ISU ushers in new era at receiver - Ames Trib Article

keepngoal · 04-09-2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

As an all-around receiver...

Hamilton > Blythe

I said this last year and I still stand by it. One of the reasons we'll be better this year is attrition. Graduation was a good thing for us at the end of last fall...like it or not. The old attitude needed to leave the building, at it has.

*sits back and watches*

that is all speculation. aren't message boards fun?

Until Hamilton makes a presence on the field greater than Blythe's I will enter into this topic. And as of now, he hasn't, so I won't ....

-keep.

ISUFan22 · 04-09-2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Hamilton goes over the middle and makes the tough catches - something guys like Blythe never really did with regularity. He made multiple catches last year where a really hard hit was put on him right as the ball got to him and he held on. He's a tough SOB and he wasn't really used to stretch the field much last year since that was Blythe's real strength.

I feel like sometimes I'm mister negative around here but I really don't think there is anything Hamilton can't do. He may not be the speediest guy but he makes up for it by using his body well, his leaping ability, and his great hands.

Case in point, the ISU-OU game. Hamilton was huge for us on a few key third down conversions...catching some quick passes across the middle - getting rocked by an OU defender and holding onto the ball.

ISUFan22 · 04-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Sure, Todd was a impact player for us - no doubt about it.

However, how many times did he not go the extra mile on the field in order to run the route perfectly, block for a teammate, etc? Not that often.

I love Todd and am delighted we can call him a Cyclone, but a God he was not. Hamilton can do more for us than Todd can. Fact is, in most games you won't see that - as the current staff believes in balance - in order to build a team that can win - especially when the #1 receiver is either being held in check or injured.

I'd love to know what a guy like Todd could have achieved, and ISU could have achieved, had the the current staff been here for most or all of his tenure.

BryceC · 04-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Case in point, the ISU-OU game. Hamilton was huge for us on a few key third down conversions...catching some quick passes across the middle - getting rocked by an OU defender and holding onto the ball.

Same thing happened in the KSU game - it was just a short gain so it was easy to forget but they threw one out to him in the flat and he absolutely got ROCKED by a guy that just had a full head of steam. He just got up and flipped the ball to the ref. Badass.

isucyfan · 04-09-2008, 11:28 AM

It remains to be seen if Hamilton is truly better than Blythe. Defenses keyed on TB, which they haven't had to do with Hamilton yet.

Regardless of who's better, we can't have too much toughness, and Hamilton brings that.

snowcraig2.0 · 04-09-2008, 11:30 AM

My main dig on Blythe was, he had the potential to be great, but I don't feel like he gave the effort it took his last couple years to get there. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying he was lazy, but it never felt like he wanted to take it to another level. He was a great Cyclone, but I wouldn't call him a great player.

ISUFan22 · 04-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

My main dig on Blythe was, he had the potential to be great, but I don't feel like he gave the effort it took his last couple years to get there. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying he was lazy, but it never felt like he wanted to take it to another level. He was a great Cyclone, but I wouldn't call him a great player.

I agree. And in his defense...

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you're surrounded by turkeys.

snowcraig2.0 · 04-09-2008, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

It remains to be seen if Hamilton is truly better than Blythe. Defenses keyed on TB, which they haven't had to do with Hamilton yet.

Regardless of who's better, we can't have too much toughness, and Hamilton brings that.

I don't think anyone here is saying Hamilton is necessarily better than Blythe. He just brings more of an all-around game and toughness than Blythe did, which is more beneficial to the team aspect of the game.

Cydkar · 04-09-2008, 11:33 AM

The only thing Hamilton lacks to be a complete freak is speed.

That's a domension to be provided by Carlson and Sedrick...hopefully.

isucyfan · 04-09-2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

As an all-around receiver...

Hamilton > Blythe

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

I don't think anyone here is saying Hamilton is necessarily better than Blythe.

I think at least one person is!

snowcraig2.0 · 04-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

I think at least one person is!

Actually, he isn't. He said as an all-around receiver, meaning Hamilton brings more dimensions to the spot than Blythe did, rather than just excelling at catching the deep ball.