Jerome Lane

[ZippyRulz]

Nice Ridenour article on JL..

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-after-years-looking-for-his-best-position-jerome-lane-jr-finds-his-niche-at-wide-receiver-1.637931

[Dr Z]

Nice Ridenour article on JL.. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-after-years-looking-for-his-best-position-jerome-lane-jr-finds-his-niche-at-wide-receiver-1.637931

Nice article. I would hope to see JL7's snaps and targets increase. If somebody wants a project at the game, count his snaps. I'm guessing it's been less than fifty percent. I could be wrong, just a guess. Turn he and TW loose one game this year.

[zipsoutsider]

Nice article. I would hope to see JL7's snaps and targets increase. If somebody wants a project at the game, count his snaps. I'm guessing it's been less than fifty percent. I could be wrong, just a guess. Turn he and TW loose one game this year.

It sounds like snaps will increase as footwork and route running improve.

[Zipgrad01]

It sounds like snaps will increase as footwork and route running improve.

I hope their logic isnt that stupid. The guy is the most talented person on offense and he has made more big plays than the rest of the receivers combined. He isnt going to learn route running and footwork by standing on the sidelines. Get him on the field now.

[LZIp]

I hope their logic isnt that stupid. The guy is the most talented person on offense and he has made more big plays than the rest of the receivers combined. He isnt going to learn route running and footwork by standing on the sidelines. Get him on the field now.

THIS.

[zipsoutsider]

I hope their logic isnt that stupid. The guy is the most talented person on offense and he has made more big plays than the rest of the receivers combined. He isnt going to learn route running and footwork by standing on the sidelines. Get him on the field now.

No, this is stupid. Do you really think you can just throw him out there without being able to run all of the routes well? Do you really think you should bench kids who know how to other parts of the role better? That type of thinking does a disservice to the skills players learn at the D1 to excel at their position.

Use him for what he is good for now... add him in as he learns the craft.

Edited November 5, 2015 by zipsoutsider

[LZIp]

No, this is stupid. Do you really think you can just throw him out there without being able to run all of the routes well? Do you really think you should bench kids who know how to other parts of the role better? That type of thinking does a disservice to the skills players learn at the D1 to excel at their position.

Use him for what he is good for now... add him in as he learns the craft.

He's your best player on offense. Even though still a little raw, its a disservice to the team to not play the best players. Sorry, Andrew Pratt doesn't deserve snaps over him. It makes no sense not to play him just because he isn't polished (yet still your best talent).

Jerome Lane is 2nd on the team in receptions (behind Davis) and 1st in yards. He has more than double the touchdowns as the next closest player. Davis and Lane have approximately 4x a many yards as the #3 receiver. Playing these two only half of the snaps is just downright dumb.

Edited November 5, 2015 by LZip

[zipsoutsider]

He's your best player on offense. Even though still a little raw, its a disservice to the team to not play the best players. Sorry, Andrew Pratt doesn't deserve snaps over him. It makes no sense not to play him just because he isn't polished (yet still your best talent).

Jerome Lane is 2nd on the team in receptions (behind Davis) and 1st in yards. He has more than double the touchdowns as the next closest player. Davis and Lane have approximately 4x a many yards as the #3 receiver. Playing these two only half of the snaps is just downright dumb.

So you are going to ask a kid who doesn't really know a route or run it very well to run it? That is simply ludicrous. It has also been pointed out that he is still learning to block. Don't you think the coaches want to get the most value from him that they can? If he was ready to do more, we would see more of him. One of the best things that could happen to the program is if Jerome became one of the elite players in the conference and gained some more national attention.

Honestly, this type of second guessing is just ignorant. People fail to realize that there is a lot more that happens behind the scenes than we will ever know.

[johnnyzip84]

Honestly, this type of second guessing is just ignorant. People fail to realize that there is a lot more that happens behind the scenes than we will ever know.

Hmmm zipsoutsider - maybe you need to change your screen name to zipsinsider?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I know one other coach that wouldn't play Lane.

"All he does is catch touchdowns."

[Dr Z]

Do you really think you can just throw him out there without being able to run all of the routes well?

I wish the Zips had the coaches All-22 film so I could study all his routes compared to his replacement at the "X" or split end position when he isn't on the field. He should be running mostly long routes. From the X position, I see the majority of routes run to the sideline; outs, corners and ups. From his position I don't see many "in the middle of the field routes"; hitch, slant, or hooks. I have seen some posts. He has about nine routes to run, most of which our offense rarely run from his SE position. I would need some solid proof to the above statement to convince me of it. I could buy that he runs a lot of long routes and comes off the field for a breather, but that should only take him off the field occasionally, not mostly. I haven't studied his blocking on runs plays enough to know if that is a strength or weakness, but you would have a hard time convincing me that someone is so much better, that he would not see the field because of it. With the quality of our opponents left on our schedule, I would hope that Jerome gets a lot of route running practice during game time. My critic of the offense so far would be to let TW use the middle of the field more at this juncture of the season. I think because of the mistakes he made last year over the middle, the play calling is limiting him this year. Seems too conservative to me. Personally, I think it's too easy to defend all our sideline routes. TW should be comfortable enough now to command an expanded passing attack, and JL should be involved more.

Edited November 5, 2015 by Dr Z

[LZIp]

So you are going to ask a kid who doesn't really know a route or run it very well to run it? That is simply ludicrous. It has also been pointed out that he is still learning to block. Don't you think the coaches want to get the most value from him that they can? If he was ready to do more, we would see more of him. One of the best things that could happen to the program is if Jerome became one of the elite players in the conference and gained some more national attention.

Honestly, this type of second guessing is just ignorant. People fail to realize that there is a lot more that happens behind the scenes than we will ever know.

