12-31-2019, 11:05 AM
(12-31-2019, 08:59 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Things went kind of sideways and this thread became about what WRs folks like, etc, but I thought Tate might be (especially with Green out) a better candidate in the slot to utilize his strengths and Boyd could do everything Green did.
People get hung up on 40 times, but Jerry Rice was not a burner rather he was an outstanding route runner. Some of these things can be taught (some can't) and I thought the work that Tate put in this offseason showed a lot of his desire. The guy has hands like glue and is tough as nails. As you said, he is a damn fine ball player and I want to find ways to get him on the field.
TJ Houshmanzadeh was no burner, either, but was tough as nails and "smooth" in his route running. He also had great hands. I see Tate as a bigger version of TJ and the more I watched him the more I was impressed with his route running.
The issue is, you can really only have one slot guy if you're primarily running 11 personnel. Boyd is best in the slot. Trying to move Tate there is robbing Peter to pay Paul. We need deep threats, anyways. Just get an outside WR that can play the part.
Another issue is Tate struggles to get separation and that leads to a lot of contested balls. That means more balls batted up in the air in the middle of the field with LB's and S's roving around to pick them off. It also means guys jumping slants due to his lack of speed and open field quickness.
Certainly, you don't have to be a burner to be a good NFL WR. However, you can't have a bunch of slow WR's out there, either. Rice had John Taylor, who was more of a vertical threat. They complimented each other. TJ had Chad and Henry, both of whom were deep threats.
