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AJ:Texans draft watch: RB Ben Tate

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
Continuing our draft watch series, let's take a look at senior running back Ben Tate from Auburn.

The Texans primary needs entering the 2010 draft are at running back, free safety, interior offensive lineman, defensive tackle and cornerback assuming Dunta Robinson leaves in free agency.

Tate's projection from NFL Draft Scout is currently third to fourth round. Some projections have Tate going as late as the fifth round. My current 'most likely' estimate is early to mid fourth round.

Tate may not be a flashy game-breaker but he has solid all-around skills.

During Senior Bowl previews on NFL Network a few weeks ago, Charles Davis and Michael Lombardi praised Tate's blocking skills and ability to catch the ball which should automatically put him on the Texans radar.

Tate rushed for over 1,362 yards and 10 TDs for the Tigers in 2009. He leaves Auburn as their #5 running back all time behind Bo Jackson, Carnell Williams, James Brooks and Joe Cribbs.

No one will ever confuse Tate with Bo Jackson, but Tate has a good size-speed-toughness combination that will draw attention of many NFL teams.
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http://www.examiner.com/x-778-Houston-Texans-Examiner~y2010m2d17-Texans-draft-watch-RB-Ben-Tate
 
If I'm not this guy's biggest fan then I don't know who is. He seems to have all the skills we look for in a back for our system, plus he goes a muscular 214.

He can block, he can catch, he is hard to tackle, he runs well up the middle, and he even has decent speed to the outside.

I don't think he is gonna be a home run threat, but if you want three or four yards every time you run the ball then this is your guy.
 
bah007 said:
If I'm not this guy's biggest fan then I don't know who is. He seems to have all the skills we look for in a back for our system, plus he goes a muscular 214.

He can block, he can catch, he is hard to tackle, he runs well up the middle, and he even has decent speed to the outside.

I don't think he is gonna be a home run threat, but if you want three or four yards every time you run the ball then this is your guy.
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That would be me!
 
bah007 said:
If I'm not this guy's biggest fan then I don't know who is. He seems to have all the skills we look for in a back for our system, plus he goes a muscular 214.

He can block, he can catch, he is hard to tackle, he runs well up the middle, and he even has decent speed to the outside.

I don't think he is gonna be a home run threat, but if you want three or four yards every time you run the ball then this is your guy.
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I think he will be a good mid round selection, but Anthony Dixon just seems head and shoulders above Tate, and currently can be had in the 3rd round or so.
 
Super Mario said:
I think he will be a good mid round selection, but Anthony Dixon just seems head and shoulders above Tate, and currently can be had in the 3rd round or so.
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Anthony is a solid 2nd. pretty close to = value @ Texans slot. actually like him a little more than Beanie Wells.

Ben Tate to me gets a solid 3rd rd. grade not a 4th as some people think because he has complete RB skill set. This versatility gives him an edge to a team like the Texans.

I would be happy with either or both :good:
 
beerlover said:
Anthony is a solid 2nd. pretty close to = value @ Texans slot. actually like him a little more than Beanie Wells.

Ben Tate to me gets a solid 3rd rd. grade not a 4th as some people think because he has complete RB skill set. This versatility gives him an edge to a team like the Texans.

I would be happy with either or both :good:
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^^^^^^

This!
 
beerlover said:
Anthony is a solid 2nd. pretty close to = value @ Texans slot. actually like him a little more than Beanie Wells.

Ben Tate to me gets a solid 3rd rd. grade not a 4th as some people think because he has complete RB skill set. This versatility gives him an edge to a team like the Texans.

I would be happy with either or both :good:
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Both, please.
 
I'd love to have Ben Tate and have been pimping him in the my mocks in the 3rd round. He's not great at anything but he's good at almost everything. He's got good speed, not great. He's got good power, not great. He's a downhill runner who runs with authority and is difficult to bring down and blocks well. I'm not sure about his pass catching ability and think that we should take him in the 3rd, he won't be available in the 4th at our pick.
 
Wolf6151 said:
I'd love to have Ben Tate and have been pimping him in the my mocks in the 3rd round. He's not great at anything but he's good at almost everything. He's got good speed, not great. He's got good power, not great. He's a downhill runner who runs with authority and is difficult to bring down and blocks well. I'm not sure about his pass catching ability and think that we should take him in the 3rd, he won't be available in the 4th at our pick.
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if there is such a thing as a system rb who fits Kubiaks style he's it.
 
