About 1,800 Reasons Chris Godwin Will Adjust Outside
May 26th, 2023
The Buccaneers supplied the percentage data and Joe broke out the calcuator and the history pages.
It was revealed in the team-media Bucs Insider Live show at the Buccaneers official website that Pro Bowl receiver Chris Godwin has lined up as an outside receiver about 29 percent of the time he’s been on the field through the past four years. For the remaining 71 percent, he was a slot receiver in the Bucco Bruce Arians/Byron Leftwich offense.
Prior to that in 2017 and 2018, Godwin was an outside receiver on about 70 percent of his total snaps.
Per Joe’s calclulator that means Godwin lined up outside for 976 snaps over the past four seasons, and another 800 prior to that. That’s a man with lot of experience outside.
This is relevant because new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is preparing to use Godwin more like Godwin was utilized in 2017 and 2018, mostly outside but plenty in the slot, too.
Considering all of Godwin’s extreme success mainly as a slot guy the past four years, the change feels a little suspect on the surface. But unlike Tristan Wirfs moving to left tackle, this won’t be a case of experimention. Godwin has shown what he can do outside and he’ll be cross-trained and ready to contribute everywhere on the field.
One thing the Bucs’ data showed was how much Godwin’s “route depth” dropped off last season, nearly 15 percent from 2021 to an average of 8.5 yards and he was light on yards after the catch.
Most impressive was Godwin’s 2019 season, when his route depth averaged 11.9 yards but he cranked out 15.5 yards per catch. His per-catch output was a career low 9.8 yards last season.
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May 26th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
CG will rack up yards this season. Letting him play outside likely allows him to take better advantage of the double team on ME13’s side, or allow ME13 to take that advantage should the coverage roll to CG. Ultimately, it will come down to a third player feasting off of both of them, and an effective running game for the team to be successful as a whole.
May 26th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
CG will play very well inside or outside……
May 26th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I am eager to discern what creative route-concepts can be contrived by moving around our WR’s. SpongeBob was SO predictable it was rather…well, uncivilized!
Keep that D guessin’ this year, Bucs offense. Please. Please? Please!
GOBUCS!!!
May 26th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Test
May 26th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
Almost ALL of my comments the last 1-2 weeks aren’t being posted. Am I in JBF dog-house, Joes? I didnt do nuffin, and my posts are almost always jovial.
May 26th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
My post that didn’t post stated that I’m excited to see what CG can do when moved around in the offense.
May 26th, 2023 at 2:53 pm
His YAC was low last year because of 1) Scheme – coverage was always tight, 2) Brady – throwing low to protect him and 3) Knee – not wanting to take chances on re-injuring himself. Once his confidence returns, he’ll get those YAC yards again, and it sounds like the new system will give him plenty of opportunity to do so. And I get the feeling he’ll be the matchup man in the lineup – moving him around to find the weak matchup, like putting Palmer on the outside for go/post/corner routes to open up the underneath for Godwin, Gage and/or Otton. Yeah, we’re going to surprise some folks just like the Seahawks did last year.
May 26th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
Not a big surprise considering most of Godwins’ snaps pre-Arians was lining up as a boundary WR.
May 26th, 2023 at 3:20 pm
The old saying if it ain’t broke……
Our 2 Best guys they are “fixing”
Lucky if we have anything left after this season. I get why they are giving bowels another chance…..and it ain’t because he deserves it.
I bet the injury bug decimates the defense from their 80% time of possession. and ME will have a walker next year with the rest of the offense will have to learn another offense. #shitshow
May 26th, 2023 at 3:22 pm
CG production in 2022 has to be viewed through a lens that takes into account CG was not 100% on repaired ACL SEP-NOV & then combine that with the TB12’s decline/refusal to take heat in the pocket for long long stretches of games. (So, not much time to create separation, let alone stretch the field/create YAC)
May 26th, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Teams are going to have to double our WRs leaving the center wide open for 2 TEs or a slick running play to an open lane. I like the concept and hopefully this Cannales guy is the next hotshot play caller.
May 26th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
It seemed like Lefty only knew two plays for Godwin: WR screens, and 5-yard choice routes. Not surprising that his route depth plummeted.
May 26th, 2023 at 4:54 pm
This is called versatility, and it keeps defenses on their heels.
