Bengals Brandon Tate Keep Improving In Return Games

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 11, 2011 8:00 PM EST

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Brandon Tate #19 of the Cincinnati Bengals returns a punt for a touchdown against David Vobora #54 of the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 30, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. The Bengals defeated the Seahawks 34-12.(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

At one point earlier in the season, questions were asked wondering if Quan Cosby's released for recently acquired Brandon Tate actually made the team worse. Cosby wasn't a break-away returner in the mold of Devin Hester, breaking tackles or instinctively attacking the running lane that would eventually develop. But he was, a fair word to use, stable. Though Cosby wasn't a kickoff returner, Tate was viewed as cost-saver, so to speak, for his ability to return both punts and kickoffs. Besides that, he wasn't efficient.

He would return kickoffs nine yards deep in the endzone, barely making it to the 15-yard line, much less the 20. And failing to haul in punts, as opposed to fair catching it, often put the Bengals inside the opposing 10-yard line. New England waived him during final cuts in 2011 because as one team observer noted, "He was among the worst kick returners at the end of the season."

However Tate has developed. Against the Buffalo Bills, Tate's longest punt return went 14 yards. Against the Jaguars, it was 22 yards. Against the Colts, it was 33 yards. Against the Seattle Seahawks, Tate returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. [Note: We'd be remise not to point out that Tate also had his worst punt return performance last week against the Titans with five returns for nine yards]

As for kickoff returns, Tate averaged 22.0 yards/return against the Buffalo Bills. That improved to 25.3 yards/return against the Jaguars, 27.5 yards/return against the Colts and 28.3 yards/return against the Seahawks, where he posted a season-high return of 45 yards.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So for the purposes of this article we're just going to ignore the Titans game?

What was his punt return average last week, 2 yards? He’s had ONE good return all year…the rest of the time he’s been horrible. He has zero discipline, whether it’s for knowing when to let a punt sail or fair catch it or when to not run a kickoff out of the back of the endzone. He stutter steps CONSTANTLY. The one time he didn’t, he took it to the house…and his coach said on national television “He was really good today because he didn’t do his stutter step thing” and then what does he do the very next game? Right back to where he started. Sorry, not a Brandon Tate fan. Not worth the rost er spot. When Jones is healthy, a combination of him, Hawkins, and Scott should be just fine.

by eric nyc on Nov 11, 2011 9:11 PM EST reply actions

Not sure what game you watched on Sunday,

but the Titans had GREAT kick coverage this past Sunday. Now, with that said, if Jones is healthy, the man needs to be the Bengals PR because, he is one of the best athletes in the game.

by whodeycommish14 on Nov 11, 2011 10:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

And Seattle has one of the worst coverage units in the league

So basically Brandon Tate is an alright returner when he plays crappy teams and is a really bad returner when he plays good teams. Why didn’t New England want him anymore?

by eric nyc on Nov 11, 2011 11:36 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Really buddy? You're only paying attention to the game that he returned a TD?

That only hurts your argument. I’m guessing that you didn’t pay attention to the good returns he had against the Jags and the Colts? The guy has potential and if I’m correct, I haven’t seen him drop a ball yet and as a PR that’s crucial. He’s the Bengals best option and if the Bengals didn’t get him off waivers, another team would have. Go back and look at the archives… Other teams wanted him, but he had better opportunities with the Bengals AT THE TIME.

by whodeycommish14 on Nov 12, 2011 2:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

no, the Bengals

were on top of the waiver pecking order during ST.

"At the very end, somebody took a dump right where I stood in the dugout every day." Dusty Baker

by featherman on Nov 12, 2011 7:08 AM EST up reply actions

Apparently we have the president of the Brandon Tate fan club here

What do I possibly care who else might have wanted him before we signed him? This is his first time regularly returning punts and, one return aside, he’s not particularly good at it. I certainly don’t see anything in his game that tells me he has so much potential that we should keep him on the roster as a project. We have at least 2 or 3 better options already on the roster in guys who contribute other places.

by eric nyc on Nov 12, 2011 8:58 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

We can only hope he improves.

