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Jerome Lane


zipsoutsider

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Jerome Lane managed to attain respectable stats this year, 62 receptions for 1018 total yards (30th in nation) and 6 TD's, even though the  Zips QB situation was less than consistent during the season and some individual QB game performances were shoddy at times. Last year, his first season at WR, Lane was 12th in the nation with an average of (782 yards)/(39 receptions) = 20.05 yards per catch. Here are some interesting twitter comments on Lane's NFL decision:

 

https://twitter.com/andysimms/status/804403411894542336

https://twitter.com/lifesyourcup/status/804437693740388352

 

 

 

Edited by zzx
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Too bad for the Zips. They surely could have used an experienced WR next season. With Natson gone and Lane choosing to leave that position doesn't look nearly as good as this year. Thats really gonna hurt whomever is next seasons QB.

Lane has a lot of raw physical ability. He is big and deceptively fast. His hands seemed to improve over time. Still doesn't appear to be a real good route runner but he is still a relative pup at WR. Next level he will have to improve if he wants to remain a wideout.

I wonder if some NFL team might look at his size and speed and take a shot with him as a tight end. Doubtful he can block but Ozzie and Antonio Gates sure made a nice living as TE's that could get open and catch.

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Jerome seemed like a pretty good blocker at WR even though they aren't really the same animal. My biggest critique of him, from my couch scouting perspective, is that he seems to play "stiff". Doesn't seem to have the agility of an NFL WR but has about all the other tools.

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Someone will take him as a FA, but draft him?  I thought he was incredibly underwhelming this year...giving up on plays, his body language was all wrong.  Don't teams want to stay away from players like that?  I was hoping he was going to finish out his last year here in order to increase his draft stock possibility...

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31 minutes ago, zipsoutsider said:

Do you think the rash of injuries, and even his own scared him a little and he is afraid of missing his opportunity due to his injury or a rough year at QB next year?

No, I think it has to do with the ‘grade’ the NFL College Advisory Committee gave him. 

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2 hours ago, zipsoutsider said:

I wish him nothing but the best, but this seems like a long shot. Do you think the rash of injuries, and even his own scared him a little and he is afraid of missing his opportunity due to his injury or a rough year at QB next year?

Agreed. Big mistake. If he is drafted it will be 6-7 round at best. Most likely an UDFA.

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6 hours ago, zipsoutsider said:

I wish him nothing but the best, but this seems like a long shot. Do you think the rash of injuries, and even his own scared him a little and he is afraid of missing his opportunity due to his injury or a rough year at QB next year?

 

6 hours ago, Dr Z said:

No, I think it has to do with the ‘grade’ the NFL College Advisory Committee gave him. 

 

According to this article from the NFL College Advisory Committee:

"The ratings system was revised as well. In previous years, the Committee would evaluate players in one of five categories: potential first-round pick, potential second-round pick, potential third-round pick, no potential for the first three rounds or no draft potential at all. The new ratings are much simpler: potential first round, potential second round, or neither, which is effectively a recommendation to stay in school."

Edited by zzx
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If I had to guess, he will be drafted, but it will end up being rounds 5-7.

 

Positives - produced when targeted, good size/speed, ton of upside and has shown ability to develop at position, weak WR class.

 

Negatives - still raw, ran limited route tree in college, "stiff", shows disinterest at times, needs improve on high pointing the ball.

 

At worst, he seems absolutely worth a late round flyer to me.

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17 hours ago, skip-zip said:

I agree Balsy.  He won't get drafted.  But I will hold out hope that he somehow can make a squad.  

 

I really don't understand the move.  One more year of college could make a huge difference, vs. how I believe this will turn out for him right now.

Not to sound repetitive but I am. I agree with both Balsy and Skip Zip. This is a bad decision for Jerome. i hope he proves me wrong though.

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Here is Clemson WR Mike Williams (6-3 225) who like Jerome Lane declared early for the NFL draft. Some currently say Williams is projected to be the first WR picked in round 1. In 13 games this year he had 84 receptions for 1175 yards (13.9 yards/catch) and 10 TD's with a long reception of 50 yards. Here he is against Louisville and GA Tech

 

How do you think Williams compares and contrasts with Lane?

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1 hour ago, zzx said:

How do you think Williams compares and contrasts with Lane?

If you are speaking of draft-able, since that seems to be the topic at hand, I have learned one thing in following decades of NFL drafts. There is no comparing. A player (and agent) only need to convince one team that they fit on their organization...for whatever reason. 31 other teams don't matter. Among dozens of good examples, here is one that most relate to: Johnny Manziel. He wasn't even on some draft boards. He (and agent) convinced one team that he could help them. And it worked. I hope Jerome can convince the proper team (for him to succeed) to draft him. If not, I hope he is able to sign (free agent) with that team. I also hope he stays healthy throughout camp and preseason so he can showcase his talents. Another example: Mike Mitchell OU safety 2009. Lots "rated" above him. Wasn't invited to combine. Drafted in 2nd round. Most draft "gurus" didn't have him on their list. He convinced one team. Good luck Jerome. I hope he gets on the right team. 

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1 hour ago, zzx said:

Here is Clemson WR Mike Williams (6-3 225) who like Jerome Lane declared early for the NFL draft. Some currently say Williams is projected to be the first WR picked in round 1. In 13 games this year he had 84 receptions for 1175 yards (13.9 yards/catch) and 10 TD's with a long reception of 50 yards. Here he is against Louisville and GA Tech

 

How do you think Williams compares and contrasts with Lane?

 

Lane is going almost unnoticed playing in the MAC, and Williams is playing yearly for national titles out of the ACC ?

 

That might sound condescending, and I don't mean it that way.  But guys who are extremely battle tested have an almost insurmountable advantage over everyone else, unless you're truly special.  Guys like Khalil Mack and Roethlisberger who slip ahead of the pack to be in a position like Mike Williams happens maybe once a year to the best of MAC players.

 

Come on folks.  We're not talking talking about a first team selection here.  We're talking about a Junior, who's played WR for 2 years, and was only a 3rd team selection in a bottom league.  That leaves him regarded as maybe in the 7-9 range in ranking just among other MAC receivers,  

 

Yes, I understand that many other factors can come into play that could make someone's stock rise.  But just the fact that he's likely not even on any team's distant radar really creates very long odds of this working out.    

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I don't know what will happen with Lane and the draft.  I would like to remind everyone that prognostications of professional drafts by members of sports forums are spotty at best.  I submit this thread as exhibit A:

 

 

Edited by K92
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38 minutes ago, K92 said:

I don't know what will happen with Lane and the draft.  I would like to remind everyone that prognostications of professional drafts by members of sports forums are spotty at best. 

My prediction was pretty good. Although Boston didn't use a 2nd rounder on Zeke, they did give him a year on their D-League team.

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1 hour ago, Dr Z said:

Every teams scouts know all the top receivers in the MAC. 

 

I'm well aware of that, and considered everything in my comments.  I was responding to a post about comparing an elite receiver in a national championship caliber team to a 3rd team MAC receiver, even when both appear similar in size and stats.  

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