams will defend them, You know they will roll coverage to ME13 and as much as they can towards DJ!!!! The 3rd and 4th receiving option should have matchups in their favor to take a advantage of!!!!!!!
Just need the defense to come out firing until the offense gets its feet underneath them!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 2nd, 2017 at 10:37 am
STPETEBUCSFAN- exactly. To seriously compare and overrated straight out of college guy that nobody was really that high about other than bucs fans to a national champion freakshow blue chip prospect like howard who has a clean head is ludicrous
August 2nd, 2017 at 10:45 am
3rd round pick with 1st round talent!
Godwin’s play will be pushing him into the line-up this year. I believe we will see more looks of Evans and DJax lining up in the slot than would be expected just to get Godwin out there. Feel sorry for those nickle corners trying to cover any of these 3 out of the slot. Mismatch city.
August 2nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
@Stanglassman what players are you talking about? The only Gator receivers I know that were talked about were Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. I never ever thought those guys were top shelf NFL receivers.
August 2nd, 2017 at 11:45 am
lol Kobe I post anywhere I can on Bucs stuff. JBF/the podcast are my #1 sources but sometimes there is a good debate going on with bucs fans on other sites.
Godwin isn’t a slot WR. I think he’s more valuable than Hump; but he doesn’t have the short route quickness skill set that Hump does right now. In college he ran mostly intermediate and deep routes. He’s an eventual stud #2 WR imo in the mold of Roddy White.
However – I’d love to see us run formations where Godwin is single covered by the teams 3rd or 4th CB; and let him go get a 40 yarder over his face while the rest of the defense is worried about ME/DJax/Howard.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:00 pm
LC, agreed. alot of wrs are now being moved all over the field and position (Humps weakness is the realease of the bigger db jammimg him off the line)
I think the key will be 3 and short conversion rate % for our success of our offensive production
if we can continuously move the chains on 3rd down with high probable short passes to OJ, ME, Godwin, and RB screen game ALONG with our 3rd down run and make the defense clueless in how to defend us on 3rd down…we are heading to the NFC game
“When Jameis is comfortable and consistent with the short passing game and exposes the defense when they blitz….THEN, THEN WE WILL ALL KNOW HE WILL BE IN CANTON IN THE FUTURE”
Kobe Faker
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Yeah I wanted Samaje Perine for 3rd and short / goal line. We’ve always sucked running the ball in the red zone in the Doug Martin era.
Howard was my favorite pick because of what you’re alluding to – having a really unpredictable offense from the same set formations. We could go 2 TE sets and still bomb it to Djax if the defense stacks the box. And so many screen options – can go to the RB with heavy blocking from the TEs/WRs; or fake a TE block and put Howard out on a screen.
Also just saw Sterling Shepard got hurt and is likely done for the year. I know he was ur guy :\ so that sucks for that dude
August 2nd, 2017 at 1:00 pm
One more thing on Godwin. On another site they do this Rookie Diary segment, kind of interesting and all. Godwin turned it down so that he could concentrate totally on camp. How many third round, wide receivers (the diva position) rookies would do that. Most are wanting as much attention as they can get. Just another check mark in why he’s going to make it.
August 2nd, 2017 at 1:34 pm
There’s a reason this guy was drafted in the 3rd round, and some had him going as high as the 2nd round… He’s legit.
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:20 pm
Kobe we don’t need Goodwin to replace Hump. That’s because Hump is a possession receiver and a pretty darn good one.
Goodwin’s role on this team will not be getting smashed over the middle to get us those 2-3 tough yards. That’s Humphries role. Now, if Goodwin earns it he might be sharing some playing time with Hump on 2nd and 1st downs when we run 3 wideouts. But Hump still has a role on this team and if their plan is for Goodwin to take it they have a bad plan.
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:58 pm
I referring to the same 3 WRs that you were. The ones in this article. They went to Bell (Nebraska), Solomon (UF) and Streeter (The U). All power house college programs.
Maybe I misunderstood you I thought you were saying that those guys didn’t play well when the pads came on was because they went to small schools. And that Godwin won’t have that problem because he went to a big time program.
Btw I Love the Godwin pick like others I flipped out when his name wasn’t pkd
in the 2nd and couldn’t believe he lasted to the 3rd.