The Next Michael Irvin?
October 3rd, 2019
Bucs WR comparison.
Joe isn’t sure if he should be scared by this or impressed.
Joe has been a huge Chris Godwin guy since first seing him play in the Rose Bowl in 2017. He flat tore up a good USC defense.
And this year, his first under Bucco Bruce Arians, Godwin is blowing up as one of the better NFL receivers.
DeSean Jackson, who?
Well, someone else is impressed. And that is Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports. Paylor believes Godwin is the next Michael Irvin and what shocked Joe is that both Irvin and Godwin are almost identical in size.
What’s more, the 6-foot-1, 209-pounder pulled off one hell of a Michael Irvin impression. Irvin, a Hall of Famer who was listed at 6-2 and 207 pounds, lived on contested-ball catches and “bang 8” routes (skinny posts), and outside of some grabs on tunnel screens, Godwin seemed to rip the Rams up doing the same thing.
Godwin, 23, is on pace to catch 104 passes for 1,544 yards and 16 touchdowns. He could easily earn his first Pro Bowl honors this season, especially with the undermanned Bucs — who figure to be down a decent amount this season — being led by new coach and passing guru Bruce Arians.
To that end, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Godwin and Mike Evans, Tampa’s No. 1 receiver, go nuts on Sunday against a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed a stunning 13 passes over 20 yards, the third-most in the league.
Now if Joe were to compare any Bucs receiver to Irvin, it would be Mike Evans. Not only is he putting up Irvin-like numbers in his career (better, actually), but Evans is physical as well.
Joe has to give Paylor props for noticing Irvin and Godwin are almost physical twins. Irvin, from Joe’s memory, was able to stretch the field better than Godwin.
Still, it’s safe to say Evans and Godwin are the best one-two punch the Bucs have had since Keenan McCardell and Keyshawn Johnson.
And perhaps Evans and Godwin is the best duo in Bucs history.
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:07 pm
Evans and Godwin are far better than any other WR in Bucs history. They are not just the best duo the are #1 and #1A. Take it to the bank. Either of these guys can dominate a game.
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:09 pm
Ok
Don’t even dare compare him to a hall of famer he’s only been in the league for a few years
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Bert Emanuel was one of the greats. So was Alvin Harper. Miss those guys. Their highlight reel’s conveyed poetry in motion.
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:20 pm
i kinda see andre johnson in godwin….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Godwin’s hip is my biggest concern for him this year. I hope he can get healed up during the bye week, because we are going to need him during the final stretch. I hope we start bringing Scotty Miller into the mix, because once he gets the offense down, he will make a great Perriman replacement.
October 3rd, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Absolutely the best duo in Bucs history and they’re both young. Skies the limit. Potentially two HOF WRs playing on this team at the same time. Unbelievable. Let’s just hope they both stay healthy and management finds a way to keep them both for many, many years.
October 3rd, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Evans & Godwin > McCardell & Johnson any day, every day and twice on Sundays. Love McCardell but KJ was over rated.
October 3rd, 2019 at 6:04 pm
I’d say Chris Godwin is more of a Mark Carrier clone – which isn’t an insult at all, Carrier was vastly unrated. He was just a silky smooth route runner that could catch the ball and who could get open. Carrier wasn’t really elite at anything – he was just always productive.
October 3rd, 2019 at 6:14 pm
Godwin is the best route runner on the Bucs. Very nice and smooth.
What impresses me the most about him is that he’s improved his one obvious area of weakness from last year, the fumbles. He led all WR’s in fumbles last year, and when he gets hit now you can clearly see him focus on keeping two hands on the ball.
Also I love seeing him fight for more yards after the catch.
October 3rd, 2019 at 7:14 pm
A lot less groupies and cocaine than Michael Irvin (LOL) but very similar physical style.
Personality-wise Godwin reminds Howard of Jerry Rice
October 3rd, 2019 at 7:16 pm
I’m just saying…back in the day those Cowboys had a house owned
by the players dedicated to hard hard partying
October 3rd, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Hynes Ward and Randy Moss.
October 3rd, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Maybe more like Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. NOBODY was like Randy Moss. NO. BODY.
October 3rd, 2019 at 7:49 pm
DB55
I go with Hines Ward without the mouth. They are both VERY PHYSICAL players who are ferocious blockers.
Randy Moss one of the greatest WR’s of all time…perhaps the GOAT although Jerry Rice fans will crucify me for that. Still his game wasn’t as all around as Godwin or Ward’s…of course when you have his talent running and catching it doesn’t have to be. Randy Moss was truly generational.
