Chris Godwin Discusses Role
May 16th, 2017
Talks responsibilities.
Don’t try to pigeonhole Chris Godwin.
The rookie wide receiver from Penn State, a third round draft pick, did a hit on “Movin’ the Chains” last week, co-hosted by Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller and heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Godwin discussed his new job: professional receiver for the Bucs.
At rookie minicamp, Joe remembers winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter being asked if the speedy Godwin could play slot. Koetter emphatically said, in so many words, you damn right he can. (This was a position Joe previously thought was locked up by Adam “Rudy!” Humphries.)
But it seems Koetter, like he does with offensive linemen, likes to cross train receivers. That’s what Godwin dished.
“It kind of started at one position,” Godwin said of rookie minicamp. “But [Bucs coaches] let me know that I need to be ready to play all three [receiver positions]. I think that is the approach they take with a lot of guys. You make sure everybody knows the full concept of the offense, each passing concept so that they can plug-and-play guys wherever they are needed.
“And that is something I really take pride in is being able to be available whenever my team needs me whether as X[-receiver], Z, F, special teams, whatever. I am ready to go.”
Koetter has said many times he wants the best five linemen on the field, meaning no one is locked into a specific position (with the possible exception of Donovan Smith).
Apparently, Koetter uses the same philosophy with receivers. So it seems Humphries, as well as he played in December, isn’t locked in as the No. 1 slot receiver.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
very refreshing that players are required to learn multiple positions, helps with injury problems. If coach “my scheme” could of done that he wouldn’t be in a basement in Campaign Il.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Both our tackles only play Tackle. Donovan Smith has a better chance to succeed at guard than Dotson though. Not a lot of 6’9 315 guards
May 16th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
They won’t be able to keep Godwin off the field.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
What Bucamania said
May 16th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Really means he will play reserve role and Hump will stay at Slot because Hump doesn’t play outside of slot.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
No one has said anything remotely of the sort.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Godwin will become more involved in the offense as the season progresses. He is too good of a player to not be playing.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Because Donovan Smith is such a great left tackle, right Joe?
May 16th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Whole lot better than the geeks *think* he is.
Have yet to speak with anyone employed in the NFL to tell Joe that Donovan Smith is garbage the way fans and statgeeks think. And Joe has spent hours trying to find someone; spoken with many NFL sources not connected to the Bucs.
Pardon Joe if he listens to NFL suits and coaches and former players over some dude in a dorm room in Ireland breaking down broadcast tape.
May 16th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
I was so confused when joe previously stated the bucs loved hump and they were not looking to replace him and he would be the slot. I said it then and i will say it now, that line of thinking would have been devastating. In the nfl, every player can be replaced if a better option presents itself and hump’s talent could easily be replaced loved or not. The bucs are in the business to win super bowls and not bringing in competition for the limited humphries would have been amatuer hour. Kudos to the bucs for not thinking like the joes suspected.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Sticking to the talking points. I love it!
*Donovan Smith is a great left tackle underrated by everyone that also watches the games and in some cases those who make a living off of accurate and respected player evaluations. Terrific if you don’t look at him on run plays getting knocked back like a tackling sled and if you don’t look at him on pass plays as defenders run pass him and through him in pursuit of our elusive magician of a QB.
*Doug Martin is a horrible RB. Should be ranked below all other undrafted and low round picks on our roster because he had a serious hamstring injury and made a poor choice with whatever occurred involving his suspension. Yeah, Martin is total dog squeeze compared to Sims, Barber and Whoever on the depth chart.
Will stay tuned for more incisive takes and crack reporting!
May 16th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Hump is going to have a hard time getting on the field now that Winston has NFL talent to throw to. Godwin, Sperbeck and Wilson all have more upside than hump and easily could render him expendable. humps a great story but has never once nor never will put fear in defenders nor defensive coordinators.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:29 pm
Looks like a young Tim Brown on that pic.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
If the Bucs were thinking “like the joes” Humphries would have been on thin ice long ago.
There is nothing “suspect” about what the Bucs have constantly told Joe about Humphries over the past two yeats, sometimes in a rather angry tone.
Perhaps they believe Godwin is an upgrade?
May 16th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
“Rudy” will play a lot and be targeted…when/if he’s open, period.
