Jace Billingsley - not on anyone’s radar (1 Viewer)

[BobbyLayne]

Why start a thread for a guy who has spent two years on the practice squad? He has never been on an NFL field during the regular season.

Couple reasons:

- Good speed - 4.39 hand timed on his Pro day

- Serious quickness & burst after the catch displayed the last two preseasons, when he led the Lions in catches and receiving yards

- Strong athlete - 25 reps in the 225 bench would have been a combine best for WRs had he been invited. 4-time state wrestling champ. 

- he is the best fit to replace Golden Tate of the 5 WRs on the 53 man

Questions to be answered:

- will he be active? Tate showed up at practice without his arm in a sling and caught a couple balls. I expect him to miss two weeks but I’m not a doctor, just a gut feeling they’re disguising their intentions. Even with Tate out, we don’t know that Billingsley is ahead of Jared Abbrederis - obviously he wasn’t on final cuts day.

- if he’s active, will he see targets? Open question, but he has the ability to fulfill two lacking aspects: deep ball threat, and absent Tate, to rack up YAC

- is this guy any good? I can barely find him on YouTube. Yeah, you have comb through preseason highlights or be one of nine people who watch OnePrideTV for TC highlights. I’m speculating, but the Lions need a spark. I believe this guy can provide it.

- This is out of left field, not one beat writer is thinking this will happen. We’ll see. I could be wrong.

- 5’9” out of a directional school nobody has ever heard of (Eastern Oregon State.) True, you can name small guys like Steve Smith (& many others), you can list small school guys like Rice, but both? I’m drawing a blank.

- Is he worth an add? Definitely no, he’s not even a speculative add - less FF relevant than Brandon Tate or Andre Roberts. Tune in Sunday night to see if #16 makes his debut.



In a few weeks I’ll look like a genius. Or I’ll be hoping nobody ever bumps this thread.

In all seriousness, he needs a lot of things to break right: 

- be active on Sunday

- see targets

- make plays against a tough Steelers pass D

- continue to see snaps & utilization in the coming weeks on a team that already has 3 legit WRs in Tate, Marvin Jones, & Gallday (this seems really unlikely)

Part of this is just me loving the underdog. I’ve been a Lions fan for 51 seasons and I’m an optimist.

 

[Plorfu]

Kenny Golladay didn't practice today...

 

[BobbyLayne]

Kenny Golladay didn't practice today...

Tate practiced again today. Guess NFLN was wrong about him missing two weeks.

 

[Futz]

We talked a bit in the Lion's thread but I really think if his talent actually matched his all pro status in the preseasons, he would have been on this team a long time ago. We haven't exactly had a plethora of receiving talent beyond the #1 & 2. Not only that, but every other team in the league can sign him at any time and yet there he sat even with nice preseason showings. I think it's a desperation dart throw to change things up but hey, stranger things have happened I guess. 

 

[Plorfu]

Tate practiced again today. Guess NFLN was wrong about him missing two weeks.

Well, it was a good run.

 

[Rushmore]

Switz, is that you ? 

 

[BobbyLayne]

We talked a bit in the Lion's thread but I really think if his talent actually matched his all pro status in the preseasons, he would have been on this team a long time ago. We haven't exactly had a plethora of receiving talent beyond the #1 & 2. Not only that, but every other team in the league can sign him at any time and yet there he sat even with nice preseason showings. I think it's a desperation dart throw to change things up but hey, stranger things have happened I guess. 

Bro, he's so unknown I misspelled his surname and nobody cared.



Good points and you're probably correct.

I just think a lot of these small college guys have just as much - and in this case more - talent than big 5 schools. TJ Jones had bloodlines and connections (father, uncle, Rocket Ismail is his Godfather) to the NFL, 4-star recruit out of h.s. But he's not as fast or as strong as Billingsley, and really is pretty average at everything he does. Fluid and smooth but doesn't have enough athletic talent to improve much over what we've seen in the last 3 years. But he's a small guy as well, and I think they probably didn't want another small WR (JB) when you already have Tate. They probably kept Abbrederis because he is tallish (6'2") and plays special teams. But he is clearly the least talented WR on the 53 man.

This will give you some idea of why I like the UDFA.    

47 yard catch and run v. Bills

29 yard catch and run v. Patriots

27 yard TD v. Steelers

one-handed TD catch while being held

Of course, all of those came in the 3rd/4th Q of PS games - not against the 1s.

 

[Futz]

Bro, he's so unknown I misspelled his surname and nobody cared.



Good points and you're probably correct.

I just think a lot of these small college guys have just as much - and in this case more - talent than big 5 schools. TJ Jones had bloodlines and connections (father, uncle, Rocket Ismail is his Godfather) to the NFL, 4-star recruit out of h.s. But he's not as fast or as strong as Billingsley, and really is pretty average at everything he does. Fluid and smooth but doesn't have enough athletic talent to improve much over what we've seen in the last 3 years. But he's a small guy as well, and I think they probably didn't want another small WR (JB) when you already have Tate. They probably kept Abbrederis because he is tallish (6'2") and plays special teams. But he is clearly the least talented WR on the 53 man.

This will give you some idea of why I like the UDFA.    

47 yard catch and run v. Bills

29 yard catch and run v. Patriots

27 yard TD v. Steelers

one-handed TD catch while being held

Of course, all of those came in the 3rd/4th Q of PS games - not against the 1s.

I appreciate the links. I remember the plays and always wondered how he wasn't making the team but it's probably special teams related as you mention. He reminds me a bit of Rex Burkhead playing WR but perhaps with a bit more burst. We could certainly do worse. I hope he shows because we need some juice right now on offense.