Has the light finally gone on for Zay Jones?

[whatdrought]

So. 

 

Maybe not? 

[NewEraBills]

Jones gets open.  Allen just has to see more of the field.  Once it slows down for Allen, Jones will get more targets.  What I would like to see next year though is Jones moved to the slot for the 3 WR set and have Foster and another speed guy on the outside.  I think that would be ideal.

[BillsVet]

Zay is great if each game had about 30 minutes of garbage time. 

[Victory Formation]

1 hour ago, NewEraBills said:

Jones gets open.  Allen just has to see more of the field.  Once it slows down for Allen, Jones will get more targets.  What I would like to see next year though is Jones moved to the slot for the 3 WR set and have Foster and another speed guy on the outside.  I think that would be ideal.

He can be a good player. I'm obviously a fan of Zay Jones. He'll be alright. He's a good guy to have around. Can he be a #1? Probably not. I was wrong to think so in the past, but he could probably do good as a #2. We just need an elite WR, that of which we have zero of right now.

[Lurker]

[Ronin]

1 hour ago, BillsVet said:

Zay is great if each game had about 30 minutes of garbage time. 

 

That's EXACTLY right!

 

He made a living off of garbage time in college, in a spread offense no less.

 

Most of his stats this season are as well.

[Alphadawg7]

On 12/17/2018 at 8:07 AM, Royale with Cheese said:

 

He had a good game against Miami 2 weeks ago.  4 for 67 yards and 2 TD's.  He was wide open when Allen missed him in the endzone as well.  It would have been a 3 TD day and around 85 yards....

 

You forgot to mention his drops  You also forgot to mention most his production came on broken plays.  Zay absolutely sucks at getting open on his route and is man handled by opposing defenders each week.  

 

I am convinced Zay is both not a starter in the NFL and won’t be on the roster next year.  He is not good at any facet of the game.  Can’t handle corners being physical, can’t run good routes, has bad hands, is not mentally tough, and gets poor separation.  

[BillsFan130]

33 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

He can be a good player. I'm obviously a fan of Zay Jones. He'll be alright. He's a good guy to have around. Can he be a #1? Probably not. I was wrong to think so in the past, but he could probably do good as a #2. We just need an elite WR, that of which we have zero of right now.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think he can be a good 2nd WR based on his career so far?

[Victory Formation]

Just now, BillsFan130 said:

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think he can be a good 2nd WR based on his career so far?

Well I think back to his 2 TD game, which in all actuality should have been 3 TDs and then I see him get wide open again for another TD today and I think he has shown flashes of great ability and I think he can absolutely be a big redzone threat to. He has nice feet and body control, it all just needs to come together for him and I think much of his productivity or lack thereof is because of instability at QB. Allen will be good but he's a rookie and before that he had Tyrod. To me, I just need to see more. I'm not ready to give up on Zay yet, I think the juice is worth the squeeze.

[BillsFan130]

3 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

Well I think back to his 2 TD game, which in all actuality should have been 3 TDs and then I see him get wide open again for another TD today and I think he has shown flashes of great ability and I think he can absolutely be a big redzone threat to. He has nice feet and body control, it all just needs to come together for him and I think much of his productivity or lack thereof is because of instability at QB. Allen will be good but he's a rookie and before that he had Tyrod. To me, I just need to see more. I'm not ready to give up on Zay yet, I think the juice is worth the squeeze.

He’s had a couple good games in his career. But doesn’t do it nearly enough.

 

He really struggles against man coverage and on top of it has a hard time catching the ball.

 

I don’t know. I thought he was turning the corner. But it seems like those few good games he had were more of an anomaly rather than the direction I thought he was heading.

Edited December 23, 2018 by BillsFan130

[Victory Formation]

4 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

He’s had a couple good games in his career. But doesn’t do it nearly enough.

 

He really struggles against man coverage and on top of it has a hard time catching the ball.

 

I don’t know. I thought he was turning the corner. But it seems like those few good games he had were more of an anomaly rather than the direction I thought he was heading.

