inner-banner-4

Archive for the ‘Training Camp Blog’ Category

Training Camp Blog-I’m rooting for everybody

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

I never take the mindset that I’ve made the team. I never get content. Right now, for me, I’m able to focus down the road a little more. I’m able to still dial in and try to get the timing down with Matt and figure out the offense a little more, work on the details a little more, versus having to game plan so much this week.

Golden Tate
WR-Golden Tate (Photo: Detroit Lions)

I’m in a very fortunate position where I guess my job for this year is solidified, for the most part. But other guys have to take the mindset of this could be their last game, hopefully not, but they have to go out there and put it on film and hopefully they make this team or another team.

I think our position is going to be one of the hardest to cut down because we have so many guys who bring so many elements to the offense and special teams. It depends on the coaching staff and how they want us to gel together, how they see people lining up in this offense and on special teams.

But from top to bottom, we have a bunch of good players who have grown a lot I hear from last year and made a bunch of plays this preseason and throughout the entire camp and have been consistent. So I’m rooting for everybody, but the truth of the matter is, everyone is not going to make this team. I’m interested to see who makes the cut and will be moving forward.

With preseason coming to a close, I’m extremely excited for the regular season to begin for a lot of reasons. It’s a new start for me — new team, new coaching staff, new stadium, new fan base and a new city.

I’m anxious to see what the atmosphere is going to be like at Ford Field for Monday night. We are very fortunate to start the season off with a primetime game. I don’t really know what to expect from that Monday night … other than a win.

Training Camp Blog-Takeaways from 1st Preseason, Head Coach Jim Caldwell, and the upcoming game against Oakland

Friday, August 15th, 2014

My first catch as a Lion was fun. The play call was kind of designed for, if the coverage was right, it to come to me. I knew I was going to have limited opportunities in the game, so I tried to make the best of it. It ended up being almost an explosive gain, which is exciting.

So I think it was a good start. I look forward to many, many, many more passes and great catches in this offense. I’m really excited about it.

Golden Tate
(Photo: Detroit Lions)

I thought Dan and Kellen, did a great job moving the ball and commanding the huddle. I think they handled their business. I thought our young receivers, once they got their jitters out, they balled out especially Peacock. And Broyles had some really, really big catches that definitely helped him out that day. Our young fellas, the tight ends, handled their business. I think overall we did a good job. I don’t think we played perfect.

The offensive line did a good job protecting the quarterback. I think one thing we can improve on is keeping the ball in our hands, not turning the ball over with interceptions, fumbles and mishandled snaps. I think that’s something that we will get better at each day, something we can never have too many reps with.

I respond the best to coaches like coach Caldwell who are involved with the players on and off the field. I don’t think anyone is intimidated by him. I think every person in this organization respects him. If there is something you want to discuss, football, not football, or he’s at home, I feel like he as an open-door policy and he will always give you an honest, genuine answer. I don’t think he is ever going to give you a selfish answer. If he can help you in any way, he will.

And with football, I think he’s done a great job. He is not just talking for his health, he is up there talking, backing it up with the stats, and I think that goes a long way when you have young guys in the locker room like we do.

For the Oakland game Friday, I’ll follow my usual routine. I show up about three hours in advance and get in the hot tub. I might eat a protein bar and get stretched and see the chiropractor, listen to music, go outside and get used to the field, the turf, especially in Oakland, with them having part baseball field and part grass, which is kind of tough to have a footing on. I will bring two pairs of cleats, detachables and screw-ins and my regular cleats.

I don’t think our offense is going to change that much as we get closer to the start of the regular season. I think we are practicing all that stuff now — what you see in practice is kind of what you are going to get in the game. It’s just going to be more intensified. We are going to be actually out there hitting and tackling and getting hit a little more than practice. And we’ll have Megatron making some heroic catches.

Training Camp Blog–learning the offense, competition at wide receiver and interacting with fans at practice

Friday, August 15th, 2014
For me personally, training camp is going good. I’m still trying to get myself into game shape. My reps have been limited because we have so many receivers so I really have to work hard and set an example when I’m out there.

Golden Tate
(Photo: Detroit Lions)

I think competition can only affect you in a positive way. The competition with the receivers is 100 percent healthy. It’s also healthy for the DBs. We’re all working together. We’re trying to get ourselves ready for September when it really counts.

I’m never going to give a selfish answer. If another receiver asks me a question, I’m always going to try to help them out. I want everybody in this locker room to be great.

I’m having a lot of fun in this offense. I know the plays, but now I just need to understand the details of the plays – like why a play’s called and why my job is what it is.

When I’m out there, any ball thrown in the air towards me is a good ball. I’m going to compete for it. I take a lot of pride in my strong hands and continuing not to have many drops, any drops really.

Hopefully the Detroit fan base appreciates the way I play the game. I’m only 5-10, but I’m out there giving it my all. I’m playing with a lot of passion. I kind of play off the crowd. That’s just how I’ve always been — I’m a crowd pleaser.

The fans have done a great job of welcoming me to Detroit. They’ve reached out on social media and a lot of fans at practice Saturday wished me a happy birthday. I really appreciate the support. Without the fans, the game wouldn’t be what it is now.

I think it’s important to show our appreciation. It only takes like 15 minutes out of your time to go say hi. You never know what people are going through. People have different situations back at home from sicknesses to depression to relationships and us spending 30 seconds with one person could change their day, their lives, their week.

It’s a blessing to be in the position I am to be able to affect people by just doing what I love. I’m very lucky and I always want to remember that.