RECEIVING
Tate:
24/432, 18.0 ypc, 3 TDs, 52% catch rate -- 2010 only
Bethel Johnson:
30/450, 15.0 ypc, 4 TDs, 47% catch rate -- in 39 games (over 3 years)
Chad Jackson:
13/152, 11.7 ypc, 3 TDs -- in 14 games (over 2 years)
KICK RETURNS
Tate:
41/1057, 25.8 ypKR, 2 TDs -- 2010 only
Johnson:
41/1016, 24.8 ypKR, 1 TD -- 2004 (his 2nd, and best by far, year)
Tate:
4/106, 26.5 ypKR -- 2009 only (2 games)
Jackson:
6/106, 17.7 ypKR -- his total KR production over 2 seasons
O.K. I don't get it. Are you saying pick the one who rots the least? I was not a Bethel fan although he was faster than Tate. Tate was chosen because of his return skills add to what he could do at WR. He is fine for a #5 WR.
In three years at NC and injured one of those, Tate stats show:
46 receptions 927 Yards 8 TDS
Not earth shattering. His biggest season at UNC he had only 25 catches.
In three years at Texas A&M and ironically injured one of those, Johnson's stats are:
90 receptions 1226 Yards 8 TDS
Johnson was bigger at 5'11" and 200 lbs and faster at a 4.2 40.
Versus Tate who is a shade under 6' and 190 lbs and a speed of 4.41 40.
By the way. Here is a shock. Woodhead is faster than Tate. Danny ran a 4.33.
At the end of the day Cousin, Johnson had double the catches of Tate in college.
I reiterate, Tate was an average WR at UNC. He was known for his return prowess. He is what he is. He is a fine #5 WR option. Forcing him into the #3 option was not as successful as hoped.
In an non-perfect world, there are two or three options to upgrade our passing attack in 2011. TB can not wait for years while some of these kids ....."Get it"....The window gets smaller. I say in my humble opinion that there are a few choices that will help TB now.
I want to start with Branch and what to do. He is NOT a true #1 WR and is more effective as a #2 and Welker as the slot man. We still need a taller WR who can draw coverage from that Safety's side of the field. That guy is NOT Tate. He is easily covered by a single mediocre NFL caliber CB at this point.
My options would be of course Fitzgerald above any to win right now. Others could be Sidney Rice who is a great talent but has been dinged and could still cost bucks, Steve Smith who isn't that big either but could easily play #1 WR if you can spring him from Carolina where he wants out, Santana Moss who is a FA, still smaller but could play #1 and had 93 receptions and 6 TDs for the complete chaos of the Redskins passing attack, or...... I like Chad Johnson with 67 catches, with as miserable of an offense as the Redskins with the Bengals, who is 6'1" and has great route running ability and cannot be handled by a one on one DB.......and he wants to play for BB. Is he a bad person? No. Chad is a fun guy who would have to tone it down(see Wes Welker) and if he can co-exist with T.O. taking his catches, he is not going to feel he needs to get into TB's ears every down. He wants to prove to BB that he is a winner here which is the chip you saw when Moss got here.
It forces the best cover CB from the other Team like Revis to cover one of these guys who is the #1 and creates openings for Branch who proved he cannot get open as much as we all hoped as the #1. All these options above can stretch the field. Reiss likes Steve Smith. He and Johnson are both passionate about the game which BB loves to see.
I think Branch had his game taken away with the injuries and his Seattle journey (nice job Mr. Agent). He is still capable of production in spots but he was still dinged even here last year. He cannot take the beating anymore. I think at the least, Santana Moss and Chad Johnson are more durable.
Now let us consider if we wait on Tate, or pick yet another WR in the Draft and wait on him? Do we hope that Price is ready? Our latest WR picks have been awfully slow to develop. Or...... do we take a legitimate #1 WR option by Trade or FA that can play right now and produce to go out and win the SB this coming year. I want to win right now while TB is still the man.
I like some of the WR in the Draft but after the first few, as you all say......no thanks(is that it? As if we are the chosen chooser). I would leave the Draft picks to upgrade other areas of concern that can develop faster than a Pats drafted WR is able to do. As Terry Holt said in his interview and he saw both Price and Tate, we need possibly two WR in 2011 and his reference was veterans for Tom to trust.
As a fall back, why not Donte Stallworth? As a part time starter here for one year he did have 46 receptions. Then he got dinged and could not get back to starter. Gaffney had an excellent last half of the season.
Stallworth is healthy now. He is a deep threat. He should be cheap. He knows the system and the area. In nine games he caught 46 passes as the #3 WR. In ten games Tate caught 24. In college Stallworth was over 1,700 yards in receptions and his best TD year was 10 with 3 games out for a broken wrist. He is listed at 6'1" and has run a 4.29 40.
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