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Looking at the 2010 NFL Draft: Golden Tate

Today I saw Todd McShay's latest draft and the Jets selection landed on the offensive line in Bryan Bulaga, a tackle from Iowa. While he has had a excellent career with Iowa, and was selected to the Outland Trophy watch list, McShay himself admitted that he plays too high and he needs to improve his footwork. However my problem was not with the player, at some point we will have to address the tackle position, personally I don't think that point is here with a first round selection.

My main problem came when looking past our selection and seeing the players that were left on the board, most notable Taylor Mays, C.J Spiller, Marvin Austin but most pressing for me Golden Tate. Now before I even start I will say that I am a Notre Dame fan, so perhaps I'm a little biased but hear me out on this one

We have a potential dynamic offence that is missing one key ingredient, that slot receiver, a Wes Welker type player, some have suggested that Danny Woodhead could be that guy, and excitement ensued when he was tried out in the role earlier in the season, and as much as I like the gritty little guy, I don't think the role is right for him.

Many have questioned Golden's stock because of his height, and with receivers like Welker and Smith in the league, this really doesn't hold much water any more. His quickness, elusiveness and solid hands are what should be taken into consideration. His vertical is exceptional, and despite standing under 6 ft, he can go up and get balls that taller receivers couldn't manage.

One area that this team struggles with is the screen, I can't remember the last time we ran a series of effective screens, and while you need a lot of moving parts to come together the receiver can make or break a screen play, Golden is more than capable of running screens effectively, we have seen that with Notre Dame for the last few years.

Although he has gained notoriety as a big play receiver, he is more comfortable making plays after getting the ball in his hands, something that can probably be attributed to his running back past. He runs his routes cleanly, and he continuously brought the ball down in traffic. He never flinches from a hit, so the middle of the field is certainly his friend

So just imagine this scenario, Cotchery and Braylon split out wide, Keller and Tate taking care of the middle of the field, with Leon coming out of the backfield. The options for Sanchez would be numerous, the added dimension to this team would bring the passing offence up with rushing offence and really complete this team.

As you have probably already gathered, I'm a big fan og Tate's, he just broke the single season reception record and receiving yards record held by former Irish star and current Cub player Jeff Samardzija. He won the 2009 Biletnikoff Award given to the best receiver in the country. 93 receptions for 1,496 yards and 15 TD's were his winning numbers.

I believe that we are in a very privileged situation where we really don't have one area that we absolutely have to address, the defensive line has really come along with Pouha and Devito showing improvement, Ellis having a great ending to his season and Douglas being as solid as he always has been. Sure we could possibly bring in a young apprentice either on the line or as a OLB, but we are also in the position where we can take the best player available, and with us likely picking low 20's, I find it hard to imagine that if Golden is their when we select, he is not the best player available.



 

Poll
If the Jets were to select Golden Tate in the first round, would you approve of the pick?
Yes
202 votes
No
50 votes
Tate is a great option, but we have more pressing needs
108 votes

360 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments |

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Comments

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I was hoping for taylor mays… or trading up to draft Suh, but I’d be open to it.

Only problem I have with Tate is his hands. The slot guy needs to be a possession receiver, like Welker is… but Tate has had a problem with dropped balls. Can he be consistent?

 We already have braylon and we dont need another guy dropping the ball when we need a big play or 3rd down conversion.

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by Matt Birch on Dec 15, 2009 10:41 PM EST reply actions  

He dropped a couple but not enough that you would hold it against him like some do with Braylon, it’s not like he was dropping balls every game, watched every single game this year, and the amount he was targeted he did excellent to not drop more. Not sure what the Stats say, but judging what is and what isn’t a dropped catch is a judgement call.. Mostly he has good hands. I think that Tate can be a possession receiver just like Welker.

Mays is possible but Suh is likely the number one pick (If it’s Tampa) or the 2nd (Tampa again with St Louis picking first)

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 15, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah I am probably dreaming with Suh. Top of everyones wish list. Considering the lack of parity in the NFL this year and how bad STL-Detroit-Tampa are and because they need to replace every single position, why not start building with suh lol. Good place to start

 Also unlikely we trade up two years in a row. … I can dream!

