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Where Bucs’ Chris Godwin is most dangerous

Added exposure has allowed Tampa Bay’s third-year receiver to become one of the game’s best. His ability to extend plays makes him one of the game’s most dangerous.
 
Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones (45) missed the tackle on Chris Godwin (12) as his 71-yard touchdown reception helped propel the Bucs to a 35-22 win in Atlanta Sunday.
Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones (45) missed the tackle on Chris Godwin (12) as his 71-yard touchdown reception helped propel the Bucs to a 35-22 win in Atlanta Sunday. [ JOHN BAZEMORE | AP ]
Published Nov. 27, 2019|Updated Nov. 28, 2019

TAMPA — Chris Godwin isn’t the Bucs’ biggest receiving target. He’s not the fastest either, but one factor has allowed Godwin to emerge as an elite receiver in his third NFL season: His ability to extend plays after making a catch.

The way the 6-foot, 209-pound Godwin has been able to take a hit and keep going stands out to Bucs head coach Bruce Arians.

“It’s really amazing, his run after the catch,” Arians said. "I never saw it in the spring because we’re not tackling, but he has an uncanny knack of breaking the first one and he’s so strong. It’s not like he’s real shifty. He’s just extremely strong and tough.”

Godwin had a career-high 184 receiving yards in the Bucs’ 35-22 win Sunday in Atlanta, which produced his second NFL Offensive Player of the Week honors. More than 40 percent of those yards came after the catch.

He’s been doing it all year. On the season, Godwin’s 6.3-yard after the catch per reception average is the best of his career and sixth best among receivers with at least 40 receptions. This year, 38.4 percent of his receiving yards — 441 of 1,071 — have been after the catch.

"I put in a lot of work in the offseason trying to get stronger, but it's a mentality thing too," Godwin said. "Anytime I get the ball I'm just trying to make something happen. I'm trying to score on every play, and I'm trying to get as many yards as I can each time I have it."

On Sunday, four of Godwin's seven receptions were for 25 or more yards, including a 71-yard touchdown reception that included 44 yards after the catch.

“He’s a grinder,” quarterback Jameis Winston said. “He’s tough to bring down, and he’s explosive when the ball gets in his hands. You love having guys like that.”

On that play, Winston dotted a pass to Godwin deep over the middle just out of the reach of linebacker Deion Jones. As Godwin caught the pass, safety Damontae Kazee closed in from the far side and tried to tackle him low but couldn’t. Godwin scored the Bucs’ first touchdown of the day.

Yards after the catch have accounted for 36.8 percent of Godwin’s career receiving yards.

“I ain’t going to hesitate to throw at Chris Godwin when he’s on a linebacker,” Winston said, referring to Godwin’s first touchdown on Sunday. “He’s playing inside, he’s playing outside. He rarely comes off the field. The more opportunities you have to give him the ball, the more opportunity he has to shine."

NFL Next Gen Stats created a statistic that quantifies the yards after a catch a player is expected to average by weighing factors such as how open the receiver is, how fast he is running and how many defenders or blockers are nearby. Combining that statistic with the actual yards per catch average and produces a plus-minus equivalent that better indicates how a receiver creating yards after the catch.

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Few better than Godwin. Last week, Godwin accumulated 5.3 yards more than expected, second among players with more than five catches.

On the season, he averages 1.8 yards more than expected, tops among NFL receivers with more than 36 catches.

“You have to be aware of your surroundings,” Godwin said. “You have to be locked in enough, almost tunnel-visioned, that when the ball is in there you’re going to grab it. If you get hit, you get hit. I think if you understand that you’re able to be successful. ... Anytime you’re around a whole bunch of defenders, you have to be aware of where everybody is and the timing of everything.”

Racking up the YAC

Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin has turned into a dangerous weapon once he catches the football. A look at how he’s expanding his yards after the catch in his third NFL season:

Year Receptions Yards Yards after catch/receptions YAC pct
2017 34 525 5.5 35.6
2018 59 842 4.6 32.2
2019 70 1071 6.3 38.4

Source: NFL Next Gen Stats

Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard