[ad_1]
FOXBORO – Imagine if the Browns and the Patriots did not trade earlier this week? Imagine if Josh Gordon was not in New England, parked in the Patriots' dressing room near Tom Brady's?
The Patriots would always have what would be widely regarded as a serious need at the receiver and this weekend would be considered by many as a kind of audition.
It's Bill Belichick's chance to see Golden Tate in person.
The reason why Tate's name intrigues in this area is the superposition. First of all, he is in the last year of his contract in Detroit. Secondly, he is on a list that is at the heart of the receiver – he has entered the season with six – and has a good mix of young and veterans. Third, he plays for a team that has relations with the patriots both at the head coach and at the front office and both parties have already entered into agreements.
Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" In addition, Detroit journalists have floated the possibility of Tate be exchanged, and then there is this: Our friend Scott Zolak hinted on 98.5 The Sports Hub that the Patriots would make a move for "someone of Tate's caliber or better … I think the minimum bar is Golden Tate." "data-reactid =" 21 "> In addition, there is the fact that the journalists in Detroit have launched the possibility of negotiating Tate. Our friend Scott Zolak hinted on 98.5 The Sports Hub that the Patriots would make a move for "someone of Tate's caliber or better … I think the minimum bar is Golden Tate."
If Gordon was not in Foxboro at the moment, what Belichick said about Tate this week would certainly do nothing to stifle the buzz about a possible union.
"Very difficult," said Belichick to slow down Tate. "Golden is excellent with the ball in his hands, he is good without the ball in his hands too, he opens a lot, runs very good roads, he is difficult to cover, but once he touches the ball, he is strong." he goes through the contact, he is fast, he is fast, he changes direction and he has a good vision.
"When he gets the ball, he can get into those spaces, and he runs through the tackles, he has a good balance, so, yes, all of those … So, it's a big challenge. floor."
Even with Gordon in the fold, there is no guarantee that he will solve the depth problems of the Patriots. There is the possibility that things are not working here and that the team is once again engaged in its long-standing quest for expanded assistance.
Tate and Gordon, of course, are very different players.
Gordon could, at his best, help the Patriots extend the field vertically and give Brady another field target. After a rebound season in 2017 with Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Gronkowski working together, Brady saw his dip early in the season.
He tried passes of 20 yards or more just 11 percent of the time (19th in the NFL) and his score on the deep passes was 76.6 (15th). While he played one of the best defenses of the NFL in the second week against the Jaguars, Brady's 83 yards in two weeks were marked by three passes to Gronkowski in the middle of the pack.
Tate, meanwhile, is one of the best slots receivers in football. His skills are probably Brady's because he is a short-to-intermediate demon. His average target depth is 6.6 yards this season, which is significantly lower than the Patriots' qualified receiver with the lowest number in this category Phillip Dorsett (9.5).
And in terms of availability, Tate has the advantage of not challenging Gordon. Tate has missed only six games since his year as a rookie in 2010, and he has played in every game except one over the last seven seasons.
No wonder Belichick loves the player. And depending on how the receivers of the Patriots are heard, perhaps he will call the Lions between now and the league trade deadline at the end of October. On Sunday, he will examine one of his most valuable chips.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON PROGRAM
[ad_2]
Source link
