Lacy averaged 7.6 yards per carry on such running plays with about one in every four attempts going for at least 10 yards.”ĭespite being arguably the best offensive player on one of Nick Saban’s greatest teams, Lacy was not seen as big of a loss as cornerback Dee Milliner or tackle D.J. Up the middle was his specialty, 64.7% of his rushes came between the tackles. “How good was the offensive line he had? Lacy averaged 4.2 yards per rush before first contact, and he made it at least five yards past the line of scrimmage without being touched on 35.8% of his rushes. There was also the question of how much he was challenged while playing behind the best offensive line in college football: 'Scout and coaches left with questions about Lacy's work ethic and preparation habits,' said Bucky Brooks at the time.

On the negative side about his times though were the early warning signs that he lacked motivation and a commitment to health. In many regards, can’t really be compared to a young Marshawn Lynch, he’s not of that level, but in some other very important regards, the things he does well are the same things Lynch does well. His numbers were not overly impressive, but for some scouts they didn’t have to be because Lacy’s best attribute wasn’t his speed - it was his ability to break tackles, move piles, spin moves, and always make the first guy miss. His NFL.com comparison was Frank Gore.Īt his pro day, Lacy ran about a 4.6, had a 32.5” vertical, and a 4.44 short shuttle. Instead, Lacy was seen as slower and less dynamic than the previous two lead backs in Alabama and expected to go late second, early third. He was not considered the “Can’t-miss” prospect that Richardson was when he went third overall prior to going “missing” or even the late-first rounder that Ingram was before that. Lacy used those moves to skip his senior season and enter the 2013 NFL Draft. “He swears up and down that he invented the spin move,” says former college teammate and Seattle Seahawks receiver Kevin Norwood. *not patented - though Lacy will tell you differently. Lacy carried it 20 times for 140 yards and one touchdown, and caught another touchdown, the one you see above with his patented* spin move. But in the category of last laughs (and laughs at some of the worst teams to be ranked number one going into the final game), Alabama beat Notre Dame 42-14. In their only loss that season, the Crimson Tide gave up two rushing scores to none other than Christine Michael, as Texas A&M won 29-24 behind Michael, Manziel, and Ryan Swope. Manti Te’o finished second and Collin Klein was third.) McCarron, who had 30 TDs and three INTs, was in the top 10. ( Johnny Manziel won the Heisman that year, and no Alabama player, including A.J. Yeldon, who rushed for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns that same year, and neither was in the Heisman conversation. In 2012, Lacy had those numbers above, but averaged 6.5 YPC and caught 22 passes with another two touchdowns. In 2011, when he finished third in the Heisman, Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards, 21 touchdowns, caught 29 passes with three touchdowns, and averaged 5.9 YPC. He also caught 32 passes with another three touchdowns. In 2009, when he won the Heisman, Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards, 17 touchdowns, and had a 6.1 YPC average. He may not have been viewed as the dominant, one-person rushing attack that his predecessors Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, but consider this: As a junior at Alabama, Lacy rushed for 1,322 yards on 204 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.

Eddie lacy week 3