Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

[yordad]

Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism? Dude's measurables are better than those of Sammy Walkins.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/zay-jones?id=2557863

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/sammy-watkins?id=2543457

Sammy's 40 was 4.43 and is called a burner. Zay is 4.45, and considered to be a step slow? Vertical, broad, 3 cone, and 20 yr shuttle all favor Jones.

I am still hoping we pick up Sammy's option. This could be a formidable duo for a few years, and hopefully longer.

[yordad]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Sammy:A legitimate No. 1-caliber receiver who stepped onto the field as a true freshman and made an immediate, game-changing impact. Was slowed by injuries as a sophomore, but responded with a strong junior season and capped his career as one of the most impactful receivers in school history. Has rare speed, soft hands and the big-play ability to challenge NFL defensive backs as a rookie.

Zay:Possesses high football character and a desire to push himself forward. Record-breaking receptions totals in 2016 were due more to scheme and excessive targets than separation ability or top-end speed. As a one-on-one receiver on the pro level, he will have to prove he has the speed and quickness to uncover against man coverage if he is to become more than just wide receiver depth.

What am I missing here?

[DraftBoy]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism? Dude's measurables are better than those of Sammy Walkins.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/zay-jones?id=2557863

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/sammy-watkins?id=2543457

Sammy's 40 was 4.43 and is called a burner. Zay is 4.45, and considered to be a step slow? Vertical, broad, 3 cone, and 20 yr shuttle all favor Jones.

I am still hoping we pick up Sammy's option. This could be a formidable duo for a few years, and hopefully longer.

Game Speed > Timed Speed

I think Zay gets a bad wrap on the speed issue based on the offensive system he played in. Also keep in mind that once Jones time hit the watches in Indy his stock skyrocketed. You're talking about a guy who was likely a 3rd day pick who everybody thought was a 4.55-4.6 guy who ran sub 4.5. He probably jumped 60-100 spots when you combine his athletic testing with his film and production.

[yordad]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Game Speed > Timed Speed

I think Zay gets a bad wrap on the speed issue based on the offensive system he played in. Also keep in mind that once Jones time hit the watches in Indy his stock skyrocketed. You're talking about a guy who was likely a 3rd day pick who everybody thought was a 4.55-4.6 guy who ran sub 4.5. He probably jumped 60-100 spots when you combine his athletic testing with his film and production.

How slow could his game speed be when he basically just broke every college receiving record? This guy checks off every box, IMO.

[Guest]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

I really like this pick.

[kingJofNYC]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

He tested extremely well, but folks don't think he plays at the tested times.

PFF had him listed as one of the top WRs in making people miss when trying to tackle him, but on the flip side, he was given a lot of screens, hitches, slants, so he had more opportunities to make guys miss.

Interested in watching him play, intriguing player.

[Cali512]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Sammy had a lot of stuff in his scouting report that I have never seen on game tape. I saw stuff like rare speed (he has average top end speed but amazing acceleration) great elusiveness (he seems to use power moves over juking, and doesn't seem that light on his feet. Then I saw things like can make extremely difficult catches (which i thought would be like Beckum) but throughout his career he has been more of a body position concentration type guy. I can't see him making a big one handed catch, or diving catch, but like he did vs KC he can make a difficult catch

His scouting reports were very deceiving, not just in the NFL but in college. I thought we were getting a beckum, but we ended up with more of a Boldin

[justasportsfan]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

He won't be catching 100 passes this year. He's too short for TT to see running up the middle.

[Cali512]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Game Speed > Timed Speed

I think Zay gets a bad wrap on the speed issue based on the offensive system he played in. Also keep in mind that once Jones time hit the watches in Indy his stock skyrocketed. You're talking about a guy who was likely a 3rd day pick who everybody thought was a 4.55-4.6 guy who ran sub 4.5. He probably jumped 60-100 spots when you combine his athletic testing with his film and production.

I don't agree with this. Based on production and game tape he should of been a lock in the first round. His game tape was light years ahead of Corey Davis with way better competition and still went in the second. I have no idea how his position dropped as far as it did.

He had an extremely inaccurate QB, half the team was scrubs, and still was underutilized. Watching his tape he is open almost every play and even when he wasnt, he would make an incredible catch. I haven't seen him drop a pass at all even though he had to deal with some horrific accuracy

[DraftBoy]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

How slow could his game speed be when he basically just broke every college receiving record? This guy checks off every box, IMO.

Ask Freddie Barnes who he got the records from. Barnes ran in the 4.65 range.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

I don't agree with this. Based on production and game tape he should of been a lock in the first round. His game tape was light years ahead of Corey Davis with way better competition and still went in the second. I have no idea how his position dropped as far as it did.

He had an extremely inaccurate QB, half the team was scrubs, and still was underutilized. Watching his tape he is open almost every play and even when he wasnt, he would make an incredible catch. I haven't seen him drop a pass at all even though he had to deal with some horrific accuracy

Smaller height, weight, frame, and hands than Davis. Also Jones had more big plays, scored 11 more TD's and averaged more than 4 yards more per catch than Jones.

Also, I'm not sure the AAC competition isn't all that much better than the MAC.

You're right though that his QB and fellow talent was really bad and despite that he made a ton of plays.

[Cali512]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

The teams he played were a little better as in more NFL players come out of the programs. When it comes to size I don't think a few pounds or inches matter at all. He averaged more yds due to less catches and looking at the teams, Jones really should have been targeted even more. He would catch 2-3 big plays, then be wide open and not even looked at which is stunning for how much he was targeted. Also it seemed the team was fascinated by jimmy Williams on goaline sets sven though Jones was more reliable.

[kingJofNYC]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Here's some food for thought on Zay Jones by Matt Harmon.

https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/articles/reception-perception-zay-jones-years-confusing-wr-prospect/

[Night Train]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

Just wait until camp to watch him.

I watch his tape and the talent doesn't lie. I wrote down 5 guys from the Senior Bowl i liked a lot and then went back and watched their tape. We drafted 3 of them.
Jones, Dawkins of Temple and Peterman. I thought Peterman was god but average prior...but the more I watched his tape the more I saw a QB who reacts well to pressure and delivers a nice ball.

Not promoting any of them but our top 3 picks and Peterman will be fun to watch. Hoping the 2 hybrid S/LB types we drafted in rounds 5-6 can show something beyond their ST prowess.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Why is Zay Jones said to have average speed and athleticism?

The teams he played were a little better as in more NFL players come out of the programs. When it comes to size I don't think a few pounds or inches matter at all. He averaged more yds due to less catches and looking at the teams, Jones really should have been targeted even more. He would catch 2-3 big plays, then be wide open and not even looked at which is stunning for how much he was targeted. Also it seemed the team was fascinated by jimmy Williams on goaline sets sven though Jones was more reliable.

MAC had 11 players drafted, AAC had 15. Let's not act like there is some wide talent disparity. As for size, inches and seconds can make the difference between pro ball and college, so you better believe they matter.