Chris Godwin Involvement
Bucs' slot weapon Chris Godwin is off to a career-best introduction to the 2024 slate. He led the team with seven receptions for 117 receiving yards and one touchdown in Detroit. All 117 of his receiving yards came in the first half, which counted as the sixth time in his career in which he went over 100 receiving yards in a single half (the rest of the team's offense accounted for 16 yards). Godwin's 117 receiving yards in the first half were his third-most in any single half of his career, and his most since 11/24/19 when he had 151 yards in the first half at Atlanta.
Godwin's touchdown play was a thing of beauty against the Lions. Running back Bucky Irving went in motion and drew Amik Robertson in the flat, selling the screen. Mike Evans grabbed the attention of Terrion Arnold over the middle of the field and Godwin delayed his release on a fake block. Once Robertson took the bait and moved towards Irving, Godwin was left wide open. Mayfield delivered a perfect dart to Godwin down the left sideline, and he capitalized with a 41-yard score. Godwin is on pace for a breakout year in his reimagined slot role and has become the catalyst on third down for Tampa Bay.
"He has been practicing that way and preparing that way," said Coen. "You should see him in meetings. Whenever an offensive coach gets up to speak in front of our unit, Chris Godwin is taking notes. We do a run game meeting on Friday and [Kevin] Carberry is up there talking about how we are going to attack the defense in the run game and Chris Godwin is on the edge of his seat, paying attention and taking notes. Then, he will come and ask questions. That is how involved and engaged Chris Godwin is, so it is no surprise, and it is what we expected of him and his expectations are there."
Broncos Overview: Zach Allen
Among interior defensive linemen in Week Two, Zach Allen's nine pressures graded first, and his 26.9% pass rush win rate was second per Pro Football Focus. Allen inked a lucrative deal during the 2023 offseason in the Broncos' free agency frenzy and he has performed at an elite level in 2024. Allen recorded a sack against the Steelers last week and has morphed into one of NFL's best interior pass rushers. Allen plays with urgency and quick play diagnosis. He challenges the throwing lane and comes with a powerful bull rush and the strength to quickly shed blocks. Containing Allen will be a top priority for the Bucs on Sunday.
"He is a really good player," noted Coen. "I actually recruited him a little bit … I have a ton of respect for him. [He is] active, uses his hands extremely well and we have to do a great job when we cover him up. The other thing that he does extremely well that I think he gets taken for granted is his batted passes. He has one of the highest amounts of tipped and batted passes in the NFL over the past three years and we have got to stay locked on him. We have to drive him, we have to chop him with hands and we have to use a ton of different techniques to use in our toolbox to get his hands down in the pass game, while also [getting] removal of him in the run game."
