Quiet Achiever: Why Golden Tate's Skillset Sets Him Apart From The Rest

Unlucky 13. 

That's the exact number of days that are left to countdown, speculate and determine just which players are going where in the 2010 NFL Draft, and ultimately decide who will be a draft success or a draft bust.

However, the number 13 may not prove so unlucky for potential wide receiver star pick Golden Tate, who has made a name for himself after his impressive 2009 campaign. 

When Golden Tate first arrived on the scene at Notre Dame in 2007, it's safe to say that he raised a few eyebrows.  With a name like Golden, it was easy for fans to consider Tate as a possible run of the mill type wide receiver who would never do anything more than make a few catches for touchdowns while he helps Jimmy Clausen further increase his draft possibilities.

A quiet achiever for the most part, Golden Tate let his play do the talking, and as a spectator of the game, I am absolutely fine with that.  However, Tate's college days are over, and with the Draft around the corner it's tough to say where Golden Tate may land come the end of April.

With the demand for a highly regarded wide receiver proving high, it will be tough to fight off other potential draft picks such as Jordan Shipley and Freddie Barnes for a high ranking spot, two men that Tate is all to familiar with.  But what Jordan and Freddie lack, is the ability and talent that Tate brings to the field.

After the Catch

The first point to make about Golden Tate's play is his ability to make a play happen after the catch.  A screen pass, hook route or a simple deep ball, Golden Tate always poses a threat after the catch is made and he turns his head down the field.

Strength and Conditioning

When you look at Golden Tate's strength, it would be fair to say that he has done his fair share of lifting at the gym. 

As Tate said earlier in a Draft interview, "Wide receivers need to be able to do more than just catch the ball and get tackled".  A statement that is true, but an ability that only few like Golden Tate possess.

Reverse Ability

Golden Tate's reverse ability has only begun to develop in recent years, but already he has proven to Draft experts that he is a great option for any NFL team that runs the wildcat option.  Although Tate is predominantly a wide receiver, he can also excel at the running back position, as taking hand offs and reversing the run game is an area that his Notre Dame experience will come into play.

The Slot

Funnily enough, Golden Tate can also play fairly well in the slot.  His play with the Fighting Irish is duly noted, and when quarterback Jimmy Clausen felt the slot option necessary, Tate had no problem delivering. 

Not every team uses a great deal of the slot option in their offense, but there are the select group of teams that use it to quite an affect.  Hopefully Tate is added to one such roster.

Kick Returning and Punt Returning

If you thought Devin Hester was one of the few great wide receivers that could also play kick returner, think again.  Tate also believes that he is highly talented at returning kickoffs, and I tend to agree with him. 

In his time with Notre Dame, Tate failed to record any touchdowns while playing kick returner, but he did manage to gain 847 total yards, and leave yet another talking point for writers to discuss.

The Wildcat

Finally, the wildcat is the biggest talking point when discussing Golden Tate.  When thinking of the wildcat option in the NFL, teams such as Miami come to mind.  With the Dolphins lacking a good wide receiver currently, Golden Tate is already a potential prospect for Tony Sparano to consider.  Golden Tate can run, catch and more than likely throw.  Don't be surprised to see the Dolphins take Tate come Draft day.

Conclusion

To quote Golden Tate who put it wisely, "Whichever team drafts me is getting more than a wide receiver".  The simple fact is that Golden Tate is an all around athlete.  He can run, catch, and more importantly just deliver.

In a league that is intent on including players that can make blockbuster plays happen from seemingly unlikely circumstances, Golden Tate is among a select few that has the ability to put points on the board from anywhere on the field. 

Notre Dame will be sad to see him go, but the quiet and overly confident Golden Tate is welcoming his transition to the NFL. He is ready to take on whatever team decides to Draft him.  There is competition in the Draft, yes, but Golden Tate is a cut above the rest.