Is the State of Our Wide Receivers Beginning to Worry You? (Zay Jones, post-op)

[FrankoElTanko]

I recently saw a comment by Shaw66 noting about how he is higher on Zay Jones than many others on the board and I agree with him in a big way. I will preface my opinion with the fact that I do not believe Zay will ever be a true no.1 however, I still believe that if he is healthy, there is still potential for a solid no.2 receiver to emerge. One thing leading me to believe this is that you do not forget how to catch overnight. Like Shaw66 said, he had some horrendous drops but he also ran routes well and got open. His hands will reemerge with his confidence and maturity. 

 

With that being said, this is what I worry about. 

1. Health- Zay played the season w a torn labrum (awesome toughness, except for the lack of production that came with it) and following the cuts from the window incident, we now are concerned with a minor knee surgery (that took place during rookie mini-camp time frame) for an injury we do not know about

2. Depth- Zay is our best option for a no.2. Like it or not, we do not have options. I worry that our lack of depth will impact and hinder his growth simply because we literally have so few options that we have unrealistic expectations from Zay's production.

3. Hands- I believe that focus and a bad case of rookie-itis with the injury bug crippled his performance however, truth be told we do not know why he did not produce. Furthermore, we have no idea what impacted the NCAA single season reception leader's rookie season (in re: to hands) in NFL so largely. 

 

What do people think is a good plan for rolling into next season? Should we sign a vet to pick up some reps (a la Dez, etc.)? Should we go with what we have and hope everyone is healthy? Please let me know what you guys think.

 

Edited May 24, 2018 by FrankoElTanko

[eball]

Aren't they all still in New York?  Then no.

[yungmack]

Beginning to worry me? I am way past beginning.

[MJS]

Probably a weak group, but I'll withhold judgement until I see a real QB throw the ball to them. Taylor did them no favors. Taylor has had plenty of talented WR's around him that went to other teams and performed at a much higher level (Hogan, Woods, Goodwin).

 

We could have a stronger #1, but so could a lot of teams. Benjamin is a decent #1b or strong #2 WR. The rest of the guys are fine #3/#4 guys.

[Guest Mike147]

Kelvin Benjamin and a healthy Zay Jones are an acceptable #1 and #2 combination. Kerley is a solid slot receiver. Holmes and Streater have shown flashes of play making ability here and there. If we head into the season with those five plus perhaps one of the return specialists on the chart, then we should be okay for the season. Could we be strong? Of course we could, but right now I think I am more concerned about our quarterback position and the production we can expect out of them rather than our receiving depth chart if I'm being perfectly honest. 

[Luxy312]

Not worried one bit.  Tyrod could only muster 96 YPG to his collective receivers last year.  By comparison, OBJ averages over 94 YPG receiving.  Ridiculous.  I place most of the blame on the worst YPG for collective receivers on Tyrod Taylor and his unwillingness to take shots down field.  Now, getting to the players the Bills have and why I am not concerned:

Kelvin Benjamin - McDermott says he's 100% and looks good in camp.  He's a big young guy and was a 1,000 yard receiver with 9 TD's one year with Carolina.

Zay Jones - He played hurt last year and just had surgery.  Should be back before the Summer.  Big young guy with huge college stats.
Andre Holmes - Before Oakland acquired Crabtree (making Holmes disposable) he was a 700 yard receiver with a real QB throwing the ball.  Upside is there.

Jeremy Kerley - Decent production as a slot guy.  Never really slayed it, but he's not lame either.  You don't stay in the NFL for 7 years by being trash.
Non-rookies Rod Streater, Brandon Reilly, Malachi Dupre, Quay Bray - Obviously here mostly for special teams, and just depth.
Rookies Ray-Ray McCloud, Austin Proehl, Robert Foster, Cam Phillips - Of this group, Proehl's pedigree is what I'm most optimistic about.

Doing the math here, that's 13 guys.  Adding up the better stat years from the guys that look to be the starters, the productivity is there if our QB's are willing to throw the ball.  When you talk about even a middle of the road passing game, there's no reason why the bills couldn't take that 96 YPG for receivers and turn it into 150 YPG.  That wouldn't even account for productivity that they will get out of Clay, O'Leary, and McCoy and the other non-WR receivers, which should be another 100+ yards.

it's on our quarterbacks.  That's it in a nutshell.

