Zay Jones is bad

[Talley56]

Not to play devils advocate but the one he dropped over the middle today was more on Allen than him.  Yes it hit his hands but the throw was much higher than it should have been.  Zay has definitely been a disappointment but I really think only the elite receivers would have caught that ball.

[Alaska Darin]

1 minute ago, Talley56 said:

Not to play devils advocate but the one he dropped over the middle today was more on Allen than him.  Yes it hit his hands but the throw was much higher than it should have been.  Zay has definitely been a disappointment but I really think only the elite receivers would have caught that ball.

This is the NFL...if the ball hits you in the hands, you have to catch it or they'll find someone who will.

[Dadonkadonk]

He's terrible but is relatively cheap on a rookie deal. He will not be cut. They already need a true #1. Foster is not a number 1. They need a guy with size and speed. They need a guy with a huge catch radius. They will draft a WR high. Or make a trade. No free agent will be worth the money.

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

I like when Zay drops a pass and then looks at his hands for 2 min. Go to ***** sports and put on those WR gloves and have someone throw 100 passes to you. I bet you catch 99 out of 100. 

[nedboy7]

I thought he was a clear #1?  Man these fans......

[Bill Murray]

1 hour ago, Buffalo30 said:

Zay is a slot.  He could be a very good slot I think but he's a slot.  If you want to call that the number 3, sure whatever.  He has no business facing another team's number 1 corner.  

While I agree w you that he is a slot, facing another team’s top corner is no excuse for the dropped passes that hit him in the hands and numbers.  He has shown improvement this year, but from a very low base.  Must become more consistent.  Given how he has played so far, I would say his ceiling is Stevie Johnson (can get open and make some plays, drops too many passes, including clutch ones that are catchable).

 

Edit:  just reread your comment, I think we are in agreement. 

Edited December 17, 2018 by Bill Murray

[Talley56]

10 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

This is the NFL...if the ball hits you in the hands, you have to catch it or they'll find someone who will.

And if you’re a quarterback you need to be able to hit the receiver in the numbers or else they will find someone else.

[HappyDays]

14 minutes ago, Talley56 said:

Not to play devils advocate but the one he dropped over the middle today was more on Allen than him.  Yes it hit his hands but the throw was much higher than it should have been.  Zay has definitely been a disappointment but I really think only the elite receivers would have caught that ball.

 

Wow... watch some other NFL offenses. Golladay caught 3 different passes today that were more difficult than anything Zay dropped. Golladay is not elite, just a pretty good NFL receiver.

[Talley56]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Wow... watch some other NFL offenses. Golladay caught 3 different passes today that were more difficult than anything Zay dropped. Golladay is not elite, just a pretty good NFL receiver.

The passes to Galladay were no where near as difficult as the one to Zay.

[HappyDays]

Just now, Talley56 said:

The passes to Galladay were no where near as difficult as the one to Zay.

 

Lol! Golladay literally ripped the ball out of Levi Wallace's hands, and caught another deep pass while White was interfering with him. Zay had a pass hit him in the hands a tiny bit over his head.

[billsfan_34]

He is mentally tough enough

[peterpan]

He's a middle of the road 4th or 5th wide receiver.  

[Talley56]

5 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Lol! Golladay literally ripped the ball out of Levi Wallace's hands, and caught another deep pass while White was interfering with him. Zay had a pass hit him in the hands a tiny bit over his head.

The one he caught over Wallace went through Wallace’s hands and right into his chest.  Both were tough catches yes but I would still say it’s tougher to catch a ball thrown way over your head.

[Billsfan1972]

16 minutes ago, Talley56 said:

The one he caught over Wallace went through Wallace’s hands and right into his chest.  Both were tough catches yes but I would still say it’s tougher to catch a ball thrown way over your head.

Was not way over his head.  It was a pass NFL receivers are supposed to make. 

 

As per my thread, you look a every game and there are difficult catches being made.  With the bills even feathering a pass in, they bobble it and it goes to video review.

 

Zay just disappoints week after week.  

 

[BlueandRed]

He drops way too many to be consistent. Worried what he might do if he doesn’t. 

 

The guy is a mess. 