Super Mario said:
And that is your opinion. I think he is a solid 3rd. I guess we will just have to see how the teams rank him.
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Regarding the 2nd rd. grade, I gave Shonn Greene a 2nd rd. grade last year & he was taken in the 3rd however that 3rd was the first pick in the 3rd, this happens all the time, first rd. talent slips to 2nd, 2nd slips to 3rd and so on. If the Texans graded him accordingly or Barwin was off the board the Texans should have selected him with that 2nd rd. pick. This draft the Texans are picking later in each round, so if a player fits in a specific round (this case 2nd) you better take him cause at some point he becomes the highest rated player on another teams board, they may even trade up (Shonn Greene) to address their need because the value justifies the move.

Same thing with Tate, the Texans should have a realistic shot at him in the 3rd. but if they take another player because he is rated higher on their board when that pick comes I would not expect him to hang around until the Texans pick again. maybe they move up when the value justifies the cost like the Jets did last year to get Greene.

Anthony Dixon is a tough yardage between the tackle prototype sized NFL franchise back with above average skill set. 2nd rd. grade

Ben Tate is also a tough yardage, between tackle RB with a low center of gravity, one cut downhill, solid built but not elite sized or spectacular in any one area other than great picking up the blitz & pass protection. 3rd rd. grade
 
beerlover said:
Regarding the 2nd rd. grade, I gave Shonn Greene a 2nd rd. grade last year & he was taken in the 3rd however that 3rd was the first pick in the 3rd, this happens all the time, first rd. talent slips to 2nd, 2nd slips to 3rd and so on. If the Texans graded him accordingly or Barwin was off the board the Texans should have selected him with that 2nd rd. pick. This draft the Texans are picking later in each round, so if a player fits in a specific round (this case 2nd) you better take him cause at some point he becomes the highest rated player on another teams board, they may even trade up (Shonn Greene) to address their need because the value justifies the move.

Same thing with Tate, the Texans should have a realistic shot at him in the 3rd. but if they take another player because he is rated higher on their board when that pick comes I would not expect him to hang around until the Texans pick again. maybe they move up when the value justifies the cost like the Jets did last year to get Greene.

Anthony Dixon is a tough yardage between the tackle prototype sized NFL franchise back with above average skill set. 2nd rd. grade

Ben Tate is also a tough yardage, between tackle RB with a low center of gravity, one cut downhill, solid built but not elite sized or spectacular in any one area other than great picking up the blitz & pass protection. 3rd rd. grade
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I have Dixon in 2nd also and hopefully for me, pushing my guy Gerhart down to us. I still have TG in 2nd for my mock. Have not watched Tate but has good rep and decent size/speed combo. I like OKlahoma's Chris Brown more because I have watched him. I have him slipping to 6th. 5'10" 202lbs 4.47 speed and an insurance policy for Slaton.
 
beerlover said:
Regarding the 2nd rd. grade, I gave Shonn Greene a 2nd rd. grade last year & he was taken in the 3rd however that 3rd was the first pick in the 3rd, this happens all the time, first rd. talent slips to 2nd, 2nd slips to 3rd and so on. If the Texans graded him accordingly or Barwin was off the board the Texans should have selected him with that 2nd rd. pick. This draft the Texans are picking later in each round, so if a player fits in a specific round (this case 2nd) you better take him cause at some point he becomes the highest rated player on another teams board, they may even trade up (Shonn Greene) to address their need because the value justifies the move.

Same thing with Tate, the Texans should have a realistic shot at him in the 3rd. but if they take another player because he is rated higher on their board when that pick comes I would not expect him to hang around until the Texans pick again. maybe they move up when the value justifies the cost like the Jets did last year to get Greene.

Anthony Dixon is a tough yardage between the tackle prototype sized NFL franchise back with above average skill set. 2nd rd. grade

Ben Tate is also a tough yardage, between tackle RB with a low center of gravity, one cut downhill, solid built but not elite sized or spectacular in any one area other than great picking up the blitz & pass protection. 3rd rd. grade
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Good points, and a great post my man. The only difference I see (And this is my opinion) is that Greene was 2nd round material that slipped. Dixon is 3rd round material, and if he slips you might see him at the top of round 4.
 
Super Mario said:
Good points, and a great post my man. The only difference I see (And this is my opinion) is that Greene was 2nd round material that slipped. Dixon is 3rd round material, and if he slips you might see him at the top of round 4.
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no problem we can agree to disagree but what we both seem to have in common is a sense who the Texans should target that fit in Kubiaks system. :ahhaha:
 
Honor is due. I wasn't expecting that kind of time out of him. either a move back in the first or the fifty two, he'll work for me.
 
threetoedpete said:
Honor is due. I wasn't expecting that kind of time out of him. either a move back in the first or the fifty two, he'll work for me.
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you know the ole' saying you can led a horse to water but you can't make him drink :bender: sometimes you just have to see it for yourself. most of my draft analysis is based off tape anyway, its nice he surprised people, well kinda don't want to see him get over drafted out of Texans reach, but I've known since watching games he is a tough, strong lower trunk built, competetive downhill one-cut pile driver who blocks like his life depends on it. Now I'm not sure where to rank him in 3rd? Texans pick so late I fear he'll be gone just like Greene last year.....
 
beerlover said:
you know the ole' saying you can led a horse to water but you can't make him drink :bender: sometimes you just have to see it for yourself. most of my draft analysis is based off tape anyway, its nice he surprised people,.....
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Me too. I missed on Ulatoski....I hit on Newhouse. Now whether or not Newhouse will be there for the third round pick, whether or not they are as concerned over the young guards as I am....I don't know.
 
