Pete Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I have a hunch that Duke might be very good playing slot. If he outplays Zay in camp, Zay might be in trouble. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndirish1978 Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I doubt Zay doesn't get a chance to play out his rookie contract very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollars 2 donuts Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 The Buffalo Bills leading receiver for the last two years will also be their leading receiver in 2019. However he will be pushed by a rookie for total receptions and he won't have the Big plays that Foster will have. Wild guess....Zay 68 rec, rookie 56, Foster with 44. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyBatty is alive Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 5 minutes ago, Augie said: I think he stays. He’s cheap and his leap from year 1 to year 2 was impressive and makes me hope he keeps improving. I think there may have some some stuff messing up his head year 1. I looked at the numbers, the improvement was more impressive than i thought. Just based on target/receptions, he caught 36% in '17 up to 55% to '18. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Johnson Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said: I could be wrong, but this is just what I believe based on the additions I expect Beane to make in the WR room. I have no issues if others don't agree, just my opinion on the matter, nothing more. I have consistently said this all off season, and McDermott just said something again that enforces that belief. I think they see how the Rams cleared out their WR room and so did the Bears and in both cases their young QB's took big strides as passers. Eagles did the same for Wentz too. "We're looking for guys that can get open and catch the ball." Yes, that is an obvious trait for any WR, but also its telling that he and Beane keep making these comments given the struggles all year, including Zay, to do these very basic things. I think the WR room will be crowded once free agency and the draft is over (likely 2 to 3 additions) and Zay is going to be someone who has to really impress in camp to make this roster. Right now, there is not one part of being a wide receiver that Zay does particularly well outside of his reported good work ethic. Hands: Struggles catching the ball. Makes easy catches look hard and drops too many passes. Separation: Has struggled to get separation, especially playing on the outside. Route Running: Part of his issue with getting separation is his inconsistent route running. Speed: He has average speed. He is fast enough to play in the league, but to be consistent with his speed he needs to be a good route runner. Physicality: He is easily man handled by physical corners. Games like the Lions and Pats this year he was dominated physically for example. Contested Catches: One of the weakest part of his game. Catch Radius: Very limited mostly due to his inconsistent hands and lack of physicality. Foster: Penciled in as a projected #2 WR. However, if we bring in a potential starter in FA and also draft one early, then Foster is no lock for #2 and could be used more out of the slot or as a deep threat. Additionally, if we draft say Metcalf or make a splashy trade for someone like Brown (less likely), then Duke could make a real challenge for #2 as a big catch radius compliment to a #1 who poses a real deep threat opposite him. Duke: He has to prove himself in the NFL, I get that. But if we take an honest assessment of him, his issues were never talent related. He isn't a speed burner, but he has a big catch radius, runs good routes, and has great hands. He could legit compete for the #2 opposite a big play #1. Even if not a #2, its more than reasonable he has a legit shot to make this team and compete for minutes. Zay: Best suited for the slot, however his lack of consistent hands and his issues with separation make his spot there vulnerable. If our top 2 WR's this next season dont include Foster, then I can easily see Foster challenging to play in the slot, and he already has surpassed Zay. We are adding at least 2 additonal WR's (and maybe 3) this offseason expected to start or compete to start to go along with the 3 guys already here. With McD and Beanes consistent comments about getting open and catching the ball, I think Zay is in trouble and will be a training camp trade for a 4th round or conditional 5th round pick. This is the rare, well-written, carefully reasoned, totally ridiculous take on this board. The Bills need WRs. They have a 23yr old that they invested a 2nd round pick in. He is cost-controlled. He more than doubled his catches in year 2. There is zero chance he gets cut this year. Edited February 27, 2019 by Flip Johnson 7 2 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCbillsfan Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I think he stays. It's hard to imagine the Bills having 5 WR's who are better than him. I'm reserving the 6th WR as a special teams guy. Plus Zay is on a cheap rookie deal. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollars 2 donuts Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 10 minutes ago, Augie said: I think he stays. He’s cheap and his leap from year 1 to year 2 was impressive and makes me hope he keeps improving. I think there may have some some stuff messing up his head year 1. 1 minute ago, RoyBatty is alive said: I looked at the numbers, the improvement was more impressive than i thought. Just based on target/receptions, he caught 36% in '17 up to 55% to '18. ...and I don't think it is us just going to bat for the kid and being in his corner. What it really comes down to is that he has improved and may improve even more in his third season, with better oline, but other young receivers around him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I thought he improved last year Having said that....Zay is in real trouble because the bills are in a position to be VERY aggressive in getting pass catcher's this offseason.......this will not be a situation where lack of talent allows Zay to not be consistant. Does he answer the bell? