All Eyes on the Receivers as Bucs Open Camp

Evans is famously the first player in NFL history to begin his career with eight straight 1,000-yard seasons, and continuing that streak is obviously a goal. But Evans is also still trying to make his game better this deep into his career. During the Bucs minicamp, he spoke about how he has continued to refine the ways in which he maintains his body and what he has found to be the ideal playing weight. He believes that has him position to be even better in his ninth season. Give me a front-row seat for that.

The Key Cog in the Offense Fighting Back from Injury

My favorite “on-pace-for” note from last season was Chris Godwin’s catch total in December. Through the first 13 games of the season, Godwin had 92 receptions, which was already the third-highest single-season total in franchise history. He had four games to go and he was on a roll after big games in wins over Atlanta and Buffalo; heading into the 14th game, against New Orleans, he was on pace to finish with 120 receptions, which would demolished Keyshawn Johnson’s team record of 106 in 2001.

And it’s not like he was slowing down in Week 14. He had five catches through the first 16 minutes of the game. He then caught a sixth pass just two minutes into the second quarter, out in the left flat. Just as he turned upfield, cornerback P.J. Williams came flying in at knee height and that was it for Godwin’s season and record chase. Torn ACL. Done for the year.

Godwin’s high volume of catches does not tell the full story of how critical he was to the Buccaneers’ offense. One of the best blocking receivers in football, he routinely was involved in the blocking right around the point of attack, often after going in motion and stopping at the end of the line. He was the Bucs’ best option in the slot and their best run-after-catch guy. When constant two-deep safety looks limited Tom Brady’s downfield opportunities, he responded with a quick-rhythm attack and that made Godwin’s role underneath even more important.

Godwin’s…