Blythe is waived

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:31 AM

I saw mild improvements in both route running and some blocking last season. Which goes toward my point I've made many times - I feel we'd be having a very different chat about Todd had be been with this staff more than just one season.

Clones85' · 08-26-2008, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I think the only reason people get down on Blythe (myself included) is that I think he had the ability to be an All-Conference type player. For an abundance of reasons already stated that never happened. Both he and Meyer accomplished a lot of great things in a Cyclone uniform based on our record books, but on a national or even Big 12 level they were not great amongst their peers as their careers wore on. And I really don't think that is really debateable.

I also think that he is a victim of the Mac hype machine that really pumped him up into sounding like he is one of the best players in the nation.

He had almost 1900 yds, 18 TD's and averaged 20 yds a reception after his sophomore year. I don't think Mac's hype machine had anything to do with it.

His junior year the o line was so bad that Meyer couldn't get him the ball. Last year Meyer was so gun shy that he couldn't get him the ball

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

I know the guy had mono

Mono, yes - thanks.

jdoggivjc · 08-26-2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Todd's inability to block is just one part of it. How about his lack of crisp route-running? Him virtually being a one-dimensional receiver?

How often do you hear people saying Todd is a possession receiver? A guy that will routinely go across the middle? Make key blocks for ya? Sell the play even when he's not going to get the ball?

You don't. Those things are huge in what level of quality a receiver is.

Don't forget that Todd's also never going to be confused with someone that can run. Any given advantage that he would have had over the corner that was going to cover him simply because he plays offense is gone because he can't run clean routs nor can he run in general.

jdoggivjc · 08-26-2008, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

He had almost 1900 yds, 18 TD's and averaged 20 yds a reception after his sophomore year. I don't think Mac's hype machine had anything to do with it.

His junior year the o line was so bad that Meyer couldn't get him the ball. Last year Meyer was so gun shy that he couldn't get him the ball

And yet you forget to mention all those plays that Blythe took off ON THE FIELD when the ball wasn't going to be thrown in his direction. That and you fail to mention all those times he gave up on a play when he'd have to lay out side-to-side in order to make the play. If the ball wasn't thrown in a 3' wide x 8' tall box the guy gave up on the play.

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:40 AM

Todd's job was always safe, from the moment he stepped foot on the field for the first time to when he left. It was a known fact - no doubt at all.

The biggest benefit for our team and individual receivers this fall - not one single person's job is safe. Including Hamilton and Sumrall. We have some very nice young talent that reportedly has been shining in practice. This will only make each player better.

Todd was never really pushed like that. Complacency goes a long way toward taking a person with phenomenal potential and making them just average or good - instead of great.

jdoggivjc · 08-26-2008, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Todd's job was always safe, from the moment he stepped foot on the field for the first time to when he left. It was a known fact - no doubt at all.

The biggest benefit for our team and individual receivers this fall - not one single person's job is safe. Including Hamilton and Sumrall. We have some very nice young talent that reportedly has been shining in practice. This will only make each player better.

Todd was never really pushed like that. Complacency goes a long way toward taking a person with phenomenal potential and making them just average or good - instead of great.

I honestly think one of the best things that has happened to the Iowa State offense in a really long time is that Blythe has moved on. The other thing is that he took Meyer with him...

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:45 AM

It's not that we needed these guys gone, I liked their talent in many regards.

But we need their attitude gone. I'm not saying their attitudes were poor, but they played under a different staff with very different rules. One of the biggest factors in improving from last year to this year will be attrition.

DaddyMac · 08-26-2008, 10:46 AM

Alright - this discussion has run it's course and is getting a little testy.

Some think Todd's play/effort/skills were adequate, some don't. And Brett is getting drug in as well.

Regardless, they both were fine players for ISU. The both played four years, never left the program, never got in any notable trouble that I can recall, and never put themselves or the program in a bad light.

BryceC · 08-26-2008, 10:47 AM

Clones85' - I don't think anybody is saying he was terrible. I think people are expressing disappointment in that he could have been much better. He was a very solid ISU WR. However, in my mind, and I could be completely wrong, he just never really blew me away with the exception of a few games. The A&M game was amazing. The CU game was amazing last season. The OT's against Toledo were great. Todd was also plagued by inconsistency throughout his career including the 2005 season which was his only All-Conference year.

