(08-29-2019, 12:42 PM)Whatever Wrote:  Malone got more seperation on that should have been a TD in week 1 than Tate has gotten  his entire pro career combined.

(08-29-2019, 12:42 PM)Whatever Wrote: Malone was hurt last year.  Your boy that consistently makes catches only caught 4 of his 12 targets against 1's in games that mattered.  It's amazing that against CB's that can actually play the ball in the air and get good leverage that Tate can't produce.

Are you seriously pimping PS playing time?  You realize Taylor has been resting his good players as much as possible, right?  Malone got more seperation on that should have been a TD in week 1 than Tate has gotten  his entire pro career combined.

If separation doesn't matter, then why doesn't every team just roll 4 6'6" TE's out there every snap?  Tate's speed makes things harder for everyone else on the field.  S's cheat into the box to stop the run and cheat on guys like AJ and Boyd.  CB's jump his routes trying for picks because he ain't going anywhere if they miss.  Contested catches lead to tipped balls which leads to more passes coming back the other way.

(08-29-2019, 12:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Once the ball has been fielded, isn't a STs play essentially a running play?  If Tate can block in the running game, he should be a valuable blocker on STs.

(08-29-2019, 12:42 PM)Whatever Wrote: If separation doesn't matter, then why doesn't every team just roll 4 6'6" TE's out there every snap?  Because not all 6' 6" TEs can catch the ball like Tate, and, because no team has a bunch of WR/TEs that look the same and do the same thing. (was it really necessary for me to explain this, or are you just bored?)

Tate's speed makes things harder for everyone else on the field.  S's cheat into the box to stop the run and cheat on guys like AJ and Boyd.  CB's jump his routes trying for picks because he ain't going anywhere if they miss.  Contested catches lead to tipped balls which leads to more passes coming back the other way. Absolutely none of this is true. All of it is made up in your mind. 

(08-29-2019, 12:48 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Tate needs to improve against 1's big time that is for sure. 

Same for Malone but like you said he can at least get separation which is a big deal cause this means he can play in 
between the 20's and not just in the Red Zone. Getting open comes from getting separation, you get open the QB can
see it.

Tate should only be used in Red Zone situations or in emergency cause he cannot get separation.

Still want both to make the team.

(08-29-2019, 12:54 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: No. 

(08-29-2019, 01:08 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I guess we could use him on 3rd downs if Dalton has enough time.

Hey, I like Tate too but the guy has to start contributing against 1's before I go pimpin the dude.

His lack of true speed is a real thing. 

Malone needs to start producing against 1's too and I am not pimpin him either.

Just saying what their strengths are.

Tate in college was a red zone nightmare for Defenses. This is his biggest strength.

(08-29-2019, 11:08 AM)Whatever Wrote: They aren't dumping Ross.

Seriously, we went through this last year with Tate.  He makes a bunch of contested catches against the scrubs in preseason and when he got into games that counted against legit CB's, he sucked.

(08-29-2019, 11:40 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Ross has been more productive than Malone. No reason to keep Malone over Ross.

(08-29-2019, 12:51 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Such silliness. But answers are in bold.

(08-29-2019, 01:15 PM)impactplaya Wrote: Who was defending Tate when he caught that 10 yd pass last week vs the Giants?

(08-29-2019, 01:41 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If I'm being honest, I don't think any of Tate, Core, or Malone really will become a good quality starter, so I think the debate about which one is better is really not a big deal. It comes down to which one would fill a better role on the team.

Core - ST gunner and straight-line speed.
Malone - Speed to get deep.
Tate - Slow but really good hands and size. Hearing his ST is improving.

Out of the three, Malone played the least amount of snaps (ST and Off) last year.
Core - 189 ST snaps, 310 offensive snaps
Malone - 27 ST snaps, 68 offensive snaps
Tate - 43 ST snaps, 77 offensive snaps

Some may point to Malone being hurt, but he was still available for 9 games, which was 2 more than Tate. Tate still put up more snaps and offensive production than Malone.

I'm sorry, but Malone seems like the odd man out to me.

(08-28-2019, 06:58 PM)grampahol Wrote: Probably some guy in an office at ESPN who watched A preseason game, saw him make a catch and makes a decision based on that alone. He might make the PS or even the 53 if someone goes down.. 

(08-29-2019, 01:41 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If I'm being honest, I don't think any of Tate, Core, or Malone really will become a good quality starter, so I think the debate about which one is better is really not a big deal. It comes down to which one would fill a better role on the team.

Core - ST gunner and straight-line speed.
Malone - Speed to get deep.
Tate - Slow but really good hands and size. Hearing his ST is improving.

Out of the three, Malone played the least amount of snaps (ST and Off) last year.
Core - 189 ST snaps, 310 offensive snaps
Malone - 27 ST snaps, 68 offensive snaps
Tate - 43 ST snaps, 77 offensive snaps

Some may point to Malone being hurt, but he was still available for 9 games, which was 2 more than Tate. Tate still put up more snaps and offensive production than Malone.

I'm sorry, but Malone seems like the odd man out to me.

(08-29-2019, 02:26 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: I don't think Malone and Tate are competing.

Despite the announcement that he'll start, Damion Willis is backing up AJ as the X receiver in the Robert Woods role.

Boyd will be used in the Cooper Kuyp role. Erickson's a solid back-up plan here and special teams guy who they'd like to find more touches for. (This incidentally is where Stanley Morgan - who I think has a big future in the NFL - would best fit as well, but the Bengals are hoping to smuggle him onto the Practice Squad instead)

Ross will be in the Brandin Cooks role with lots of jet motion plays trying to exploit his speed. If Ross doesn't pick up the playbook Erickson will get his extra touches here. He doesn't have Ross' speed but he's more reliable.

Tate is backing up Eifert. I'm not saying that he's being converted to a TE but more that Eifert is being basically used as a WR these days on 3rd down and Red Zone packages. Eifert's injury record isn't great. If Zac Taylor is drawing up Red Zone packages around Eifert's receiving ability, he's going to need an understudy for when Eifert's injured so he doesn't lose half his playbook. That's Tate more than Uzomah or Sample. If Tate is competing against anybody - and I think he's won a role - it's probably Mason Schreck.


So where does Malone fit? He should have been AJ Green's understudy but he's been beaten out by Damion Willis. He's now battling against Cody Core, Ventell Bryant and Stanley Morgan Jr (if he's fit yet) for a spot as a versatile back-up receiver. He'll need to show he can cover multiple roles and play teams to stay on the roster. He's also competing against the other positions on the bubble - the depth on the D-line that the Bengals will want to protect, maybe a 6th linebacker (probably through waivers), maybe a 9th O-lineman if Glenn's concussion doesn't look good.