2016 East-West Shrine Game Stuff...

boozeman

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2016 Shrine Game Preview: East Roster, Led By Three of the NFL Draft’s Top Small Schoolers

Posted by Eric Galko on Jan 18, 2016 09:00


Coached by former NFL/college football head coach Charlie Weis, the East roster has a fantastic blend of former NFL standouts coaching and intriguing developmental prospects.

The 2016 Shrine Game East roster boasts a highly intelligent quarterback (Blake Fronhapfel), a former option quarterback turned running back (Keenan Reynolds), and three of the 2016 draft’s best small schoolers (Paul McRoberts, Victor Ochi and Javon Hargrave).

Quarterbacks
1. Blake Fronhapfel, UMass

The former Marshall transfer who was a two-year starter at UMass, Frohnapfel thrives as a velocity control passer who’s patient and relies on timing in the UMass offense. His top-end velocity is just average, and he’ll likely have some trouble cutting the wind on downfield power throws, especially if his footwork issues flame up. He’ll look to leave St. Petersburg as the game’s top passer.
2. Jake Rudock, Michigan

The former Iowa transfer developed substantially in his one season with Jim Harbaugh, especially in pocket maneuvering and timing in reads. Though he wasn’t often displaying ideal placement, particularly on vertical throws, he epitomized “good enough” for a Michigan offense that relied on their defense. His footwork development, pocket maneuvering and relatively safe style of play could make him a possible late-round pick.
3. Joel Stave, Wisconsin

One of the most puzzling Shrine Game invites, Stave’s best traits as a passer are his natural size and arm skill. He meets the ideal size thresholds, has an adequate release point and can maintain high velocity on the perimeter. But his placement certainly fits the “erratic” criteria, his feel for pressure is lacking at an NFL level and he’s been far from efficient in his college career.

Running Backs
1. Keenan Reynolds, Navy

Reynolds is the NCAA leader in rushing touchdowns for a career, and he’ll be making the position switch from option quarterback to full-time running back at the Shrine Game. While slot receiver may also be an option for him, playing running back can be the most immediate needed to fill. He’ll have some issues in taking handoffs and read-reacting to holes initially, but finding space and navigating through traffic shouldn’t be an issue.
2. Josh Ferguson, Illinois

It’s difficult to firmly evaluate Ferguson during his career at Illinois, because he’s played in a lackluster offense with minimal support from his offensive linemen in college. The low-built, laterally quick runner who offers pass-catching upside as well, Ferguson’s biggest knock is his lack of great vision and anticipation, but that may be due to his offensive linemen issues. Ferguson’s burst and body control may remind a bit of Ronnie Hillman, but he’ll need to prove that his vision issues in college stem from a lack of trust in his college offensive linemen.
3. Devon Johnson, Marshall

Built similar to Latavius Murray of the Raiders, Johnson dealt with injuries this year that limited his senior season and his explosiveness. A power back who has some upright tendencies, Johnson can still sink low through contact and work through even bigger linebackers. He’ll need to impress in the game to really make the Shrine week worthwhile.

Wide Receivers
1. Paul McRoberts, SE Missouri State

McRoberts will be playing (and impressing) at both the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl, as his combination of smooth athleticism, plus-ball skills and fluidity as an open-field runner should push him towards the top of the senior receiver class. How he can separate from Shrine Game (and eventually Senior Bowl) cornerbacks will be key, but he should impress in his ability to finish against physical cornerbacks and in team drills.
2. Tajae Sharpe, UMass

Catching passes from his teammate Fronhapfel all week, the lean vertical receiver will need to prove he can work in the mid-field and get through physical cornerbacks in the all-star circuit. Quick-twitch to separate on the perimeter and a plus-ball tracker, Sharpe should be the best vertical threat of the Shrine Game receivers.
3. Rashawn Scott, Miami (FL)

Consistency is the issue with Scott, as the explosive vertical threat has the burst at top of his route and when working downfield in double moves, but issues with separation and drops. A bit of a body catcher and a tendency to get knocked off his route on the perimeter, Scott will thrive in one-on-ones in the mid-field. He’ll need to prove he can finish away from his frame and work through more physical cornerbacks.
4. Robby Anderson, Temple
5. Chris Brown, Notre Dame
6. Cody Core, Ole Miss

