NEW TODAY: Mel Kiper Jr. on Allen Lazard and Joel Lanning

[jbindm]

Lazard is a day 3 guy. He’s not fast. He doesn’t get good seperation and he drops a lot of passes. Scouts are going to see his drops and drop him on the their board. If he has a great senior bowl and combine, he will go up on some draft boards. The earliest I can see him going right now is in the 5th round. There is no doubt he can make an NFL roster with his size and red zone ability, but he’s going to have to improve his hands and his seperation skills to stick.

I think it kind of depends on how a team is interested in using him. If they ask him to line up on the outside and consistently beat an opponent's #1 or #2 corner, then he's going to have the issues you mentioned. I don't have the stats in front of me, but it seemed like his catch rate improved this season, especially after KK took over at QB. He's not quite explosive enough or good enough route runner to create separation at the NFL level.
But move him around and get him matched up against a slot corner or better still a safety or linebacker? Now you're working with something. I know a lot of posters here have scoffed at the notion of a position change for him and at the collegiate level I agree - there was no need to move him because he could dominate most corners from where he was. But in the NFL it might not be the worst thing for him to be utilized as an h-back type.

 

[tolfbfan]

I think it kind of depends on how a team is interested in using him. If they ask him to line up on the outside and consistently beat an opponent's #1 or #2 corner, then he's going to have the issues you mentioned. I don't have the stats in front of me, but it seemed like his catch rate improved this season, especially after KK took over at QB. He's not quite explosive enough or good enough route runner to create separation at the NFL level.
But move him around and get him matched up against a slot corner or better still a safety or linebacker? Now you're working with something. I know a lot of posters here have scoffed at the notion of a position change for him and at the collegiate level I agree - there was no need to move him because he could dominate most corners from where he was. But in the NFL it might not be the worst thing for him to be utilized as an h-back type.

IF I WAS NFL STAFF: Move weight up to 240ish. Attached TE, Slot TE, Wide out for fades in corner of end zone. There, problem solved.

 

[2forISU]

Lanning is your typical Patriots pick.

 

[jbindm]

Lanning is your typical Patriots pick.

Hate to admit it but you're not far off. There are a couple teams that put a premium on versatility at the bottom of the roster but the Pats are one of them. He's an intriguing developmental project at LB who can play immediately in all of the special teams groups. So you'd have one guy making multiple contributions on special teams who might eventually develop into a starting LB for you playing on a cheap rookie deal. Gotta have some of those guys in the salary cap era.

 

[ClonesFTW]

IF I WAS NFL STAFF: Move weight up to 240ish. Attached TE, Slot TE, Wide out for fades in corner of end zone. There, problem solved.

I've been saying this for 2 years; he's not as fast as Jimmy Graham but could have a similar demeanor on the field.

 

[CTTB78]

Lazard is..... He’s not fast. He doesn’t get good separation and he drops a lot of passes. Scouts are going to see his drops and drop him on the their board....

Agree, we have seen that. We've also seen games, like his last one, where AL is the best player on the field. It will be interesting to see how the scouts rate his potential. I think he'll go late in the 4th.

 

[mdk2isu]

I've been saying this for 2 years; he's not as fast as Jimmy Graham but could have a similar demeanor on the field.

Lazard reminds me more of combination of Anquan Boldin (speed/weight/playing style) and Jimmy Graham (height) than either one individually. Boldin was taken in the 2nd round, Graham in the 3rd. The 3rd round seems like a decent bet on where he gets taken.

 

[cycloneman003]

I would be very interested to see what Joel could do if he got a combine invite. Feel like he's the type who would test well and impress in the interviews.

I do envision him as a practice squad/game-day inactive stash as a rookie. Some team just needs to be willing invest in a year or two of developing him further as a LB and they could have a steal.

 

[cyhiphopp]

I would be very interested to see what Joel could do if he got a combine invite. Feel like he's the type who would test well and impress in the interviews.

I do envision him as a practice squad/game-day inactive stash as a rookie. Some team just needs to be willing invest in a year or two of developing him further as a LB and they could have a steal.

I think he could clean up as a special teams specialist.

 

[CyCloned]

Does the NFL just not respect ISU and refuse to draft clearly worthy players because of it?

I look at how many guys Iowa puts into the NFL, but they're almost always just a little better than average. The NFL seems frequently prone to group think and getting stuck in illogical ruts, so that could be the case.

If Lazard goes undrafted, I'd have to think it will be due to this and not his actual ability. That could become a major negative recruiting tool against us down the road.

I don't know if there is any particular bias against ISU players, just don't think that most of them have the metrics to play in the NFL. Some of them have made it despite being a step slower or an inch or two shorter than the guys that get drafted. Not sure player development has not been the greatest under the previous two coaches.

 

[LB52]

I've been saying this for 2 years; he's not as fast as Jimmy Graham but could have a similar demeanor on the field.

Graham is 6'7" 265. Lazard is no where near that big (or athletic). Devin Funchess would probably be his best comparison physically.

 

[madguy30]

AL isn't some sort of home run pick but that doesn't mean he can't find some sort of niche with the right team, and being a home run pick doesn't always equal long term success either, or something a fanbase can be proud of. Really happy I didn't have to cheer for a Johnny Manziel type that might go high but will embarrass themselves (bad example maybe--JM didn't know that his behavior was embarrassing) from Day 1.

They're the villain but the Patriots are the best at taking no names or even has beens and making them very productive so maybe he'll find something like that.

It's cliche, and I have no idea what he's going to school for but I'd like to think positive hard working team-first leaders that keep their sh*t together pre-frontal lobe have a good chance at life no matter what.

The fact that Lanning is even in the conversation really says something about his intangibles as well.