“Rudy” will also be a contributor as a ST/PR.
“Rudy” will also be a valuable contributor blocking downfield on running plays.
So, all this talk about “RUDY” being replaced by Godwin is CRAY-CRAY.
All the players are subject coaches choice on D/D and demonstrated skill at the point of attack, period.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
Joe,
We don’t know if Godwin is an upgrade yet, but they had to try and upgrade that position right?
PS…..Anyone who thinks hump’s role is solidified is cray cray period.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
What talking points?
So Joe should make up lies to make you feel good?
If you know someone employed in the NFL who thinks Smith is a sack of garbage, please offer up his cell/email and Joe will be happy to write a story with full quotes.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Agree!
Again, up until last December, Joe had never been overly impressed with Rudy. Can assure you there is no player the Bucs are more sensitive about when it comes to critical analysis than Rudy. Not even close.
To be fair, he had a nice December last year.
May 16th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Competition at all three positions will be Godwin’s position. I like the thought of him and DJax on the outside and ME13 in the slot which he killed last year. Can you imagine that with a two tight end set of Brate and Howard … empty back field ala Brady. They won a Superbowl with very little running game.
Plus I see GodWIN getting to spell DJax to keep him fresh. Plus this Walker guy looks pretty good out wide. Hope Sperbeck and Bobo make it as 5,6 receiver and new ST aces… Go Bucs…
May 16th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Imo Godwin was drafted not only to contribute this season but more than likely replace Djax as #2 in the future. I believe Dirk will have several packages for all the new toys at his disposal. Idk why so many people on here critize the “joes” and look to catch them making a wrong opinion. I LOVE WHAT JOEBUCSFAN BRINGS TO US DAILY !!! Keep up the great work and thank you for your work. STICK CARRIER !!!! In Licht we trust !
May 16th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
Does anybody believe ME13 and DJAX will play every snap this season?
Godwin has enough speed to back up DJAX and enough talent to fill in at the other WR spots as well. Godwin is a very important piece in our overall WR rotation when you consider time missed due to injuries.
May 16th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
He’ll learn the slot, but if they’re smart they’ll let him acclimate to the league playing mostly the position he played in college. He only played a handful of snaps in the slot last season, and I don’t think that’s likely to change given the excellent rapport/production between Jameis and Hump. He’s a talented kid capable of proving me wrong, so I’d love to eat my words – I just think his near term role is as our DJax insurance policy.
May 16th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Humph should always have a place on the team for his effort and production, however Koetter always says you can ALWAYS get better at any position. .
May 16th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
If Joe types “yes” he’s setting himself up to get scolded. Let’s just say Joe cannot disagree. Perhaps that’s a safe response? 🙂
May 16th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Thank you StPete! This sentiment that Hump is being replaced is ridiculous. He will see plenty of playing time.
I will reiterate what Bucamania stated, “They won’t be able to keep Godwin off the field.”
Godwin has more upside than Hump and isn’t it in the best interest of the team to field the best 11 players? By mid-season, Godwin will be taking reps from Hump and that’s a good thing.
Like Dan, I picture Godwin as a starter by year 2 or 3.
May 16th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Totally agree!
May 16th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Humphries will see more balls this year than he did last year.
May 16th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
loving the WR corp… lot of options and talent… my eye is on Josh Huff… if Huff can play to his potential and earn Koetter’s trust they can use him the way they used Hump and get a lot more out of the slot… so many plays that hump only got 5 or 15 yards could’ve went the distance with an athlete like Huff… last year he had a little rust & tried to do too much, made some mistakes and ended up on the shelf… looking forward to seeing if he can get back to his old self
May 16th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
^^^As long as he’s not returning kicks!
May 16th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Joe has a thing for Humphries, now we’ll get anything that’s said turned into they’re replacing Humphries at the slot. I know, you love the Rudy knock because it fits your Notre Dame -Big Ten world of the 70s you still live in. And it helps that Godwin is a Penn State guy, and Donovan Smith is a Big Ten guy. There’s the underlying agenda if anyone needs it. I like Godwins speed, but, with the history of flops from Pedophile U, I remain skeptical about Smith and Godwin
May 16th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
yeah that would be ashame if he went 98YD for a TD or avg 26 yards per return over his career LOL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDPKyr0sryU
May 16th, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Hey, it’s a ‘what have you done for me lately’ league my friend. I would absolutely LOVE for him to prove me wrong!