October 3rd, 2019 at 8:33 pm
Irvin only looks faster because of the cumulative “push offs.” He was a pioneer in that regard.
October 3rd, 2019 at 8:49 pm
Alvin Harper was a decent #2 in Dallas but he was awful here. One of the worst FA signing in Bucs history. Bert E. knew how to find the openings in a zone coverages but not near the talent of Godwin.
Kevin House is the only Wr historically that anyone could seriously argue as currently the 2nd best WR for the Bucs behind M. Evans. If Godwin continues to play the way he has lately he could be pushing to pass Mike E. up for #1 before it all said and done. I just hope we can afford to keep them both for years to come.
October 3rd, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Stanglassman
I feel pretty sure you’re too young to remember those great Terry Bradshaw led Steelers with Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
Early in their careers Swann was considered the better receiver. He was simply a little faster and very graceful with acrobatic catches. He dazzled. Stallworth was more like ME13…great player who could do it all…not as ballet like as Swan but JUST as effective. They were both #1’s.
I see the same for ME13 and Godwin.
October 3rd, 2019 at 10:09 pm
One thing I remember about Keyshawn was that he got first downs. He kept drives alive. The same can be said for Evans and Godwin as well.
October 3rd, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Keyshawn and McCardell had a knockout punch to their one two punch in a (You Go Joe) Joe Jurevicius that contributed to their success while in Tampa,but they did get a ring!!! That’s not the case with the two studs we have now in Evans and Godwin. Chris (all he did was catch touchdowns) Carter had a Jake Reed or a Randy Moss. #13 and #12 can potentially be as special as a Carter and Reed, or a Carter and Moss. They to had a gunslinger that one year in Randall Cunningham when they finished 15-1, but they didn’t get a ring! We all can only hope that’s not the case with Evans and Godwin!!! These two can be the GOATS of Tampa Bay when they lift a Lombardi Trophy
October 3rd, 2019 at 10:14 pm
Michael Irvin’s style no longer exists in the NFL anymore … there is no more possession receivers in the league … this isn’t a comparison
October 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 pm
Godwin is faster than Irwin n doesn’t push off to make plays. I agree, Scotty Miller need to be given a chance because Perriman is too passive. Perriman play scared n I don’t c the so called speed. I’m at the point of wanting to see Hudson come in to relieve OJ to see what he can do because he shined during preseason. OJ Howard has disappointed with his passive performance. He has fumbled, dropped passes, called for bone head penalties, n at 6’6 250 lbs, can’t seem to block anyone. The tightend that impressed me is the Giants Evan Engram, contrary to OJ Howard, he plays beast mode ball.
October 4th, 2019 at 1:28 am
“Now if Joe were to compare any Bucs receiver to Irvin, it would be Mike Evans. Not only is he putting up Irvin-like numbers in his career (better, actually), but Evans is physical as well.”
.
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Yes. Evans is Irvin. Godwin is Alvin Harper.
October 4th, 2019 at 1:29 am
… only better.
October 4th, 2019 at 1:37 am
stpetebucsfan Says:
“Lynn Swann and John Stallworth”
.
.
Blast from the past! Good call.
October 4th, 2019 at 7:47 am
Alvin Harper. Hehehehhehehehhehehe. How dare you!!!
October 4th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Mike Evans = Randy moss
October 4th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
The Irvin comparison to Godwin is a good one. I think Godwin is more like a faster, more explosive Anquan Boldin. Godwin attacks the ball while it is in the air, gets separation, but is powerful and effective after the catch. Godwin TIMED at under 4.4 at the Combine and I’m not 100% sure he plays to that time down the field, but after the catch, he puts his foot in the ground and looks plenty explosive.
I’m 100% sure that Godwin was/is faster than Irvin, but not sure that he was quite the downfield threat Irvin was… Irvin was a little bit bigger while CBs were smaller plus he was given free reign to be as physical as he wanted to be to get himself open and create separation.
October 4th, 2019 at 8:39 pm
matt Says:
October 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 pm
Godwin is faster than Irwin n doesn’t push off to make plays. I agree, Scotty Miller need to be given a chance because Perriman is too passive. Perriman play scared n I don’t c the so called speed. I’m at the point of wanting to see Hudson come in to relieve OJ to see what he can do because he shined during preseason. OJ Howard has disappointed with his passive performance. He has fumbled, dropped passes, called for bone head penalties, n at 6’6 250 lbs, can’t seem to block anyone.
How many targets has Howard had for you to label him passive? He hasn’t been featured much in the passing game and for the most past he’s been blocking well. why do you think the running game has improved so much? This offense is predicated on receivers and tight ends blocking. if Miller was ready to play he’d be out there for more snaps.