Villain The Foe Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 http://turnonthejets.com/2014/06/new-york-jets-draft-pick-analysis-wrpr-jalen-saunders/ By Joe Caporoso. The New York Jets used the first of their three fourth round picks on Oklahoma wide receiver and returner Jalen Saunders. Today we are going to take a closer look at Saunders’ game and where he fits on the team’s roster in 2014 and beyond. In case you missed it, here are previous breakdowns of Calvin Pryor, Jace Amaro, Dexter McDougle,IK Enemkpali, Trevor Reilly and Quincy Enunwa. Measurables 5 foot 9, 165 pounds 4.4 forty yard dash, 34 inch vertical jump 30″ arm length, 8 7/8 ” hands Offensive Production 2010: Fresno State: 30 receptions, 462 yards, 3 TDs. 19 carries, 166 yards. 2011: Fresno State: 50 receptions, 1,065 yards, 12 touchdowns. 8 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs. 2012: Oklahoma: 62 receptions, 829 yards, 3 touchdowns. 2013: Oklahoma: 61 receptions, 729 yards, 5 touchdowns. 5 carries, 44 yards. Special Teams Production 2010: Fresno State: 32 kick returns, 743 yards. 6 punt returns, 69 yards. 2012: Oklahoma: 5 punt returns, 88 yards, 1 touchdown. 2013: Oklahoma: 1 kick return, 55 yards. 20 punt returns, 308 yards, 2 touchdowns. Feel good Mike Mayock quote Saunders weighed in at a hefty 165 pounds at the Senior Bowl. At 165 pounds, he’s one of most physical receivers in football; he ear holes defensive backs. He can play in the slot or on the outside, and he can also play special teams. Positives Saunders is an extremely fluid and natural wide receiver. He is quick on his feet and demonstrates both precision and thoughtfulness in his routes. There is a clear understanding of how to set up defenders and he has the athleticism to sink his hips and pop cleanly in and of out his breaks. Saunders is elusive after the catch and dangerous in space, making him a threat as a returner and in the screen game. He is consistent catching the football and doesn’t have poor technique that will lead to drops at the next level. Saunders plays bigger and more physical than his diminutive size. He isn’t afraid to mix it up as a blocker and was able to line up and produce on the outside when asked to. Negatives There is inevitable limitations in the NFL that come with being 5 foot 9 and 165 pounds. Saunders isn’t built to regularly take a pounding over the middle or win contested balls in traffic. If he is asked to play on the outside too extensively, he susceptible to getting tossed around by bigger, stronger defense backs and struggle with releases. Saunders caught many passes at or behind the of scrimmage and wasn’t regularly utilized as a deep threat. He didn’t have injury issues in college but plays a reckless, fearless style of football that could lead to injury at the next level, if he doesn’t put on a little more muscle to his frame. NFL Comparison: Andrew Hawkins, with lower top end speed. Jets Comparison: A speedier, smaller Jeremy Kerley but with less overall polish and refinement to his game on offense but with more potential as a returner. Roster Fit: Outside of Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, Jalen Saunders is the biggest lock to make the Jets roster at the wide receiver position. He has the most NFL ready game of any of the team’s 2014 draft picks at receiver and was taken as their first pick on day three for a reason. His addition most likely bumped veteran minimum signing Jacoby Ford off the roster, as Saunders could potentially assume both punt and kick return duties. Offensively, it will be fun to see how Marty Mornhinweg utilizes his skill set. Saunders figures to be active in the screen game and to work behind Jeremy Kerley as the team’s primary slot receiver. Kerley and Saunders could share the field at the same time in certain formations, particularly making one up one of the bunches that Mornhinweg loves to use so much. GIF-Sanity Lined up at X (split end). Gets open, sits in the window, takes a hit and moves the chains Saunders from slot on a dig route. Takes a hit and picks up YAC Willing, scrappy blocker despite size limitations 165 pound problems YAC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 For anyone wondering who Andrew Hawkins is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Caporoso does a really good job with that site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 Caporoso does a really good job with that site. I agree. One of my fav's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenseed4 Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 For anyone wondering who Andrew Hawkins is. That's the first thing I was going to do after reading the OP, hahaa Thanks Villian! It's an interesting comparison. Hawkins measures in an inch and a half shorter, but with 18 pounds on Saunders. So I don't see the similarity there other than playing the same position. The only player as light as Saunders is Trindon Holliday (who came in the league at 166), but he's more compressed at 5'5, making him less likely to snap in half...even then, his 4.21 was the reason teams have been rostering him (three teams in five years, and has TWO receptions). Hate to say it. Saunders is probably more of a KR/PR specialist than WR for this league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 That's the first thing I was going to do after reading the OP, hahaa Thanks Villian! It's an interesting comparison. Hawkins measures in an inch and a half shorter, but with 18 pounds on Saunders. So I don't see the similarity there other than playing the same position. The only player as light as Saunders is Trindon Holliday (who came in the league at 166), but he's more compressed at 5'5, making him less likely to snap in half...even then, his 4.21 was the reason teams have been rostering him (three teams in five years, and has TWO receptions). Hate to say it. Saunders is probably more of a KR/PR specialist than WR for this league. We all have high hopes for the kid, but I think at the very least we'll see him in on some screens and give him a chance to make somebody miss and make a play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 That's the first thing I was going to do after reading the OP, hahaa Thanks Villian! It's an interesting comparison. Hawkins measures in an inch and a half shorter, but with 18 pounds on Saunders. So I don't see the similarity there other than playing the same position. The only player as light as Saunders is Trindon Holliday (who came in the league at 166), but he's more compressed at 5'5, making him less likely to snap in half...even then, his 4.21 was the reason teams have been rostering him (three teams in five years, and has TWO receptions). Hate to say it. Saunders is probably more of a KR/PR specialist than WR for this league. Well I think part of this would be reliance on a full offseason in an NFL weight-training program helping him to bulk up a bit (probably more significantly next year than this). He obviously doesn't have the frame to ever be that big, but I'm sure the team has hopes that he'll be able to put on enough pounds to at least be a real option as a slot receiver. There's plenty of guys in the league who fall in the 180s range, which might not be unreasonable for him to reach. We'll see if that works out though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 If he gets off the line of scrimmage he can be very very useful. He is explosive of his cuts, has good hands and can be elusive. But that IF is a huge one to overcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Well I think part of this would be reliance on a full offseason in an NFL weight-training program helping him to bulk up a bit (probably more significantly next year than this). He obviously doesn't have the frame to ever be that big, but I'm sure the team has hopes that he'll be able to put on enough pounds to at least be a real option as a slot receiver. There's plenty of guys in the league who fall in the 180s range, which might not be unreasonable for him to reach. We'll see if that works out though. I have seen him listed at 172 which is a strange number to pick without it coming off a scale. He weighed 165 at the combine. I wouldn't be surprised if he is over 170 in camp, so the 180s would be fairly reasonable for him to reach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 I remember some draft sites having DeSean Jackson listed as low as 169 lbs coming out of college. Even today he's still listed at only 175 on nfl.com and 1 inch taller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Tavon Austin called. He wants his pre draft JN hype back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 What does the tape say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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