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by Matt Birch on Dec 15, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions  

It would be amazing to have that guy, he is a sure star in the making, but your right about not being able to trade up two years in a row, after a three pick draft in 2008, I think we need to use what picks we have left. The only way he doesn’t go first is if St Louis get the pick IMO, they need to bring in a face as a QB, and that has to be Jimmy Clausen now that Jake Locker is staying in school, and wouldn’t take Bradford their with his injury issues this year.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions  

Meant to also say that when Leon comes back next year we’ll be able to run more screens.

Good article though David and enjoyed the read. We’ll see what transpires.

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by Matt Birch on Dec 15, 2009 10:42 PM EST reply actions  

What about Eric Berry, a safety out of Tennessee? If we do in fact trade Rhodes we will have to replace him. I agree that we do need a welker type reciever but can’t you address that in the later rounds?

by chrebetsthebet on Dec 16, 2009 5:00 AM EST reply actions  

No.

This is not a good idea.

We can get a good slot receiver in the 4th or 5th round, don’t waste a 1st round pick on someone who will be on the field for 40% of the plays at the rate we run the ball. We need a Pass Rusher, O-Line and D-Line youth and Depth, a Safety who isn’t afraid to tackle and doesn’t spend the off season looking in the mirror and a Blocking TE.

And dude… the sign up process for this blog was worse than applying to college.

by Dknyj on Dec 16, 2009 8:08 AM EST reply actions  

So you wouldn’t take the best player available if he was it at that point? slot guy who is more than capable of splitting out wide. I think we are in a situation where we can afford to take the best guy available and will take a game changer over some O-line depth, but that’s just me.

Can’t remember what the sign up process is for this blog.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions  

I don't agree.

Tate has had a great career, but honestly you can get a solid slot anywhere. For example, Julian Edelman was a 7th round pick for the pats this year and is now known as Welker Jr. I say DE first round.

by Jerrad p on Dec 16, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions  

He’s not just a slot though, was just saying that he could play their and be elite in that position, but he has the talent to be elite anywhere he lines up, as the number one or the number two guy split out wide or in the slot for us right now. Not to mention his game breaking potential returning punts. You can get a slot guy later on, but you won’t get a guy like Tate later on. I’m not against taking a DE, but I’m not reaching for one either, simply because we don’t have to, so if their are no decent DE’s or OLB’s when we select, picking a guy like Tate would be a smart choice IMO.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't watch much college football but...

from the little that i saw of Tate I like what I see. The guy is definitely a gamer and can make plays. He seems to thrive in the spot-light too which indicates that he might be unphased by playing in NY.

I think you’re right about us not really having any holes and that we should draft teh best available. I like the pick if its there, but i would prefer to grab a big-time safety if possible and dump Rhodes.

by Crackback on Dec 16, 2009 10:20 AM EST reply actions  

Absolutely, if we decided to go another route to Rhodes and that is up in the air at the minute then Taylor Mays (Who was still on McShay’s board) would be an option.

What do people think to McShay’s pick for us of Bulaga? I was a little confused when I saw it to be honest because IMO that is quite a reach, and unnecessary one as well

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions  

Depth

The Jets have a lot of good starters. The draft is supposed to be one of the deepest ever.

I’d like to see them focusing on building depth rather than one glamorous pick. It made sense this year, but great teams have good backups, not just starters. If we think we are getting close to being an elite team we need more depth in lots of places.

by JetsFan1991 on Dec 16, 2009 10:50 AM EST reply actions  

I honestly believe we're a quaterback away right now.

