Flex End Colt Lyerla ~ Oregon Ducks
6045/250
6045/250
Regarding Flex Ends
"Tight End" is a term I apply only to the classic "In Line" Tight End ~ an Hybrid Player who serves as a combination Blocker and Receiver. Some Tight Ends actually do very little receiving, but they are, optimally, proficient at both.
Those who are True Hybrid Threats are among the deadliest Players in the Game.
The "Tight Ends" who spend far more of their time running Routes from all over the Formation, and who aren't especially renowned for their Blocking ~ though many of them are adept Chippers ~ I refer to as Flex Ends.
Those who are True Hybrid Threats are among the deadliest Players in the Game.
Finally, those Hybrid Players who are so ridiculously Hybridized that they literally roam back and forth over the constantly fluctuating line between "LineMan" and "Back" ~ and who a confused FootBall World has clumsily designated, at times, as either "Tight End", "H-Back", or "FullBack", I refer to as WingBacks.
WingBack is a Position that by its very nature rests upon the Ethereal Edge between "LineMan" and "Back".
As such, I believe that the Term exquisitely captures the Essence of these particular Hybrids.
They're terms ~ WingBack and Flex End ~ that I find 1000 times cooler than "H-Back" or "Move" Tight End.
But that's me!!
The most compelling Attributes of a Flex End, in the 21st Century, are, in my view, and in no particular order:
Separation. Getting Open. This encompasses their ability to beat Press, their Acceleration out'f the Blocks, their Routing Precision, their Agility, their Ricochet, their capacity to outsmart Defenders, and their Instincts.
Catching. This encompasses Hands, Catch Radius, Vertical Agility, and Timing.
Navigation. How well he Navigates the Field in Pursuit of Yards After Catch: Power, Agility, and Field Vision.
Blocking. Having a Flex End who doesn't Block effectively is like having 10 Men on the Field of Battle.
Those who are True Hybrid Threats are among the deadliest Players in the Game.
The "Tight Ends" who spend far more of their time running Routes from all over the Formation, and who aren't especially renowned for their Blocking ~ though many of them are adept Chippers ~ I refer to as Flex Ends.
Those who are True Hybrid Threats are among the deadliest Players in the Game.
Finally, those Hybrid Players who are so ridiculously Hybridized that they literally roam back and forth over the constantly fluctuating line between "LineMan" and "Back" ~ and who a confused FootBall World has clumsily designated, at times, as either "Tight End", "H-Back", or "FullBack", I refer to as WingBacks.
WingBack is a Position that by its very nature rests upon the Ethereal Edge between "LineMan" and "Back".
As such, I believe that the Term exquisitely captures the Essence of these particular Hybrids.
They're terms ~ WingBack and Flex End ~ that I find 1000 times cooler than "H-Back" or "Move" Tight End.
But that's me!!
The most compelling Attributes of a Flex End, in the 21st Century, are, in my view, and in no particular order:
Separation. Getting Open. This encompasses their ability to beat Press, their Acceleration out'f the Blocks, their Routing Precision, their Agility, their Ricochet, their capacity to outsmart Defenders, and their Instincts.
Catching. This encompasses Hands, Catch Radius, Vertical Agility, and Timing.
Navigation. How well he Navigates the Field in Pursuit of Yards After Catch: Power, Agility, and Field Vision.
Blocking. Having a Flex End who doesn't Block effectively is like having 10 Men on the Field of Battle.
Colt Lyerla Scouting Report
Separation ~ Stellar. Awesome Acceleration, he explodes out'f'is Breaks ~ and blessed with exceptional Fluidity.
Catching ~ Impressive. Good Hands and Positioning. Could become extraordinary as'is Timing improves.
Navigation ~ Exceptional. He boasts excellent Fluidity & Ricochet ~ sort'f an explosive Snake, out there, After The Catch ~ and he isn't shy about tapping into'is extraordinary Core Power and just beasting'is way DownField.
Blocking ~ Outstanding. Phenomenal Core Power & Fluidity combined with excellent Mechanics and a relentless Motor. Incredibly Versatile: Lines up all over the Formation and is very effective either On Line or In Space.
Colt Lyerla Prospectus
Having created the term Flex End and thus set myself the task of distinguishing between them and traditional Tight Ends, I am often at great pains to determine which term most accurately suggests a Prospect's Capacities.
With Colt Lyerla, the problem, as it were, is that he's such a damned explosive ~ and potentially dominant ~ Tight End that it almost seems a shame to calling him anything else.