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphadawg7 Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 38 minutes ago, mannc said: I thought that might be the case last year. I think this year Zay’s safer, but not a lock to make the team. Cutting him would mean Sean admitting to a bad mistake, which he won’t do unless there’s really no other choice. True, however they did cut KB even though they spent a 3rd on him and he they could have let him walk a handful of weeks later if they were concerened with how cutting him would look. So I do think McD and Beane will put the team first over looking wrong. 32 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said: I'll say Zay makes the team this year.. He is still cheap, and players with only 2 years experience can still improve... Look no further than this time last year when similar threads were being started about Shaq Lawson True but we didn’t add a high level free agent or draft pick to challenge him for his roster spot. We are likely adding a WR early in draft, and could add a total of 2 to 3 more to go with duke also competing. So Shaq wasn’t staring down the barrel of the same threat to his spot as Zay will be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_Fixit Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I bet he makes it, easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1105 Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 (edited) 38 minutes ago, jkeerie said: Listened to McD on WGR interview after his press conference. He mentioned changes in the coaching staff...that coaches need to be all in, all the time and giving maximum effort. You got the impression (and Murphy and Tasker mentioned this) that Robiske wasn't doing that as a coach. Improving the WR corps has to include improving the coaches. Probably all 4 guys to be honest that they let go. There is a common theme. 4 older coaches with long track records of success who may have been stuck in their ways and didn’t want to change or thought their job status was secure replaced by 4 guys who are all younger and haven’t had the taste yet or being a full time guy besides Dorsey. Guys who will be hungry to make a difference on the staff. Edited February 27, 2019 by gonzo1105 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphadawg7 Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 16 minutes ago, Flip Johnson said: This is the rare, well-written, carefully reasoned, totally ridiculous take on this board. The Bills need WRs. They have a 23yr old that they invested a 2nd round pick in. He is cost-controlled. He more than doubled his catches in year 2. There is zero chance he gets cut this year. I said traded, not cut. And being 23 in not relevant given we already have young players in foster, duke and any rookies we draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I don't see the point in cutting him. Maybe a trade if you can get some assets. He seems like the type to play better when he has more talent around him. I don't think he can function as a #1. But as a 3rd option I think he could be effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Straight out of McD's mouth :Lets not make this too complicated. The job of a WR is to get open and CATCH THE FOOTBALL" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Zay was pretty productive the last 8 weeks of the season...I think you'd be surprised at how his numbers stacked up against other WR's in the NFL if you went and looked at them over that time frame... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMDman Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I really don’t get the hate for Zay 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Zay showed improvement last year, which is a positive for him. I think he makes the team this year unless the Bills get such an infusion of WR talent, which I can't imagine, that it pushes him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshAllenHasBigHands Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 23 minutes ago, Flip Johnson said: This is the rare, well-written, carefully reasoned, totally ridiculous take on this board. The Bills need WRs. They have a 23yr old that they invested a 2nd round pick in. He is cost-controlled. He more than doubled his catches in year 2. There is zero chance he gets cut this year. Stellar take. OP put a ton of work into the post, and it was well done, but at the end of the day, you can write a whole book on the topic, it is still going to be completely absurd to think Zay is going to get cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemma Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 NextGen stats shows him at 2.8 yards separation, which is about average. Foster is at 2.7, as is Michael Thomas. He’ll have a locker. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 3 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said: True but we didn’t add a high level free agent or draft pick to challenge him for his roster spot. We are likely adding a WR early in draft, and could add a total of 2 to 3 more to go with duke also competing. So Shaq wasn’t staring down the barrel of the same threat to his spot as Zay will be You don't consider Murphy as someone who was added last year to compete with Shaq? I wouldn't say Murphy is high level, but he was one of a few that they elected to spend very sparse available cap dollars on last offseason I think if Shaq didn't improve last year on what he showed the first two years he would be gone by now.. maybe not at the start of last season but probably by the end... I agree with you that they will add another three WR's this offseason.. one in FA, one early in the draft and probably another on Day 3 so competition will certainly be on... Its not a definite he makes it but unless he looks appalling I'd probably give him the benefit of the doubt considering they will be going into the season with a pretty inexperienced group.. at least he has two years of NFL experience.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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