[Jay_Fixit]

No.

 

[LABILLBACKER]

Why did Zay not have surgery in January?

[Beast]

1 minute ago, Jay_Fixit said:

No.

 

 

Me either- by Binghamton Beast

[oldmanfan]

Maybe beginning a little.  But they said he'll be ready for amp, right?  So I am not that worried.  Plus there are guys out there now, after the cuts in June, etc . they can look at.  I expect it to be an active area of focus in free agency next year when they have the cap space.

[Luxy312]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

Why did Zay not have surgery in January?

 

Don't know the answer, but they have said he'll be recovered before Spring is over.  Summer starts June 21st, so I'm not sure what the concern would be.

[4_kidd_4]

I’d say I’m more amused than ‘worried’.

 

I am, however, a little worried about what the 2019 Draft Caps will look like.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

worrying the hell out of me. I must of gained more gray hairs just in the past few hours...

[Kirby Jackson]

They were bad before he got hurt. It’s not a good group. Hopefully they have a guy or 2 that surprises.

[blacklabel]

It's not the best group but it doesn't seem like McBeane are concerned because the way they wanna win is still the same: strong run game and a suffocating defense. 

 

And people seem to forget that there are a couple of other guys on the roster that don't hold the title of "Wide Receiver" but still catch a bunch of passes. Clay and McCoy will still be key players in their passing scheme. 

[CommonCents]

To me Zay outside as a 2 is no different than Holmes, Streater or even a late add like a Thompson. Manny Sanders should be available and I’m hopeful he ends up in a Bills uni.

[The Tomcat]

No joke.  When I saw Zays infamous video and knew he cut his foot bad I was worried so yeah, I'm concerned.

 

I don't think Dez is the answer either fwiw (would love to be wrong).

 

I've been hoping for a trade of some sort actually.  Maybe this spurs that?

 

[major]

[GreggTX]

With or without Jones we need help and speed. Jones has only been 1 misfortune after another. I'm really starting to wonder if he's just gonna be another James Hardy.

 

WR, OL and also RB/TE will have to wait til next offseason when we'll have much more to spend.

Edited May 24, 2018 by GreggTX

[DJB]

I'm actually  going  to  say no and here's why. I'm going  to assume and hope that Daboll is installing the Patriots like play book  and offence. Are Pats fans worried about their wr corps  of Edelman  and Hogan? No they are not. 

 

Look at the WR's we drafted .  Quick slant type stuff, Proel ,  Ray ray. We added kerley .  I'm going  to hope the guys we have are a fit for our new scheme and it won't be an issue.

[Chandler#81]

“Beginning to worry”? Have you been hybernating since November? Just join here yesterday? There are at  least 45 topics and thousands of posts about the WR concern on this team. Please use the topic search button.

[dezertbill]

They were in the market for a veteran receiver anyways.  This just cements it.

 

Kerley is at best a slot.  Holmes and co. weren't good enough last year and not expecting them to be different.

 

Need a solid 2nd guy to come in and start.

[Direhard Fan]

Jones hurt his knee trying to jump out a window very  high up I bet and didn't tell anyone.  Never got a full explanation about that.  So if ready he should be able to out jump everybody.  Not to worry.  I'm not worried about our WR's.  I'm worried about Jones jumping in his next adventure.  

[Marv's Neighbor]

Not before we have a solid #1 QB.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

At least our receivers sound like a law firm: Ray Ray and Zay.

[eball]

2 hours ago, Luxy312 said:

Andre Holmes - Before Oakland acquired Crabtree (making Holmes disposable) he was a 700 yard receiver with a real QB throwing the ball.  Upside is there.

 

 

So we picked him up out of the trash can?

 

(I think you meant dispensable or expendable)

[Blokestradamus]

I'm just here to admit that I had a full-on belly laugh at the idea of a post-op Zay.

[ColoradoBills]

With Zay out for the summer it will give some quality 1st team reps to some of these younger guys.

Let's hope for one of them to shine.  If no one does and Zay comes back and is not improved it will be a problem.

[Uncle Joe]

I'm hoping Foster does well and makes the team as an outside threat.

 

 

[Buffalo86]

On the bright side, Josh Allen has plenty of experience throwing to ****ty WRs from behind a ****ty O-line.  He'll feel right at home!

