Slot Corner Role for Chris Godwin
In the Bucs' revitalized offensive attack under the direction of Liam Coen, wide receiver Chris Godwin will revert back to a full-time role in the slot. Last season, the Buccaneers tried a new approach with Godwin, using him interchangeably. In 2023, Godwin was utilized in the slot 32% of the time – splitting his services on the outside - and he lined up tight 7% of the time. His overall receptions total dipped from 104 in 15 games in 2022 to 83 in 17 games in 2023. However, he still eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark (1,024), and his average per catch jumped up by 2.5 yards. Coen, the Bucs' new offensive coordinator who served as the Rams' assistant wide receivers coach in 2019, will use Godwin in the 'F' role that Cooper Kupp played.
"I think the flexibility of being inside allows me to be able to be more creative and allows me to be more involved in the run game without it being so obvious," described Godwin. "It allows other guys to move around, as well. That seems to be part of the emphasis of the offense, too, is allowing guys to be versatile and playing in whatever spots we need to be."
Godwin has established himself as one of the most dynamic slot receivers in the game and he will provide a friendly target for Baker Mayfield in 2024. The Penn State product is adept at generating RAC yards and creates in the run game with physicality as a blocker. Godwin uses his body to box out defenders and takes advantage of the space of operation from two-way go's. He moves the chains and is as tough as it gets on crossers and in-breaking routes, taking hits. With an expected uptick in motion for Tampa Bay's offense come fall, Godwin will likely see more movement pre-snap in 2024. Godwin will play an integral part of the Bucs' reconfigured offense and he will be a fun player to watch in the Florida heat.
Retooled Run Game
Not only will there be a different scheme under Liam Coen during camp, but a new face in the backfield. Veteran Rachaad White will headline the running back corps in Tampa Bay, but rookie Bucky Irving will add juice to the mix.
White finished the 2023 season with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and fell 10 yards shy of surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing milestone. White tallied 272 totes for 990 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns and 3.6 yards per attempt. In addition, he showcased his pass-catching skills with 549 receiving yards on 70 catches for an average of 8.6 yards per reception. He became a threat on screens and sweeps, making defenders miss in space. Irving served as a two-year starter for the Oregon Ducks. In their zone-based rushing attack, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of his two seasons in Eugene after transferring from Minnesota. Irving averaged over six yards a carry and possesses outstanding contact balance and downhill prowess. He has the ability to elude with lateral cuts and will complement White in 2024.
Training camp will provide the first glimpse at the running back duo in action, but also the diverse run game. In order to keep defenses off balance in 2024, Coen will implement a variety of concepts including inside and outside zone, mid and duo. In mid, the running back takes a course either to the B- or C-gap then has the ability to run inside, outside or to cutback. The principle provides backs with a preferred route and plays into the athleticism of the offensive linemen, who move laterally to stretch the defense. During his introductory press conference, Coen detailed his plan for the team's run approach in 2024.
"Some diversity in terms of giving these guys different ways of hitting blocks," said Coen. "Whether it's the mid zone, the wide zone, the tight zone, duo, gap with pullers, perimeter runs. Defenses are too good to say that we're just going to line up and run a few runs. We have to give these guys a toolbox and also that goes along with giving them multiple plays in the huddle and that might be two, it might be three options to be able to get to in terms of what the defense is presenting. Well, let's change the math and run away from numbers or gain the numbers back in our favor. If we get man coverage, well let's get to a man-beater, those are things that it ultimately puts a lot more on the guys, but I think they are ready for it."
Edge Rush Rotation
A competition will heat up at training camp for the starting outside linebacker role opposite Yaya Diaby to replace Shaquil Barrett. Midway through his stellar rookie season, Diaby earned a spot in the lineup with the first team and never relinquished the honor. He led the Buccaneers with sacks (7.5) and all rookies in tackles for loss with 12. Diaby finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and is focused on enhancing his pass rush toolkit for 2024.
The Bucs solidified the unit through the draft and free agency. In the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 57th overall pick, the Bucs snagged Chris Braswell. Braswell, a two-time member of Bruce Feldman's "Freak's List," played in Alabama's packages primarily on passing downs in 2022 behind Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. He assumed a starting role in Nick Saban's hybrid 3-4 scheme in 2023 and led the SEC in pressures with 56. He lined up from both a two and three-point stance. With quick burst off the line and an advanced pass rush repertoire, he help set the tone for the Tide. He accumulated 10.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and three forced fumbles last season.