He is out of position, that's all. We expect him to be something he's not. I'm guilty of it too. He'll probably finish with 50 catches and that's against opposing teams #1 CB. What can he do against the Levi Wallace's of the world? I wonder.

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

He is out of position, that's all. We expect him to be something he's not. I'm guilty of it too. He'll probably finish with 50 catches and that's against opposing teams #1 CB. What can he do against the Levi Wallace's of the world? I wonder.

I’m not so sure he was mostly playing against number 1 corners in his career.

 

Last year Jordan Matthews and then Benjamin when he played.

 

This year it was mostly Benjamin on the 1s from what I recall. And even today I noticed Gilmore was only on Zay a few times, but he mostly followed foster around.

[Victory Formation]

2 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

I’m not so sure he was mostly playing against number 1 corners in his career.

 

Last year Jordan Matthews and then Benjamin when he played.

 

This year it was mostly Benjamin on the 1s from what I recall. And even today I noticed Gilmore was only on Zay a few times, but he mostly followed foster around.

He goes up against 1s and 2s, but should be going up against 2s and 3s. Zay lined up on both sides IIRC. I did see him line up on the left and right, either way his production is not terrible. Foster will probably blow away Zay but I like both of them a lot. If we can draft a top WR I think we are in damn good shape. Zay, Foster and McKenzie all need to get bumped down on the depth chart one spot and we are in fantastic shape at WR. It's really not as bad as ppl think.

[DuckyBoys]

1 minute ago, NewDayBills said:

He goes up against 1s and 2s, but should be going up against 2s and 3s. Zay lined up on both sides IIRC. I did see him line up on the left and right, either way his production is not terrible. Foster will probably blow away Zay but I like both of them a lot. If we can draft a top WR I think we are in damn good shape. Zay, Foster and McKenzie all need to get bumped down on the depth chart one spot and we are in fantastic shape at WR. It's really not as bad as ppl think.

Maybe they can make Foster/Zay work as slot and outside wr #2   we don't have a true #1  Foster can get open by running away from guys but that works best on crossing routes and deeper routes  Zay needs time to get open  Honestly we need a Steve Johnson who seemed to get open right away with all those basketball court set up moves right off the line of scrimmage  Wouldn't hurt to have the receivers actually make some contested/adjustment catches.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

It’s all Zays fault. 

 

 

(you can determine if this is sarcasm or not) 

 

[vincec]

The light bulb burned out.

[26CornerBlitz]

How Zay Jones' Rebuilt Confidence Let His Game Emerge

 

 

If one was to compare Zay Jones, the rookie, to Zay Jones, the second-year wideout, there is one glaring difference.

 

Confidence.

 

One of Jones’ teammates, who witnessed the receiver’s rookie year first-hand, then spent the first half of 2018 in Dallas, before re-joining the Bills last month, sees a Zay Jones who carries himself with a purpose.

 

“What jumped out at me the most when I got back was the look in his eye, the pep in his step, the confidence,” said fellow receiver Deonte Thompson. “From the time I walked back in the building a few weeks ago his confidence has made him a totally different dude. His confidence is at another level right now.”

 

The first Bills receiver with 50 receptions or more since 2016 and the team leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Jones established himself as a steady and reliable option in Buffalo’s passing game despite a lot of change at the quarterback position.

 

“He gets better every day. He works his tail off,” said Josh Allen. “He comes into practice, he never takes a rep off, and it’s showing in games because he’s finding ways to get it done, creating more separation, it seems like, every game. When he’s got that type of attitude and work ethic, the chemistry just kind of becomes natural the more you throw to him.”

[Billsfan1972]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

How Zay Jones' Rebuilt Confidence Let His Game Emerge

 

 

If one was to compare Zay Jones, the rookie, to Zay Jones, the second-year wideout, there is one glaring difference.

 

Confidence.