Tight Ends
1. Kyle Carter, Penn State

Carer appeared to be one of the most promising tight ends in the country early in his Penn State career, but slowly became utilized less and less as his college career progressed. Built well for an NFL tight end and a motivated blocker, Carter should end up offering dual-tight end value for teams, and should leave St. Petersburg as the clear top tight-end from the event, and one of the safer late-round, roster-worthy tight ends.
2. Darion Griswold, Arkansas State
3. Steven Scheu, Vanderbilt

Offensive Linemen
1. Parker Ehringer, OG, Cincinnati

Ehringer entered his senior season with high expectations from NFL evaluators, but he lacked dominance in his senior year and is limited to a more phone-booth role as an NFL blocker. He’s a bit slow to the second level as a run blocker, and has a tendency to bit a bit off balance when he loses the first hand positioning. But he’s active with his feet to re-adjust his positioning and hand placement, and does a great job protecting his inside shoulder. Not an overly sexy prospect, Ehringer could be a long-time starter at the NFL level.
2. Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

Shell is a massive presence that is a polished pass protector and is athletic enough to pick up quick pass rushers on the edge. He’s a bruiser upfront excelling in both the run and pass game as he anchored an underwhelming Carolina offensive line. With 324 pound size and a legit 6’5 frame, Shell bends and slides well enough to be considered a startable NFL prospect with a strong impression during practices.
3. Taylor Fallin, OT, Memphis

A plus-athlete in space and a still-developing offensive tackle, Fallin flashes great control in space but struggles with his inside leverage protection and against counter rushes. Neither his positioning nor hand placement are at an NFL-level yet, but teams may feel he’s not far off from becoming a capable swing tackle at the NFL level.
4. Keith Lumpkin, OT, Rutgers

Flashing top-100 upside throughout his Rutgers career, Lumpkin didn’t take the next step as a senior to merit his upside expectations this year. A massive tackle prospect who was often beaten on the perimeter thanks to slow feet and misplaced body positioning to fire his hands effectively, he’ll need a strong Shrine Game showing to even merit a draft pick, despite his ideal NFL body type.
5. Donovan Clark, OG, Michigan State
6. Fahn Cooper, OT, Mississippi
7. Graham Glasgow, OC, Michigan
8. Joseph Thuney, OG, NC State
9. Robert Kugler, OC, Purdue

** Sean McEwen, OC, Calgary
** Charles Vailancourt, OG, Laval

Defensive Line
1. Javon Hargrave, South Carolina St

Hargrave doesn’t boast elite size (hovering just below 6’2 and around 290 pounds), but his production, pass-rush refinement and ability to stay low should allow him to thrive against top-tier offensive linemen. Posting 13.5 sacks in his senior season, Hargrave played an interior penetrating role for South Carolina State, showcasing unique quick-twitch athleticism for a defensive tackle and ripping, swimming and sidestepping blockers with remarkable consistency. He’s a bit overly aggressive, leading him to suffer in the run game and containment, but as a pass-rusher, he’s one of the 2016 class’ best.
2. Victor Ochi, Stony Brook

Ochi has produced at a high level at Stony Brook, primarily relying on a tremendous first step, bend as an edge-rusher and body control to adjust on the perimeter and in traffic in pursuit of the ball-carrier. Still raw in his pass-rush repertoire, Ochi relies almost entirely on his flexibility and initial explosiveness to produce. He was too often pushed to the perimeter and neutralized due to a lack of a counter rush move, something he’ll need to develop at the next level. But Ochi’s raw athleticism, explosiveness on the perimeter, and smoothness in space makes him a worthwhile developmental edge-rusher who could fit perfectly in a “LEO” role that the Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars utilize.
3. Anthony Zettel, Penn State

The unquestioned leader of the Penn State team and a uniquely impressive athlete, Zettel had a letdown senior season, finishing as arguably the third best prospect on his defensive line. Explosiveness off the snap wasn’t an issue, but he struggled to disrupt pockets with upfield push, and was too often neutralized in run support despite plus-team support. He’ll need a strong Shrine Game showing to get back in the good graces of teams. I was told earlier in the year that he’s closer to an undrafted prospect than a second-rounder, but I’ll still hold out hope Zettel can earn an NFL starting opportunity in time.
4. Dean Lowry, Northwestern

