Getty Gallery: 2/7
Start: WR Golden Tate vs. Seahawks
Sit: Jaguars WR's vs. Eagles
Tate was part of the early success of the Pete Carroll era in Seattle. Like most athletes playing against their former team, Tate will be more than motivated to have a great outing against his former squad. Tate has struggled the last two weeks compared to his usual production. Tate has just 78 yards and zero touchdowns over this two-week span. The Lions receiver spent the offseason watching film with new Lions head coach Matt Patricia.
“We watch (Julian) Edelman and (Danny) Amendola film, just to watch them and give me hints to on what I can do better,” Tate explained to USA Today this summer. "...Jim Bob has done a great job of just getting the ball in my hands and once the ball gets in my hands, I think I’m just as good as any of these running backs or receivers."
Tate also discussed his faith in quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions wide receiver has been a vocal supporter of Stafford since he arrived in Detroit.
“Talent-wise, he’s right there with everyone else, and he just brings it every single day,” Tate told USA Today. “And to be the leader of an offense, it’s tough to do, so his consistency is through the roof. He’s definitely the leader of our team, but the guy has it right here (points to heart). It doesn’t matter what type of check you write him, he’s bringing it every single day to work. That’s what you want in a quarterback, and it drives the guys around him to do the same.”
The strength of the Lions offense may be shifting toward the run game, but look for Tate to have a good week against his former team.
The Jaguars Offense Is a Trainwreck
Jacksonville is heading to London at the worst possible time. Things went so bad against the Texans that Doug Marrone benched Blake Bortles during the game. There is so much uncertainty surrounding the Jaguars offense that you cannot start a Jacksonville wide receiver with confidence. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey admitted to how much tension there is in the Jaguars locker room.
“You all walk in here, you all see how it is in here, you all see how we vibe with each other, you all see how we vibe towards the coaches, you all see how it is," Ramsey said per Pro Football Talk. "It is no secret what’s going on here right now. Ain’t nobody going to say it because we can’t, but it ain’t no secret what’s going on and it ain’t right right now. It is what it is.”
My advice is to bench Keelan Cole, Donte Moncrief and Dede Westbrook until things get turned around. There is no guarantee that things don't get worse with how bad the Jaguars have looked over the past several weeks. The Jaguars face an Eagles defense that is one of the best units in the NFL, so the cards are stacked against them for things to turn around this week.