"He is a young man that when we looked at him on tape, he displayed the skillset of everything we were going to ask him to do," said Outside Linebackers Coach, George Edwards. "We had a clear vision for what we were getting with him coming in…Anytime you can add somebody who can rush, can drop, can set the edge in the run and get on-and off-blocks and set plays – anytime you get a playmaker like that, that is going to be a good addition."
He will join Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson and offseason acquisition Randy Gregory in the outside linebacker room.
Gregory, who was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (60th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, will help add depth in Tampa Bay. In October of the 2023 season, Gregory was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and appeared in 12 games, posting 2.5 sacks, 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.
Nelson, often referred to as "Steady Eddie" by coaches, occupied a rotational role in 2023 on defense and contributed on special teams. Nelson played 409 defensive snaps last season and accumulated 3.0 sacks, 40 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. The former Hawkeye leverages his length and plays with a high motor. Tryon-Shoyinka played 579 defensive snaps (12 game starts, 17 games played) and tallied 5.0 sacks, 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits. Each of the aforementioned names adds a different niche to the mix and will help weaponize Todd Bowles' attack-centric defense.
Impact of Rookie Graham Barton
The Buccaneers bolstered the trenches on the first night of the 2024 draft with Duke's Graham Barton. The first-team All-ACC and All-America honoree was a four-year starter at Duke, occupying the left tackle role for three seasons. He served as the Blue Devils' center during his freshman campaign (five starts), earning All-America honors in 2020. In 2023 for the Blue Devils, Barton helped spearhead an offense that accumulated 2,174 rushing and 2,351 passing yards as well as 26 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for the fifth-most in program history. He anchored an offensive line that ranked third in the ACC and tied for 24th nationally in sacks allowed per game (1.31). Barton plays with a nasty temperament on the field – a prerequisite for Bucs' offensive linemen. He plays with an outstanding anchor, stout technique and fluidity at the second level. Barton explodes into blocks and took first-team reps during mandatory minicamp. The first-year player is focused on harnessing his athletic ability and he will be one to watch during one-on-one pass rush drills.
"I think [my athleticism] is the reason I'm talking to you guys right now," stated Barton. "It helps me get off the ball, it helps me get to my landmarks. It's just kind of what I've built my game around and I'll continue to build my game around my athletic ability. I've added some strength, added some power, continuing to be more consistent, hitting my targets, improving my hand placement, improving my feet – I think those are all things I'll always have to work on, especially transitioning from college to the NFL, those will be big points of emphasis for me. [I look forward to] building on the strength that is my athletic ability."
Pairing of Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead
The Buccaneers could very well field the most formidable safety tandem in the NFL in 2024 with the return of Jordan Whitehead to the secondary.
Whitehead, who was originally selected by the Bucs in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, signed a two-year deal with Tampa Bay after spending the previous two campaigns with the New York Jets. In his first four seasons with the Bucs, Whitehead accumulated 292 tackles, five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, 2.0 sacks and 22 tackles for loss in 59 games. Whitehead spurred the team's victory at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship game en route to Super Bowl LV. He forced an Aaron Jones fumble in Green Bay territory to start the second half, which led to an ensuing touchdown for the Bucs and 28-10 advantage.
While with the Jets, Whitehead played in and started all 34 of the team's games. He amassed 186 tackles during that span along with six interceptions and 17 passes defensed, including career-highs in interceptions (four) and tackles (97) in 2023. Whitehead had built a reputation as a hard-hitting, box safety but showcased his versatility with the Jets. In New York, Whitehead proved his ability in man-to-man coverage and in manning the post. In their scheme, he often set back In Cover Four and diagnosed offenses – a trait he now brings to the Bucs.
Antoine Winfield Jr. was named a first-team All-Pro following a prolific season and became the highest paid defensive back in the NFL. He became the first player in the NFL since all data became available in 1999 to record 100-plus tackles and to have at least three of each of the following: interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. Among defensive backs in 2023, Winfield finished first in sacks (6.0), first in forced fumbles (six), first in fumble recoveries (four), tied for third in takeaways (seven) and third in quarterback hits (eight). Winfield set the tone on defense and defended every blade of grass. With effective angles to the ball against the run/pass and instinctual play, Winfield imposed his will. The tandem will certainly draw attention in the scorching Florida heat at the AdventHealth Training Center.
