Welcome back to The B&G Report. I received some great feedback and questions regarding the last “Redskins Early Draft Prospects to Watch”. This week the focus will be on two underrated Offensive prospects. They both play for schools that garner little national attention, but both have potential to be excellent contributors on the next level. Let’s get to it!
Allen Lazard WR Iowa State
I recently came across a WR prospect that has gone under the radar in my opinion. I’m referring to Iowa State WR Allen Lazard. The mamouth receiver checks in at an impressive 6’5 223. I expect Lazzard to run the forty yard dash in the mid 4.5’s/4.6 despite his size. After watching some game tape, his NFL comp might surprise some Redskins fans. I actually see a lot of Pierre Garçon in the Iowa State pass catcher. Although 50/50 balls seem like his strength, seeing this kid run bubble screens/crossing routes and run over defenders gave me the warm and fuzzies! Lazard finished the season with 941 receiving yards with 10 TD’s and a 13.3 yard per catch average. His overall stats totaled 3,360 career receiving yards with 27 TD’s during his time at IU. I think this kid could step in and be a major contributor in the red zone for Washington. His frame is very different from the Skins other tall pass catcher Josh Doctson though. Lazzard is very good at out-muscling defenders to the ball and thrives during contact. That seems like a trait our receivers have lacked, since the departure of The Haitian Sensation Pierre Garçon. Lazard projects to go some where between rounds 4-6. His speed might not blow Skins fans away, but the YouTube video above is just a snip it of what this kid can do with the ball in his hands! At worst he converts to TE, he’d actually transition well due to his blocking skills and frame. If the IU receiver is available in the 5th round, the Redskins should snatch him up!
Alex McGough QB FIU
The last Diamond in the rough prospect I’ll go through today is Florida International University QB Alex McGough. The FIU QB has decent size at 6’3 218. McGough finished his senior year with 2,798 passing yards with 17 TD’s to 8 ints. His career totals at FIU were 9,091 passing yards with 65 TD’s to 37 ints. Those are very pedestrian numbers, especially based on the level of competition he faced. Also the amount of interceptions concern me. After watching more game tape on the QB, one particular trait stuck out to me though. The FIU QB’s improvisational skills are second to none. McGough is a playmaker and sometimes he tries to fit passes in tight windows, but his receivers caused many of his interceptions and incompletions. FIU’s offense is based more on the run, than the passing game. FIU uses a lot of read option and this kid showed he really has some after burners with the ball in hand! His toughness is outstanding and on many occasions, he lowers his shoulder on scrambles, rather than sliding.
What drew me interested me was how he makes plays on the run and buys time with his feet, in order to find his receivers down field. He’s also very good at going through his progressions quickly, which is a big positive considering he didn’t have a good offensive line. In no way I’m I promoting this kid as the Skins starting QB in 2018, but Washington also needs a developmental QB going forward. Draft experts currently have this kid as a Potential 6th rounder Priority FA, but I could envision this kid jumping up to the 4th/5th round with a great combine and Pro Day. It’s unlikely that Washington waits until the mid rounds to draft a QB, but another two QB Draft could be in the cards for the Redskins.
Thanks for checking out The B&G Report and stay tuned for the next Diamond in the Rough Draft Edition. Next we check out some Defensive Draft Prospects!
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