TAMPA, Fla. – Part of what’s made Mike Evans and Chris Godwin so successful as a tandem is that they’re both unselfish. Yes it’s a new offense under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. But Evans likes what he’s seeing..
“I like him (Coen),” Evans said. I talked to him before I resigned. That’s another reason I wanted to sign back. He had all these plans to continue giving me the ball.I love to hear that.”
Godwin will be back in his comfort zone lining up in the slot. Last season, offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who’s now the head coach in Carolina, took Godwin out of the slot and moved him around. Godwin still thinks he’ll be on the outside at times, but for now, he’s back where he belongs.
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“Honestly, it’s been a lot of fun,” Godwin said. “I’ve had a lot of success there in the previous four years before last year. It gives me a lot of versatility.”
The 30-year-old, who is sure to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer, is the only player in NFL history to log 10 straight seasons with 1,000 yards receiving. Yes, he had Tom Brady, but he did it with multiple quarterbacks. Godwin, on the other hand, has had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons but is hoping to be used more in the red zone.
Who will emerge as the number three wide receiver after Evans and Godwin? Will rookie Jalen McMillan overtake second-year speedster Trey Palmer? Head coach Todd Bowles says it’s way too early to tell, but others are showing up in camp. But make no mistake: This offense goes as Evans and Godwin go.
“Last year, him (Godwin) and Mike were the two go-to guys. Mike made a lot of plays and they took Chris away some. This year, hopefully we’re trying to get both in the end zone.”
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Godwin likes McMillan.
“He (McMillan)has a really good feel for the game,” Godwin said. “You can tell that already with the way he moves. He’s coming in and playing with confidence.” There was a chance that Evans entering his 11th season in Tampa Bay would go elsewhere, even admitting he was looking at the Texans and Chiefs but said his wife really likes Tampa and he thought with Baker Mayfield signing a new deal that the Bucs were the best fit.
“It’s a blessing, always to start a training camp healthy and go out here and do what i love to do and live out my dream,” Godwin said. It isn’t easy, but I’d rather be nowhere else than here.”
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