Tate on Kick Off Returns

[Kontradiction]

Tate has been ok. But he has become less a threat the more teams have seen of him on film. The sick feeling I had in my guy everytime Stefan Logan returned it on Thursday is exactly what a kick returner should be. Just one miss and that guy would have been gone. Its obvious that maybe Tates role should be in the kicking game, and rather him focus dominately on that and take less snaps at WR.

So now we're judging a kick returner on the sick feeling that one gets in their stomach everytime he touches the ball? If that's the case, then I'm sure Lions fans had that same sick feeling every time Tate laid a finger on the ball and began to take it upfield.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

If we're gonna talk about crappyness on kickoffs let's talk about Graham's kickoffs. I miss Ghost, figured the one year he starts killin the ball and rackin up the touchbacks he gets injured...

 

[woodheadwow]

I'm pretty skeptical that Tate is going to make it as a Patriot, but I do acknowledge that it's early and the kid still has plenty of time to right the ship. Right now, he is not playing well and seems to be getting worse week to week. But that's not even the thing that concerns me the most. He seems to really shy away from physical contact, which is anti-Patriot football. In time will he be ok? I don't think it's very likely, but it's too early to give up on him just yet.

WW

 

[convertedpatsfan]

The Bills were aggressively kicking into the corners today against Emmanuel Sanders, a top-10 returner like Tate. Sanders had 4 returns, averaging 20 yards per return, well below his 26-yard average. Bottom line is Tate isn't the only returner who is getting game-planned for, and struggling as they adjust.

 

[buile]

Tate is a threat on KOs and the other teams now know it. I tipped my hat to Detroit's special teams; they did a bang-up job limiting Tate's returns. All he could do was take what little the other team gave him.

I ~am~ disappointed with Tate's hands in the passing game. My recollection is he's dropped about 2 out of 3 "big" passes Brady put into his hands. He was getting open, and Tom found him, but he's gotta catch those. If he can eliminate those drops, he'll turn into a passing game threat that teams will need to game plan for, too.

He's got some potential, and is proving himself on ST.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Another negative thread after a win. I must be at PatsFans.com.

Exactly.

We have the guy who broke Josh Cribbs and Devon Hesters records in college and we have "Pat fans " wanting to cut him since hasn't returned for a TD since his third one in a game early in the season.

Another says he has no moves and can only run fast. What drivel.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Tate is a threat on KOs and the other teams now know it. I tipped my hat to Detroit's special teams; they did a bang-up job limiting Tate's returns. All he could do was take what little the other team gave him.

I ~am~ disappointed with Tate's hands in the passing game. My recollection is he's dropped about 2 out of 3 "big" passes Brady put into his hands. He was getting open, and Tom found him, but he's gotta catch those. If he can eliminate those drops, he'll turn into a passing game threat that teams will need to game plan for, too.

He's got some potential, and is proving himself on ST.

From the scouting reports before the draft, the hands weren't in question, but the route-running was. He was a return specialist who suddenly became a receiving threat, but relied a lot on athleticism instead of solid route-running to get open. He was considered a bit raw in that area, so my guess is he's still getting comfortable within the offense, another reason Brady may not totally trust him yet.

If he can figure things out in terms of the offense and the routes he should run and gets a comfort level with that, I think the hands question will go away.

 

[jsull87]

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.

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?

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?

Yeah bench Gronkowski after his browns game.... 3 touchdowns next game.

It is this knee jerk reaction that annoys people about the game day boards.

Did you see the blocking Detroit had for those KO returns? I could have gotten 20 yards. Tate is a weapon back there. He almost broke one as well except he got tripped up at the hole