Jalen Tolbert

Context

Plays mostly at the X position and in the slot but some Z too, in a vertical offense running mostly wheel routes, 9 routes and comebacks.

Before the Catch

At the line of scrimmage there is much for him to improve on when not facing off or bail coverage. Against soft press, he has a good rocker step but isn’t effective with his main single-move to beat press with his footwork and often releases around the defender, struggling to get back on top of his man, even when he isn’t taking a mandatory outside release. When facing a jam, his play strength deficiency comes into play, against patient DBs with good hands and solid play strength he struggles to clear his hands or use his footwork to release which becomes a little predictable. Taking on off or bail coverage is an entirely different ball-game. He will stem at the defender and get in his blind spot when appropriate, he uses his excellent speed to eat up the cushion quickly.

As a separator he will win on linear routes or on other routes against zone coverage. His speed is a real threat and can blow by defenders at the level he was playing at. When he does face more athletic guys he shows he has other weapons to win deep, faking the speed cut or vertical cut, effectively manipulating DBs’ hips. He uses subtle movements to get open on these vertical routes and regularly gets the defender to bite on nod and go/double moves. One slight exception to this is when he has to release through the DB’s path where his play strength lets him down. He can also decelerate quickly, defenders must respect his ability on hard angle breaks for comeback routes. He can run open across the field but only when facing zone coverage, due to his processing and ability to feel for the soft spot in the zone. On softer-angle routes, speed cuts, vertical cuts, technical issues mean he can’t make the transition quickly enough, allowing DBs to catch up to him. Once they’re in phase, he can’t use play strength to separate.

The Catch and after the Catch

He is not a natural hands catcher. When on the run, he doesn’t have the manual dexterity to get his hands in the right position to catch balls out in front of him or behind. He is better at catching deep balls because his ability to adjust his whole body to the football is good and will get himself into a position, when he has more time to adjust on deep balls, where he doesn’t have to quickly position his hands. He can catch the ball stationary and he’ll make some spectacular contested catches but it will be because of his body control rather than his hands. He doesn’t yet box out consistently to protect the ball from DBs with ball skills. He won’t get lots of YAC but can use his speed to run away from people – may have been a flat-track bully in college on this front.

SUMMARY
Deep threat, can stop on a dime, so gets open deep consistently/on comeback routes. Needs work to separate on other routes, play strength deficient, not a natural hands catcher

PRODUCTION
SR: 129 Tgts, 82 Recs, 1474 Rec Yards (18.0 Ave), 8 Rec TDs
JR: 105 Tgts, 64 Recs, 1084 Rec Yards (17.0 Ave), 8 Rec TDs
INJURY: Knee surgery – redshirted first year

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 4
Intelligence 4
Versatility 4
Grit 2
Scheme 4