Ben Tate - combine

[stevedogc]

looks like he has had a good combine thus far. Pretty good numbers. 3rd in the 40 (4.43), behind Best (4.35) and Spiller (4.37). Tied for first in bench reps with 26. Finished 2nd in vertical and broad jump and 20 yard shuttle. I was hoping the Pats could grab him in rounds 4 or 5, I wonder if this may move him up to the 3rd round or higher.

 

[chevss454]

looks like he has had a good combine thus far. Pretty good numbers. 3rd in the 40 (4.43), behind Best (4.35) and Spiller (4.37). Tied for first in bench reps with 26. Finished 2nd in vertical and broad jump and 20 yard shuttle. I was hoping the Pats could grab him in rounds 4 or 5, I wonder if this may move him up to the 3rd round or higher.

I'm with you 100% Stevedogc. I've been watching him for 2 years now. He was a little under the radar until a good showing in the senior bowl. Projected then to be a 3-4 pick but, as you, I'm afraid he may move up into the late 2 to early 3 pick with his great combine numbers. Time will tell.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Tate had a very solid combine. I listed him as one of my 4 big winners out of the RB group that I watched perform (the others were spiller, best, and matthews). Tate showed good speed, size, and technique in ball catching drills.

In addition, I like his stocky build. He looks like he is built to take the pounding that a feature back would have to take in the NFL. If his pass blocking is solid as well, I would have no problem whatsoever with the Pats drafting this kid. The only question is how long will he last?

 

[woolster22]

I've been all about this kid after watching his bowl game. He was projected anywhere from a 3-5th round pick before the combine. I'd hafta bet there is no way he gets past the middle of the third now. If we want him I'd trade one of the 2nds back into the early third with a later pick next year to sweeten the pot. Either that or or just grab him with the last 2nd. He is a gamer, runs decisively, lowers his shoulder and has speed to take it to the house if he gets daylight. Doesn't wait for the hole, but sees where it will be and makes his move. Bye bye laurence! Draft this kid, send Maroney packing and let Taylor/Morris/Faulk teach this kid the ropes. He has pretty good hands to boot. not sure about the pass blocking, but he should be able to catch on.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Tate highlights on the tube.

YouTube - Ben Tate Highlights - Auburn Football

Check out his run at the 2:25 mark. That's what I call persistence!
And after that one he showcases his vision, using his blocking, to score the TD.

Tate has a nice overall package of size, speed, vision, and technique.
I'd like to see what he can do at the pro level in a Pats uniform.

 

[CGH TX PATS]

Big and strong. I'd like to see him against the blitz. Does anyone know how he is catching the ball out of the back field?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Tate highlights on the tube.

YouTube - Ben Tate Highlights - Auburn Football

Check out his run at the 2:25 mark. That's what I call persistence!
And after that one he showcases his vision, using his blocking, to score the TD.

Tate has a nice overall package of size, speed, vision, and technique.
I'd like to see what he can do at the pro level in a Pats uniform.

Actually I think this video is very unflattering. All it shows are toss sweeps. I think Tate;s strength is running between the tackles. He does not have elite wiggle, but he does have good vision and balance.

PS: The Tate video has a great shot of Auburn C Pugh (who I like a lot) abusing Dan Williams of Tenn.

Note to all Pats fans,stay away from Dan Williams, he plays on skates. Leave him for teams like Philly and the Vikings.

 

[woolster22]

Actually I think this video is very unflattering. All it shows are toss sweeps. I think Tate;s strength is running between the tackles. He does not have elite wiggle, but he does have good vision and balance.

PS: The Tate video has a great shot of Auburn C Pugh (who I like a lot) abusing Dan Williams of Tenn.

Note to all Pats fans,stay away from Dan Williams, he plays on skates. Leave him for teams like Philly and the Vikings.

:yeahthat:

I'm with ya 100%. That video shows all the big plays, but not the ones where he is running it hard between the tackles, planting his feet, and finishing hard through contact. that is something Maroney of past had trouble with, and what caused the Maroney of this year to fumble. there is a play around 2:20(?) that does show his excellent balance, taking about 6-7 hits with 3-4 guys to bring his rumblin' bumblin' self down. That highlight reel says more about his line than it does him.

Someone asked about his hands. from what I saw in 2-3 games, he seemed fine. Most sites have him as an all around back, capable of catching the rock, but I have seen a few posters getting on him for that. I haven't seen enough to make much of a statement either way. but I have seen enough to know that he is excellent between the tackles. 3x4>10, wiggle be damned.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Yeah I like this guy a lot too. Reminds me of one of my favorite RB's, Rashard Mendenhall. Absolute force between the tackles, keeps the feet moving, nice compact frame, good vision, and ran faster than expected at the combine (similar to Rashard).

Spiller, Hardesty, and Tate are my 3 personal favorites at this point.

 

[reflexblue]

I noticed watching the video that while Tate has speed and strenth most of the time the O-line is so dominant that there sin't much contact until long after he crosses the LOS. I didn't get a real sense of how well he breaks tackles, or what the gets after first contact. Again he looks realy good but most of the time he doesn't have to work for the yards the o-line has blown the opposition of the line .

 

[CGH TX PATS]

So in a perfect world, we draft this guy... which one of the current RB's doesn't make it back, LMO?

 

[chevss454]

Actually I think this video is very unflattering. All it shows are toss sweeps. I think Tate;s strength is running between the tackles. He does not have elite wiggle, but he does have good vision and balance.

PS: The Tate video has a great shot of Auburn C Pugh (who I like a lot) abusing Dan Williams of Tenn.

Note to all Pats fans,stay away from Dan Williams, he plays on skates. Leave him for teams like Philly and the Vikings.

Yeah I noticed that too at the 3 min mark. Hard to tell though if Dan Williams took himself out of the play by going "right" or if Pugh pushed him out. Either way, it makes Williams seem very blockable. He's no Vince Wilfork! Maybe the Dolphin's scout who said they love Williams isn't just blowing smoke. He said the Dolphins like Williams over McClain...I hope so!

 

[chevss454]

So in a perfect world, we draft this guy... which one of the current RB's doesn't make it back, LMO?

Why do we care? But seriously, you don't think Tate would be an upgrade over anyone other than Faulk?

 

[CGH TX PATS]

Why do we care? But seriously, you don't think Tate would be an upgrade over anyone other than Faulk?

I wouldn't want to give up Freddy T. I thought he was coming along good before his injury. Last year is almost a wash for him no added miles on his aging legs. We will eventually have to replace Faulk... I'm just not ready to yet. LMO is out, I'm sick of watching him fumble and dance around!