“Five-deep”
May 1st, 2020
Best of the best.
When browsing NFL rosters, several teams can boast having the best one-two receiver punch in the league.
Sure, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin likely stand atop the current wide receiver mountain. There is Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona. And Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley in Atlanta.
Is it too soon to include Amari Cooper and Cee Dee Lamb?
But when it comes to a five-deep wide receiver room, John Daigle of Rotoworld believes the best group resides in Tampa.
In a recent edition of the “Rotoworld Football Podcast,” Daigle sized up the Bucs wide receivers as the best top-heavy group and the deepest.
“I can count only two teams that can go five-deep confidently on gameday,” Daigle said. “The one — my winner — being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You start at the top. Mike Evans, six consecutive seasons 60-70 catches and 1,000 receiving yards. Keeping that streak alive despite only playing 13 games last year.
“Chris Godwin, got bumped into the slot with 63 percent rate and in his first year with Bruce Arians last year and came away with the second-most receiving yards behind only Cooper Kupp from the middle of the field.
“Even someone like Scotty Miller, if you argue which is their No. 3 receiver for right now. Take into account Scotty Miller comped as Bruce Arians’ next John Brown as an outside speed threat. In his first year as a rookie did have three catches [of] 25 yards downfield.
“Even third-year wideout Justin Watson last year had 146 yards and two touchdowns as a part-time player in the final month of the season. And now you sprinkle in fifth-round rookie Tyler Johnson, who I know the fantasy community is really high on. He played 78 percent of his snaps the past two years at Minnesota in the slot. So we don’t have an exact role for him just yet.”
Props to Daigle for not falling into the trap so many analysts have. Many already plugged in Johnson as the Bucs’ starting slot receiver.
Instead, it is Godwin. And just personally, Joe would have no intention or desire to change Godwin’s role after he posted a career-high in receptions, yards and touchdowns in his first season as a slot receiver. Don’t fix something that is not broken.
“But the team goes five-deep,” Daigle continued. “So if Chris Godwin does go down as he did last year, they now have someone [Johnson] they can confidently throw there. And we know that Tyler Johnson is a big-bodied, 50/50-contested catch guy who goes up for the ball and will battle.”
On paper, this looks really good. Joe would like to see Johnson in a game before he starts throwing roses at the guy.
If Justin Watson can step up his game (he really played underwhelming football for his talent last year) and Miller can stay healthy — your best ability is your availability — yeah, Joe could see the Bucs having the deepest wide receiver group.
May 1st, 2020 at 11:08 am
The draft pick 5th rounder from Minnesota is looking like a solid steal and 3 WR option….
…..but who knows if his game will translate to the NFL
May 1st, 2020 at 11:12 am
Strong WR depth for sure. Nice to have.
May 1st, 2020 at 11:13 am
Not sold on Miller & Watson yet. I am high on Johnson but I’m very curious to see where they’ll put him because he runs good routes but is not that fast.
May 1st, 2020 at 11:14 am
Arians goaded Miller into playing when it’s quite obvious his hammy wasn’t healed……I’m anxious to see what he can do when healthy and with another year under his belt…….would also like to see some slot action for him.
I agree that Godwin did very well in the slot but he does very well wherever he lines up.
The 5 deep I wan to see is Evans, Godwin, Johnson, Gronk & OJ or Brate with an empty backfield……COVER THAT!!!
May 1st, 2020 at 11:21 am
Evans, Godwin, Gronk, Howard, Brate. No one in the NFL comes close.
May 1st, 2020 at 11:25 am
Johnson reminds me of another receiver coming out of college who had skills but not very fast..Jerry Rice
May 1st, 2020 at 11:31 am
Kind of hard to judge Miller, being that he started the year with a serious hamstring injury that Bruce rushed him back from. The whole team dealt with hamstring injuries, I wonder of the trainers are to blame?
May 1st, 2020 at 11:32 am
They are much deeper than just 5. There are also 3 TEs and 3 RBs that can catch. It is going to be so cool.
The great thing about Evans and Godwin last season was the circus catches they pulled off. That is part of why Watson and Miller didn’t look as good. They couldn’t adjust to the slightly off passes that came their way.
With much better accuracy, Brady might make them look like stars on the water. Almindola looked bad when Brady wasn’t throwing to him. Miller and Watson will benefit this year.
May 1st, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Ggs I’m out
May 1st, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Love Chris Godwin. I hope Jason is correct when he says he is going to resign Chris because I just ordered a #14 pewter jersey. I couldn’t stand the old jerseys.
May 1st, 2020 at 1:55 pm
4 wide gives you two slots.
May 1st, 2020 at 2:04 pm
I would really like to see Scotty Miller on a jet sweep occasionally.
May 1st, 2020 at 2:34 pm
The ole Benn around?
May 1st, 2020 at 2:43 pm
Jerry ran a 4.7 and Larry fitz rab a 4.6, …. If he can seperate he will be fine. Looks like he knows how to come back and fight for the ball.
May 1st, 2020 at 3:14 pm
I think Johnson and Watson will compete to be the #2 WR while Godwin will remain primary slot in spread and shotgun formations. The other will be the backup at WR along with Miller. Miller must prove he can be a backup return man on special teams as well. I think Miller will be the backup speedster and Watson stays around as a physical wideout in a backup role. The skill position are better and the depth chart fills out with perfect balance and every player will serve a meaningful role. Depth chart will be enough to cover the roster number. We have four RB that will contribute as well to go along with 4 TE that will contribute. Even the OL depth is much more improved with the selection of Wirfs. I love the WR depth for sure plus all should make the team but I feel we need a another guard or Tackle to solidify the depth to our oline. We get one more quality player and we can rotate at every position constantly throughout a game to prevent fatigue, dropoff from starter to reserves, and keeping overall team health throughout the season. The heat in Florida can be brutal and high level depth is necessary. Overall on offense we should have 25 go to players on the depth chart. We have 5 WR clearly who can play in any event on offense, but we also now have 4 RB excluding Dare who I think will be cut, two that can play on offense and two that can contribute on special teams in Logan and Campbell and 4 TE who will rotate on the field as well to go along with 7 OL who I think will play. I feel Bailey may get significant time this season in a reserve role to go along with Haeg.
May 1st, 2020 at 3:54 pm
We need to add veteran for DL and OL depths.
May 1st, 2020 at 5:10 pm
@DanBucsFan,
Too soon maybe? I like the excitement though.
May 1st, 2020 at 5:14 pm
There are multiple reports from sources saying the Cowboys are looking to get UDFA DeeVeeDee Lamb, CeeDee Lamb’s brother, to bolster their WR depth.
May 1st, 2020 at 7:18 pm
LOL, DeeVeeDee Lamb and CeeDee Lamb. What did they name the other kid Blu Ray Lamb ?
May 1st, 2020 at 10:23 pm
It’s better than EffenGee !!
May 1st, 2020 at 11:49 pm
I’m dieing to see if Johnson can play ball. Rotate him and Godwin at slot and WR2 all day. Sweet.
May 2nd, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Now just need to add Edelman.
May 2nd, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Scotties TD last year was a sweet play.
May 4th, 2020 at 11:48 am
Godwin
Gronk
Brate
TyJo
OJ
the slot is is (over)loaded on this roster right now. it’s also where the RB will go when he splits out. will be really interesting to see who gets kicked outside