10-10-2015, 02:10 PM
(10-09-2015, 03:39 PM)djs7685 Wrote: If you look at all active players with at least 75 returns, Tate ranks...
20th in kick return yards per return. 32 players qualify right now.
20th (tied with 3 others) in punt return yards per return. 38 players qualify right now.
His New England kick return stats are also included, which is where he had his 2nd best average of his career. In Cincinnati, Tate has been alright, but not great. A lot of people want that dynamic returner that can make some moves and create something out of seemingly nothing. Tate also isn't the guy that's going to quickly hit the small gaps and burn the coverage team that way very often either. He's not the worst return man in the league, but he's just a guy that's going to have a bunch of average returns with the occasional 40 or so yarder that puts us in a good spot. He's not the guy that you get overly excited about when he steps on the field.
I don't think it's unreasonable that people would like to see an upgrade there, but Tate does an alright job being able to backup the outside receiver spot and return kicks at a solid rate. It's just another thread and another handful of posts that proves that some people can't figure out the difference between "hate" and criticism. There's a famous line on these boards that goes something like "*insert player name* is better than he gets credit for", and that's usually only true if you tune out every objective poster and only pay attention to the small handful of extremists.
It's the fact they have made almost 0 effort to get better from a mediocre at best player.
That is what drives people nuts.
A 7th rounder on Alford is the biggest effort this team has made at getting better there.
At some point you expect the team to want to upgrade...I mean, it isn't like replacing a LT or QB....it's a 5th WR and KR....
