Brandon Tate -Thoughts?

[Kontradiction]

The patience for player development in this forum is at an all time low. Really unbelievable.

I wouldn't mind giving him another year or two at all. But I think we can definitely stand to improve over him at flanker for now. Who knows if Taylor Price is that improvement? Tate has at least shown the ability to get open from time to time. But, as has been mentioned, he does get a case of the dropsies at some big time moments and needs to work on his route running. He has the athletic ability, though. It just depends on whether or not he wants to put in the extra offseason work with #12 and the JUGS machine.

 

[eagle eye]

I thought he did alright when they got him involved. Anybody know how many dropped balls he had?

 

[Sciz]

I thought he did alright when they got him involved. Anybody know how many dropped balls he had?

STATS LLC says 5

 

[Coach42]

I wouldn't mind giving him another year or two at all. But I think we can definitely stand to improve over him at flanker for now. Who knows if Taylor Price is that improvement? Tate has at least shown the ability to get open from time to time. But, as has been mentioned, he does get a case of the dropsies at some big time moments and needs to work on his route running. He has the athletic ability, though. It just depends on whether or not he wants to put in the extra offseason work with #12 and the JUGS machine.

I agree with that. People are really quick to label and I think its because everybody, including myself, is bitter after that loss. I think its funny after one poorly executed gameplan people are immediately going back to the "We need a receiver over six foot' argument. This team averaged over 32 points a game with the current personnel, that's not to say they couldn't be improved upon but its far from a team full of castoffs and JAGs.

 

[Deus Irae]

I agree with that. People are really quick to label and I think its because everybody, including myself, is bitter after that loss. I think its funny after one poorly executed gameplan people are immediately going back to the "We need a receiver over six foot' argument. This team averaged over 32 points a game with the current personnel, that's not to say they couldn't be improved upon but its far from a team full of castoffs and JAGs.

Coach, no offense meant but, other than Welker, that's precisely what this wide receiver corps is right now. Tate and Price might become the next two great receivers compared to Jerry Rice, but neither of them belongs starting for a Super Bowl contender right now. Edelman may be the next Welker, but he's nowhere near that right now. And that's a problem, since the Patriots aren't in a 5 year developmental mode.

 

[randomk1]

Tate has shown absolutely nothing.He is mostly invisible on the field.He is in his 2nd year and i don't want to see him as a starter next year.There are rookies and guys coming all the time and putting up numbers and making catches.Don't care to wait for his development,TFB doesn't have the time for it.And why the hell is he returning kicks? He can't get past the 20 yard line.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

There's not a whole lotta options in FA next year.

2011 NFL Free Agents

Lets just draft d-line, o-line, and OLB first. Outside of Jones/Green (obvious 1st rounders), i'm not sure who at WR we could draft late, that would have anymore impact next season than Tate.

I say give the kid another year before anyone breaks out the B word.

 

[RHbT76]

There's not a whole lotta options in FA next year.

2011 NFL Free Agents

Lets just draft d-line, o-line, and OLB first. Outside of Jones/Green (obvious 1st rounders), i'm not sure who at WR we could draft late, that would have anymore impact next season than Tate.

I say give the kid another year before anyone breaks out the B word.

Great info thanks for posting. I think Malcom Floyd would be an excellent pickup for the patriots assuming his knee injury is healed.

6-5 225 lbs, contract would be probably be about 3-4 mil a year.

YouTube - Malcom Floyd San Diego Chargers Highlights #80

 

[JoeShmoe]

I think he is one of those guys that TB just doesnt trust. I've seen him waving away when he's been open and still being ignores. Next year will tell the tale.

This is it in a nutshell and teams have worked it out. He isnt a deep threat and he may get thrown to once or twice a game, usually some deep ball out of reach in a lame attempt to keep a D honest

Brady has 2 or years left at elite level, look at what happened when they gave him Moss. If we get a valid X/Y guy on the outside, a true top WR, it would open our offense right up

The more I think on it the more I would consider trading up for Jones or Blackmon

 

[eagle eye]

Great info thanks for posting. I think Malcom Floyd would be an excellent pickup for the patriots assuming his knee injury is healed.

6-5 225 lbs, contract would be probably be about 3-4 mil a year.