 

One of Jones’ teammates, who witnessed the receiver’s rookie year first-hand, then spent the first half of 2018 in Dallas, before re-joining the Bills last month, sees a Zay Jones who carries himself with a purpose.

 

“What jumped out at me the most when I got back was the look in his eye, the pep in his step, the confidence,” said fellow receiver Deonte Thompson. “From the time I walked back in the building a few weeks ago his confidence has made him a totally different dude. His confidence is at another level right now.”

 

The first Bills receiver with 50 receptions or more since 2016 and the team leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Jones established himself as a steady and reliable option in Buffalo’s passing game despite a lot of change at the quarterback position.

 

“He gets better every day. He works his tail off,” said Josh Allen. “He comes into practice, he never takes a rep off, and it’s showing in games because he’s finding ways to get it done, creating more separation, it seems like, every game. When he’s got that type of attitude and work ethic, the chemistry just kind of becomes natural the more you throw to him.”

From the same marketing department that had the Nathan Peterman promotional video......

 

https://www.12up.com/posts/6166581-video-bills-post-embarrassing-nathan-peterman-hype-video

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, Billsfan1972 said:

From the same marketing department that had the Nathan Peterman promotional video......

 

https://www.12up.com/posts/6166581-video-bills-post-embarrassing-nathan-peterman-hype-video

 

The time for the article was after the game down in Miami. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

Zay needs one more reception for 14 yards to be at Robert Woods' career average in Buffalo.

 

Woods is 50.75 receptions, for 612 or so yards, and 3 tds per year.

 

Zay is currently at 50, for 599 and 5 TDs.

 

Of course Woods is better.  However, Zay was always penned in as a number 2, and these numbers in his second year are fine.

 

He still has to grow some, but having this kid be behind our eventual number 1 and getting 56-64 grabs for 6-7 tds may be enough for a buffalo number 2.

[26CornerBlitz]

7 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

Zay needs one more reception for 14 yards to be at Robert Woods' career average in Buffalo.

 

Woods is 50.75 receptions, for 612 or so yards, and 3 tds per year.

 

Zay is currently at 50, for 599 and 5 TDs.

 

Of course Woods is better.  However, Zay was always penned in as a number 2, and these numbers in his second year are fine.

 

He still has to grow some, but having this kid be behind our eventual number 1 and getting 56-64 grabs for 6-7 tds may be enough for a buffalo number 2.

 

Too much GTP in those numbers for Zay and as always they tell an "incomplete" story with many of the important details "dropped".

[Freddie's Dead]

 

[mjt328]

To me, it doesn't matter what a WR's physical makeup is like (size, speed, etc.)  His job is to get open and catch the ball.

 

Zay Jones made some big strides this season with his route running, and he's doing a much better job of getting open.  But he's still got some big problems with drops (just like everyone else on the Buffalo roster), and so far he's not the kind of player we can count on for the "difficult" catches.

 

In the offseason, I think Jones needs to work on improving his hands.  If he doesn't get better at catching the ball, I just don't see him ever becoming a starting caliber WR in this league.

 

 

 

[mjt328]

On 12/23/2018 at 5:39 PM, DuckyBoys said:

Maybe they can make Foster/Zay work as slot and outside wr #2   we don't have a true #1  Foster can get open by running away from guys but that works best on crossing routes and deeper routes  Zay needs time to get open  Honestly we need a Steve Johnson who seemed to get open right away with all those basketball court set up moves right off the line of scrimmage  Wouldn't hurt to have the receivers actually make some contested/adjustment catches.

 

The problem with our receivers is that none of them can really CATCH.

 

Watch other NFL games and you will be constantly amazed how other NFL receivers can adjust and come down with passes - even when they need to stretch-out, jump, dive or tip-toe on the sidelines.  And I'm not just talking about guys like Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham or Julio Jones.  I'm talking about the regular/dime-a-dozen guys in this league.

