WR Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks

HT: 5-10, WT: 199, Born: 8-2-1988, College: Notre Dame, Drafted: Round 2

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: Golden Tate (179), B Quick (180), Z Stacy (181)
Position: R Broyles (173-WR61), M Sanu (175-WR62), Golden Tate (179 - WR63), B Quick (180-WR64), R Randle (191-WR65)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: D Allen (167), D Heyward-Bey (168), Golden Tate (169), P Rivers (170), S Bradford (171)
Position: M Floyd (162-WR57), D Heyward-Bey (168-WR58), Golden Tate (169 - WR59), G Little (173-WR60), K Allen (175-WR61)
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 2 - It is safe to say Tate’s biggest contribution to the Seattle offense was not a catch, but instead a brutal blindside block on Dallas LB Sean Lee. Wilson scrambled around the left edge; Tate broke his route off and absolutely demolished Lee. The crowd and Seattle bench exploded and you could fill the Dallas team calling in unison, “check please” as Lee had to be helped to the bench. Tate did have two big catches for 1st downs on drag routes, one that helped Seattle get out of their end zone on their first TD drive and a second that gave them a 1st and goal leading to their second TD drive. Neither racked up the yards, but both directly lead to TDs later in the drives. Tate also just barely missed a 45-yard TD pass in the first quarter, as Wilson underthrew Tate and allowed Morris Claiborne to break the pass up.

Week 3 - Golden Tate had probably the most memorable game in his career already on Monday night but there was more to his performance than the miraculous play at the end of the game. Tate scored in the first quarter on a deep post route pass from Wilson. Wilson executed a good play action fake before setting up in a good pocket and firing deep to wide open Tate to haul in the touchdown after leaving his defender in the dust with a double move. Tate had a short slant catch in the redzone also but was unable to shake the tackler and get loose. He also made an attempt to catch a pass that looked to be initially intended for WR Rice but Tate got a hand on it unfortunately and it ended up incomplete. Then “the play” happened. Tate got a free release off the line and ran straight down the field into the endzone while Wilson was scrambling to set up a deep throw. Both Tate and DB Jennings leapt high to try and make the play but Jennings got two hands on the ball and appeared to pick it off, all while Tate was trying desperately to wrestle the ball away from him. It was ruled a touchdown however, as the play is awarded to the offense if the catch is “contested”, despite the fact Jennings had far more control of it than Tate. A truly bizarre play which awarded Tate a big play and touchdown catch but likely would have been ruled an interception under different circumstances with the officials. Tate also committed pass interference on Jennings that was missed by the officials and also would have overturned the touchdown.

Week 4 - Tate lined up at LWR and moved around the formation more so than Rice, however, did not get involved in the game registering only 1 catch for 7 yards. The box score does not tell the whole story however as Tate was actually a great participant in the run game and sealed a number of great blocks to allow Lynch to get to the edge and pick up extra yards. Tate is a strong, physical WR that will need more consistent QB play to be productive, but has the intangibles you look for in a WR. His willingness to block and use his strength is something that definitely should not be overlooked.

Week 5 - Golden Tate could have had a more impressive day in the box score and on the field had a post route for 30+ yards not been nullified by a holding penalty early on. Tate took the top off the defense on the play and left the Panthers’ secondary for dead. In the fourth quarter, Tate caught the eventual game-winning touchdown pass on a quick slant in the red zone, Wilson zipping it into him as soon as he flashed open. Tate broke a poor tackle attempt and finished the play. If Russell Wilson’s confidence continues to grow, Tate will be a frequent target for the foreseeable future.

Week 6 - Tate was fairly ineffective for the Seahawks besides from a 51 yard pick up as his two other receptions went for -4 yards. Tate is easily the ‘Hawks most physical WR and they prefer to use him in the run game, as well as on bubble screens and quick outs.

Week 7 - Tate's first target should have been intercepted when he was perfectly covered down the sideline and Russell Wilson threw it up between he and the defender. Tate did well to fight enough so that the defender couldn't make a play on the football. Wilson came straight back to Tate deep down the seam when he had an opportunity to make a reception, but couldn't hold onto the football against tight coverage. Tate didn't drop a pass all of last season, but couldn't make a catch all of this game. Wilson came back to him early in the third quarter on an open slant pattern that would have gone for a first down. Tate dropped it and the Seahawks punted.

Week 8 - Tate led the Seahawks in both catches and yards on Sunday; with a long of 18 yards on the first play offensive play of the game. Targeted seven times, Tate was able to catch all of them, including three on the opening FG drive. It was Tate who drew the 41-yard pass interference call that took Seattle to the Lions’ 15-yard line on their first TD drive. Tate also did a nice job picking Turbin’s man in coverage, allowing the RB to run free on the wheel route. On Seattle’s final TD drive, it was Tate who Wilson looked to on 4th down, hitting the slanting WR for six yards for the first down. Tate didn’t have any spectacular plays nor did he score any TDs, but it was clear he had Wilson’s trust throughout and was whom Wilson looked to most on the final drive.

