Lazard

[cyrocksmypants]

I don't know. Seems to me he's also really bailed Sam out on a few bad balls and taken some shots doing it.

I'm thinking more specifically about a couple of deep balls, not ones over the middle.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I don't think speed is Lazard's short coming. He is already burning people off the ball, and Sam is under throwing him on almost every deep route. I think he will be like a Calvin Johnson when he's done here. Big, strong, fast, and ready to take on all comers.

 

[HFCS]

With weight gain, he'll get more explosive and thus faster. I don't like the Blythe comparisons for AL. Nothing against Blythe bc he was a beast in the red zone but speed wasn't the only factor keeping him out of the NFL. He struggled with route running, making plays after the catch and going over the middle to make plays. Sure he lacked speed but he could've made up for it doing things like a guy you mentioned, Lane Danielson, he's a great example of a guy who wasn't the biggest, fastest, etc but ran great routes, was a great blocker, made the tough catches and turned short gains into bigger ones.

If AL doesn't get an NFL look it will be bc of not being fundamentally and technically sound, not bc of his physical limitations. He has all the tools and be a much more of a complete WR than Blythe

Blythe is still the best WR up in the air we have ever had. He really dominated the D if there was a high ball anywhere near him. Then the times when the db fell down trying to out jump him turned into the monster long gains.

 

[khardbored]

this...AL doesn't have the speed to come close to being NFL right now. Why do u think Blythe never made a team? And daniel son did? Speed. AL is either going to need to put on 20-30 lbs(which he easily could) and be a great TE prospect or stay were he is and go from a 4.7-4-8/40 to 4.5...and that's a big jump. Although he's only a freshman. Will be interesting to see what happens in offseason as I can see him getting bigger and being 230 next year.

blythe was one of the best one handed catchers I've seen in a long time, dude made some incredible plays.

next year is going to be awesome to watch with SR coming back another year with all those weapons.

 

[CyFan61]

I don't think speed is Lazard's short coming. He is already burning people off the ball, and Sam is under throwing him on almost every deep route. I think he will be like a Calvin Johnson when he's done here. Big, strong, fast, and ready to take on all comers.

Seems reasonable.

 

[tm3308]

I don't think speed is Lazard's short coming. He is already burning people off the ball, and Sam is under throwing him on almost every deep route. I think he will be like a Calvin Johnson when he's done here. Big, strong, fast, and ready to take on all comers.

LAWL. First of all, there is, and will always be, only one Megatron. Secondly, Lazard would have to be a first team all-conference type of performer right now to be that kind of player. Johnson tore it up from Day One, and then got even better. Lazard is good and should get even better, but he ain't Megatron and never will be.

 

[Frak]

LAWL. First of all, there is, and will always be, only one Megatron. Secondly, Lazard would have to be a first team all-conference type of performer right now to be that kind of player. Johnson tore it up from Day One, and then got even better. Lazard is good and should get even better, but he ain't Megatron and never will be.

I agree. That's crazy talk. Lazard could be head and shoulders the best ISU WR ever and not even come close to Megatron.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I'm pretty sure that he just meant that type of player, not to that skillset. I think you all need to simmer a little.

 

[ISUCY23]

I agree. That's crazy talk. Lazard could be head and shoulders the best ISU WR ever and not even come close to Megatron.

To be fair, I don't think anyone can really come close to Megatron.

 

[tm3308]

I'm pretty sure that he just meant that type of player, not to that skillset. I think you all need to simmer a little.

Being a go-to receiver doesn't make one the same type of player as Megatron. You can't be that type of player without having that skill set (or one that's very similar). Lazard doesn't have that, and that's hardly a knock on him.

 

[CyFan61]

Just for the heck of it... Who's better?

Player A: 50 catches, 672 yards, 13.4 YPC, 5 TDs.
Player B: 48 catches, 837 yards, 17.4 YPC, 7 TDs.

Spoiler

Player A is Lazard, extrapolating his stats so far out over 12 games. Player B is Calvin Johnson from his freshman season in 2004.

As further support for the comparison (which I don't agree with, but whatever), Calvin Johnson was listed at 6'4'', 210 coming out of high school - now 6'5'', 236 with the Lions - and Lazard was 6'5'', 204 on Rivals and 6'5'', 221 now as a freshman.

 

[CyArob]

Lazard is a combination of Calvin Johnson, Jerry Rice, and Randy Moss.

 

[bawbie]

Just for the heck of it... Who's better?

Player A: 50 catches, 672 yards, 13.4 YPC, 5 TDs.
Player B: 48 catches, 837 yards, 17.4 YPC, 7 TDs.


As further support for the comparison (which I don't agree with, but whatever), Calvin Johnson was listed at 6'4'', 210 coming out of high school - now 6'5'', 236 with the Lions - and Lazard was 6'5'', 204 on Rivals and 6'5'', 221 now as a freshman.

Obviously Johnson was better, but wow, those are a lot closer than I would have expected. Lazard is really putting together an outstanding freshman season. Does anyone know what the freshman receiving records are?

ADDING: I don't know if they are records, but Blythe's RSFr year was 39 catches, 833 yds, 21.4 YPC (#1 in the nation), 9 TDs.