Retired NFL defensive end Stephen White takes a closer look at a pair of outstanding Week 7 performances from Golden Tate and Sammy Watkins.
Wide receiver is a strong position in the NFL right now. Dez Bryant may be the best in the league, but several others could stake claim to that title. Sammy Watkins isn't one of the best in the league just yet and Golden Tate isn't the best receiver on his own team. Both players, however, are playing good football right now, illustrated by big outings in Week 7.
Sammy Watkins' big show
Buffalo Bills first-round wide receiver Sammy Watkins' best day as a professional football player didn't get off to that great of a start on Sunday. In fact, he and his quarterback Kyle Orton were only able to connect on one of Watkins' first four targets. After that, however, the pair found some chemistry fast ,and ended up connecting on eight out of Watkins' next 10 targets. That includes two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was, of course, the game winner with no time left on the clock.
This was the first game where I watched Watkins' film and thought I was seeing the guy I saw back at Clemson. To be honest, none of Orton's passes to Watkins were all that accurate, but Watkins was able to display his great hands to make some big-time catches for his team. His speed was also obvious, especially on the first touchdown, a deep ball off an inside release.
I'm not quite sure whether Minnesota Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who was covering Watkins on that play, didn't read his scouting report before the game, or if it contained erroneous information or something. What I do know is that he overestimated his speed and underestimated Watkins' speed on that play because he tried Watkins at the line and got left in his dust.
What I might have been most impressed with on Sunday was Watkins' route running, which has really come a long way. He ran a great double post but Orton's pass was inaccurate. He also ran a helluva deep out route and a helluva deep dig route later in the game on plays where he was actually able to catch the ball.
Maybe the only thing I still haven't seen from Watkins is that fearless, physical running style he had at Clemson after he caught the ball. I'm pretty sure the injury he sustained to his ribs in the preseason have a lot to do with that. When he does start to get back to running that way he is going to make the city of Buffalo fall even deeper in love with him. The rest of the league is also going to be in trouble.
It's amazing how having even an average quarterback in the game has allowed Watkins and the rest of their receivers to start showcasing their talent. It is also a damning indictment on EJ Manuel's level of play earlier in the season.
Golden Tate saves the day
I'm guessing Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate had had enough by the time Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints rolled around. After his former teammate Percy Harvin was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the New York Jets, there were a lot of negative stories leaked about Harvin to make the trade more palatable to Seahawks fans. One such tale involved Harvin blacking Tate's eye right before they won the Super Bowl earlier this year.
What was Tate supposed to do at that point? Should he have given his version of the story or just ignored the whole thing altogether? I don't know what was the right move there, but Tate chose the latter and, aside from a Kermit-sips-tea meme, declined to comment on it. Unfortunately, nature abhors a vacuum and so by the time Sunday had rolled around the story had gone from "a" punch to Harvin allegedly almost breaking Tate's neck from a body slam. I also happened to see a few memed pictures of a beaten up Tate, some funnier than others.
That's why I imagine Tate had to have been fed up by game time. What he really needed was the kind of performance that makes people remember what you can do on the field and forget the silly off-field rumors. He damn sure went out and did just that, helping to bring his new team back from the brink of defeat to the familiar arms of victory.
With the Saints up 23-10 and less than four minutes left in the game, the Lions faced a 3rd-and-13 knowing that the game was pretty much on the line at that point. Down two scores, they simply didn't have time to punt the football and expect to have time to score twice after that.
Tate ran some sort of out route from the slot and when he jumped up and caught the ball over Saints corner Corey White's (no relation) outstretched hands, he wasn't even past the sticks to get a first down. As soon as he turned upfield with the ball, however, it looked like somebody had strapped a damn rocket to his back. Tate took off on safety Kenny Vaccaro and corner Keenan Lewis, two pretty fast guys, and ran a damn wind sprint 73 yards for a touchdown.
The Lions, who were playing without their all-word receiver Calvin Johnson, needed someone to step up and make a big play for them in the clutch. Tate rose to the occasion to keep them in the game.
All told, Tate totaled 10 catches for 154 yards, both season highs, and that touchdown in the win over the Saints. Just what he needed to get the haters off his back.