Chris Godwin Will Return To Slot
May 7th, 2024
Bucs WRs coach Bryan McClendon.
New Bucs wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon set the record straight yesterday.
After confessing how lucky of a man he is to be coaching two of the best receivers in the game, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, McClendon admitted Godwin will be go back to slot where he had so much success four of the last five seasons.
(Heh-heh, heh-heh! He said “slot.”)
(Yes, Joe knows one of those seasons was abruptly cut short. Godwin was still kicking tail before he blew out his knee. And Joe knows Godwin played plenty of slot last season, especially late in the year.)
However, McClendon also made it clear this does not mean we have seen the last of Godwin lining up outside.
“Right now Chris is going to be moved back to the slot the majority of the time,” McClendon said. “Now that does not mean you don’t utilize him in other ways. …
“If we went out there today, he would probably be the starting slot.”
McClendon said he plans to move Godwin around, as the Bucs this fall plan to use a lot of presnap motion. So while Godwin might line up at slot, he may end up elsewhere.
“I feel pretty good about where he is and what he needs to learn,” McClendon said.
McClendon said so far — and it’s so absurdly early — what the Bucs want Godwin to do is “looking pretty good so far.”
Yesterday. Bucs offensive coaches were made available by the Bucs to speak to the Fourth Estate. All were on the same page as offensive coordinator Liam Coen: the Bucs’ run game must improve and it is their jobs to find ways to unleash it. This seems to be a singular focus of the staff.
McClendon was no different. In fact, he admitted one reason Godwin is going back to slot is that the run game is better when he’s there. Godwin is one of the better blocking receivers in the game.
“Chris is kind of that throwback guy,” McClendon said. “He’s a guy that doesn’t mind getting physical. When you have that guy in the run game, he can give you that extra gap in the run game.”
McClendon noted that Godwin isn’t just a blocking receiver.
“When you have that [physical receiver] in the pass game he has to be good in making contested catches,” McClendon said. “And he can catch with people around him. Chris is one of those rare guys that can blend those two.”
As for both Evans and Godwin, McClendon raved about how both are driven to succeed and and to improve, and how they want to be coached up while at the same time stay open-minded and willing to be used in any way.
“That’s what you dream of as a coach,” McClendon said of Evans and Godwin. “That’s what makes it easy.”
May 7th, 2024 at 7:07 am
How will McMillan be used in the mix?
May 7th, 2024 at 7:23 am
McMillan was said to be getting looks primarily outside and will be trained at all 3 positions. X, F and slot. His “easiest” path to the field is F competing with Trey Palmer. But it would be nice to see if he can spell Mike at the X position and grow into the Bucs leading WR in a few years.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:26 am
Looking at that photo of new Bucs wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, can’t help but wonder if that ‘throwback’ jersey was intended to send a message to opponents, the media & fans.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:27 am
Liam Coen: “I watched Kyle Trask throw an unbelievable seed against the Colts in the back of the right of the end zone to Godwin [who failed to get both feet in].”
Joe, ask Coen to make sure Godwin understands that in the NFL you need both feet in.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:28 am
What makes both Evans and Godwin one of the best duo in the NFL is they consistently win contested catches.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:30 am
Don’t think I’m going out on a limb suggesting WR looks to be a high need in next year’s draft. Goodwin is entering the final year of his deal. Mike is getting up there in years and McMillan’s ceiling looks to be somewhat limited. Even if McMillan does show out he’s still only one man and likely just a number two at best.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:33 am
Good move putting Godwin back in the slot. He reminds me of Hines Ward.
May 7th, 2024 at 7:36 am
The real question is will Coen actually be designing the game plan or will bowless still have his hands on it?
May 7th, 2024 at 7:57 am
“Liam Coen: “I watched Kyle Trask throw an unbelievable seed against the Colts in the back of the right of the end zone to Godwin [who failed to get both feet in].”
Liam Cohen – “I watched Kyle Trask in practice and all I can say is thank God I have Baker. Kyle does hold a clipboard very well, but his gatorade preparation and service skills need work.”