With an ideal NFL motor and steady development between his junior and senior season, Lowry is the type of try-hard rusher teams want to have on their roster. His lack of athleticism will stand out against longer, more adept pass-blockers, and while he’s gotten quicker at counter rush moves, he’s still neutralized too easily in his chestplate. He could flash in individual drills early, but by week’s end, he may be figured out by the Shrine Game offensive tackles.
5. Romeo Okwara, Notre Dame
6. Connor Wujciak, Boston College
7. Mike Rose, NC State
8. Nile Lawrence-Stample, Florida State
9. Trevon Coley, Florida Atlantic



Linebackers
1. Terrance Smith, Florida State

Not up to the standards of past Florida State linebacker prospects, Smith is a bit reckless in his pursuit angles. He struggled to break out after Florida State lost some of his better teammates in the 2015 draft, and his explosiveness wasn’t enough to make up for it. Still entering the week as the best linebacker, he should be able to impress in in-space drills during the week.
2. James Burgess, Louisville

A shorter, slower linebacker who’s relied on power and physicality to embrace blocks and hold his ground, Burgess could really impress against the more undersized guards at the event. He’s had success at Louisville with a strong lower half, low pad level through contact and the ability to adjust as a tackler off his block. He’ll look to do all three during practice.
3. Joe Bolden, Michigan

One of many Michigan linebackers to step up this season, Bolden especially thrived in run support for the Wolverines. Bolden showed looseness in run game navigation, forcing runners away from the initial lane and finishing on the interior. Limited range and finishing ability on the perimeter are question marks he’ll need to answer during practices.
4. Anthony Harrell, Florida
5. Darien Harris, Michigan State
6. Antwione Williams, Georgia Southern

Cornerbacks
1. Cre’von LeBlanc, Florida Atlantic

A highly active, quick-footed cornerback, LeBlanc was one of the more impressive prospects I didn’t anticipated valuing highly entering the game. He doesn’t get turned around easily, playing with patience in his steps vertically. His recovery speed and hip turn against faster receivers will be the two prime question marks he’ll need to answer during practices.
2. Brian Poole, Florida

Playing both safety and cornerback in his senior season at Florida, Poole is listed at cornerback for the Shrine Game. He’s a bit slow to react in run defense from both his cornerback and safety alignment, taking delayed and poor angles in pursuit. His hand use in coverage allows him success in short-area coverage, and if his hip fluidity isn’t an issue against the Shrine Game receivers, he could thrive during practice as a press cornerback.
3. Anthony Brown, Purdue

Brown’s been a good, not great cornerback in the Big Ten, offering plus-ball skills in mid-field and short-area routes. He’s controlled in his pedal and doesn’t get baited vertically too easily, but does have some issues with bigger-bodied receivers in the mid-field and can be beaten deep as he tries to play the ball too soon. He did have three interceptions in a game this year (against Nebraska), so he’ll hope to reclaim some of that thunder.
4. Justin Burris, NC State
5. DJ White, Georgia Tech
6. David Mims, Texas State

Safeties
1. Deon Bush, Miami (FL)

Playing as both a strong and free safety in the Hurricanes defense, Bush flashes high-end hitting ability in coverage and strong underneath ball skills. Explosive in his transition upfield and to the sidelines, Bush can be a bit late to react but rarely misses tackles on the perimeter thanks to positioning. His lack of great extension as a tackler won’t be an issue until potentially the game, but he can show the rest of his explosive skill set during drills this week.
2. Justin Simmons, Boston College

Simmons has played both cornerback and safety in his career, though clearly best suited as a safety. He was asked to play single high, but also transition into a strong safety spot, and gets work as nickel and outside cornerback. Good, not great burst upfield, Simmons gains speed quickly but plays a bit high and can be knocked off balance too easily at time. Adequate change of direction at safety, key area that stunted his cornerback upside, but limits him a bit in read-react from non-center field safety positioning. He’s decisive in centerfield reaction, attacking on perimeter well and finishing as a tackler. He can be contained too easily by WR blockers. His best NFL position may be as a free safety in a Cover-3 defense, and can offer nickel corner upside.
3. Elijah Shumate, Notre Dame