When looking at Tate's numbers you also have to be aware that Auburn had a different offensive coordinator every year that Tate was there. I expect that has to set back the entire offense to some degree.
 
bah007 said:
When looking at Tate's numbers you also have to be aware that Auburn had a different offensive coordinator every year that Tate was there. I expect that has to set back the entire offense to some degree.
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I get your point, but do we really want to let 'what if' scenario's weigh in on whether or not to draft a player for our football team? In addition to that, being a running-back he really shouldnt have had a rough transition. I might agree on the QB, or MAYBE the o-linemen. But the running-back position should be pretty straight forward.
 
Super Mario said:
I get your point, but do we really want to let 'what if' scenario's weigh in on whether or not to draft a player for our football team?
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No we don't. I'm talking about statistical analysis only. Remember, I've been the one pimping him and Mathews for weeks now so I must have seen something beyond numbers that I liked.


Super Mario said:
In addition to that, being a running-back he really shouldnt have had a rough transition. I might agree on the QB, or MAYBE the o-linemen. But the running-back position should be pretty straight forward.
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That is kinda my point. I thought Tate looked the same on tape but the players around him were the ones suffering, dragging his numbers down. Let's face it, you're going to get more yards if you take first contact at the LOS than if you are taking it three yards deep. Their o line has been inconsistent and their QB play has been mediocre at best. If teams know you can't throw they are going to stack the box.
 
I've had Tate in several of my mocks over the last couple months in the 3rd round. With his combine he might have moved out of our reach in the 3rd and could very possibly go late 2nd or very early 3rd round. If he's the guy we want, and I see no reason for him not to be, then we may have to take him in the 2nd round. He's got size, decent speed, and tough down hill running style. He might be a little bit of a reach but I could understand taking him or Jonathan Dwyer in the 2nd round.
 
Wolf6151 said:
I've had Tate in several of my mocks over the last couple months in the 3rd round. With his combine he might have moved out of our reach in the 3rd and could very possibly go late 2nd or very early 3rd round. If he's the guy we want, and I see no reason for him not to be, then we may have to take him in the 2nd round. He's got size, decent speed, and tough down hill running style. He might be a little bit of a reach but I could understand taking him or Jonathan Dwyer in the 2nd round.
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Hardesy>Gerhart>Tate IMHO

Which one do you like better?
 
I'm very happy with this. I've been saying for months that we really needed to walk out of there with either Mathews in the first or Tate in the second.

He is a perfect fit for this offense.
 
bah007 said:
I'm very happy with this. I've been saying for months that we really needed to walk out of there with either Mathews in the first or Tate in the second.

He is a perfect fit for this offense.
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Agreed! I haven't been saying it for months, but I've definitely been on his bandwagon. Heck, I even got to draft him in our TT mock.
 
bah007 said:
I'm very happy with this. I've been saying for months that we really needed to walk out of there with either Mathews in the first or Tate in the second.

He is a perfect fit for this offense.
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A lot of guys were high on Gerhart, but this is why I prefer Tate more as a Texans fan. He fits into that ZBS much better than Toby does.
 
WolverineFan said:
A lot of guys were high on Gerhart, but this is why I prefer Tate more as a Texans fan. He fits into that ZBS much better than Toby does.
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This is my feeling as well. I felt like Tate on this team is a match made in heaven. Interesting to hear that the war room seemed to be split between Gerhart and Tate though. I think Gerhart ended up in a great situation with Peterson and Minnesota. I think he'll find success there and wish him all the best.
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
This is my feeling as well. I felt like Tate on this team is a match made in heaven. Interesting to hear that the war room seemed to be split between Gerhart and Tate though. I think Gerhart ended up in a great situation with Peterson and Minnesota. I think he'll find success there and wish him all the best.
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I feel if you put both Tate and Gerhart in their ideal situations then Gerhart would be a little bit better. But as far as the Texans go I think Tate was the right choice.
 
very interesting it came down to Tate & Gerhart in the end. final grade was mid 2nd for both of them, Toby pretty much maintained while Tate really made a nice move up boards after his steller performance @ the combine. I'm very happy who we selected (Tate) & where he was selected (late 2nd). considering other options the Texans F/O deserve an "A" :logo:
 
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