May 7th, 2024 at 8:32 am
^^^ Oh, poor StormyOfFSU is butthurt that Liam Coen praised Kyle Trask. LMAO.
May 7th, 2024 at 8:47 am
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY …
Coen watched tape and is putting people in the best position to succeed. He’s building an offense around our players.
-vs-
Canales came in with one concept that he asked his players to adapt too.
Legit OC vs Rookie OC … and Joe is worried the offense is going to go backwards (from 32nd ranked rush).
May 7th, 2024 at 8:52 am
Evans is a beast outside. Godwin is a beast in the slot. It just makes sense.
May 7th, 2024 at 8:58 am
Joe is comfortable is saying that he believes Godwin will be just fine. 🙂
May 7th, 2024 at 8:59 am
You should re-read the post. Think that’s fairly clear in the story. 🙂 You don’t have to dig too deep.
May 7th, 2024 at 9:05 am
Who is this JUANnabe?
May 7th, 2024 at 9:35 am
“(Yes, Joe knows one of those seasons was abruptly cut short. Godwin was still kicking tail before he blew out his knee. And Joe knows Godwin played plenty of slot last season, especially late in the year.)” POS Safety PJ Williams dirty hit!!!! Anyhow, so glad Godwin rebounded from that and is still tearing it up! I like the slot for him and other various routes that we come up with excited for this season… GO BUCS!!!
May 7th, 2024 at 10:00 am
I don’t think McMillans upside is that low. He actually was a high-ranking recruit nationally.
A multisport athlete as well.
Really, I think a good NFL comp for him might be Jarvis Landry who at one point of his NFL career had back-to-back years in the NFL top 100 list.
Now what guys do in college or even high school does not matter right now. But not sure why someone would peg him as a limited upside.
May 7th, 2024 at 10:39 am
Durango: “McMillan’s ceiling looks to be somewhat limited.”
Oh is that right? Why? What are you relying on, watching a YouTube video and reading some ham and egger draft analysis?
Jesus God.
May 7th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Joe Says: “Joe is comfortable is saying that he believes Godwin will be just fine.”
Yeah, well, he cost us a TD in the Colts game not getting both feet in with 2 yards separating him and the sideline. They teach that in Pop Warner.
May 7th, 2024 at 11:54 am
That was one play, Juan.
May 7th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
I watched the Rams/Lions playoff game last night. The Rams used their WR’s in motion to block in the run game (as well as the TEs), so I’m thinking Coen will need our WR’s to block – Godwin does it well. ME and Palmer didn’t jump out as blockers last year. Otton will need to step up his wham blocking.
May 7th, 2024 at 1:12 pm
Great idea JUAN. I’m so sure Godwin had no idea he needs both feet in bounds until you just pointed it out.
You should probably inquire with the team about a coaching position with all that knowledge.
May 7th, 2024 at 1:56 pm
“CAPTAIN KIRK?”
The thing about who got the starting qb job DID NOT come down to who had the better skill set.
In the end, they had approximately the same skill set (at that time) and according to reports (At that time) Trask was actually a bit better than Mayfield. Trask was slightly winning the (alleged) competition.
But this is what the majority (blindly) doesn’t seem to “completely” wrap their heads around. And it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you were on, it’s clear that both sides of a blogs private war just didn’t put together, WAS that Mayfield had a HUGE leg up on Trask….. And that was the “LEADERSHIP” aspect of the entire scenario.
You may have noticed that for All of last season and especially during Post season, there have been MANY stories concerning how Baker had “established and nurtured” relationships with the “team-mates”…. And THERE is the KEY to the entire back and forth as to why half of the fans liked, wanted, or preferred the one or the other and Who and WHY Baker Mayfield IS, WAS, AND WILL BE our CAPTAIN KIRK
Where Baker WON (hands down) was in the “relationship building” aspect of being THE leader. And also Baker had a MASSIVE head start to Trask with a couple of years of being in the league and building relationships and (somehow) the “reputation” that coaches covet. That “IT” factor …. Baker had long since established “IT” before Kyle Trask came along.
