After battling via a number of accidents in 2023, Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin is SO BACK. He leads the NFL in receptions, yards after the catch, and is tied for first in touchdowns whereas the Buccaneers put collectively one of many higher offenses within the league via six weeks. With Godwin wholesome, he’s displaying why he’s considered one of my favourite receivers within the league in addition to the most effective quantity two receivers a McVay-style offense has seen shortly.
With WR Mike Evans being on the crew, Godwin operates beneath, giving the Buccaneers’ offense layers. Now, with these layers, Godwin is confronted with the daunting job of making after the catch. Among the many high ten receivers in targets per SIS, Godwin has the second lowest Common Depth of Goal behind New York’s Wan’Dale Robinson. But, a wholesome Godwin makes a lot of a distinction as a result of he takes these brief targets and converts them into first downs or explosive performs. Regardless of having the second lowest aDOT, Godwin has the very best First Down Fee among the many high ten goal leaders within the NFL and is properly forward of the pack in Constructive Play Fee.
Godwin is listed at 6’1 and 209 kilos, however he performs a lot greater and stronger than that. That is what permits him to be so good after the catch and nonetheless maintain the Bucs offense on observe. In opposition to the Saints, QB Baker Mayfield was flat out off. He was lacking targets in the course of the sphere and threw three interceptions within the second quarter. Moderately than letting Mayfield unravel himself by persevering with to throw downfield, Tampa Bay went to creating the short throws and run sport, letting guys like Godwin maintain this offense on observe. Final yr’s Chris Godwin was preventing via accidents, however this yr’s Godwin is doing this on beneath routes. He goes in jet movement, and nothing is open downfield. Mayfield checks it all the way down to Godwin and he merely introduces CB Paulson Adebo to the bottom, turning this brief go into a giant acquire.
He does the identical factor on his massive landing, the place he pinballs off of principally the whole Saints’ protection en path to the top zone. With Godwin with the ability to do that and Evans nonetheless being the most effective vertical threats within the league, this offense has so some ways to beat you. It’s the very same play, however watching Godwin bounce off of the protection is such a cool approach to begin your day.
Within the purple zone, Godwin takes a backseat to Mike Evans, the fade route king, however his power exhibits up on this space, creating separation and preventing via contact on in-breaking routes. His different TD on the day got here on a slant within the purple zone, one other play the place he goes in movement. Godwin units up the nook to the skin, then breaks again in earlier than Mayfield fires in a dart for six.
Above all else, what makes Godwin considered one of my favourite receivers to observe is the truth that he BLOCKS HIS ASS OFF. Receivers which are good and prepared to dam have a particular place in my soccer lore, and Godwin is among the finest blocking receivers within the league. On Tampa’s duo runs, they’ll carry Godwin tight to the road of scrimmage, the place he digs out safeties and nickel corners who get too nosy within the run sport. Bucky Irving nearly scores on this run, as a result of RT Luke Goedeke and Godwin create this huge open hole. That is the way you get on the sphere as a receiver, and keep there. No block, no rock child!
Tampa has one other massive matchup developing, going towards the machine that’s the Baltimore Ravens, however with a wholesome and fired-up Godwin Tampa Bay can actually make this sport attention-grabbing.
