TriplecHamp

The dude reminds me of Reggie Wayne coming out of Miami but that injury and those character concerns not to mention Reggie being more of a complete receiver coming out of college set them apart. I think we might have got the steal of the draft with this pick (No disrespect to any of our second rounders ). I think we should sit him this year (PUP List) and let him rehab fully and develop into what I think could be the second coming of Reggie Wayne.

eom

I don't want to kill anybody's buzz, but can we first hope he's better than chad jackson before he's another reggie wayne?

also, I really don't know much about the guy, and my tolerance for the usual knucklehead behavior is pretty low, but if the 'character concerns' on the guy are just that he smoked some pot, then I'm not too worried about it.

like Isaid, not trying to kill the buzz --- I'm psyched about all these guys, but let's let them play a little before voting them to the pro bowl.

billdog3484

yah ill sign for a decent #2WR career.

upstater1

Reggie Wayne is an excellent comparison.

I hope this kid runs routes well, because he was scary at UNC. Scary good.

He was very productive at UNC, much more productive than Chad Jackson at Florida.

JDSal45

They couldn't be any more different. Wayne is a physical, strong receiver. Tate is a fast, elusive deep threat type. A guy who can make cuts. Wayne has never been a returner type either. Wayne is a possession guy who'll out physical you for the ball. Great hands and strength, tough. But not elusive or a cutter type. Just totally different types.

Honestly, that is about as strange a comparison as you can get within one position.

J D Sal

BelichickFan

The little I've seem of him looks more like Deion Branch than Reggie Wayne. Charley Casserley said some scouts say he reminds them of Eddie Royal.

JDSal45

As a returner Tate was more productive, I'd agree with that. But on offense Jackson had 1,676 yards of offense in 39 games and 18 touchdowns. Tate had 1,225 offensive yards in 41 games and 10 offensive touchdowns.

Jackson was more productive on offense than Tate in college.

J D Sal

spacecrime

Randy Moss - Wes Welker?
Larry Fitzgerald- Deion Branch?
Chad Jackson - David Givens?

Anyway, I think Reggie Wayne is much more than a possession guy, and disagree that he is not a deep threat and cannot make cuts.

JDSal45

I didn't say he can't make cuts. Its just not his game to make a lot of plays in the open field in that manner. Breaking tackles? Sure. Running away from hits like a Welker type? No. Wayne gets open deep, but its more a product of tremendous protection and good QB play and his strength to separate and then make the catch, than as a Tate type playmaker. Wayne has good hands too and baits corners well, but isn't thought of as a "quick" guy. Wayne is a great receiver. But he is a different type altogether than Tate, who is an athlete, quick, fast type.

J D Sal

TriplecHamp

After that 4.5 forty (witch was after the injury) You cant tell me you expect him to be as fast and elusive as before (I think he is more of a 4.4 guy when healthy). I expect him to turn into more of a Wayne type receiver (fast physical and a good route runner). He really needs to develop more. After reading this scouting report and watching him play, you will see why I compare him to an immature (talent wise) Reggie Wayne. Brandon Tate, North Carolina, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com Football

two things that scream Wayne to me-
1) Release: With his long, lean build, Tate shows good quickness, strength and hand usage to get off the snap and into his patterns. He might lack blazing speed, but compensates with good hip snap, balance and foot work in his route (still needs to execute crisper breaks, though). He has a smooth and fluid release off the line of scrimmage and is able to beat press coverage. He has the power to push through the jam with no hold-ups. He also shows the ability to be elusive at the line and consistently escapes to get into his routes. =Physical, Reggie is so great at what he does because he is crisp of the ball and isn't afraid to use his hands.

2) Separation Ability: Tate has a decent short-area burst to gain separation after pulling in the slants or screens. He is starting to develop the eyes needed to locate the soft spots in the zone. He sees the ball in flight and shows the body flexibility and vision to look the ball in. He is able to generate better acceleration working in the short-to-intermediate areas. While he has the ability to separate from defenders with his burst, he seems quicker into his cuts rather than out. He needs to do a better job with his hand placement, as his arms drop some just before his break point, but that hitch is easily correctable.-Wayne gets separation...period, Once Tate learns how to separate from those faster corners he will be a more complete wide receiver.

I am not saying Brandon Tate is Reggie Wayne right now, I am saying with patience and guidance from Moss, Galloway, Lewis, and Welker, he has the tools to turn into a Reggie Wayne type receiver. The ST contributions come as a bonus to this team.