Big Catch Receivers
May 14th, 2019
Excellent fighting for passes.
Of course, if you mention to Bucco Bruce Arians he has good receivers, he almost always responds with a shake of his head as if he cannot believe his good fortune.
There is a reason for that.
Mike Evans is one of the best in the NFL. And one could argue Chris Godwin is underrated. Who doesn’t know this?
Well, it seems the Bucs have two of the best receivers for winning contested passes in the NFL. Yup, Evans and Godwin. Now Joe absolutely cannot stand the PFF tribe’s grades. It’s like they have to slap a grade on just about everything. And Joe considers their grades to be one step below a half-roll of Charmin.
However, “this Joe” does pay attention to some of their stats.
This trap the PFF tribe gets some people to fall into comes because they beat their chests saying they’re contracted with several NFL teams. And that’s true. But they are contracted to provide quality control information: read stats assistant coaches normally would compile. That’s the dirty little secret about the hand-flappers.
Joe appreciates their stats (like missed tackles, etc.) and has no use for their grades.
Per the PFF tribe, Evans and Godwin fall in the top 10 for receivers winning contested passes.
On Evans, Ben Linsey types:
Coming in at number three on the list is a wide receiver that shouldn’t come as a shock when discussing the league’s best at bringing down contested passes – Mike Evans. His overall grade of 84.3 last season was good for 13th-best at the position, and a lot of that was thanks to him bringing in 16 of his 26 contested targets. There’s good reason for Jameis Winston to have faith in the five-year veteran out of Texas A&M heading into next year.
And Linsey adds Godwin may be underrated at contested passes.
Rounding out the list is another second-year wide receiver in Godwin. He is an excellent example of a wide receiver that may not have the best separation skills out there but compensates well for that with his physicality and hands at the catch point. When you look at all wide receivers with 30 or more contested catch opportunities over the last two seasons, Godwin comes in even higher at fifth with a contested catch rate of 54.5 percent.
And you know what, both of these guys demonstrated this trait when they were in college.
Many Bucs fans are really down on Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and his recent drafts. But props to him and his scouting staff for identifying receivers who can fight for the ball and transition to the NFL using that same skill.
May 14th, 2019 at 3:54 am
Mike Evans has been a goldmine for the Bucs. A very expensive goldmine at $20 mil per year, but a goldmine nonetheless in terms of productivity. Sometimes though it’s fascinating to go back and see how Player A stacks up against others who we could’ve drafted.
In the 1st round of the 2014 draft, there were 5 WRs taken: Sammy Watkins (#3), Mike Evans (#7), Odell Beckham (#12), Brandin Cooks (#20) and Kelvin Benjamin (#28). Of those, only ME13 is still with his original team. The most productive of the group? Mike Evans with 5 straight seasons over 1,000 yds (6,103 total). Beckham & Cooks come in a close second IMO (both with less than 5,500 yds). Watkins & Benjamin are well behind the other 3 in terms of productivity.
Two other things struck me as interesting about that 2014 draft. Almost all of the Pro-Bowlers in that class came from the 1st round and top of the 2nd round (say the Top-40 players). Also, the 2014 draft was Jason Licht’s first one. Besides ME13 (Rnd 1) we got ASJ (TE Rnd 2), Charles Sims (RB Rnd 3), Kadeem Edwards (G Rnd 5), Kevin Pamphile (OT Rnd 5) & Robert Herron (WR Rnd 6). Aaah yes, good times.
May 14th, 2019 at 4:12 am
Sorry Joe, GMs can’t get props getting some draft picks right missing on so many others. Yeah, no one drafts perfectly, but way too many guys have been terrible. It’s the whole body of work. Licht and his staff very well may just have guessed these two right. And because of the roster blunders elsewhere, they couldn’t afford to keep Hump. How has it worked out in drafing OL, DL, LB, RB, K, and of course, CB? Arguably, it can be said he blew it at QB.
May 14th, 2019 at 4:55 am
It seemed nearly impossible to field a solid wide receiving corps for the Bucs. Mike Evans changed that. Thank you ME13 and Jason Licht!
May 14th, 2019 at 6:24 am
Knock on some serious wood here….but ME13 has stayed healthy…..he is in incredibly good shape and a tough player…..many, many times he gets hit and looks like he’s coming out of the game but doesn’t.
May 14th, 2019 at 6:26 am
Justin Watson needs some playing time and cant wait to see the speedy kid show that djax was a bum
May 14th, 2019 at 6:27 am
They need to fight for the football with the off target qb!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of comeback and curl routes that they have to contest to get that ball!!!!!!! There is a reason why this team gets not yac, unless a backup qb is in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 14th, 2019 at 6:38 am
Your def right about that tbbf , a lot of times he looks like he’s done for the game with the way he shakes his wrist or arm or the way he limps , but low and behold right back in there he goes..tuff , tuff s.o.b..i just wish we had a QB that can hit him more in stride and less in jump balls to where the yak is greatly improved..but with that being said he still is one of the best and I think him and obj obviously are the best of that bunch..if he keeps playing full seasons we are going to have all kinds of records for our team on our hands that will be hard to surpass…now we can not waste anymore of this mans career and we need a couple playoff games under his belt ! Go me13 & go bucs !
May 14th, 2019 at 7:48 am
@Joe
so you credit a GM who got good talent with a high 1st rounder
while he blew the rest of the draft?
not so high standarts at JoeHeadquarters..
while I gotta say, i wanted Beckham Jr. coming out of college (if we were to pick WR in that draft with the 1st pick) – i guessed he might be the sure thinng – i got to say i am more happy with Evans now.. (dont like Beckhams attitude)..
but the hell:
seferian-Jenkins.. i didn’t like that pick and Licht completely lost me with the Chris Simms pick back then..
you simply don’t go for average RB talent in the first 3 rounds.. that’s freaking horse Sshhh.. it..
and then:
going for the more important players for the trenches in the later rounds…..
stuoid is who stupid does…
should have been other way arround but yeah its always depends on the draft-class, draft spot, and current Roster/Contracts…
Fire Licht Tonight!
May 14th, 2019 at 9:11 am
They are big catch guys, but I think they will also be big blocking guys in the run game. No offense to Hump, but he wasn’t going to get after LB’s, and Jackson, don’t even go there. Evans, Godwin, and Periman will be more involved blocking in the running game under Arains.
May 14th, 2019 at 9:19 am
Ronde B. says bucs don’t have much talent so why does Light still has a job,huh?? i am so tired of paying for season tkts when the nfl doesn’t pay much attention to our fave team!!!
May 14th, 2019 at 9:32 am
they’re going to be even more productive in BA’s offense…..dirk’s offense was too predictable….
GO BUCS!!!!
May 14th, 2019 at 9:33 am
The Buc Realist Says:
June 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!
May 14th, 2019 at 10:35 am
Great info DEFENSE.