Pros:
- Freak Athlete
- Good size for the position
- Versatile mismatch against DB's and LBers
- Potential as a blocker when he puts in effort
- Huge upside
- Potentially great value late in the draft
I watched several Ducks games from 2012 and came away entranced with his speed, versatility, and playmaking ability. Lyerla is exactly the kind of player NFL teams are looking for going forward. He is big, strong, and fast. His hands are above average, as is his catch radius. Lyerla’s blocking showed good technique and real power, something not always present in pass catchers.
n evaluating Lyerla strictly as a football player, there is no question in my mind he is one of the twenty best talents in the country in terms of pro potential.
This teammate was very careful to go out of his way to say he did not believe Lyerla’s partying impacted his football performance. “He was all business when it came to balling, man. It was like the light would flip on and he was an animal.”
A NFL regional scout agreed with me, telling me Lyerla was “the highest ceiling player in the PAC-12”.
“Drafted? Absolutely. He’s a second round talent at worst on the field. If he can piss clean (pass drug tests) and explain his issues, coaches will look over the bad issues.”
My personal opinion? I’m inclined to believe that Lyerla’s impressive athleticism and coveted versatility will intrigue NFL coaches. NFL coaches are arrogant. They believe they can reach anyone and coax the best out of anyone.
I think that coaching arrogance will prevail over the legitimate concerns that will be raised in draft room discussions. Coaches are going to look at the tape and believe Colt Lyerla is worth a shot. If I were calling the shots, I wouldn’t hesitate to take him in the fourth round.
People want to like him, and he’s described by most everyone I asked as a good-hearted person. Good-hearted but incredibly unpredictable.
Cons:
- Production never matched hype (only 34 career receptions)
- Questionable effort on the field when not getting the ball
- Selfish
- Doesn't follow guidance or coaching (always did his own thing instead of following coaches instruction)
- Didn't respond well to structure, rebelled against it
- Quit on team
- Comes from a very tough upbringing (substance abuse)
- Major drug and alcohol concerns, known party boy
- Cocaine arrest after leaving Oregon
- Alleged drunken assault in 2012
- Struggled with Chip Kelly's departure, abandonment issues (how will he fair with the cutthroat business aspect of the NFL?)
- Very emotional, immature, irresponsible, has a temper and lacks self control
- Doesn't handle criticism well
- Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist, probably wont go down well in New England
Colt Lyerla is a deeply troubled person with a litany of issues that need resolution before he is ready to handle being a NFL player.
One person close to the program advised me that “everyone knew he was a party boy” when he joined the program. According to a different team insider, “when we talked to his teachers (in high school) they were like, good riddance. This kid has no control.” Repeated mentions of soft-core drugs, excessive drinking and boorish behavior came up with every person I contacted about his pre-Ducks background.
Nearly everyone I talked to spoke about his headstrong immaturity and irresponsibility.
Two different sources cited a family history of substance abuse and erratic, unstable personality.
“He had to do stuff on his terms. We’d be in the weight room and our coaches have like every little rep measured out, you know. They know our bodies and they give us real specific stuff to do. But man, Colt had to do his own thing. He’d be like, ‘I know my body better than they do’. Then he’d just sort of get off and do his own thing.”
A NFL scout who has repeatedly visited the Ducks program advised me he got the same message from coaches. The scout told me via text, “(the coaches) liked what he could do but he drove them nuts. If he was supposed to do 10 reps, he’d do 8 or 11.”
Two different sources I contacted mentioned that Lyerla did not respond well to Kelly’s departure to the NFL. One told me he felt like Colt knew it was a business, but he’s got serious trust issues. He felt like Kelly, and by extension Oregon, was abandoning him.
One source told me Lyerla really slacked off over the summer. His conditioning clearly was not up to Oregon’s standards, and he was seen “sucking wind in practice”. He played poorly against Virginia and two sources confirmed to me that the coaching staff took him aside and told him to get serious or get out.
They brought up plays where he clearly coasted, according to one source, and Lyerla did not respond well to having his effort questioned.
When I probed for reasons why he would just up and quit the program, I got a similar story from just about everyone. They portrayed a naïve, self-absorbed man-child. The substance abuse issues, notably drinking, came up a lot. While described as soft-spoken as and “brighter than he comes off”, multiple sources noted a quick temper and difficulty making real friends. He was tired of dealing with Oregon’s attempts to control him. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to get his way, Lyerla hit the eject button.
“It’s easy to see he didn’t like the prospect of getting less touches. He’s a damn good blocker when he wants to be but it always came with strings. If he wasn’t seeing passes, his blocking really tailed off. Really his whole effort level would go down.”
“I wouldn’t trust him. What’s going to stop him from quitting on us when we push him a little or question his game?”
“He takes everything very emotionally. With all the issues in his background, it’s not hard to see why. But he’s never grasped the concept that people telling him something doesn’t mean they hate him or disrespect him. He cannot process criticism without letting it chew him up inside. He’ll hold onto a perceived slight forever. That’s not going to change when he’s getting money.”
One advised me that “my report will be that he’s never going to be worth the headaches. I can’t see us considering him after this quitting.”
(We) won’t touch him if he’s left the team and is doing drugs. No way.
Colt Lyerla: A Troubled Talent | Detroit Lions Draft
Colt Lyerla accused of 2012 assault on Eugene street
I've made it pretty clear in the draft forum that I just don't think he is worth the headache, especially after the Hernandez situation. I'm all for taking a chance on guys with character concerns but it seems Lyerla's issues would directly clash with the Patriots. The issues following instruction, rebelling against structure, selfishness, inability to handle criticism and the fact that he quit on his team is far more significant to me than the drug, alcohol and violence issues.
I think he rushed this process and is trying to get to the NFL too early. I am sympathetic towards his situation because he certainly comes from a troubled background and has personal issues. I think he would have been much better served taking a year off to get his life in order first, then I would have some interest in his as a reclamation project. I think he has rushed it and hasn't given himself a chance to fix these issues. Going straight into the pressure of trying to make the NFL I don't think will be beneficial for him. I would let someone else take a risk on him.