Godwin, Evans, Gage (when healthy) and even Palmer can all line up outside or in the slot. Probably the same for Thompkins too.
Mix things up and get the matchups you want. Smart.
May 26th, 2023 at 5:08 pm
Fan Sided picked the Bucs to go 2-15
May 26th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Give the Bucs qb time to throw and we winning 10 games minimum
May 26th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Where he lined up for the Super Bowl Year?
May 26th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
I’m curious as to who is going to pick up the extra slot routes
May 26th, 2023 at 5:22 pm
Playing the slot, usually means cutting across the middle a lot.
To survive that, for very long,
1) they are tough.
2) they learn to go down, before getting their head knocked off.
Passes are shorter, and not many YACs,
May 26th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
@Beej,
I guess typically, you’d ask your TE to take up those middle/crossing routes. In this case, I’m hoping Thompkins and maybe Palmer will fill the slot role when CG is out wide. Or, maybe the Bucs will go more 12 sets this year?
The immediate and obvious answer is Gage/CG 50% of slot lineups, IMO.
May 26th, 2023 at 6:08 pm
@D-Rok,
I’m not sure Palmer will get a lot of work in the slot. His burst and agility numbers at the combine are not so good. He is very fast and can climb for passes, but not so shifty. Have a feeling when he’s in the game Godwin might move inside. Thompkins could also get plenty of looks in the slot. Just a hunch.
May 26th, 2023 at 6:55 pm
D13Klemperererer made far too much of this Godwin shift to outside receiver. The data proves it. Not to mention the fact that he’ll be shifting into the slot at times in the new offense. I’m not the least bit worried. Also, remember that the Arians offense was a little different in that it utilizes bigger and more physical receivers in the slot. Most other places around the league, the slot receiver is the smaller, shiftier guy. Probably see that a bit more in the new Bucs offense.
May 26th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
Godwin is freaking awesome!!
he will kick arse wherever he lines up!
May 26th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
ARI released DHop!
May 26th, 2023 at 9:41 pm
The problem with Godwin’s usage in the slot in the BA offense is that, he does all the dirty work, blocking lbs and sometimes dlineman. The result was that Godwin would miss a couple games a season. Moving Godwin back to the outside will, in my opinion keep away from the scrum and keep him healthy.
May 26th, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Canales and everyone with half a brain knows that Godwin is the best WR on the roster when he is fully healthy and will be emphasized. Evans mentally checked out for a good portion of last season, and it remains to be seen if he will decide to be inspired this time around. Brady was denied his all-in, and denied the full services of Godwin, and suffered Evans. Who knows what happens now.
May 27th, 2023 at 6:28 am
It’s funny to see the readers blame Leftwich for this. It wasn’t Leftwich calling the audibles, throwing the balls, and who lost his nuts in the divorce.
May 27th, 2023 at 7:10 am
Brandon
It was a team effort yes, but Lefty was the Mastermind behind it.
May 27th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Whatever. Godwin can play anywhere. He could be a tailback if need be and I would make him our emergency QB.
May 27th, 2023 at 11:04 am
@Jack, they changed the rule so that teams can have a designated third QB.
May 27th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Chris Godwin needs to be traded, he’s not part of this next Bucs SB tbh. Rather sign someone else. Tbh wouldn’t mind Godwin and White being traded. Need new building blocks. This will always be Mike Evans team.
May 27th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Think CG will thrive outside. He may be this seasons best downfield threat and can still be used in slot when needed. Personally think a veteran slot reciever would be good addition, especially at bargain price. Maybe a versatile player to plug in when/where needed. Maybe one who has some history with CG and Evans. Lets not write this season off yet. A tweet here and there could make alot of difference.
May 27th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
I would take an entire roster of Chris godwins. He’s a company man thru and thru!
May 28th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Hey, Robert, the Jaguars & Dolphins bandwagon is leaving from the Buch Gardens bus stop, if you hurry you might can catch it…
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
May 28th, 2023 at 9:13 am
Bottom line is that he played there too much last year with the former offenses running game woes.
We need to keep him healthy and not throw him into getting cut in half over the middle of the field.
Putting him outside more should help keep him healthy.
May 28th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Chris Godwin is a football player. He’ll be great wherever you put him on the field.