[Success]

The curve for wide receivers used to be 3 years.  He made great strides this year, and big plays.  And he is our only receiver who consistently gets open.

 

Let’s not write him off just yet.

[ProcessTruster]

the WR position will get fixed in the offseason.   Allen will be better throwing the ball next season.   Is what it is right now.   2019 Bills = 2018 Bears.   rags to riches.  Trust the process.

[FeelingOnYouboty]

It’s insane because coming out of East Carolina he broke records for receptions. He had reliable hands. 

 

He comes to this level and he immediately has unreliable hands and from Game 1 last year. Really frustrating. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

I haven't even seen flashes. I mean he has caught some passes but has he made one next level play? He misses routine plays and hasn't made a single great play. I'm done with him.

Be patient and don't make an early judgment. He's certainly struggled especially when he is getting the priority coverage. What I am miffed about is how he is being used? He is more of a slot and underneath receiver. Yet there are too many routes where he is the made to be the deep receiver. He doesn't have the speed and explosion to adequately run those routes. I'm confident that when our offense is upgraded and the qb gains experience he will be a productive receiver for us. Is he going to be anything special? Probably not. But that doesn't mean that he can't be a productive receiver for us. Be patient and encouraging. You will be rewarded. 

[HOUSE]

The guy will run naked thru a hotel for this team

[Xwnyer]

He will be fine once they develop chemistry he had great hands in College

[par73]

About a month ago, he seemed to be improving, and there seemed to be hope for the future (at least compared to last year). Since then, he has regressed to last year's "Stone Hands Jones."

[bigK14094]

He likely will not make the team next year imho.  Don't know whats wrong, but he is not an NFL receiver.

[Reader]

Seems like he'll have a Josh Reed type of career at best.

[WideNine]

2 hours ago, Jpsredemption said:

Save for the Miami game .. in which he also had a couple of passes go through his hands .. this guy has been atrocious over nearly two years. He is not going to help Allens cause with his wild play.

 

If it's me I'm looking to replace him at all costs this offseason.

 

I was hoping the Zay we saw year one, fighting every catch, was gone. Not-so-much.

 

I don't know if he will ever develop the consistency to be that go to receiver for us, and I have been rooting for this kid to turn it around, but the killer drops at key moments keep coming. At best a #3 and I don't know if he has the hands to play that slot position.... too early, but the clock is ticking.

 

OBD needs to do a better job vetting their early round WR prospects to see if they were dropping as many passes as they were catching in college. To see if they catch cleanly with their hands instead of trapping with their body, etc... beating a dead horse, but we need receivers with speed and hands so Josh can shred other teams deep.

[Kmart128]

It's odd. Seems like he is polar opposite of what he was in college. He was a guy who never dropped balls and what up and made tremendous grabs. Not sure what happened to that... Sure he was going against weaker competition but that doesn't explain why all of a sudden he struggled to catch footballs.

 

But I'm thinking Thompson is really holding this WR core back. Stealing time from Foster and McKenzie and dropping big balls in crucial situations. Deonte just is not the same player he was just last year. He needs to be let go.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

18 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

The guy will run naked thru a hotel for this team

 

And if you asked Greg Williams he turned the job down lol.

[Bills!Win!]

He's another tj graham

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Have we determined if this bad is the ‘good’ bad, or the ‘bad’ bad?

[BullBuchanan]

Zay should probably be our #4 going into next year until his play dictates otherwise. Unfortunately this is an atrocious FA WR class. It's going to take trades or immediate impact rookies to change the makeup of our group going into next year in any sort of meaningful way. The absolute best we could hope for, as it stands, would be to get someone like Funchess, and he's not even that good.

[BillsVet]

2 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

he has regressed as the season progressed,  Foster and McKenzie have both lapped Zay in just a few weeks , great finds by e front office! Can't believe this Foster kid wasn't even starting at Alabama.  3 straight 100 yard games! 

 

Amazing how Foster has done all of this after having been cut.  

 

1 hour ago, Talley56 said:

And if you’re a quarterback you need to be able to hit the receiver in the numbers or else they will find someone else.

 

The first round guy they took after trading up with 2 seconds isn't getting cut anytime soon.  The 2nd rounder from 2017 they traded a 3rd to move up for, well, that's a different story. 

 

1 hour ago, billsfan_34 said:

He is mentally tough enough

 

You have no idea what that kid's been through.  Mental health is not something to make fun of.   

 

57 minutes ago, FeelingOnYouboty said:

It’s insane because coming out of East Carolina he broke records for receptions. He had reliable hands. 

 

He comes to this level and he immediately has unreliable hands and from Game 1 last year. Really frustrating. 

 

Phil McGeoghan clearly knows WRs.  Or at least he knew how to advocate for Buffalo to take him.  Either way, OBD hasn't set the world on fire with offensive players in the draft these last few years. 

[row_33]

1 hour ago, Talley56 said:

The one he caught over Wallace went through Wallace’s hands and right into his chest.  Both were tough catches yes but I would still say it’s tougher to catch a ball thrown way over your head.

 

Yes, failing to make a catch right in your hands is far more valuable than the Lions receptions in the midst of coverage today....

 

[racketmaster]

I’d rather the Bills go in a different direction next year. Foster and McKenzie have clearly passed him as receiving threats. If he has to remain on the team next year let it be as a 4 or 5. But he would have to be effective  on special teams. 

[billsfan_34]

19 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

Amazing how Foster has done all of this after having been cut.  

 

 

The first round guy they took after trading up with 2 seconds isn't getting cut anytime soon.  The 2nd rounder from 2017 they traded a 3rd to move up for, well, that's a different story. 

 

 

You have no idea what that kid's been through.  Mental health is not something to make fun of.   

 

 

Phil McGeoghan clearly knows WRs.  Or at least he knew how to advocate for Buffalo to take him.  Either way, OBD hasn't set the world on fire with offensive players in the draft these last few years. 

That isnt what im eluding to- in game mental toughness- concentrating on the tip of the ball etc...

[Nuncha]

One thing that would instantly help Zay - CHANGE YOUR NUMBER!  11 has been cursed since Norwood missed that super bowl FG.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

16 hours ago, par73 said:

About a month ago, he seemed to be improving, and there seemed to be hope for the future (at least compared to last year). Since then, he has regressed to last year's "Stone Hands Jones."

 

I'd tend to agree on your time line, lets see what happened under a month ago??  hmmmmm.... wait the Bills cut Benjamin  I'm not saying he was any good, but he still was the teams #1 or 1A guy and drew the tougher coverage.  Now Zay is likely facing the other teams #1 CB and sometimes probably even double teams.  Wouldn't be shocked next week if Foster becomes the WR drawing the tightest coverage.

 

And has also been pointed he belongs in the slot.

 

Think Foster could become a good #2 guy. draft or sign a good WR who if nothing else becomes the #1 WR by default, Foster is #2 then Zay can become full time slot guy and lets see how he looks then.  I recall when he was first drafted, was talked about how he'll be a good slot guy, but hardly has had the chance to play there.

 

I'm sure everyone will argue how KB sucked, but Zay was starting to come on right up til they got rid of KB.

Edited December 17, 2018 by Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

[BillsMafia13]

17 hours ago, Talley56 said:

Not to play devils advocate but the one he dropped over the middle today was more on Allen than him.  Yes it hit his hands but the throw was much higher than it should have been.  Zay has definitely been a disappointment but I really think only the elite receivers would have caught that ball.

You're right.  People will only see the first line and argue. He should have caught it but the ball was high while he was falling down and it was contested.  Wouldnt put it 100% on him

[billsfan89]

I think Jones could progress more in year 3. In year 1 Jones looked completely lost and not worthy of being on an NFL roster. In year 2 Jones at least looks like a low end slot receiver. That's not saying much in isolation but it is a huge leap of progression from year 1 to 2. Zay is still young and the QB situation this year was a mess. Give Zay an off-season to build off of his improvement in year 2 and to develop consistency with Allen and I think he develops into a solid WR3. 

 

That being said I think the Bills likely need to make a big play for at least one WR via trade or free agency. Foster, Zay, and Mackenzie are all showing that they are capable WR's but I wouldn't want to enter into any season just relying on them. Personally I would bring in a vet WR1 and a rookie WR in round 2. Let Zay, Foster, Mac, and a rookie battle it out, depth is never a bad thing.