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When the Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate, they drafted a player whose skill set felt tailor-made for quarterback Cam Ward. ESPN’s Turron Davenport highlighted how the team feels about their connection, and after the Titans’ first week of OTAs, the pairing feels like the perfect fit they envisioned on draft night last month.
For years, the Titans have searched for consistency and explosiveness in the passing game without much success. Ward’s arrival last year brought hope that the offense could evolve into a more aggressive, quarterback-friendly system, but it needed time. Adding Tate gives him the exact type of receiver young quarterbacks often need the most, as a polished route runner with reliable hands and advanced body control.
One of the biggest reasons this pairing works is that Tate does not need perfect conditions to get open. Ward is at his best when plays extend beyond their original design, and Tate’s feel for spacing should make him a reliable option once protection breaks down.
While there will be an adjustment for Tate as a rookie, the Titans’ hiring of Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator will help ease the transition. As mentioned by Davenport, Tate’s offensive coordinator and position coach at Ohio State, former NFL wide receiver Brian Hartline, was coached by Daboll. In 2011, Daboll was Hartline’s offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.
That connection makes the Ward-Tate pairing especially dangerous because Daboll will likely know exactly how to utilize Tate. He consistently showed in college that he could uncover late in routes, adjust to the football, and finish through contact. Those are all traits that Ward would quickly learn to trust.
For a franchise trying to establish a new offensive identity, the early signs of the Ward-Tate connection are exciting. The organization is committed to building around Ward, and Tate feels like the kind of receiver who can grow with a young quarterback for years. The chemistry may still be developing, but the blueprint is already clear.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward and Carnell Tate look like perfect match
Continue reading...
For years, the Titans have searched for consistency and explosiveness in the passing game without much success. Ward’s arrival last year brought hope that the offense could evolve into a more aggressive, quarterback-friendly system, but it needed time. Adding Tate gives him the exact type of receiver young quarterbacks often need the most, as a polished route runner with reliable hands and advanced body control.
Tate’s skill set complements everything Cam Ward does well
One of the biggest reasons this pairing works is that Tate does not need perfect conditions to get open. Ward is at his best when plays extend beyond their original design, and Tate’s feel for spacing should make him a reliable option once protection breaks down.
While there will be an adjustment for Tate as a rookie, the Titans’ hiring of Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator will help ease the transition. As mentioned by Davenport, Tate’s offensive coordinator and position coach at Ohio State, former NFL wide receiver Brian Hartline, was coached by Daboll. In 2011, Daboll was Hartline’s offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.
That connection makes the Ward-Tate pairing especially dangerous because Daboll will likely know exactly how to utilize Tate. He consistently showed in college that he could uncover late in routes, adjust to the football, and finish through contact. Those are all traits that Ward would quickly learn to trust.
For a franchise trying to establish a new offensive identity, the early signs of the Ward-Tate connection are exciting. The organization is committed to building around Ward, and Tate feels like the kind of receiver who can grow with a young quarterback for years. The chemistry may still be developing, but the blueprint is already clear.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward and Carnell Tate look like perfect match
Continue reading...