Lacking great adjustment quickness in coverage, Shumate is more of an in-the-box safety that will hope to fill a role similar to Arizona’s Deone Bucannon. Shumate is a strong tackler and adjusts off second-level blocks well to track down and finish as a tackler. He may have some success against tight ends in coverage drills, but he’ll need to show a lot more in order to secure a firm draft selection.
4. Jordan Lomas, Iowa
5. Jamie Byrd, South Florida
6. Andrew Williamson, Vanderbilt
 

boozeman

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2016 Shrine Game First Impressions



Written by Jeff Risdon on January 18, 2016


The 91st annual East-West Shrine Game practices kicked off on Monday in St. Petersburg. After weigh-ins, which were closed to the media, the East and West practiced in their usual locales, Shorecrest Prep Academy for the East and St. Pete High for the West.

This is my fifth time covering the Shrine Game in person, and the first impression of the rosters is that this is one of the better skill position and defensive back groups but thin on the lines. My attention was squarely on the wideouts, defensive backs, quarterbacks and tight ends as the linemen were only wearing shoulder pads and helmets.

The East, helmed by Charlie Weis, was a much more illuminative practice session. There was plenty of of offense vs. defense and full team drills.

The QBs

East QBs are Blake Frohnapfel from UMass, Jake Rudock from Michigan and Wisconsin’s Joel Stave. While Frohnapfel had some solid throws and definitely offers impressive size, Rudock is the clear cream of the East crop.

I’ve seen Rudock in person a couple of times last fall, and I was intrigued. After seeing today, I like him even more. His arm is stronger up close than it even looked from the stands at the Big House; there is real zip on his sideline outs and deeper throws. He moved well and threw on the run with touch and pretty solid ball placement.

There were a couple of bad throws, and he got picked off in team drills by staring down his target pre-snap. He also fumbled one snap and juggled another. It’s an uneven performance but one which highlighted real NFL tools.

On the West, Indiana’s Nate Sudfeld and Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty are the headliners with the brightest NFL futures. Oregon (and Eastern Washington) product Vernon Adams is the third, but his slight build and decided lack of stature likely will keep him from having much of an NFL career; he’s noticeably smaller than Johnny Manziel.

Sudfeld has a lot to offer, and it shined through even though West coach June Jones allowed very little offense vs. defense at any point in practice. He’s got a strong base and high release, an excellent technical throwing platform. His throws don’t have the zip of Rudock in the earlier session but they don’t lack velocity. What stood out is his anticipation and touch even while working with wideouts he just met yesterday.

Doughty struggled on the first day, notably when the temperature dropped into the low 50s during the latter part of practice. On film for the Hilltoppers I noted he’s a rhythm passer, and on the first day he just never found it. About the only drill he really excelled in was throwing low passes to receivers on shallow routes, reps which Sudfeld fared poorly.

The WRs

These groups get me excited, as I see several future NFL contributors sprinkled across the rosters.

On the East, Ole Miss’ Cody Core really stood out. He’s well-built and definitely has some giddyup off the line for a 6’3” guy. Core ran clean routes and caught anything near him, including a throw from a coach where the passer actually yelled “oops” and Core still snagged it over and behind his head with his left hand.

Tajae Sharpe, who played with Frohnapfel at UMass, earned a lot of praise from the defensive backs along the sideline. After about 2/3 of practice was over they were talking about him and definitely impressed. His hands are very strong, and he’s also a legit 6’3” though not as filled out as Core. He made a sliding catch in team drills on a perfect throw from Rudock, designed to be low and away from the defender.

Rashawn Scott of Miami looked good in individual drills but struggled some when the field was full. More than most others, he was impacted by the loose turf and slippery conditions on the field. Notre Dame’s Chris Brown almost looked like he was on skates, as his long stride really hindered him in the poor grass.

On the West, the winner of the first day was Geronimo Allison from Illinois. Allison is very impressive physically. Like Core and Sharpe, he’s 6’3” but just the way he carries himself he comes across bigger. For a longer receiver his steps are crisp and his routes sharp. He got to show off his catch radius a couple of times, while also consistently plucking the ball from the air with clean hands. It was a great first day for a guy who has some solid tape but never seemed to click with his QB(s) at Illinois.