 

This season has been brutal to watch from the WR perspective.  Kelvin Benjamin was the most pathetic excuse for a big-man/jump-ball specialist I've ever seen.  He couldn't beat out guys 6 inches shorter than him.  Robert Foster has made some nice plays, but he still loses track of deep balls in the air.  Zay Jones seems to drop at least one pass every week. 

 

[dollars 2 donuts]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Too much GTP in those numbers for Zay and as always they tell an "incomplete" story with many of the important details "dropped".

 

 

I don't necessarily disagree with you, Corner...mater of fact you are probably spot on.

 

..and, as mentioned, Robert Woods is better.

 

I am just still not unhappy with Zay's progress as what I believe to be a true number 2, which is likely what he was drafted to do.

 

Woods had annoying drops, too.  No where close to the umber that Zay had..but I know that you know that he had them.

[26CornerBlitz]

1 minute ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

I don't necessarily disagree with you, Corner...mater of fact you are probably spot on.

 

..and, as mentioned, Robert Woods is better.

 

I am just still not unhappy with Zay's progress as what I believe to be a true number 2, which is likely what he was drafted to do.

 

Woods had annoying drops, too.  No where close to the umber that Zay had..but I know that you know that he had them.

 

IMO he doesn't create enough separation and his hands are too inconsistent to be a #2 WR. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

IMO he doesn't create enough separation and his hands are too inconsistent to be a #2 WR. 

 

 

He better start getting separation this offseason, Corner...man, we don't need another hole.

 

Lord have mercy our receivers are terrible.  Like that thread from the other day, it is annoying seeing average receiving groups making great catches, to a man.

Edited December 27, 2018 by dollars 2 donuts

[Bing Bong]

1 hour ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

Zay needs one more reception for 14 yards to be at Robert Woods' career average in Buffalo.

 

Woods is 50.75 receptions, for 612 or so yards, and 3 tds per year.

 

Zay is currently at 50, for 599 and 5 TDs.

 

Of course Woods is better.  However, Zay was always penned in as a number 2, and these numbers in his second year are fine.

 

He still has to grow some, but having this kid be behind our eventual number 1 and getting 56-64 grabs for 6-7 tds may be enough for a buffalo number 2.

Woods has always improved every year, sometimes dramatically, earlier more in increments.. not that he ever started out in question poorly either. Even if he didn't put up gaudy stats he was well respected by us in year 2 as well as in NFL circles. Not to mention he has dramatically increased his play to the point of borderline no 1 status.

 

So not to take away from Zay from your point I'm fine with him incrementally improving (and maybe we keep a good WR we drafted for once if he ends up there!).. and I hope he can be close to Wood's constant improvement in the passing game.. and hopefully see how some of that aggression and gut over the middle and in blocking can make him a better football player. Even with Zay having comparable #s I don't think the NFL regards him nearly as high as they did Woods at this point in their careers.

 

But Woods was a different animal. He played with that football aggression you love to see in WR2s.. reminds me of Juju really. And the NFL saw that outside the numbers, and paid him for more than his WR stats.. which I think the Bills should have recognized in him and kept if that was on the table. I didn't think he was worth the money at the time but I think that contract he got is a bargain in retrospect. 

 

WRs with that sort of aggression can pay dividends. Dude draws comparisons to TO and Hines Ward in his on field effort. Not nearly as talented as TO, not many are, but I do like the less-dirty-Ward comp. Eventually those guys are gonna get recognize for giving every play full effort.

 

I don't see it in Zay, but a Woods comparison is unfair to say now. Nice to see he has similar numbers this far albeit in more suitable WR circumstances as an informal no1.

 

I just think Tyrod had a love affair with his speed guys in Watkins and Goodwin.. for good reason, and likely recognized Woods' different playstyle too late in that Seahawks game where Woods showed he could do much more damage in the passing game than he was getting the opportunities for in the better part of his career.

 

I love woods in retrospect lol.. didn't really mean to go on a tangent about him but I miss the heck out of him and could see him becoming really special for the Rams or elsewhere if he keeps this up.. especially if handed the keys to a No1 spot somewhere. Hines Ward 2.0.