But his extraordinary Versatility to line up and execute effectively as either Blocker or Receiver at such a sprawling array of Positions ~ Tight End, WingBack, FullBack, SlotBack, Slot End, Split End, Flanker, or FullBack ~ and'is astonishing fusion of attributes ~ extraordinary Acceleration, awesome Fluidity, amazing Ricochet, and magnificent Core Power, combined with terrific Combat Tactics, simply demand that I designate him a Flex End.
And I would not hesitate, despite his minimal use as a Receiver at Oregon, to declare that his is Top 10 Talent.
But of course: There is the small matter of'is Lunacy.
My Perception, and thus my Evaluation, may very well change ~ perhaps even dramatically ~ between now and the middle of May, as Testimony emerges over the Months to come. But my current Impression of Colt Lyerla is that of a good person, yet one riddled with excessively Self Destructive Inclinations.
I have the Impression of an extremely emotional young man ~ possibly suffering from Bipolar Disorder ~ whose tumultuous Mood Swings have finally come to affect both his Conditioning and his Play.
I am as qualified to evaluate his Psyche as I am to evaluate his Play, which is to say: not at all.
But my Gut is telling me that there is something to my Instinct that a Bipolar Disorder is the real problem, here.
And that can be mastered.
His bizarre behavior reminds me quite distinctly of that of Vontaze Burfict, 18 months ago, in fact.
Burfict, you probably recall, was also a 1st Round Talent who, just like Lyerla, unilaterally obliterated his Draft Stock prior to the 2012 Draft, due to bizarre, bewildering behavior both on the Field and at the Combine.
I, too, dramatically reduced my Grade on'm.
But not to UFA, Baby.
And I mocked'm to the Patriots ~ my Team ~ in my last Mock Draft, as a 7th Round Lottery Ticket.
I had a feeling about'm, you see.
Burfict, before Lyerla, struck a Chord in me. His behavior was so bizarre that he became Persona Non Grata: No one would spend even a 7th Rounder on'm, and the recent 1st Round Target went UFA that Spring. But I couldn't help but feel that when someone goes as bewilderingly and inexplicably haywire as Burfict did, and without any indication whatsoever of excessive Drinking or Drugging, that a physiological explanation might very well be behind it all.
Mind you: I'm not suggesting that the case is closed on Burfict. He has proven to be one of the great Steals of the Draft, so far, and may very well develop into the All Pro Defender that I felt, 18 months ago, was still in'm.
Or he may get a little taste of Success, Get Paid at the end'f'is Rookie Contract, and then allow his Focus and Concentration to slip just a little bit...and start sowing the seeds of'is own Destruction.
I hope to God not: Vontaze Burfict is an explosively talented and passionate young man and I'm rooting for'm.
But if my suspicions are correct ~ if he is indeed Bipolar ~ then he's got every Chance in the World to forge an extraordinary Career and more. But he's going to have to walk an High Wire Act for'is entire Life.
But, then: Musn't all of us who seek an extraordinary Life?
Colt Lyerla's behavior strikes precisely the same Chord with me. As such, I would certainly agree that he is a Lottery Ticket who comes with Great Risk to the Collective Soul of a Locker Room. But I would also suggest ~ precisely as I did within my lengthy and tiresome diatribe about Burfict, last Spring ~ that the later a Team drafts'm, the better.
Not only does the Investment obviously go down, thus reducing the potential loss of Draft Capital, should he Blow Up, but ~ and this is far less obvious, I think ~ the likelihood of him Blowing Up is proportionately reduced.
Nothing like the Cold Water of a 1st Round Talent sinking all the way to the 7th Round to provide a Wake Up Call.
Conversely, were a team to risk a 2nd or 3rd Round Pick on'm, his Fear Factor would be dangerously reduced.
Yet the reason for Fear, ironically ~ the Team's, though, not his ~ would drastically escalate.
Lyerla ~ like Burfict ~ is a ferociously passionate young man, and neither are Idiots.
Vontaze Burfict's play and'is Person, ere the Year and an half since the Bengals gave'm a shot, has been great.
He has provided ample reason to hope that what he went through last Year ~ culminating in the Humiliation and Horror of going UFA ~ proved to be precisely the Catalyst that he needed to take Command of his Life.
And while many Evaluators and many or perhaps all Teams may very well decide that spending a Draft Pick ~ even a 7th Rounder ~ on Colt Lyerla is far too risky to their Locker Room's Collective Soul, my suspicion ~ if indeed my other suspicion is correct ~ is that the Team that does so may just get themselves The Bargain of a LifeTime.
But of course: There is much to be learned, between now and MayDay.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
With Colt Lyerla, the problem, as it were, is that he's such a damned explosive ~ and potentially dominant ~ Tight End that it almost seems a shame to calling him anything else.