While I'm a supporter of the coaches, I don't think they're perfect. Remember when Chapman started the season as the starting QB after the coaches had a year to evaluate him?

Your argument holds no weight. Just because he hasn't perfected routes and footwork doesn't mean he shouldn't be playing when he is still better than any alternative. Nowhere did I say he shouldn't continue to perfect the little things. Imani Davis (who is a senior and is not dealing with a position change) has the most receptions on the team and the 2nd most yards and he is only playing half of the snaps as well. Whats the excuse for that one?

Better yet, the Zips ran 11 personnel the majority of the snaps against CMU. How many times were our two best WRs, Lane and Davis, on the field together in that package? I'll save you the guesswork, it was none. The coaching staff is not putting the best talent on the field. There is clearly an issue with the offense. In three games against decent MAC competition, we have scored 12, 10, and 6 points. If acknowledging a problem makes me "ignorant", than so be it. CMU is giving up 21.7 ppg, OU 27.3, and Bowling Green 28. Hardly juggernauts we are struggling against. But please keep defending the coaching staff at all costs, the status quo is clearly working!

Edited November 5, 2015 by LZip

[K92]

Hmmm zipsoutsider - maybe you need to change your screen name to zipsinsider NewZipsFan?

FIFY

[zipsoutsider]

While I'm a supporter of the coaches, I don't think they're perfect. Remember when Chapman started the season as the starting QB after the coaches had a year to evaluate him?

Your argument holds no weight. Just because he hasn't perfected routes and footwork doesn't mean he shouldn't be playing when he is still better than any alternative. Nowhere did I say he shouldn't continue to perfect the little things. Imani Davis (who is a senior and is not dealing with a position change) has the most receptions on the team and the 2nd most yards and he is only playing half of the snaps as well. Whats the excuse for that one?

Better yet, the Zips ran 11 personnel the majority of the snaps against CMU. How many times were our two best WRs, Lane and Davis, on the field together in that package? I'll save you the guesswork, it was none. The coaching staff is not putting the best talent on the field. There is clearly an issue with the offense. In three games against decent MAC competition, we have scored 12, 10, and 6 points. If acknowledging a problem makes me "ignorant", than so be it. CMU is giving up 21.7 ppg, OU 27.3, and Bowling Green 28. Hardly juggernauts we are struggling against. But please keep defending the coaching staff at all costs, the status quo is clearly working!

I don't know why any school is paying out to head coaches when you guys obviously know it all.

My point is that you don't know is and who is not nursing an injury. You don't know who is being disciplined and who is not. You don't really know how what Jerome has not yet learned impacts the plays. So if we put Jerome in and he is only effective at one or two plays, should we run them every time? Have you noticed he does see more snaps in games where he can be more effective? Did you see Jerome open at all in the second half against CMU? Do you think if we put him in for twice the snaps tat suddenly changes?

There are a thousand dynamics and variable that none of us gave insight into and to critique how many snaps a particular player sees or does not see is stupid.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I do know when Jerome is on the field, he gets the attention of a safety and a CB. He's the only Zips WR that draws double coverage.

[Lee Adams]

Lane has the tools to the the best WR in Akron history. Size + speed + hops, and elusive in the open field.

The fact that Pratt ( ) , Davis and Wolf have also become viable receiving options will help keep the Jerome's coverage honest.

McNeil is also starting to see some balls thrown his way.

The 2015 Zips have an offense? Who'da thunk it?

Pratt is not a viable option. Never has been. Can't catch or get open consistently. Davis is decent but he is small. Keep him on the field with Lane. But, Lane is NOT great as someone said elsewhere.

[Dr Z]

I think Jerome's ceiling is high. If I were Jerome, I would seek some kind of summer working out program with a professional. I think he is only scratching the surface. He has natural seperatlon ability. It would be a huge benefit for him to learn all the nuances of route running and professional catching techniques. I would contact these former MAC players.

If you don't appreciate Jerome, and you are at a game, take a few series and watch him run all his routes. Don't watch the ball, just watch him. Post back in this thread and let us know how many times he was covered.

Caught my attention early this year, now on NFL draft analyst Kevin Weidl's radar. More here.

[Dr Z]

 

[LZIp]

9 minutes ago, akron4ever said:

 

I'm really excited to see how having JoJo Natson helps open up things for Jerome. Jerome should have a huge jump this year just from learning the position, but having Natson should do wonders for opening up space for Jerome.

Their skill sets should compliment one another quite well!

[ZippyRulz]

11 minutes ago, akron4ever said:

 

I'm really excited to see how having JoJo Natson helps open up things for Jerome. Jerome should have a huge jump this year just from learning the position, but having Natson should do wonders for opening up space for Jerome.

 

I'm really excited to see how having Jerome helps open up things for JoJo Natson.

 

[ZachTheZip]

On 7/13/2016 at 3:49 PM, akron4ever said:

I'm really excited to see how having JoJo Natson helps open up things for Jerome. Jerome should have a huge jump this year just from learning the position, but having Natson should do wonders for opening up space for Jerome.

 

http://www.todaysu.com/mac/jojo-natson-fills-multiple-voids-for-akron/

[Dr Z]

Reading back through this thread, I'm wondering if any members are still thinking moving Jerome to receiver was a questionable decision.  Jerome is second in the nation in receiving after one week. 

 

 

[zipsoutsider]

Bleacher Report rated Jerome as the top performing Wide Receiver in the country for week 1.

[skip-zip]

48 minutes ago, Dr Z said:

Reading back through this thread, I'm wondering if any members are still thinking moving Jerome to receiver was a questionable decision.  Jerome is second in the nation in receiving after one week. 

 

 

 

Obviously not, but I still absolutely loved his ability as an outside pass rusher.  

[Dr Z]