[GETTOTHE50]

No.

 

Im more worried for Shady and QBs because of the offensive line.

 

it is truly offensive.

[Eric Moulds on my A**]

Anyone watching All or Nothing Cowboys on Amazon?

i wasn't for Dez Bryant coming here before seeing this behind the scenes footage. Dez Bryant has the same passion McD, Beane, Shady... I think now that he's been on the market for a bit, why not gauge a dropping price by the day? If we can get him for a prove it 1 year deal,  why not? Especially with Zay having surgery.. we're at that point where we're waiting for cuts. That's a bummer.

[PromoTheRobot]

Hard to be worse than last year...and we made the playoffs.

[JPP]

Post Op?  Forget that Zay still worried me Pre Op?  I dont have much confidence that he was/will make a 180 and shine next year considering the woeful season he had and the post season incident as well.....as we pretty much did nothing to improve the WR corp my only hope is guys like strether (sorry if i mispelled) or reilly will get their shot and shine......

[NastyNateSoldiers]

23 hours ago, Luxy312 said:

Not worried one bit.  Tyrod could only muster 96 YPG to his collective receivers last year.  By comparison, OBJ averages over 94 YPG receiving.  Ridiculous.  I place most of the blame on the worst YPG for collective receivers on Tyrod Taylor and his unwillingness to take shots down field.  Now, getting to the players the Bills have and why I am not concerned:

Kelvin Benjamin - McDermott says he's 100% and looks good in camp.  He's a big young guy and was a 1,000 yard receiver with 9 TD's one year with Carolina.

Zay Jones - He played hurt last year and just had surgery.  Should be back before the Summer.  Big young guy with huge college stats.
Andre Holmes - Before Oakland acquired Crabtree (making Holmes disposable) he was a 700 yard receiver with a real QB throwing the ball.  Upside is there.

Jeremy Kerley - Decent production as a slot guy.  Never really slayed it, but he's not lame either.  You don't stay in the NFL for 7 years by being trash.
Non-rookies Rod Streater, Brandon Reilly, Malachi Dupre, Quay Bray - Obviously here mostly for special teams, and just depth.
Rookies Ray-Ray McCloud, Austin Proehl, Robert Foster, Cam Phillips - Of this group, Proehl's pedigree is what I'm most optimistic about.

Doing the math here, that's 13 guys.  Adding up the better stat years from the guys that look to be the starters, the productivity is there if our QB's are willing to throw the ball.  When you talk about even a middle of the road passing game, there's no reason why the bills couldn't take that 96 YPG for receivers and turn it into 150 YPG.  That wouldn't even account for productivity that they will get out of Clay, O'Leary, and McCoy and the other non-WR receivers, which should be another 100+ yards.

it's on our quarterbacks.  That's it in a nutshell.

Hows that old saying goes put lipstick on a pig and its still a pig. Well u get the pt.  We have the worst wr core in the NFL. 

[Wagon Circler]

I think Jeremy Kerley will be a pest to defenses. I am also hopeful one of the kids busts out, be it Reilly, Dupree, Ray-Ray,  Proehl.

Tough news on Zay but not giving up on him. 

More worried about pass blocking and QB play.

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

On 5/24/2018 at 1:56 PM, Mike147 said:

Kelvin Benjamin and a healthy Zay Jones are an acceptable #1 and #2 combination. Kerley is a solid slot receiver. Holmes and Streater have shown flashes of play making ability here and there. If we head into the season with those five plus perhaps one of the return specialists on the chart, then we should be okay for the season. Could we be strong? Of course we could, but right now I think I am more concerned about our quarterback position and the production we can expect out of them rather than our receiving depth chart if I'm being perfectly honest. 

 

Not if your goal is to win the Super Bowl. I don't even know why Zay is still on the team after that video and last season's play.

[reddogblitz]

I've been worried since Sammy and Woods left with no good replacements.

[Clyde Smith]

Actually we have 14 Receivers including Kaelin Clay with playing experience w/ Buf and Car. I won’t be worried about WRs until the last preseason game. If no one stands out, then we will be in deep chips. I believe with proper Qb play, 3-4 on this list will stand out. Maybe more.

[FrankoElTanko]

^ solid analysis, I like the optimism and realism.