But his extraordinary Versatility to line up and execute effectively as either Blocker or Receiver at such a sprawling array of Positions ~ Tight End, WingBack, FullBack, SlotBack, Slot End, Split End, Flanker, or FullBack ~ and'is astonishing fusion of attributes ~ extraordinary Acceleration, awesome Fluidity, amazing Ricochet, and magnificent Core Power, combined with terrific Combat Tactics, simply demand that I designate him a Flex End.
And I would not hesitate, despite his minimal use as a Receiver at Oregon, to declare that his is Top 10 Talent.
But of course: There is the small matter of'is Lunacy.
My Perception, and thus my Evaluation, may very well change ~ perhaps even dramatically ~ between now and the middle of May, as Testimony emerges over the Months to come. But my current Impression of Colt Lyerla is that of a good person, yet one riddled with excessively Self Destructive Inclinations.
I have the Impression of an extremely emotional young man ~ possibly suffering from Bipolar Disorder ~ whose tumultuous Mood Swings have finally come to affect both his Conditioning and his Play.
I am as qualified to evaluate his Psyche as I am to evaluate his Play, which is to say: not at all.
But my Gut is telling me that there is something to my Instinct that a Bipolar Disorder is the real problem, here.
And that can be mastered.
His bizarre behavior reminds me quite distinctly of that of Vontaze Burfict, 18 months ago, in fact.
Burfict, you probably recall, was also a 1st Round Talent who, just like Lyerla, unilaterally obliterated his Draft Stock prior to the 2012 Draft, due to bizarre, bewildering behavior both on the Field and at the Combine.
I, too, dramatically reduced my Grade on'm.
But not to UFA, Baby.
And I mocked'm to the Patriots ~ my Team ~ in my last Mock Draft, as a 7th Round Lottery Ticket.
I had a feeling about'm, you see.
Burfict, before Lyerla, struck a Chord in me. His behavior was so bizarre that he became Persona Non Grata: No one would spend even a 7th Rounder on'm, and the recent 1st Round Target went UFA that Spring. But I couldn't help but feel that when someone goes as bewilderingly and inexplicably haywire as Burfict did, and without any indication whatsoever of excessive Drinking or Drugging, that a physiological explanation might very well be behind it all.
Mind you: I'm not suggesting that the case is closed on Burfict. He has proven to be one of the great Steals of the Draft, so far, and may very well develop into the All Pro Defender that I felt, 18 months ago, was still in'm.
Or he may get a little taste of Success, Get Paid at the end'f'is Rookie Contract, and then allow his Focus and Concentration to slip just a little bit...and start sowing the seeds of'is own Destruction.
I hope to God not: Vontaze Burfict is an explosively talented and passionate young man and I'm rooting for'm.
But if my suspicions are correct ~ if he is indeed Bipolar ~ then he's got every Chance in the World to forge an extraordinary Career and more. But he's going to have to walk an High Wire Act for'is entire Life.
But, then: Musn't all of us who seek an extraordinary Life?
Colt Lyerla's behavior strikes precisely the same Chord with me. As such, I would certainly agree that he is a Lottery Ticket who comes with Great Risk to the Collective Soul of a Locker Room. But I would also suggest ~ precisely as I did within my lengthy and tiresome diatribe about Burfict, last Spring ~ that the later a Team drafts'm, the better.
Not only does the Investment obviously go down, thus reducing the potential loss of Draft Capital, should he Blow Up, but ~ and this is far less obvious, I think ~ the likelihood of him Blowing Up is proportionately reduced.
Nothing like the Cold Water of a 1st Round Talent sinking all the way to the 7th Round to provide a Wake Up Call.
Conversely, were a team to risk a 2nd or 3rd Round Pick on'm, his Fear Factor would be dangerously reduced.
Yet the reason for Fear, ironically ~ the Team's, though, not his ~ would drastically escalate.
Lyerla ~ like Burfict ~ is a ferociously passionate young man, and neither are Idiots.
Vontaze Burfict's play and'is Person, ere the Year and an half since the Bengals gave'm a shot, has been great.
He has provided ample reason to hope that what he went through last Year ~ culminating in the Humiliation and Horror of going UFA ~ proved to be precisely the Catalyst that he needed to take Command of his Life.
And while many Evaluators and many or perhaps all Teams may very well decide that spending a Draft Pick ~ even a 7th Rounder ~ on Colt Lyerla is far too risky to their Locker Room's Collective Soul, my suspicion ~ if indeed my other suspicion is correct ~ is that the Team that does so may just get themselves The Bargain of a LifeTime.
But of course: There is much to be learned, between now and MayDay.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Lottery Ticket ~ SuperSleeper!!
| Consensus Market Value UFA | Yankee Grade 4th Round |
Please Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men of Good Will!!
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