If we had a top notch QB we would probably have at least 3 more wins this year, and the running-game would arguably bc teams would be less willing to sneak and 8th man in the box. If Sanchez develops some more these last few games, and shows he can put up 300+ yards, complete more than 60% of his passes and have a 2:1 TD/INT ratio, I would be VERY encouraged about the prospects of next year. Heck, maybe even the playoffs this year if we make it in.

by Crackback on Dec 16, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions  

I think we showed to some extent this year that we do have a little more depth than we though, who honestly thought that Pouha and Devito would be as good as they have been, it’s because of that I feel confident in looking elsewhere, where as a month or so ago I was adament that we must go to the defensive line for help. We do need to add depth on the offensive line and at the OLB position, but like you said this is a deep draft, so although this pick could be seen as a glamorous one, I think it also fills a need in the team.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions  

people keep mentioning Kerry being gone (i’m not so sure) and Lito’s option not being picked up. If that’s true, we’ll need a lot of help in the secondary.

i agree re: DL, but i’m not convinced we don’t need more. also is Ellis sticking around? OLB could be an area to upgrade or at least strengthen, Thomas hasn’t been mentioned much during games or in recaps. Is Tony Richardson still going to be around – he is 37 or so (I’m not saying to use a 1st rounder on a blocking fullback, but we may need to use a pick on one)

by JetsFan1991 on Dec 16, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions  

What I sometimes forget is that their are decent players to be had after the draft, although rare, you can find them. I think Ellis will be here and I think Lito will be back, but obviously scenario’s like those will dictate our needs. I wouldn’t mind going to a OLB spot or another top of the line CB. I think Richardson is still playing at an elite level and although he is getting up their in age, he still has a year or two left in him.

It will be interesting to see where we go, but I wouldn’t be disappointed with Tate.

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 16, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions  

I agree that the O-line should be addressed...

The O-line is aging and this might be the draft to trade down and stock-pile picks and pick up some good o-line prospects in the later rounds. It would be great to grab a couple good ones and let them watch and learn from the best in the biz for a year or two.

Or maybe stockpile some picks and pull off a big-time trade for a Sean Rogers (if healthy) or Boldin or a big time DE.

Imagine Rogers and Jenkins on the same DL at the same time. It would be sick. U could load them to one side of a 3-4 alignment. Or go to a 4-3 in the early downs and then switch back to 3-4 in the 2nd and/or 3rd and longs and let them rotate and spell each other. The DL would be so disruptive, both would have to be double-teamed and blitzers would just run free and smash QBs; and we would be impossible to run against. Im salivating at the propositon.

by Crackback on Dec 16, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions  

Tate is

going to be a very good NFL receiver. He could be more than just a slot receiver, too. I would not mind at all if they took him. He can really make guys miss in the open field, and he breaks tackles. Did anyone see his TD against Stanford? It’s not on the above highlight reel, but he made about 6 guys miss tackles on that one. One of the best plays I saw all year.

 He reminds me of Carolina’s Steve Smith, but probably with a little less speed. But it’s not all about the combine stuff and 40 time. Some guys are just good football players and have a nose for the endzone, or the first down line. Sort of like Ray Rice. People thought he wasn’t fast enough, and look how good he is. I think WR really will be their biggest need, since I don’t see them bringing Edwards back. We’ll see, I guess.

by Mackey Sasser on Dec 16, 2009 1:15 PM EST reply actions  

Receivers are important, but....

Taking a look at the teams that are tanking, we need depth at the offensive line. One doesn’t need to look beyond the Redskins to see what a lack of depth at the line will do to a team. The better Jets teams in the past always had that quality intact. And it is especially important with a young quarterback at the helm.

by oldskooljet on Dec 17, 2009 9:05 AM EST reply actions  

Agreed that we need to get some depth on the offensive line, but thinking we can do that through FA or even pick up a guy in the 2nd/4th rounds. You can get a solid OT in the later rounds, but think it’s quite rare to get a game changer like Tate. I was actually looking at the offensive line yesterday because I couldn’t remember the last time one was injured, and it was 2007 before we put our guys together. Don’t want to tempt fate though lol

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 17, 2009 9:21 AM EST up reply actions  

ESPN very early projections

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/7945/too-soon-to-mock-it-out-no-way

have the Jets passing on Tate and taking a tackle, I like this idea. they then have miami taking Tate with the next pick. of course the draft order is far from set and more players may declare

by JetsFan1991 on Dec 19, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions  

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