How much of that was his fault is debateable, but I don't think it's all the O-Line's fault or Meyer's fault as you make it out to be. Some games he was great and I'll never forget him for that. Some games he was almost non-existent, but ultimately he was never as good as he probably could have been and he will likely never play a down in the NFL. He had a great career as a Cyclone but it will ultimately be forgotten by the masses as the team never won a lot and he never really made a name for himself as a great player nationally.

isucyfan · 08-26-2008, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

Alright - this discussion has run it's course and is getting a little testy.

Some think Todd's play/effort/skills were adequate, some don't. And Brett is getting drug in as well.

Regardless, they both were fine players for ISU. The both played four years, never left the program, never got in any notable trouble that I can recall, and never put themselves or the program in a bad light.

Totally agree.

While they may not have reached the potential we thought they could, and didn't take the program to new heights, they were great kids that did a lot as Cyclones.

I am not going to badmouth them for that.

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Clones85' - I don't think anybody is saying he was terrible. I think people are expressing disappointment in that he could have been much better. He was a very solid ISU WR. However, in my mind, and I could be completely wrong, he just never really blew me away with the exception of a few games. The A&M game was amazing. The CU game was amazing last season. The OT's against Toledo were great. Todd was also plagued by inconsistency throughout his career including the 2005 season which was his only All-Conference year.

How much of that was his fault is debateable, but I don't think it's all the O-Line's fault or Meyer's fault as you make it out to be. Some games he was great and I'll never forget him for that. Some games he was almost non-existent, but ultimately he was never as good as he probably could have been and he will likely never play a down in the NFL. He had a great career as a Cyclone but it will ultimately be forgotten by the masses as the team never won a lot and he never really made a name for himself as a great player nationally.

+1

Clones85' · 08-26-2008, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

And yet you forget to mention all those plays that Blythe took off ON THE FIELD when the ball wasn't going to be thrown in his direction. That and you fail to mention all those times he gave up on a play when he'd have to lay out side-to-side in order to make the play. If the ball wasn't thrown in a 3' wide x 8' tall box the guy gave up on the play.

Wrong. How many times did Meyer throw the ball high and Blythe went up to get it? Only to get hammered? This post lacks knowledge

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Todd's job was always safe, from the moment he stepped foot on the field for the first time to when he left. It was a known fact - no doubt at all.

The biggest benefit for our team and individual receivers this fall - not one single person's job is safe. Including Hamilton and Sumrall. We have some very nice young talent that reportedly has been shining in practice. This will only make each player better.

Todd was never really pushed like that. Complacency goes a long way toward taking a person with phenomenal potential and making them just average or good - instead of great.

He was never really pushed but yet put up numbers that put him in the top 10 nationally in YPC. Top 20 in TD's, and Top 20 in yards in the country as a freshman and sophomore?

The people that downplay his success mind boggle me. He was a Cyclone. We should be embracing him, not nit picking at everything he didn't do as well as we would have liked

ISUFan22 · 08-26-2008, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Wrong. How many times did Meyer throw the ball high and Blythe went up to get it? Only to get hammered? This post lacks knowledge

Things are getting testy, no doubt. From just one side.

Originally Posted by Clones85'

He was never really pushed but yet put up numbers that put him in the top 10 nationally in YPC. Top 20 in TD's, and Top 20 in yards in the country as a freshman and sophomore?

Again, many of us are disappointed that after those seasons, the guy was very quiet both compared to those years and nationally. He came out of the gate strong but finished poorly.

Originally Posted by Clones85'

The people that downplay his success mind boggle me. He was a Cyclone. We should be embracing him, not nit picking at everything he didn't do as well as we would have liked

Loved Todd, a lot. Still do. But I don't blindly worship the players I love. They're often the ones I'm harder on, because I know they can be better. Todd is a perfect example of such.

ISUCLONES15 · 08-26-2008, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

He was a Cyclone. We should be embracing him

+1 and end of discussion!