The tape doesn’t lie, proving to be one of the most accurate ways to dissect a prospect and compare him against his peers. When it comes to Colt Lyerla and Eric Ebron, although they have similar star-potential ability, their draft selection couldn’t have been more opposite from one another. Lyerla’s college career was cut short when he left the team, and then was later charged for possession of cocaine while in a local parking lot. Lyerla’s NFL career closed faster than the prison bars behind him while he was taken off every draft board, and eventually went undrafted, meanwhile Ebron was taken with the tenth-overall selection.
Ultimately, Lyerla signed with the Packers, where if he makes the team could make a dangerous duo with Aaron Rodgers and a vacant tight-end spot. The same can be said for Ebron catching passes next to Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford in Detroit. But, from a pure tape standpoint, who has the better film?
In 2011, Lylera played in 12 games, but started in zero, and in 2012 he played in 13 games, starting in nine. In 2013 he played in only three games, but was still very impressive. Lyerla was dominant at times, lining up anywhere and everywhere for Chip Kelly and his offense. In-line as a traditional blocking tight-end, he showed impressive strength sealing his defender and the edge helping the pass and run game. Lined up in the slot or outside is where Lyerla shows off his explosive cuts and burst, often blowing boy his defender and using his strength to put his body in the best position to catch the ball. Finally, and maybe most impressive, when put in the backfield he shows the burst to bounce around the corner, and finishes with the strength forcing multiple defenders to attempt to drag him down. Its true, Lylera was a true specimen for Oregon, but who has he transformed into since the last time we’ve seen him remands to be seen.
Ebron has put together equally impressive tape, but the difference is he lined up in-line with his hand in the dirt the majority of his playing time. The assumption of Detroit using him in different locations is certain, but the fact that Lylera has already done it and passed with flying colors, puts him a leg up on Ebron. It would also be unlikely Ebron will line-up in the backfield in an H-Back role, highlighting even more of Lyerla’s versatility. The league has been searching for a tight-end with Aaron Hernandez type skills, that can be a mismatch nightmarish joker all over the field, and Lyerla was just that.
Still, if the discussion is based over film, the simple fact is Lyerla just doesn’t have much of it after missing the majority of the 2013 season, and we also don’t know which Lyerla will return to the football field. With uncertainty looming, we hand Ebron the award for best film, showing the dominance and consistency on a week-to-week basis.