Brandon Tate-Reggie Wayne V2?

[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]

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.

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]

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.

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]

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.

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]

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.

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.

 

[TriplecHamp]

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

Tate was often overshadowed with Hakeem Nicks also garnering his share of production. Chad Jackson was without a doubt the number 1 receiver on UFs Offense for most of his career.

 

[JDSal45]

Sorry, just don't see it. And I have seen both play a lot. If I was going to pick some players Tate reminded me of we can hope he becomes and is similar to its more guys like Joey Galloway, Eddie Kennison or Greg Jennings.

J D Sal

 

[condon84]

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

I agree.

The better comparison is Tate to Santana Moss. Quicker in space, better return men. Coincidentally, you can make a comparison with Tate's teammate (Nicks) to Moss's college teammate (Wayne). Bigger, stronger players.

 

[JDSal45]

Tate was often overshadowed with Hakeem Nicks also garnering his share of production. Chad Jackson was without a doubt the number 1 receiver on UFs Offense for most of his career.

Umm yeah, but he was also more productive which is different than what the poster said. And Jackson wasn't the number one "for most of his career" He had 88 of his 120 career catches his junior year. Meaning he only had 32 catches his other two years at UF. For example, his Sophomore year Andre Caldwell had more receptions that Jackson. And in Jackson's sophomore year, fellow receiver Dallas Baker had 26 catches as well, to Jackson's 29 despite missing a bunch of games to injury. Jackson's last year, Dallas Baker was the MVP of the Outback Bowl, not Jackson, catching 10 passes for 147 yards and 2 TDs. So, there were certainly other options.

J D Sal

 

[Metaphors]

Living in NC and (unfortunately) getting UNC as the early local broadcast far too often, I think people need to be realistic about Tate. Some of the statements on Tate are just way off the mark.

- He is not a speed demon. He runs solid routes and uses an extra gear to gain separation. If you expect him to just line up and run fly routes, you will likely be disappointed.

- He is a physical receiver. He uses good body position and fights for the ball at the highest point. Really not sure of his blocking since UNC spread the field a lot and he generally stayed outside. Tate didn't get in the short middle zones much because Brooks Foster typically worked the slot.

- But he is not a physical runner. He is shifty and can break sloppy arm tackles, but he has never shown the ability (or inclination) to take a hit and get extra yards.

I really wouldn't start with the Reggie Wayne comparison but I can see where the OP was going. The comparison to Eddie Royal seems fairly on the money. That being said, Tate probably doesn't see regular snaps in 2009 if the top 4 stay healthy. If his health checks out, he can seriously contribute as a returner though.

So if you expect a specialist that can muck in for injured players and eventually develop into an Eddie Royal type of player, you will probably be happy with Tate. Expecting a burner that just runs past corners on every snap? Not so much...

 

[BelichickFan]

BTW, reagarding his injury - Deion Branch tore his ACL on January 17 and had surgery in February - he returned in Week 5 of that same year.

Tate had his surgery on October 15 and is said to have had no setbacks. In fact that's about when Brady had his surgery.

I am not suggesting Tate will be ready for training camp or not PUPed but it is entirely possible we'll see him on the field this year.

 

[hwc]

Reggie Wayne is one of the elite receivers in the NFL. I'm gonna have to wait and see if this kid Tate can even make the Patriots roster before I start comparing him to guys like Reggie Wayne.

 

[Schmo]

BTW, reagarding his injury - Deion Branch tore his ACL on January 17 and had surgery in February - he returned in Week 5 of that same year.

Tate had his surgery on October 15 and is said to have had no setbacks. In fact that's about when Brady had his surgery.

I am not suggesting Tate will be ready for training camp or not PUPed but it is entirely possible we'll see him on the field this year.

Good news. I just want him to be able to show what he can do. Sitting on the PUP/IR isn't good for a young WR. The more he can work with Brady the better.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'm not seeing the comparison. Wayne isn't particularly explosive but an outstanding route runner/fundamentals guy. IMO he's the Tim Duncan of the NFL just not as great at his position (in Duncan's prime). I don't see Tate being that type of player more of a Stallworth type.

 

[upstater1]

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

Oh well, there goes that.
I actually follow college ball and that surprises me because Tate got more publicity than Jackson.