Jared Dangerfield from Western Kentucky and Devon Cajuste from Stanford both had some positive moments. Dangerfield has nice size and can really accelerate into open space nicely. He exploded off his outside foot on a post route and torched the safety (Illinois’ Clayton Fedejelem, who did not stand out), who got a tongue lashing for being flat-footed toast. The WKU wideout has a bad habit of jumping to catch everything that needs to be curbed.

Cajuste is going to be an interesting NFL fit. He’s built like a tight end at 6’4” and 227 pounds, though he doesn’t play with a lot of physicality. I was impressed with his hands and his long-striding speed, but at the same time he really downshifts to make his breaks and doesn’t have great burst out of it, either. I hope to see something else later this week that pushes him one direction or the other out of “tweener” land.

Utah State wideout Hunter Sharpe has the burst in and out of cuts, and the long speed appeared to be the best of the West. However, seemingly every pass got into his pads. He caught all but one, but that’s not the point; Sharp didn’t attack the ball in the air and that’s a real issue.

Random other notes

Tulsa WR Keyarris Garrett was supposed to be on the West, but he was in absentia Monday. I have not heard any explanation, though to be fair I’ve only asked one person about it.

Virginia Tech TE Ryan Malleck tweaked a hamstring or calf early in West practice and just observed the rest.

One of my favorites heading here was Matt Judon, an edge rusher from Grand Valley State. I have seen Judon play in person for the Lakers and was ready for him to show the rest of the scouting world his considerable potential, but he suffered a minor injury in training and opted to sit out the week. I talked with Judon on Saturday and he will be fine for the rest of workout season.

It’s always hard to judge the running backs at all-star games, as what they do best typically doesn’t get highlighted other than a handful of times in each session. Yet Marshall RB Devon Johnson earned kudos from NFL scouts for his burst out of the hole and open-field speed. He’s a legit 245 pounds and can play either FB or RB. In a great twist of fate for Johnson, his position coach here is none other than Mike Alstott, who had a long and successful NFL career being that exact guy.

Speaking of the coaches, former NFL Pro Bowler Sam Madison is coaching the DBs for the East. He’s definitely entertaining, loud and loquacious and constantly shouting instructions.

Boston College safety Justin Simmons holds a lot of hype with many in the online draft community and he showed why in East practice. He picked off Rudock a couple of reps after he dropped an INT on one of the few Stave throws that was near its intended target. The closing burst to the ball is really impressive. He also demonstrated natural leadership amongst his peers.

I didn’t watch the linemen much today, but it was hard to not notice Northwestern DE Dean Lowry blowing up plays in team drills. He’s got fantastic length, a very imposing 6’6” and sturdy 290 pounds. When he times the snap right, he’s way too powerful for any of the offensive tackles here. One NFC South scout I stood with really likes him as a 5-tech defensive end.

His play in drills was decent–no complaints–but what stands out about Georgia Southern LB Antwione Williams is his physique. This is the guy the fellas at the gym want to look like. He’s apparently aware, as he rocked the crop top and also the short socks to highlight his beefy calves.

Of the tight ends, Penn State’s Kyle Carter turned in the best first impression. He’s plodding off the line but once he’s moving he has some wiggle. Carter made a couple of tough catches in traffic, and he was adept at reaching out and getting the ball instead of waiting for it. David Morgan from UTSA showed some blocking chops in West practice, though he’s whatever the opposite of twitchy is.

Wisconsin FB Derek Watt thrived when the West finally went to team drills. They ran three plays to his side and he threw crushing, technically perfect blocks to open creases. That was needed, because he really struggled catching the ball earlier.

There are a few corners on the West who look like keepers in the NFL. Missouri Western’s Mike Jordan is very imposing physically, both longer and thicker than most of his peers.

LeShaun Sims from Southern Utah is also a solid physical specimen. He doesn’t move as fluidly as Jordan but seems to have a little bit better burst out of his backpedal. Again, it was tough to gauge them when they’re not facing wideouts for 90% of practice.

As with his Illini teammate, I came away impressed with CB V’Angelo Bentley. He’s got very fast feet and fluid hips and ankles. That’s good because he’s the smallest CB on the West at 5’10”, a little below Minnesota’s hyper-aggressive Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Florida’s Brian Poole is the smallest on the East but he also turned in a strong first day.

I’ll be live tweeting every practice, and I also will throw up some Vines. If that’s your sort of thing, follow me at @JeffRisdon.
 