Nice tackle attempt by the kicker!!!!
May 16th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
Put the bottle down.
If Joe saw reason to rip Donovan Smith, and was told by credible people in the NFL Smith stunk worse than an outhouse in July, Joe would write about it. Shoot, Joe spent a full day one year at the Super Bowl asking non-Bucs NFL folks about Smith. None said he stunk. None. That’s former coaches, former players as well as current and former NFL suits.
Remember, the very same fans that want to run Smith out of town are the same ones who danced in the streets when Lovie released Donald Penn. That was a swift move, wasn’t it?
If you want to run with a college football angle, how come Joe always gets texts from an angry former Gators offensive lineman he knows who cannot believe how unfairly fans tear apart Smith — not a Penn State guy, a former Florida lineman! You know, S-E-C… S-E-C! Hell by your (il)logic, Joe should be clamoring for the Bucs to hire Jameis Franklin for crying out loud. smh
Joe doesn’t give a damn where a guy played college ball. That means absolutely zero in the NFL.
As far as Humphries, hell, Joe gets killed from folks at One Buc Palace whenever he is critical of Rudy. There isn’t one player Joe gets called on the carpet for when being critical of more than Rudy. No one. Not one player. Don’t kill the messenger here.
Koetter last week said on the record Godwin could play slot. Should Joe link to the video at Buccaneeers.com to demonstrate this???
May 16th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
New season, new competition. Humphries is a keeper, and may well continue being the PR and special teamer, but let Godwin compete with him!
May 16th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
Who said anything about making up lies to make someone feel better? Sounds like making up arguments to make the talking points sound better!
May 16th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
What a refreshing concept…put the best players/combination of players on the field…. who was it that Gruden couldn’t get on the field at the same time… was it Galloway and Bryant… because they were both Z’s in his offense?
May 16th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
What is up with dallasfuc. Cant figure out if this a$$hole is an old man living in a 400 sguare ft trailer in a 55 and up park or some young duche bag troll. Either way your $hit is getting old. If you don’t like the site go troll somewhere else
May 16th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Dallas likes trolling here Dougy.
May 16th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Godwin was an excellent WR to draft for our needs – and getting him in the 3rd round was a steal. He is in a great position of not having to play a bunch as a rookie and being able to learn from 2 stellar receivers – both of whom have some of the similar skills that Godwin has (speed like DJax, good at coming down with 50/50 balls like Evans).
Adding DJax, OJ Howard, Godwin and McNichols is going to make Winston’s job of finding an open receiver a LOT easier in 2017 than it was last year. The Oline and running game will benefit from these vastly upgraded receiving weapons as well.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Agree on all points pickgrin ( including dallasfuc ) but with godwin if able to learn all positions we will be able to move me13 and djax all around the field to try and exploit defensive break downs
May 16th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Still amazed that we landed two of the three offensive targets I wanted in this draft. I am also excited that we brought in to compete at WR.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Pickgrin and Dougy
Agree with both of your takes. I’m wondering if Koetter is losing sleep at night because he can’t stop thinking about the incredible of offensive lineups he can throw at NFL DC’s. And he has players that don’t give away the play…especially if McNichols can run as well as he did at Boise. He blocks well…runs great WR like routes out of the backfield…..A new TE…one of Koetter’s favorite weapons…with an amazing skill set….Koetter has to be awake all night thinking about getting the ball to all of these guys.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Kid seems like he the right stuff man.
He his a worker he is smart and he has pride.
He also has some athletic ability
May 16th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
Hump is a decent player, I agree he could get outhumped.
May 16th, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Hump hasn’t been a lock since we signed DJax and Walker. Then drafting Godwin, he could be our #5 when it’s all said and done.
May 16th, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Everybody has to earn the right to start. Competition is what makes teams better and makes players work harder. Hump is a good role player and was never above getting competition
May 16th, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Hope Godwin is as advertised. Glad the Bucs took a third round receiver. With D-Jax age and overall lack of depth, it was needed. Hoping the 5th round RB works out with this drafting strategy.