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Lazard with Jax Makes Me Sad

cycophagus said:
That is exciting news. He did, but I kinda don't think it was by accident. Marchie Murdock was the first UDFA signed by Dallas on the close of the draft. They know the Big 12, and they know what they are after. I think he will get every chance to prove himself. While he might not have been a high profile standout in college, his attributes line up with what's expected of an NFL receiver.

By contrast, I think AL is more of a "tweener". He reminds me of former MN Viking Steve Jordan, the protoype for a hybrid receiver/TE. Some have since termed that an H-back, although I don't know if that is still in vogue.
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I wouldn't read too much into Murdock's stats. He had two catches for 35 yards and about 30 of it was on one play against a prevent D. That said, he exceeded expectations last season, and he seemed like one of the leaders of the team. Hope he gets more chances.

Lazard's situation is a mystery to me. After watching him own everyone he was put against for four years, it's difficult to accept that he's not good enough to be on an NFL roster. I still think he catches on somewhere.
 
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I for one thought it was a bad spot and still do. He needs a more offensive team that utilizes players with unique skill sets. Patriots and Packers come to mind. Or the Saints or Rams. I don't know that run-first defensive teams are the best situation.
 
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Frak said:
I for one thought it was a bad spot and still do. He needs a more offensive team that utilizes players with unique skill sets. Patriots and Packers come to mind. Or the Saints or Rams. I don't know that run-first defensive teams are the best situation.
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The fact is, Lazard had trouble getting separation from DBs in college, so it was going to be even more difficult in the pros. There were reasons why he didn't get drafted.

Love Lazard and hope he makes it, but he had enough weaknesses in his game to drop out of the draft. He was a bit of a tweener too. Probably could have been a great TE with his size and blocking ability if he put on some weight. Best of luck to him!
 
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clonedude said:
The fact is, Lazard had trouble getting separation from DBs in college, so it was going to be even more difficult in the pros. There were reasons why he didn't get drafted.

Love Lazard and hope he makes it, but he had enough weaknesses in his game to drop out of the draft. He was a bit of a tweener too. Probably could have been a great TE with his size and blocking ability if he put on some weight. Best of luck to him!
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Yeah, I think that's the point people miss. Lazard rarely got separation in college - he made his mark with his size, physicality, and ability to make spectacular, highlight-worthy catches. Not only is it going to be significantly harder, if not impossible, for him to get separation against NFL secondaries, NFL secondaries are also larger and much more physical, which means the advantages he had in college are significantly less.

Jacksonville was about as good of a spot that Lazard could have landed. They lack big name receivers and not a ton of depth. If Lazard can't make it in Jacksonville, it doesn't necessarily mean that he went to the wrong team, it means it's time for a number of Cyclones fans to take off the cardinal-colored glasses and realize that perhaps Lazard, as talented as he is, perhaps isn't an NFL-caliber receiver.
 
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jdoggivjc said:
Yeah, I think that's the point people miss. Lazard rarely got separation in college - he made his mark with his size, physicality, and ability to make spectacular, highlight-worthy catches. Not only is it going to be significantly harder, if not impossible, for him to get separation against NFL secondaries, NFL secondaries are also larger and much more physical, which means the advantages he had in college are significantly less.

Jacksonville was about as good of a spot that Lazard could have landed. They lack big name receivers and not a ton of depth. If Lazard can't make it in Jacksonville, it doesn't necessarily mean that he went to the wrong team, it means it's time for a number of Cyclones fans to take off the cardinal-colored glasses and realize that perhaps Lazard, as talented as he is, perhaps isn't an NFL-caliber receiver.
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Very well said. It doesn't mean we didn't love everything Lazard did for ISU, or that he wasn't an outstanding college WR.... he obviously was. But it doesn't always translate to the next level. Look at how many past Heisman winners were busts at the next level.

I think there's still a spot for someone like Lazard in the NFL, but I can also see he has enough weaknesses to not make it as well.
 
I think blocking is an underrated skill in wide receivers.

For a team with Bortles at QB that enterprises to have a ground-heavy attack to compliment one of the best defenses in the league, you would think that having an excellent "wide blocker" like a Lazard would be a good idea for their plans.

There were so many runs for Warren and Montgomery the past few years, plus screens for guys like Ryen, that sprung because Lazard punked somebody.
 
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He’s has some of the best hands I’ve witnessed but he is not great a creating separation. I’m not expecting a long illustrious carrier in the nfl
 
I think we have the tendency to remember his highlight caliber plays and thus remember his crazy good hands. As mentioned AL excelled in blocking but struggled getting separation at an elite rate. A run heavy offense in the NFL is his best bet.

Not a knock on AL at all, but he is not a shoe in roster player just by throwing a dart at an NFL team list. Not sure what team would be a solid fit for him, but a pass heavy O doesn't play to his strengths.

Look at his body of work and stack it up against an NFL roster receiver from their college career. I think our lack of recent skill players making it into the league as Cyclone fans has really skewed our perspective of what an NFL player looks like at the college level on a consistent basis. AL could make it, i hope he does, but he's not a lock that missed the boat by signing with the wrong team.
 
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It doesnt help that he is competing for the 6th WR spot against one of their potential PR/KR guys. Allen has to show that his skillset as a possession/red zone receiver is of more value than a specialist, which can be difficult. From reading reports out of camp, Lazard is the favorite target among the 3s, but it's hard to say what that means for roster prospects.
 
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Take this one, for instance...

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I wish he was a colt. They have no receiver depth. I would think Manning might be able to communicate his abilities

Jags are a bad situation. Fighting for the last WR spot against two guys. Not easy to get reps
 
He signed with Jax because they wanted him. I don't think he had 32 teams banging down his door. If he doesn't make the active roster, he will make some money on a practice squad for this year at least. Maybe he catches someones eye and gets a spot elsewhere.

He's working hard and doing everything he needs to do right now.
 
bozclone said:
I wish he was a colt. They have no receiver depth. I would think Manning might be able to communicate his abilities
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They drafted 2 WRs late in the draft (5th and 6th round). If Manning was going to make a case for Lazard, you'd think he would have been able to do it then.
 
cyhiphopp said:
He signed with Jax because they wanted him. I don't think he had 32 teams banging down his door. If he doesn't make the active roster, he will make some money on a practice squad for this year at least. Maybe he catches someones eye and gets a spot elsewhere.

He's working hard and doing everything he needs to do right now.
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This, it wasn't the best situation from a numbers situation considering who JAX depth signed and drafted but the wanted him the most. I believe AL got around 90K to sign which is a lot more than most undrafted FA's.

It is difficult for any undrafted FA to get a spot the first year, but he can show effort and flash some plays in the Preseason he could latch on somewhere in a place with less #'s at WR (maybe even developing him at TE). Considering the signing bonus I would think JAX may have a plan for him on the practice squad for him as long as he shows enough.
 
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JD720 said:
They drafted 2 WRs late in the draft (5th and 6th round). If Manning was going to make a case for Lazard, you'd think he would have been able to do it then.
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If Lazard does get cut I think Indy is a logical spot with the Tom Manning connection. Of the two receivers you mentioned the kid from UNI has done pretty much nothing of note so far and Deon Cain looked good early but is now done for the season after tearing an ACL last week.

Something to watch for should Lazard not stick with Jacksonville.
 
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