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Sudfeld does intrigue me some. Big, strong armed QB who had a very productive season for Indiana. If we do miss out on a top QB, he is a guy I would target late.
 

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East-West Shrine Game Day 3 observations

By Mike Mayock
NFL Media draft analyst
Published: Jan. 20, 2016 at 03:26 p.m.


TAMPA, Fla. -- Let me say this: There are some really interesting players here at the East-West Shrine game practices this week. It's really my first chance to see most of them in person, and I've seen a few guys that have flashed.

If you missed my notes from Tuesday, here's a link. I mentioned Javon Hargrave, the DT from South Carolina State. I think he's had the best week of anyone here. Below are my thoughts on players I felt really stood out on Wednesday

East team practice

» Arkansas State TE Darion Griswold: He had a really nice day. Griswold ran good routes and made a really nice catch on a Y seam between good coverage. I think he opened some eyes again today.

» Illinois RB Josh Ferguson: He is really quick. If you watch his change of direction, he really pops. I'm eager to go watch tape on him after seeing him here. I really liked watching him. He's kind of a third-down change-of-pace guy who needs to catch the football, and he does it effortlessly.

» South Florida safety Jamie Byrd: He's only listed at 185 pounds. He's got some quickness but he's undersized. Fun to watch.

» Miami safety Deon Bush: Bush is a bigger safety than Byrd at 6-1, 205. He did a nice job today covering tight ends in one-on-one drills, and he should.

» UMass WR Tajae Sharpe: He's a lean kid; they list him at 6-3, 188. I like him on tape. He catches the ball well, and has flashed in each of the three practice this week.

» Stony Brook pass rusher Victor Ochi: He looked really good today, and has had a really nice week. He's 244 pounds. He has heavy hands, meaning he's able to control defenders. This is another guy I need to go back and do more work on.

West team practice

» Illinois WR Geronimo Allison: He has length, toughness; he blocks, made catches every day. I thought he had a really impressive week. I liked his toughness.

» Manitoba DL Ebuka Onyemata: He's got a big-time body. He's listed 6-4, 300, he has no idea what he's doing yet, but he's got size and he's got movement skills. He's very raw, but he's got an ability to turn into something. A few years ago, Akiem Hicks from Canada was in this game and became a third-round pick. I'm not saying (Onyemata) is a third-round pick, but he's got talent and movement skills, and some team is going to want to develop that.

» Colorado OT Stephane Nembot: He didn't play much high school football, and went to Colorado as a defensive end and got moved to tackle, so he's hardly played football. But he's 6-7, 320, with good feet as a former basketball player. He has no clue what he's doing, but he's a raw, developmental prospect and that's what this game's all about.

» Nebraska OT Alex Lewis: He's had a solid week, I think he's one of the better offensive linemen in this game, along with the Michigan kid, Graham Glasgow, who is on the East team.
 

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Debate: Who's been most impressive player at Shrine Game?
NFL.com

Who's been the most impressive player at practices for the East-West Shrine Game this week?

We asked CFB 24/7 experts that have attended practices for their picks.



Daniel Jeremiah
NFL.com

Hargrave is dominating competition

South Carolina State defensive lineman Javon Hargrave is the best player I've seen all week. He's a powerful, quick, short-area player. He's been the most dominant player here.


Bucky Brooks
NFL.com
WR on the rise

Illinois WR Geronimo Allison has been the most impressive player at East-West Shrine Game practices. He is a fluid athlete with a nice combination of balance, body control and agility. As a precise route runner, Allison has consistently gotten open and displayed strong hands when snatching the ball out of the air. If he performs to the level that he has shown throughout the week, he could walk away with some hardware at the end of the game.


Lance Zierlein
NFL.com
Pass-catcher stands out

While it is impossible to watch all of the players out on the field in any given practice, the guy who has been most impressive to me has been Stanford wide receiver Devon Cajuste. Cajuste has been able to get open in one-on-one drills, and when it comes time to make the catch, he's been a finisher.

I was probably a little low on him based on my perception of him as a "tweener" but the NFL scouting community has stood firm in their idea that Cajuste is a good football player and will find a place in the league. Based on this week's practices, I would agree with them.


Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7
D-lineman drawing rave reviews

South Carolina State defensive lineman Javon Hargrave was drawing positive attention from the East coaching staff early in the week, most often thanks to his sudden first step. It's led to plenty of penetration at Shrine Game practices this week. It looks like he'll fit best playing inside in a 4-3 defense in the NFL.
 

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5 standouts heading into East-West Shrine Game
Charles Robinson By Charles Robinson


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Four years ago, a little-known cornerback who was light against the run and lacked top-tier competition, kept necks craning during East-West Shrine Game practices.

The first day of practice, he jumped a passing route and returned an interception for a touchdown. The second, three interceptions and several pass deflections. The third? Two more interceptions and another touchdown. Teams lined up to talk to him. When the week finally wrapped, this largely unknown cornerback from Coastal Carolina had created an opportunity. This NFL season, Josh Norman became a first-team All Pro and one of the best defensive backs in the league.

"He looked like an active player in coverage. He was pretty fluid and we thought he had a chance to be a useful nickel cornerback," one area scout said this week, recalling Norman's 2012 performance while watching Shrine Game practices. "I don't remember what [grade] we put on him. He looked draftable. More than we thought, I guess."

Norman is one of those Shrine invitees who sticks out among the historical rosters. But even with his performance, he crawled up to only the top of the fifth round in the draft. He's not alone. Despite being overshadowed by the more-hyped and highly publicized Senior Bowl, the Shrine Game has had a solid record of stocking NFL teams with depth.

Last year, Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan distinguished himself just enough to squeeze into the back end of the fourth round. He paid that kindness back by appearing in 14 games (starting five), looking like a quality future building block at inside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. From the 2014 class, a few good, starting-caliber players with bright futures fought their way from the Shrine Game onto NFL rosters via mid-to-late round picks or undrafted contracts. That list includes Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Allen Hurns (undrafted), Denver Broncos linebacker Shaq Barrett (undrafted), St. Louis Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines (sixth round), Baltimore Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore (third-round supplemental pick) and Cleveland Browns cornerback Pierre Desir (fourth round).

It usually takes a few years to see how good some of those players are largely because many of them are either coming from smaller schools or carry some perceived deficiencies that pigeonholed them as lesser NFL prospects. Maybe their arms are too short or their legs are too skinny. Maybe they never turned a corner from a performance standpoint in college, despite having physical traits that would have suggested better results. Whatever the case, a handful of personnel men who spoke with Yahoo Sports this week described the Shrine game sifting process in similar terms. In this college All-Star game, most NFL teams are looking for a few players who can do at least one or two things really well, and who have room to grow while displaying a willingness to learn and be coached. Basically, many are looked upon as late-round projects who can be stashed at the bottom of a depth chart or a practice squad in hopes of blossoming down the line ... a little bit like Norman, who battled for two seasons before cementing a starting cornerback spot in 2014.


This year's practices didn't see one dominating performance like Norman's in 2012. Nor did it feature the ear-popping buzz of 2014, when Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo thrust himself into the spotlight as the quarterback who rocketed up draft boards (en route to a second-round pick by the New England Patriots). One scout even suggested it's possible that not a single player from this year's Shrine Game will go higher than the fourth round this spring.

That didn't mean there weren't some rave reviews or intriguing performances. With that in mind, here are five players who stuck out and will be worth watching in the months leading to the April draft:

Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State: If forced to pick the darling of the week, Hargrave would compete for that award. He started Day 1 by dominating some of the East team's individual drills, showing an ability to penetrate from the middle of the line. He's raw and inconsistent, and that led to some skewed opinions. One personnel man thought he could be the first player drafted from the Shrine Game. Another expressed skepticism about Hargrave being anything more than a late-round pick.

A college scouting director with a track record of identifying quality defensive tackles raved about Hargrave, noting "he made himself some money here." Another area scout was a little more reserved, but admitted being pleasantly surprised.

"He's got short arms and level of competition is a question, but he's powerful," the area scout said. "He has held his own here. He has some natural pass rushing ability. He jumped out on tape against Clemson."

Interestingly, the same scout identified him as the type of defensive tackle that Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn likes to work with. Lo and behold, the Falcons were one of the teams that spent time talking to Hargrave.

Graham Glasgow, OC/OG, Michigan: As of Thursday, Glasgow was the only Shrine Game player who generated a late invite to the Senior Bowl during the week. But contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, that didn't happen due to Glasgow's showing as one of the better linemen this week. Indeed, the versatile Michigan lineman had been atop the Senior Bowl's list of alternates for a while. He showed why in Shrine practices, playing well at center and guard, and appearing to be one of the best offensive linemen on the field this week.