And as “Joe” had mentioned many times at the start of the (alleged) competition, Kyle Trask would have had to have had a “More Than Stellar” skill set pop up out of nowhere to take the starting job away from the guy (Baker) to even sort of have a chance of changing ALL OF THOSE MINDS to choose him (Kyle) instead of the guy that the head coach AND his mentor “Bruce Arians” and honestly many more, was ALREADY pulling for. It was TRULY Baker Mayfield’s job to lose… In other words it wasn’t was Kyle Trask “that good”, No the question was, IS Baker Mayfield really THAT BAD? THAT was the question that 99% us just didn’t seem to understand at the time.
As farbas skill set… Nah. Trask is actually a better technician. But NOT a better Leader.
And THERE “IT” IS! The answer to the Enigma. No More Need to look foolish on either side of the debate. Is Trask a better technician? Absolutely yes. Was Trask the “Even More Important” question, a better Leader? Absolutely NOT! The actual skill sets are about the same….
Mayfield by LEAPS AND BOUNDS IS AND WAS the better choice to “LEAD” the team.
There is a Very Special “Ability” that is unique to the “human factor”. And ALL humans are aware of “IT”. “IT” is Rare and Special in the Universe. And we call it the “IT FACTOR”.
I like to call The “CAPTAIN KIRK FACTOR”
It is NOT classy or intelligent to suggest that Kyle Trask can’t LIGHT THEM UP! Because the TRUTH IS, he Can. And if necessary, KYLE IS the BEST CHOICE to spell Baker if Baker goes down. Kyle DOES HAVE the skill set and ability to keep us going just fine in Bakers absence.
However, Kyle DOES NOT HAVE the IT FACTOR that Baker Mayfield has and may never. Most humans don’t have it anywhere close to the level that Baker has. BUT most teams DO NOT HAVE A QB WITH “THE” IT FACTOR. It just so happens that the Front Office of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers “it self” has an IT FACTOR leading in that area of the business and they JUMPED ON a very unique situation that included a unique individual in Baker Mayfield. Our front office KNOWS WHAT IT’S DOING “AND” HAS A HIDDEN LUCKY HORSESHOE STUFFED IN IT’S BEHIND TO BOOT!
Have a Nice Day and support ALL Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We are Extremely Lucky to have as strong of a back up as Kyle Trask. He HAS the skills come time. Support him and STOP playing the FOOL no matter what side of the imaginary fence you thought you were on. IT’S ONE YARD! ONE PURPOSE! AND ONE VERY STRONG “TEAM”
GO BUCS!
May 7th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Would like to see what Culp can do in the slot every once in a while in 11 personnel with Otton/ Durham lined up next to OT.
ME OT G C G OT TE Culp CG
See some of you were thinking along those same lines
May 7th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Someone here the other day said Wolford was #2 & Trask #3 on the depth chart.
Almost everyone else here knew better and it was confirmed in Thad Lewis’ presser yesterday.
Wonder how they like their Crow prepared?
May 7th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
I’m interested to see how Palmer comes along on the outside. I think he is going to breakout.
May 7th, 2024 at 4:12 pm
David Says:
May 7th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
I’m interested to see how Palmer comes along on the outside. I think he is going to breakout.
———-
I don’t know, maybe. He was a 6th rounder, so the odds of him doing anything, even making the team, were pretty long. Last year he had a few drops, and issues with Baker missing him on a lot of throws where he was wide open. He could step up, but I doubt he’s ahead of McMillan – which is no big deal since you need at least 3 starting WRs. Keep in mind Humphries, when he was at his best, was 4th on the depth chart, that gets you matchups vs backups, and Hump could take advantage of that – but vs starters, he just couldn’t get open. For Palmer, he’s got the straight line speed to get open, but his hands and consistency were the reason he dropped – so we’ll see how he looks going into his second season. I’d love to see him breakout, but I don’t like the odds – not betting against him however.
May 7th, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Last season Tray Palmer was the fastest in the league at short yardage separation. I believe Joe wrote an article about it. Maybe Palmer will be Godwin’s back up and get the short yardage slot completions and take to the house.