YouTube - Malcom Floyd San Diego Chargers Highlights #80

I'm with you there and I think this kid can go on to great things in the NFL.

 

[stcjones]

Tate has shown absolutely nothing.He is mostly invisible on the field.He is in his 2nd year and i don't want to see him as a starter next year.There are rookies and guys coming all the time and putting up numbers and making catches.Don't care to wait for his development,TFB doesn't have the time for it.And why the hell is he returning kicks? He can't get past the 20 yard line.

Yeah! What he said!!

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Brady has 2 or years left at elite level, look at what happened when they gave him Moss.

what happened? Well, they didnt win a SB with that offense either.
Besides, I don't want to see them go back to Tommy holding the ball for an hour waiting for the next Moss to get open. I like our current offense, but i'd like to see the running game involved more.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

.And why the hell is he returning kicks? He can't get past the 20 yard line.

a 25.8 yard avg isnt exactly crap ya know. Its not like he's Slater

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9347

btw, Tate was 6th in the nfl for avg per return...just sayin

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/b...e=NFL&year=season_2010&sort=319&timeframe=All

 

[convertedpatsfan]

This was basically his rookie season. I understand people expect more, but if you look at WRs as a group, they generally don't produce a whole lot in their first few seasons. David Givens had 9 catches in year 1. Welker didn't catch a ball until his 3rd season, and then he only caught 29 passes. Steve Smith had 10 catches his first season. Ochocinco - 28. T.O. - 35. Even HOFers like Michael Irvin only caught 32 passes in their first season.

And for all the gushing about Jabar Gaffney, he never caught more than 38 passes in a season for us, and 11 in his first year. Tate had 24 and he's a bust.

He's shown flashes of potential, but needs to develop consistency and earn Brady's trust. It's obvious the kid isn't a great player yet, but way too early to give up on him.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Oh No. We are starting the Big Receiver Envy so soon....haven't we tried that experiment already?

 

[RHbT76]

And for all the gushing about Jabar Gaffney, he never caught more than 38 passes in a season for us, and 11 in his first year. Tate had 24 and he's a bust.

Actually Gaffney caught 41 passes in his first year in the NFL, 40 in 2007 with us and in 2010 w/ the Broncos he caught 65 passes for 875 yards. That's nothing to scoff at. His 11 catch season with us was in 2006 when he came on late and only played 9 games and the offense was never really in sink.

 

[robbomango]

This was basically his rookie season. I understand people expect more, but if you look at WRs as a group, they generally don't produce a whole lot in their first few seasons. David Givens had 9 catches in year 1. Welker didn't catch a ball until his 3rd season, and then he only caught 29 passes. Steve Smith had 10 catches his first season. Ochocinco - 28. T.O. - 35. Even HOFers like Michael Irvin only caught 32 passes in their first season.

And for all the gushing about Jabar Gaffney, he never caught more than 38 passes in a season for us, and 11 in his first year. Tate had 24 and he's a bust.

He's shown flashes of potential, but needs to develop consistency and earn Brady's trust. It's obvious the kid isn't a great player yet, but way too early to give up on him.

Thanks for the post, I was wondering how long it took good receivers to develop. Moss and rice are an exception I guess. Are Good hands more important than speed? just curious how they evaluate talent early on.

 

[Shed83]

Thanks for the post, I was wondering how long it took good receivers to develop. Moss and rice are an exception I guess. Are Good hands more important than speed? just curious how they evaluate talent early on.

Just a guess as im not sure but id have thought with rookies speed is more important.

You can practice, practice, practice to improve catching and also coach good hands but you cant make someone quicker than they are naturally!

 

[pats_premi]

To me Tate does not appears to be fast enough to be a deep threat and not savy enough to be good route runner. He just does not get enough separation from the DB's.

 

[randomk1]

Just a guess as im not sure but id have thought with rookies speed is more important.

You can practice, practice, practice to improve catching and also coach good hands but you cant make someone quicker than they are naturally!

Give me a guy with good hands and enough speed to create separation any day of the week.The first thing the receiver must be able to do is actually catch the ball.Seen ****load of these speedsters than never become anything because they lack ball skills plain and simple.

**** i wish we could get Larry Fitz.