I never was overly impressed with Cosby. Hopefully Tate becomes more consistent.

by redrifle14 on Nov 11, 2011 9:29 PM EST reply actions

Would love to see Hawkins get a shot in the return game

by biggie22 on Nov 11, 2011 9:40 PM EST reply actions

To be fair the Titans punt coverage was excellent. Tate really didn't have much of an opprotunity

when the defender arrives with the ball life for a punt returner is tough. I haven’t given up on Tate. Adam Jones advised him to just cut and go. He has the tools. He just needs to be coached better. That being said when and if Adam Jones is ready. He is the far superior player. I think the plan was to use Shipley more, but obviously they lost that option.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Nov 11, 2011 10:07 PM EST reply actions

I just don't understand keepin a return specialist on the roster if he's just mediocre

Even Quan Cosby got on the fuel with the offense from time to time. Tate is ere to do one thing and one thing only an he’s not really all that good at doing that one thing. At the absolute least Hawkins could do the same job, and he actually cathes some passes sometimes. There have to be better uses for that roster spot.

by eric nyc on Nov 11, 2011 11:39 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs

If the Bengals want a return specialist who doesn't play often on offense or defense, get Ted Ginn

by DTFCPDX on Nov 12, 2011 12:35 AM EST up reply actions

I am right there with you.

He is a wasted roster spot when we have Hawkins (who plays on offense and other special teams) and is of absolutely no use when Adam Jones is healthy.

As with any player, we have to look at the season as a whole. He has had one good game, against the worst coverage team in the NFL and after losing his job to Adam Jones. IF (and that’s a big “if” at this point), he would run with the urgency he showed against Seattle and just hit the hole, he could be a game changer; however, I’m not sure that is ever going to happen.

After the knee injury I don’t expect the Bengals to ever put Shipley back returning kicks unless it is an emergency.

by WOOD98 on Nov 12, 2011 12:36 AM EST up reply actions

After the hamstring issue then, the Bengals might be cautious to put Adam Jones back there also.

by DTFCPDX on Nov 12, 2011 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

Just to let you know....

Anybody besides Tedd Ginn, or Devin Hester would lose their return job to Adam Jones.

by whodeycommish14 on Nov 12, 2011 2:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

How about Brad Smith or Josh Cribbs vs. Adam Jones? Who's better?

by DTFCPDX on Nov 12, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

Cribbs

Bigger, Stronger, and less injury prone

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Nov 12, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

you're opinion of him is that he's mediocre

the stats say otherwise. I’m not a huge fan of him either, but to call him a waste of a roster spot is a bit much. he’s already popped one for a TD and as long as he continues to be more consistent, we have our return man for the future. Pacman can’t keep doing it, too big of a health risk w/his neck injury and shipley…ya that’s smart, but your starting slot reciever returning punts/kicks. I was VERY against Tate coming in over Quasby, but the kid has enough potential to stick with him and see if he can become more consistent and better decision maker. The way I look at it, he’s the only one (other than the Nard Dog) that has taken one to the house since Peter Warrick…you remember all the failed guys in between? Housh had the job for 2-3 yrs and fumbled the ball constantly…i guess my point is, you have to be wired differently to be a good return man and when you ahve one who’s sole focus is returning punts and kicks, plus has tremendous ability…all you have to do is let him get comfortable, coached up, and in this case make more consistent decisions.

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Nov 12, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

You made a good point eric.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Nov 12, 2011 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

Jeezus look at Brandon Tate's stats before you call him a return specialist.

Guy had like 400 yards last year and 3TDs, averaged over 16 yards a catch.

He got pushed out in NE b/c they got the great Ochocinco……whoops. Give him time.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Nov 12, 2011 9:09 AM EST reply actions

I'm calling him a specialist because WE don't use him in the offense

He’s on the roster as a receiver, but when an UDFA like Hawkins can get on the field in front of him on offense, that should tell you something about how confident Gruden is in his abilities there. It’s funny what playing in a Tom Brady offense can do to someone’s stats. At least, it’s funny if your name’s not Chad.

by eric nyc on Nov 12, 2011 10:10 AM EST up reply actions