Real excited about the two guys we added here tonight. Carnell Tate, we thought he was the best receiver in the draft. And then coming back up and getting Keldric Faulk, who really fits this defense. I mean, long, can play outside, inside. Looking back to some of (Robert) Saleh's defenses, too, it reminded me a little bit of (Arik) Armstead when he had him there in San Francisco. So, really excited about adding these two guys here tonight. Great character guys, too.
(on what Carnell Tate brings at wide receiver)
Well, he's a bigger, vertical guy. The route running, very efficient, his route running. I thought he had exceptional ball skills to be able to track the footballs, catch radius downfield. I think he's going to be a great fit in this offense. And you know, he's 20 years old last year playing at Ohio State. He's a young kid. So is Keldric (Faulk). They are both 21 now. Two young kids. But Tate has the ability to play big downfield. That's the one thing, all these contested catches downfield, his ability to go up and catch the football, contort his body in certain ways. I think it's going to be great for Cam (Ward).
(on what Carnell Tate can do with yards after the catch at the pro level)
I mean, listen, all these guys have to improve in certain areas. What I think he really does well, though, is at the top of routes and he's able to separate in his burst and everything to separate at the second, third level, and you can see the burst off the line of scrimmage, too. And those are always things—there's always things these guys can improve on. They are still developing.
(on how much he sees Carnell Tate playing as the X receiver and his ability to play against press coverage)
I see that he does a pretty good job at it. Some guys win versus press in different ways. With him, he's elusive and sudden off the line of scrimmage a lot. When we study these guys, we're able to cut up all these plays off coverage, press coverage, and that was the one thing that really stood out, just his savviness to get off the line of scrimmage and his quickness.
(on if he figures him to be an X)
I think he can move all around. He's played inside, outside. He's played X. He's played Z. I think we can move him all around.
(on what convinced him Carnell Tate could be a No. 1 receiver after being the number two last season)
Listen, when guys come to the league, they want to project No. 1 receivers. You have to work your way to be a No. 1 receiver. The guys that he's played next to are some pretty good players over the last couple years at Ohio State. I saw a 20-year-old kid that continued to get better. And his ability to get open at the top of the routes and really catch the ball downfield, that's the one thing that really stood out to us is his ability to track the football.
(on the deciding factor in choosing the best receiver available over other positions)
Yeah, those guys were really good players. We did a lot of work on Carnell (Tate). Had a chance to see him at practice at Ohio State late in the fall. Spent time with him at the Combine. Brought him in here. Really smart. He's really an unselfish player, too. When you study these guys, too, on tape, and some of these receivers and how much they block, and he actually — he's feisty in there as a blocker as well. We spent a lot of time on him, and you know, credit to our coaches, too. Spent a lot of time on him, too, when we brought him in here. So, we're really excited to get him here.
(on if there was any thought in trying to slide back and still be able to draft Carnell Tate)
No. It's always a fluid situation on draft day. You get calls, and we felt really comfortable staying there at that point.
(on if they got the sense that Keldric Faulk wouldn't be available at pick 35)
Yeah. Just looking at some of the needs and stuff, and where we had him on the board, he was our highest-rated guy at the time, and we thought this guy really fit the defense well. So, we just went up. When you see a player that you like, you just go up and get him.
(on if they feel unbalanced at depth on interior defensive line versus the outside rush ends)
No, not necessarily. I mean, these guys come in waves, and I feel good about some of the outside rush ends that we do have right now. And Keldric (Faulk), we can move all up and down the line of scrimmage, really.
(on if they will play a lot of personnel groups that don't need a 'wide-nine' outside rush end)
No, some of these guys will line up wide. You've seen it in the defenses. You're always looking sometimes for some of those, like speed guys in there. But, it's just the way — these guys come in waves in (Robert) Saleh's defense.
(on what needs to happen for Keldric Faulk to bring the quarterback down consistently at the next level)
Yeah, it's all about development, and he's a taller guy. Like I mentioned (Arik) Armstead before, and coming out of college, it was kind of the same thing. These guys, they have to learn to play with some of the pad level, and being a guy that's 6'6, these guys will — we have some really good coaches here. So, all these guys are still developing. But that's one area, yeah.
(on a reasonable expectation for Carnell Tate coming in as a rookie)
Listen, we're going to take it — I don't want to set expectations for anyone, but I think what he's going to do is he's going to come in and work, put his head down and work and earn his role here. We're confident in that.
(on how he balances doing thorough research on players without giving away who they are interested in drafting)
Yeah, both of them are really high-character guys and I actually got a chance to see Keldric (Faulk) versus (Texas) A&M before one of our games this year. I remember going to the game early in the year. So, I spent some time with him.
(on why Keldric Faulk's skill set didn't turn into more sack production)
I think these guys are still learning how to play with some more pad level, and I think that will get there eventually.
