Tate has been absolutely atrocious on KO returns the past couple weeks. He has to be on the sidelines IMO during Kickoffs. Put sammy morris, edelman, or even woodhead back there. I cannot stand watching Tate run into guys at the 15 yard line anymore.
Tate struggled at times against the Lions, no doubt, and as others have pointed out, teams are game-planning for him.
But saying he's been atrocious the past couple of weeks? Absolutely false, and I want to know what games you're watching.
Week 9 at Browns
Tate only got one single chance to return the ball, and he brought it back 28 yards to the NE 32. That's atrocious?
Even more significant is that he had a major impact on field position without touching the ball, as it was clear Cleveland was avoiding him. The Browns started off by kicking away from him when the mis-communication between Morris and Gronk happened, resulting in a fumble. The next time, they kicked to Tate, who returned it 28 yards to the NE 32. That would be the last time they let him near the ball.
But because they avoided him, we sometimes got good field position out of it. Their next kick-off was short and away from Tate, fielded by Connolly at the 19 and returned out to the 30. The next kick was to start the half, went to the 16 yard line where it was fielded by Morris (the guy you suggested replace Tate) for 4 yards. The next kick went to the NE 23, where Crumpler fair-caught it. The next kick went to the NE 26, where Crumpler got a short return in to start at the NE 31. The next kick went to Connolly, who fielded it at the NE 30 and returned to the NE 38.
So on the 6 kick-offs we fielded minus the fumble, our average starting position was the NE 29 yard line. Hardly atrocious.
Week 10 at Pittsburgh
Tate had 3 returns. The first two were average returns, bringing the ball out to the NE 23 and 22 yard line. Tate almost broke the third one, getting the ball out to the NE 40. The rest were onside attempts. Again, hardly atrocious.
Week 11 vs. Indy
Playing with the flu, Tate still had a decent game with only one bad return. The first went for 32 yards as he brought it back out to the NE 35. The next kick was fair-caught near the end of the half. To start the half, Tate returned 19 yards to the NE 27. The next kick was fielded by Morris, who returned it 21 yards to the NE 23. Then Tate had a mediocre return of 15 yards to the NE 18.
On the day, Tate averages 22 yards per return with the flu, almost breaking away for a touchdown, while Morris at full strength (one of your choices to replace him) returned 1 for 21 yards. Not up to his usual standard, but again, hardly atrocious.
Did anyone notice where the Lions were starting yesterday and where the patriots were starting yesterday?
Patriots were probably averaging around the 17 yard line where the lions were averaging around the 35 yard line. Are the 2-9 Lions really that much better than the Patriots on special teams?
There was a definitely difference in field position, though part of that is also on Graham's leg (average kick fielded at the 5 vs. less than 1 for Raymer). But they were also pinning Tate into corners very aggressively. If any of those kicks bounced out (and a few came close), that would have been an easy 40 yards for our team. The Lions took some chances, made some good kicks and deserve full credit for that.
Tate brought back 2 KOs to the house early in the season. So what? He's terrible right now in all aspects of the game. Bench him.
Anyone else feel this way?
I'm sure many feel the same way after the Lions game but I don't know who you want to replace him. Don't even joke around about Morris, seriously. Tate averages 26 yards per return, good for 6th-best among regular returners.
And Tate's not the only return guy struggling lately. The leading kick returner this year is Leon Washington, who averages 30.3 yards per return. But over the past 3 games, he's only averaged 22 yards per return. Think the Seahawks are talking about benching him too?
Tate has struggled, no doubt. But to say he's been atrocious is absolutely ridiculous, and it's the same type of knee-jerk nonsense as the guys who wanted to cut Gronk after the Cleveland game or trade Brady last season because he wasn't his usual self or gave up on Light after some early season struggles. Not every week is an easy week in the NFL, but you can't just give up on every player once they have a bad game or bad stretch.