Edited December 27, 2018 by BarkleyForGOATBackupPT5P

[dollars 2 donuts]

1 minute ago, BarkleyForGOATBackupPT5P said:

Woods has always improved every year, sometimes dramatically, earlier more in increments.. not that he ever started out in question poorly either. Even if he didn't put up gaudy stats he was well respected by us in year 2 as well as in NFL circles. Not to mention he has dramatically increased his play to the point of borderline no 1 status.

 

So not to take away from Zay from your point I'm fine with him incrementally improving (and maybe we keep a good WR we drafted for once if he ends up there!).. and I hope he can be close to Wood's constant improvement in the passing game.. and hopefully see how some of that aggression and gut over the middle and in blocking can make him a better football player.

 

But Woods was a different animal. He played with that football aggression you love to see in WR2s.. reminds me of Juju really. And the NFL saw that outside the numbers, and paid him for more than his WR stats.. which I think the Bills should have recognized in him and kept if that was on the table. I didn't think he was worth the money at the time but I think that contract he got is a bargain in retrospect. 

 

WRs with that sort of aggression can pay dividends. Dude draws comparisons to TO and Hines Ward in his on field effort. Not nearly as talented as TO, not many are, but I do like the less-dirty-Ward comp. Eventually those guys are gonna get recognize for giving every play full effort.

 

I don't see it in Zay, but a Woods comparison is unfair to say now. Nice to see he has similar numbers this far albeit in more suitable WR circumstances as an informal no1.

 

I just think Tyrod had a love affair with his speed guys in Watkins and Goodwin.. for good reason, and likely recognized Woods' different playstyle too late in that Seahawks game where Woods showed he could do much more damage in the passing game than he was getting the opportunities for in the better part of his career.

 

I love woods in retrospect lol.. didn't really mean to go on a tangent about him but I miss the heck out of him and could see him becoming really special for the Rams or elsewhere if he keeps this up.. especially if handed the keys to a No1 spot somewhere. Hines Ward 2.0.

 

 

Peterman, and others, honestly...and maybe it is my fault.  Something is getting lost in translation that is making people think I like Zay better than Woods and that we are better off.

 

Please don't interpret it that way, especially when I come right out and say Woods is better.  

 

For what Zay is and what he has been able to produce, not what he has failed to produce in getting open or dropped passes, I am good with where he is.

 

Do I have to bring up Hardy, Tuttle or Franklin as year 2 comparisons?  I hope not.

 

I would have taken Woods for 4 years at 8 million per...hindsight, 4 years at 10 million would have been a steal.

[Bing Bong]

3 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

Peterman, and others, honestly...and maybe it is my fault.  Something is getting lost in translation that is making people think I like Zay better than Woods and that we are better off.

 

Please don't interpret it that way, especially when I come right out and say Woods is better.  

 

For what Zay is and what he has been able to produce, not what he has failed to produce in getting open or dropped passes, I am good with where he is.

 

Do I have to bring up Hardy, Tuttle or Franklin as year 2 comparisons?  I hope not.

 

I would have taken Woods for 4 years at 8 million per...hindsight, 4 years at 10 million would have been a steal.

I'm not, I just fell back in love with Woods as I posted haha (almost triggered at the contract he got and we didn't match in retrospect as well). All I ask is Zay keeps improving a la Woods like you said, and finds other ways to contribute as the best #2s and #3s should.. as Woods did as well 

 

When his contract comes up I hope he's at a similar juncture as Woods was. Not spectacular, but with steady improvement to merit a steal of a contract going forward (and we actually re-sign a drafted WR for the first time in forever!)

Edited December 27, 2018 by BarkleyForGOATBackupPT5P

[Bing Bong]

 

I only worry about his hands. Was excited to have a hands guy and he seems far from it. If he can't corall the Allan fastball like he did from some softball quarterback at ECU for all them receptions maybe we misidentified our "hands" role WR.