Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
I have been riding the Golden Tate bandwagon all offseason. Now is no time to leap off, since Percy Harvin will miss significant time and Russell Wilson needs other receivers to fill the production. How those targets are dispersed, even in limited early-first quarter action, will be interesting to see as the Seattle Seahawks visit the San Diego Chargers for NFL Week 1 preseason action tonight at 7 p.m. Pacific.
Despite this injury to Harvin, which will probably keep him out until around Week 13, I believe the Seahawks’ passing attack will take a huge leap due to both the skill and chemistry these receivers have with each other. This constructive attitude doesn’t solely apply to the wide receiver spot, either, as the osmosis of winning attitude is inter-positional.
“Today you saw a few guys catch balls, and they weren’t like, ‘Yeah! Yeah! I got you! Get some!’ ” said Tate from a Seahawks training camp practice, via Jim Trotter at MMQB.com. “The first thing I’m doing is going over to tell [cornerback Brandon] Browner how I caught the ball on him. Just like when Walter Thurmond gets the best of me off the line of scrimmage or in a route; he tells me, ‘Your stem was this way, or your shoulders were turned.’ That’s what we do.”
This anecdote adds to a pile of other anecdotes, stats and evidence that makes me feel good about Seattle’s chances in 2013, and makes the Seahawks one of the more intriguing rosters to watch this preseason. Tate’s listed at punt returner, so you know they love his ability with ball in hand. Perhaps some of those wide receiver screens and quick slants game-planned for Harvin will now go to Tate, as many of them did in 2012.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
