09-06-2020, 05:16 PM
I just read this on the Enquirer. Figured you all might enjoy it...
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/09/06/cincinnati-bengals-wide-receiver-auden-tate-breakout-2020-year/5734722002/
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When the Cincinnati Bengals hired offensive coordinator Brian Callahan in Jan. 2019, Callahan admitted he didn’t know much about wide receiver Auden Tate.
At the time, Tate only had four receptions in the NFL. Since Callahan wanted to learn more about one of his new players, he asked wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell for some of Tate’s practice film.
It didn’t take long for Callahan to realize he had a potential starting wide receiver.
“I saw a lot of things I liked about him, namely that he’s 6-foot five, (228) pounds and has great strong hands and makes a ton of contested catches, even in those practice clips from the season before,” Callahan said.
Usually, that skill combination makes a wide receiver an early NFL Draft selection. But ever since Tate was in high school, he’s heard he might have to switch positions to make it in the NFL. At six-foot-five and 228 pounds, Tate is closer in size to Cincinnati Bengals’ tight end C.J. Uzomah than wide receiver A.J. Green.
Even while some coaches wanted to see Tate play tight end, he has been a highlight-making wide receiver for every team he’s played on. In 2019, Tate consistently made toe-tapping catches on the sidelines and had a several diving first down grabs.
Tate started 10 games for Cincinnati last year and ranked second on the Bengals with 575 receiving yards. But in his first few practices with rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, Tate has looked ready for a bigger role at wide receiver.
In the Bengals first preseason scrimmage, Tate caught four of Burrow’s first six passes. On the last play of Burrow’s first drive, Tate used his wingspan to snag a touchdown reception.
Throughout training camp, Tate has been one Burrow’s favorite receivers.
“(Tate) is — when you are building a player — what you want from him mentally and physically and from a talent standpoint,” head coach Zac Taylor said.
Tate’s talent has never been a question. His ability to track the ball in the air and make acrobatic touchdown catches has been there throughout his football career.
At Florida State University, Tate started as a redshirt freshman and finished with 409 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes. As a sophomore, he led the Seminoles with ten touchdown receptions and helped quarterback James Blackman have the best season of his college career.
Even though he wasn’t as fast as the other wide receivers on the roster, Tate carved out a role as a reliable option on over-the-top passes and back shoulder fades. Former FSU offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said he was confident whenever Blackman threw a deep pass to Tate.
“There are no substitutes for size and nothing that size can’t do,” Sanders said. “Auden has the size with a great work ethic. Both of those things can go unappreciated.”
Despite being a six-foot-five wide receiver who consistently made spectacular catches in college, Tate lasted 253 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. The two wide receivers drafted ahead of Tate weren’t as productive as Tate was at Florida State.
After Tate declared for the draft in 2018, NFL scouts didn’t focus on his size and work ethic. Instead, they looked at his 4.68 second 40-yard dash.
That was slower than any other wide receiver at the 2018 NFL Combine, and a couple of tight ends even clocked faster times. As a result, some evaluators saw Tate as someone who might have to switch positions to make an NFL roster, Sanders said.
“He runs well for a guy his size, he just didn’t have a good 40-time. Sometimes 40-times are overrated,” Sanders said. “He does have good quickness and the ability to separate from defenders and stretch the field. He just does it his own way.”
The Bengals drafted Tate with one of the last picks of the 2018 draft, and Tate was Cincinnati’s 11th selection that year. The Bengals couldn’t fit all 11 picks on the roster, and Tate was a long shot to stay on the team past the preseason.
He quickly showed the Bengals what he can do in the red zone.
Early in summer mini-camp, Tate beat starting cornerback William Jackson III in the end zone for an over-the-top touchdown grab. It was such a great catch that former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton asked the camera crew if they caught the play on video.
He kept making plays in training camp and earned a spot on the 53-man roster as a wide receiver. Tate didn’t have to play tight end to make the team, but he still never had a consistent role in the offense until Sept. 2019.
In week three against the Buffalo Bills, Tate replaced wide receiver Damion Willis in the starting lineup, and Tate finished with six catches for 88 yards. Tate started almost every game last season and ended 2019 with 40 receptions.
During the 2020 offseason, Tate trained with former Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin. They targeted areas for Tate to improve to have a more consistent 2020 season, and Tate came away from the workouts as a better player.
“(I’m) staying low on my routes, staying low coming out of my initial stance, catching the ball better, running better, blocking better,” Tate said. “I just feel like I can do anything better.”
Tate has still never played with a quarterback as talented as Burrow. During Bengals training camp, they clicked right away.
In the first scrimmage, Tate started alongside Tyler Boyd and Mike Thomas at wide receiver. Green and John Ross weren’t available, but Tate almost single-handedly made up for their production.
Burrow’s first two completions were long passes to Tate, and Tate also made two over-the-shoulder catches in the end zone.
It wasn’t a bad start for someone who has been on the roster bubble in each of the last two preseasons.
“Auden Tate, obviously, has picked up where he left off last year in terms of execution and play-making ability, his skills that he brings to our offense,” Callahan said.
Even though the 23 year-old Tate has been one of Cincinnati’s most valuable players during training camp, it’s not guaranteed that Tate will reclaim his starting spot on Sept. 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. If Green and Ross are both healthy, it’s possible Tate comes off the bench.
But Taylor said Tate’s skill set has expanded over the last year, and he’s proven he can be a consistent contributor. And he'll be a contributor at wide receiver.
“He has proven, on the film last year and the way he goes about his business, that he can do a lot for you as an offense," Taylor. "You can’t just say he’s a red zone player. He’s a three-down guy for you.”
