OT: Lions Sign WR Golden Tate
@ttwentyman: Golden Tate just agreed to a 5-year deal with the #Lions. Edit: 5 year, 31 million, per Josina Anderson.
Outside of Calvin Johnson the Lions WR corps is the most pitful position group on the team. Calvin just makes you forget that the rest of the guys are scrubs. When you're the most pass-happy team in the league that's a major issue.
Nate Burleson had the 2nd most catches by a WR on the team and he only played in 9 games.
We've seen what happens to our offense when Calvin doesn't play or is banged up. We are trash. We desperately need playmakers at WR. It was probably our biggest need.
With a notable exception, the track history is poor. Although the Lions may have overpaid for Tate, I think that a top notch DB in the draft is what's most needed, especially considering the receivers in the rest of the division.
6 Mil a year? That's a lot.
Can someone fille me in on why Golden Tate is such a jerk? Other than attending Notre Dame?
A few pieces of evidence for your perusal (all of which I find hilarious as opposed to egregious):
http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2012061824_hawk09.html
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000271662/WK-8-Can…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD380XDs-NY
Keep in mind everything is subjective but if you aren't a fan of the team he is playing for it is easy to see why people think he is a jerk.
This exactly. I think he's a decent WR, but I am not a fan of him as a player. I dont really like the attitude he brings to the game. Yes, this goes back to his days at ND, but he also hasn't really changed since then. However, I am also not a Lions fan nor am I a big NFL fan in general.
I'm sure Seattle fans all loved him, just like they love Richard Sherman. And now, all the Lions fans on here are defending him like crazy, which is fine and makes sense. But from an outsiders perspective, the guy has an attitude problem. That doesn't make it a bad move for the Lions, however. I'm just not a fan of it.
Double Post
March 12th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
band so he gets points for that. He missed sparty though so that's a big negative.
of how good this signing is for Detroit.
I know it's our immediate inclination to poop on anything the Lions do, but signing Golden Tate was an excellent move - and could prove to be a huge steal for just 31 million.
-As someone above mentioned, his drop rate is the best amongst WRs since 2011.
-In 2013, he led all qualified receivers in Yards After Catch per reception
-In 2013, he also led all WRs in Missed Tackles forced. He avoided 21. Calvin, by comparison, avoided 13.
This is an excellent signing no matter how you slice it. Him and Calvin is a scary, scary duo.
Of course, this will all be moot when Jim Caldwell farts all over him.
March 13th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
I think Johnson is a different type of receiver, not an open space player, but a player who gets open and makes huge plays.
I'm not so sure. It's quite possible they could have won without Tate. However, keep in mind if they didn't have him they probably don't score that deep touchdown against the Rams and win that game. They then tie for the best record in the NFC with the 49ers. The Niners win the tie breaker because of a better division record and the NFC championship game is played in San Francisco. With how close that NFC championship was I doubt the Hawks beat the Niners in San Francisco. Not to mention the Hawks path to the NFC championship would have been a lot more difficult in the playoffs without home field advantage. That scenario shows how important every player is to the overall success or failure of a team.
He'll be useful but I'm not a fan of him!
of really, really good football players?
But now he's OUR knucklehead...
Lewan or Jake Matthews in Round 1
CB like Roby, Dennard or Fuller in Round 2
A Safety like Lamarcus Joyner or Ahmad Dixon in Round 3
The Iowa TE CJ Fiedorowicz in Round 5
An ILB...maybe Bullough in Round 6
A C to take over for Raiola, like Gabe Ikard from Oklahoma in Round 7
A QB that you don't want to risk losing as an uFA, like James Franklng of Mizzou in Round 7
Lions OL was arguably the best in the league. They protected Stafford really well and open running lanes for Bush/Bell. Only thing I would focus on OL is find a future starting C to replace Riaola.
Is Dennard projected to go that low?
The Lions are set at tackle. Why people keep saying that they need a tackle I don't know.
Their needs are as follows: S, OLB, CB, DE, TE, C, and WR.
March 12th, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^
It's a 7 round draft..you can take the best player available in the 1st round and address needs later.
That's how the Lions built the DL, twice the top need wasn't DL and they took a DL and it worked out pretty damn well.
You can't bank on having 2 OTs and not losing one to FA or injuries or whatever. You take Lewan or Matthews if you think they can help the team and you know you now have some freedom on the OL AND you can get the best guys on the field at their best positions.
I'd never pass up the opportunity on a franchise OT in today's day and age. And even moreso in this world of free agency...I'd rather pay a rookie contract than a veteran one. Especially at OT. You can take that money and spend it elsewhere.
You build teams through the draft. Take quality players at important positions when you can get them.
I wonder what number he's going to get? 81 is already taken.
I still want Watkins if we can reasonably trade up. I feel like you don't become a SB contender by building a solid all around team and trying to fill every single need. You build parts of your team to be juggernauts while some other parts may simply just have to hold up.
Examples of some very good teams over the last decade plus:
Seattle Defense vs Offense (although the Offense improved a lot)
Ravens Defense versus offense back in the day
Colts Offense versus defense
Broncos O vs D
NO Saints O vs D
Denver O vs D
Packers O vs D
I guess the Patriots are the exception.
etc. etc.
All great teams have areas where they are not stellar but they also have areas where they are simply AWESOME. If the Lions draft Watkins I think it could put their offense over the top assuming Stafford has a bounce back year and the O Line can keep it up. The defense is good enough as is to make a deep play off run without top end secondary help. getting a game changer like Watkins is much more valuable to this team than a decent player like Ha-Ha or Dennard...
March 12th, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
As much as I hated Golden Tate at Notre Dame, he is a heck of a player. Good move by the Lions. It's not often that I say that.
March 13th, 2014 at 12:33 AM ^
Now the Lions can pick the best defensive player, probably a DB or FS with the 1st round pick, then pick a good 3rd or 4th spot receiver.
I love the signing of Tate. I hated him in College but respected his talent. I don't think he lived up to his talent in the NFL yet (but his hands/only 7 dropped balls are insanely impressive). Now that he is WR2 across from the best WR in football, on a pass first offense, he will get that chance to play like he did at Notre Dame and what people expected him to be out of college. I am really excited about his ceiling.. he's still so young and only played on one team, that isn't known for it's passing. Especially before they got Russel Wilson, they were god awful.
As for the draft pick, now I don't have to worry about them trading up to get Watkins. I really, really doubt they would be so desperate now. IF he fell to them tho, they may pull the trigger and I couldn't blame them.. but I don't think he will fall. This allows them to continue to work on the defense and they really can get a stud with that pick. Anyway, hopefully they put together a draft like last years.. they finally found guys in the later rounds who are able to help immediately. That's how you build NFL teams.
March 13th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
I just saw this. It's amazing that no one blocked this board and even more amazing if they are going after Grossman.
Here is a link to the story about the board. Link
