Now Banks does have the added role of being the punt returner, but is that enough compared to Tate's ability to be a deep threat and a more than passable depth receiver? Yet New England fans are barely batting an eye watching a solid all-around player for them last season get cut.
Answer to this writer's question - YES!
AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
Brandon Tate is released by the Pats today.
Apparently catching passes wasn't as important as returning punts, ask the Brandon who still has a job.
The Hogster wrote:I am not sure which NFL we are all watching, but this notion that your 6th WR produces on Offense is a fan fallacy.
Let's take the Patriots for example. (I'm using them because they carried 6 WRs last year AND they pass a lot)
Their 6th WR was Taylor Price, a rookie who caught....wait for it.....3 passes for 41 yards on the year.
Their 5th WR was Julian Edelman. Now Edelman was also their Punt Returner. And, he caught.....wait for it....12 passes on offense on the year.
I'll even go a step further. Ben Tate was their 4th WR last year. He also returned their Kickoffs. He caught 24 passes. Now, keep in mind, Tate was basically 2nd Team. As a result, hecaught most of his balls when Randy Moss was traded and he got more opportunities. His productivity went back to normal once Branch came back in.
The Patriots actually spread the ball more than most teams.
The Point is. If you people think that our 6th WR is going to contribute on offense, you're not paying attention to the league and are holding unrealistic expectations for what the 4th-6th WRs do on NFL teams. They are Special Teams guys for the most part or used in emergency situations.
Add in the fact that Banks returns both Kicks and Punts (basically what Tate and Edelman both did) and this is really a fan-inspired debate over things that don't prove to be true in real life.
well said!
in my opinion, how valuable is Brandon Banks? if he had a clone who was exactly the same in every way, i'd keep both of them so i'd have a spare in case the first one got injured. that's how valuable he is. he is a lethal threat, a game-changer. he will change field position for you all season long, whether by returning it or causing them to kick it shorter out of bounds, etc. even with the new rules-- as long as it doesn't go flying out of the back of the endzone, he should take it out every time, even if he catches it in the very back of the endzone. he'll make it close enough to the 20 that it won't matter and will be worth it for the times he takes it all the way or to midfield etc.
I think the answer is pretty simple. Banks is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball and for that reason alone, he is a game changer. No one is going to run him down, he is hard to see cause he is soooo tiny, and speed kills. Speed, speed, and more speed. That is Banks in a nutshell and why we have to keep him.
Skeletor wrote:somebody posted in another thread about the possibility of keeping Stallworth for the first four weeks during Buchanon's suspension, and allowing him to prove his worth to the team as a sort of extended tryout. Seems like that could apply to Banks as well.
If in 4 weeks, Banks is healthy and effective, cut Stallworth. If not cut Banks.
Cutting Banks is crazy talk, not worth thinking about. He's arguably the only player we have who's possibly the best player in the NFL at his position.
Cappster wrote:I think the answer is pretty simple. Banks is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball and for that reason alone, he is a game changer. No one is going to run him down, he is hard to see cause he is soooo tiny, and speed kills. Speed, speed, and more speed. That is Banks in a nutshell and why we have to keep him.
Speed kills, yes... but it's not just speed. Banks also has excellent field vision (the ability to see developing holes) and shiftiness (the ability to wait until the last possible fraction of a second to make a change in direction)
The latter is actually a function of his lower center of gravity, lighter weight, and shorter stride than, say an almost equally speedy player such as AAA. It's simple physics.
"That's a clown question, bro"
- - - - - - - - - - Bryce Harper, DC Statesman
"But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man
That he didn't, didn't already have"
- - - - - - - - - - Dewey Bunnell, America
SKINFAN wrote:I'll throw a penny in the hallway =)
To me it looks like we don't need him. Sure he has speed, but (arguably) he is not durable because of size. One flush hit and off to IR he goes. It looks to me that he is a one dime guy, but he does it real well. Unfortunately, this team needs more than what he can give right now. Specially with the new kickoff rule. We have a couple of young guys that can do a Spec Teams that are good not great, but they also help in the rotation at WR. Banks, if I remember right, he disappeared in coverage for the most part when put in as a WR. If we have a proven Offense, a good solid WR corps then I say Yeah, let's see what he can do in ST, but the O needs all hands on deck, sorry Brandon but we have a few guys we may need at RB.
Edit: Banks is a need, I know it's preseason, but the new kickoff rule helps a guy like him, 1 cut, 1 miss and he's off to the races.
Shanny hasn't given Banks a real shot at playing WR and probably won't. He's too valuable as a PR and KR. to risk at a position we are loaded in. Your assumption that he can't play WR is just that--an assumption. You are not correct in remembering that he disappeared in coverage. You would be much more correct to remember he was never given a real shot as a receiver, even in practice.
Cappster wrote:I think the answer is pretty simple. Banks is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball and for that reason alone, he is a game changer. No one is going to run him down, he is hard to see cause he is soooo tiny, and speed kills. Speed, speed, and more speed. That is Banks in a nutshell and why we have to keep him.
Speed kills, yes... but it's not just speed. Banks also has excellent field vision (the ability to see developing holes) and shiftiness (the ability to wait until the last possible fraction of a second to make a change in direction)
The latter is actually a function of his lower center of gravity, lighter weight, and shorter stride than, say an almost equally speedy player such as AAA. It's simple physics.
+1. Brian Mitchell raves about his vision. He notes that Banks rarely has to juke or cut. He leans his body while going warp speed. That's rare talent & ability that you don't just cut. He might get in on some screens from time to time too. Just give it time.
Mitchell would absolutely understand this... he was rarely the fastest player on the field... but everyone knows his game speed.
"That's a clown question, bro"
- - - - - - - - - - Bryce Harper, DC Statesman
"But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man
That he didn't, didn't already have"
- - - - - - - - - - Dewey Bunnell, America