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/09/06/cincinnati-bengals-wide-receiver-auden-tate-breakout-2020-year/5734722002/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the Cincinnati Bengals hired offensive coordinator Brian Callahan in Jan. 2019, Callahan admitted he didn’t know much about wide receiver Auden Tate.
At the time, Tate only had four receptions in the NFL. Since Callahan wanted to learn more about one of his new players, he asked wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell for some of Tate’s practice film.
It didn’t take long for Callahan to realize he had a potential starting wide receiver.
“I saw a lot of things I liked about him, namely that he’s 6-foot five, (228) pounds and has great strong hands and makes a ton of contested catches, even in those practice clips from the season before,” Callahan said.
Usually, that skill combination makes a wide receiver an early NFL Draft selection. But ever since Tate was in high school, he’s heard he might have to switch positions to make it in the NFL. At six-foot-five and 228 pounds, Tate is closer in size to Cincinnati Bengals’ tight end C.J. Uzomah than wide receiver A.J. Green.
Even while some coaches wanted to see Tate play tight end, he has been a highlight-making wide receiver for every team he’s played on. In 2019, Tate consistently made toe-tapping catches on the sidelines and had a several diving first down grabs.
Tate started 10 games for Cincinnati last year and ranked second on the Bengals with 575 receiving yards. But in his first few practices with rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, Tate has looked ready for a bigger role at wide receiver.
In the Bengals first preseason scrimmage, Tate caught four of Burrow’s first six passes. On the last play of Burrow’s first drive, Tate used his wingspan to snag a touchdown reception.
Throughout training camp, Tate has been one Burrow’s favorite receivers.
“(Tate) is — when you are building a player — what you want from him mentally and physically and from a talent standpoint,” head coach Zac Taylor said.
Tate’s talent has never been a question. His ability to track the ball in the air and make acrobatic touchdown catches has been there throughout his football career.
At Florida State University, Tate started as a redshirt freshman and finished with 409 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes. As a sophomore, he led the Seminoles with ten touchdown receptions and helped quarterback James Blackman have the best season of his college career.
Even though he wasn’t as fast as the other wide receivers on the roster, Tate carved out a role as a reliable option on over-the-top passes and back shoulder fades. Former FSU offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said he was confident whenever Blackman threw a deep pass to Tate.
“There are no substitutes for size and nothing that size can’t do,” Sanders said. “Auden has the size with a great work ethic. Both of those things can go unappreciated.”
Despite being a six-foot-five wide receiver who consistently made spectacular catches in college, Tate lasted 253 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. The two wide receivers drafted ahead of Tate weren’t as productive as Tate was at Florida State.
After Tate declared for the draft in 2018, NFL scouts didn’t focus on his size and work ethic. Instead, they looked at his 4.68 second 40-yard dash.
That was slower than any other wide receiver at the 2018 NFL Combine, and a couple of tight ends even clocked faster times. As a result, some evaluators saw Tate as someone who might have to switch positions to make an NFL roster, Sanders said.
“He runs well for a guy his size, he just didn’t have a good 40-time. Sometimes 40-times are overrated,” Sanders said. “He does have good quickness and the ability to separate from defenders and stretch the field. He just does it his own way.”
The Bengals drafted Tate with one of the last picks of the 2018 draft, and Tate was Cincinnati’s 11th selection that year. The Bengals couldn’t fit all 11 picks on the roster, and Tate was a long shot to stay on the team past the preseason.
He quickly showed the Bengals what he can do in the red zone.
Early in summer mini-camp, Tate beat starting cornerback William Jackson III in the end zone for an over-the-top touchdown grab. It was such a great catch that former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton asked the camera crew if they caught the play on video.
He kept making plays in training camp and earned a spot on the 53-man roster as a wide receiver. Tate didn’t have to play tight end to make the team, but he still never had a consistent role in the offense until Sept. 2019.
In week three against the Buffalo Bills, Tate replaced wide receiver Damion Willis in the starting lineup, and Tate finished with six catches for 88 yards. Tate started almost every game last season and ended 2019 with 40 receptions.
During the 2020 offseason, Tate trained with former Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin. They targeted areas for Tate to improve to have a more consistent 2020 season, and Tate came away from the workouts as a better player.
“(I’m) staying low on my routes, staying low coming out of my initial stance, catching the ball better, running better, blocking better,” Tate said. “I just feel like I can do anything better.”
Tate has still never played with a quarterback as talented as Burrow. During Bengals training camp, they clicked right away.
In the first scrimmage, Tate started alongside Tyler Boyd and Mike Thomas at wide receiver. Green and John Ross weren’t available, but Tate almost single-handedly made up for their production.
Burrow’s first two completions were long passes to Tate, and Tate also made two over-the-shoulder catches in the end zone.
It wasn’t a bad start for someone who has been on the roster bubble in each of the last two preseasons.
“Auden Tate, obviously, has picked up where he left off last year in terms of execution and play-making ability, his skills that he brings to our offense,” Callahan said.
Even though the 23 year-old Tate has been one of Cincinnati’s most valuable players during training camp, it’s not guaranteed that Tate will reclaim his starting spot on Sept. 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. If Green and Ross are both healthy, it’s possible Tate comes off the bench.
But Taylor said Tate’s skill set has expanded over the last year, and he’s proven he can be a consistent contributor. And he'll be a contributor at wide receiver.
“He has proven, on the film last year and the way he goes about his business, that he can do a lot for you as an offense," Taylor. "You can’t just say he’s a red zone player. He’s a three-down guy for you.”