Week 9 - A great performance by Tate, who showed that even though he doesn’t have elite speed or possess a large frame, he still has the ability to make fantastic plays through quickness and determination. On his first touchdown catch, Tate beat his man right at the line, executing a quick move to get inside on a crossing route, and then using his body to shield the defender from the ball in the back of the end zone. His next touchdown catch was even more impressive, catching the ball behind the line of scrimmage, shedding an arm tackle and then cutting past two defenders to get right before the end zone. With two defenders between Tate and a touchdown, Tate dove over one, only to get spun in the air by the other, but holding on to the ball as he crossed the goal line, Tate was able to score. The quickness and determination was used in full effect on wide receiver screens, where Tate could see what’s blocked and cut to space.

Week 10 - Golden Tate performed with both his arms and legs. During his team’s first drive, Tate ran a go-route down the left-sideline. Russell Wilson delivered a perfect back shoulder throw for a 38-yard touchdown. Tate was working against the smaller Kyle Wilson, so he had no issue reaching up to secure the catch. During the fourth quarter, Wilson delivered a quick screen to Tate. Tate made the play by hurdling over a defender and running through an arm tackle for a 14-yard gain. Four plays later, the Seahawks ran a misdirection, wide receiver throw play. Wilson pitched the ball to a motioning Tate who threw a perfect spiral to Sidney Rice in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown. Given Tate’s speed and play making ability, it’s no surprise that the Jets bit on the run fake.

Week 12 - Tate led all Seahawks in receiving yardage with fifty-six. Well over half of that yardage came on a first-and-ten play at the Dolphins’ thirty-seven yard line. Sprinting down the sideline on an outside-the-numbers go route, Tate leaped over Dolphins cornerback R.J. Stanford to corral a thirty-two yard pass from Russell Wilson to set up Seattle inside the Miami five-yard line. Seattle scored two plays later to tie the game at seven in the second quarter. Tate finished the loss against Miami with four catches on five targets.

Week 13 - Tate and Sidney Rice shared the spotlight in this game, and both of them had key receptions in the last few minutes of regulation and in overtime. Tate was very active in the first half, catching four of the five passes thrown his way, including a big 49 yarder near the end of the second quarter. On that play, Tim Jennings fell down and Tate was able to escape down the field and nearly scored before being dragged down by Brian Urlacher from behind. It set up the field goal that put the Seahawks up just before halftime. Tate didn’t have a target again until the TD pass at the end of the 4th quarter – a little slant route but the key play was after the catch. Tate broke three tackles and dove into the end zone, refusing to be denied the go-ahead score and putting his team in position to win the game.

Week 14 - Tate was pretty non-existent this week as the passing opportunities were few and far between. In addition, Tate’s best play was negated by penalty. Tate gained initial separation on an out route and gained plenty of yards after the catch down the sideline. Anthony McCoy ran a pick on the play, which called the play back. Tate was targeted only once down the field and that pass was intercepted. Patrick Peterson made a great play on ball as Russell Wilson scrambled outside the design of the play.

Week 15 - Tate received four targets, catching three with a long of 44 yards. With Lynch and Wilson working their flea flicker magic behind the line of scrimmage, Tate ran all the way across the field and easily connected for the long pass. Tate’s two other catches came of the quick slant variety, picking up 10 on both.

Week 16 - Tate had a subdued day, as the receiver was only able to record two catches. The first was on a quick slant, and as the receiver caught the ball he absorbed a hard blow from the defender and gained a 1st down. Late in the game, Wilson floated a ball over the defender on a rollout to the right, and Tate was able to catch the ball and sprint through the space afforded by the moved pocket. Tate was also able to draw a holding penalty in the end zone as he struggled with Tarell Brown over a high pass, eventually setting up Russell Wilson’s fourth touchdown pass.

Week 17 - Tate only had three catches on four targets, but it was good enough to lead the team. Tate averaged 35 yards a catch, including a long of 44 yards. Tate’s first catch came on the 2nd play of the game, a 30-yard catch and run that saw Tate make a tough grab on a low throw from Wilson. Tate’s final two catches didn’t come until the 2nd half, with his long coming on the game winning drive. With Wilson slipping out of the pocket, Tate came worked across the field and Wilson hit him. Tate was able to turn up field on the play, including juking two potential tacklers to pick up an extra 10+ yards. Tate saved Wilson from an INT in the 2nd half. Working deep down the middle of the field, Wilson’s throw was late allowing the DB to make a play on it. It appeared he would come down with it, but Tate was able to get his hands in and help jar the ball loose. Tate also had a very important fumble recovery, diving on Marshawn Lynch’s fumble at the Seattle 18-yard line.

Week 18 - Tate was Seattle’s most efficient receiving weapon against Washington, reeling in four of his five targets for thirty-five yards through the air. Tate was one of Russell Wilson’s preferred options on shorter throws – Tate’s long reception of the evening went for fifteen yards. Wilson did look Tate’s way on third-and-four at Washington’s four-yard line, but coverage from Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall prevented Tate from completing the catch on the short slant route.

Week 19 - Tate ended the 2012-2013 NFL season on a strong note, tallying more than one hundred yards receiving for the second time. The third-year wideout caught six passes for one hundred and three yards through the air, including a twenty-nine yard touchdown reception off lackadaisical coverage from the Atlanta secondary. With Seattle down by twenty points in the third quarter, Tate ran a long curl pattern, caught Russell Wilson’s pass, and made his way to the end zone. Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud came forward after the pass, expecting Tate to come back further. Meanwhile, cornerback Dunta Robinson came late to the party, whiffed on a tackle of Tate, and Tate breezed into the end zone for a Seahawks touchdown.