Arians Is Good For Godwin
July 31st, 2020
Bucs WR Chris Godwin.
Last year when Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians moved Chris Godwin to slot, Arians boasted Godwin could catch 100 balls.
Some snickered. But Godwin, as Bryan Knowles of Football Outsiders points out, was on pace to catch 98 passes last year until he was injured in Week 15.
After a bit of research, Knowles believes Arians moving Godwin to slot may have made the Penn State product tens of millions of dollars.
As Knowles explains, Arians’ offense tends to favor slot receivers, whether it is Hines Ward or Reggie Wayne or Larry Fitzgerald or Godwin.
In Pittsburgh, [Arians] put Hines Ward in the slot and let Santonio Holmes go vertical. In Indianapolis and Arizona, he moved existing top receivers (Reggie Wayne and Larry Fitzgerald) into the slot, to great results in each situation. From that history, and just looking at the 2018 numbers, there was some talk early on that Arians would make Evans into his new Fitzgerald, as he loves moving his best receivers around the field with plenty of interior action. But no, Arians was all in on Godwin from the beginning, saying that he was going to catch 100 balls and never come off the field. Most people — us included! — scoffed, but Godwin was on pace for 98.3 receptions had he played all 16 games. So, yeah, maybe Arians knows a thing or two about receivers in the slot.
Joe remembers vividly when Arians was introduced as Bucs head coach. After his press conference, AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said he would do everything in his power to retain free agent slot receiver Adam Humphries.
But Arians preferred Godwin, not that he didn’t like Humphries, Arians just wanted more speed at slot.
It’s very difficult to argue with the results. And if he stays healthy, Godwin, in the final year of his rookie contract, will become an extraordinarily wealthy young man thanks to Arians.
July 31st, 2020 at 8:25 am
That’s a good take, Joe, and I totally agree being the Slot may have FURTHER propelled Godwin to earned riches, to be determned. However, I do doubt that Godwin is good with being in the slot long term. Guys like “Rudy” Humphries have no choice, but I think Godwin is going to expect he become Bucs #1 AND be outside or he goes somewhere else to get that honor AND the cash. I don’t know if there is enough cash and room on the field out there to keep both him and ME13. I’d love to…just trying to be realistic.
July 31st, 2020 at 9:39 am
Godwin will be a Buc next year. They will sign him to a long term deal. The tough decision follows that signing.
Gronk will most likely be done after this season, theres $10M, plus Godwins existing salary gets us close. (Sportrac shows his current value at $16.8M, 2020 salary is $2.1M, just need another $4-5M after using Gronks $10M). If he does want 1st WR money, we would need another $4-5 M. I say we’d find it with a trade, restructure or back load it, which the Bucs almost never do.
Hump was not an option, the market was too high to retain him. Love him, but at $9M a year for a very distant 3rd option receiver is too high a price.
3rd wide receiver competition will be fun to watch this year.
In BA I Trust!
July 31st, 2020 at 9:41 am
Actually, I think Godwin is good for Arians….
July 31st, 2020 at 10:39 am
I’m no football expert by any means. But watching Godwin in the slot he givse the Larry Fitz vibe of going to take the ball out of the air and then looks to run someone over. Love his game and hope he stays in Tampa. Love rooting for him in his home state. #appo
July 31st, 2020 at 10:58 am
Let us hope thar ME13 and MG14 have learned how to prepare their hamstrings better than before. That was some Bucs luck to lose both due to hammy
July 31st, 2020 at 10:59 am
CG14…my fingers ..ugh
July 31st, 2020 at 12:03 pm
Chris Godwin IS A BEAST!
July 31st, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Ndog, that is one thing we 100% agree on. We are so lucky to have drafted Chris. Awesome player and an even better man.
July 31st, 2020 at 12:22 pm
Chris will stay in Tampa, even below is market value because that’s just the type of person he is. He is a loyalist with integrity. He’ll ask for his worth, but he will be flexible at the same time. Long story short….he ain’t going nowhere!! Best slot WR in the game!!!
July 31st, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Hines Ward!!! Perhaps my favorite all time slot guy. Super athlete…QB in college…and very physical. CG14 reminds me most of Hines Ward without the nasty streak.
CG14 is just as physical as Hines and will run guys over just as frequently but Hines seemed to enjoy it more. Hines had a REAL edge to him. I don’t think it makes him any better than CG14 just different. Both accomplish the same result just one appreciates inflicting pain more than the other.
July 31st, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne, at the time, were #1 receivers working out of the slot RTB.
August 1st, 2020 at 12:05 am
Good job reporting Joe
August 1st, 2020 at 9:09 am
I may be in the minority, but I’ve thought for years the slot guy is the most important WR on the field, especially in 3rd and medium, you know, 4-7 yds.
He seems to be the one who keeps the chains moving, espoeciuallky if he has the quicks.
IMO, Belichick & Brady wrote the book “Intelligent Slot Receiver Use.” Look at the impact and production of the Pat’s slot guy, whether Welker, Edelman or Amendola. Those guys were smallish, quick, ran fantastic routes and had great hands…and accounted for a massive % of NE first downs. Hump also fit that category.
Godwin will be a monster slot guy with Brady for the same reasons, except he’s not small of stature. One thing Godwin brings those other great NE slots, as well as Hump, didn’t: he can take it deep.
No doubt Arians sees the same exact thing, considering how he used the slot in AZ and Godwin last year. One difference: NE used the slot for shorter, quick routes. Arians goes another 3-4 yards downfield (depending on down and distance.)
I expect both Godwin and Gronk to be slots in 4-WR sets. Good luck covering that…