One personnel man noted Glasgow's athleticism in space and said he was the most consistent lineman all week. With a strong Shrine Game and Senior Bowl, he could rise into solid middle-round territory where starting-caliber centers are often drafted.

Victor Ochi, DE, Stony Brook (N.Y.): Ochi was another one of the impressive players who scouts thought flashed in 1-on-1 drills. He has the speed off the snap to be a disruptor and turnover-creator. But he's short (6-foot) and maybe a little small (roughly 245-250 pounds) to fit into the star edge-rusher mold. It's not clear that he could succeed consistently at outside linebacker, either. But he has long arms, a trait that has helped some shorter pass rushers overcome deficiencies.

One scout questioned whether Ochi would ever be more than a situational pass rusher whose one trick is often his explosion off the line, powerful hands and striking at the point of attack. He noted that there is concern that bigger, more talented and nasty offensive tackles would wear Ochi out hand fighting and relegate him to being a limited-snap pass rusher who isn't great on the edge.

De'Vondre Campbell, OLB, Minnesota: If you're looking for a guy who simply looks like he's an NFL player, Campbell is that guy right now. He's long (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) and has a frame that looks like he could get bigger. He has a developed upper body but skinny legs that make him look a little like Randy Gregory, the Dallas Cowboys' 2015 second-round pick.

Like Gregory, he looks very athletic. In a way, he's a love/hate prospect. You can find guys who don't like his lack of production and think he has never lived up to his gifts. But on the flip side, some think he is still raw and can be coached into a more productive player.

Dean Lowry, DE, Northwestern: He's NFL big right now (6-foot-6, 290 pounds) and looks like he could fit in either the 3-4 or 4-3 defense. His size and long arms make him immediately noticeable. Lowry doesn't display some of the leverage problems that can undermine tall players, one personnel man said. The same scout said Lowry has strength that shows up on film and that he plays hard consistently. But he's not known for being a freak as an athlete and the scout said he may not translate to being a dominating pass rusher. That might make him a better fit for the 3-4 system as a run-defending anchor at end who gets effort sacks.
 

boozeman

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SHRINE GAME Practice Wrap

Posted: January 22, 2016 | 0 comments


Thursday was the final day of real practices, and was spent mostly on Special Teams work. Both practice sessions looked like ghost towns compared to earlier in the week. NFL Personnel people pretty much all left town Wednesday night or Thursday morning. NO doubt most are headed home to see their families before jumping back into things next week in Mobile. Even the White Ghost, TED THOMPSON, had left and could not be found perched beneath goal posts scrutinizing things.

For anyone going to, or watching the Shrine Game itself here is a list of guys that you will not see out on the field Saturday afternoon because of injuries.
HUNTER SHARP/WR/UTAH STATE WEST
RYAN MALLECK/TE/VA TECH WEST
DAVID MORGAN/TE/UT SAN ANTONIO

I would editorialize and say this leaves HC JUNE JONES and his West staff very thin at the skill positions. His roster now only has 2 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR. And of course, the do everything erstwhile FB/DEREK WATT. UPdate on Derek, he is now the number two long snapper for the West Squad. Let us just hope extra hard that injuries do not cripple this group during the game.

KEENAN REYNOLDS/RB/QB/NAVY
RPBERT KUGLER/OC/PURDUE
CONNOR WUJCIAK/DT

KUGLER is limited by a hamstring issue and likely will suit up but not play. REYNOLDS looks to be out and that would affect the East offensive designs of HC CHARLIE WEISS. You will remember that I told you REYNOLDS was being used as a QB for short yardage running situations.

The best news overall on the injury front is the fact that no one appears to have suffered a major long term injury, which is the dreaded nightmare for these games and a big reason you will not see some top prospects at the Senior Bowl next week. Agents dread that injury risk even more than the players themselves.

I had some sideline chats with the kicking specialists for the East while lineups were being juggled out on the field Thursday.

PK/JOHN LUNSFORD is an interesting guy, in more ways than one. A confident but not cocky guy he feels he can kick at the pro level if given the chance. He played his college ball at LIBERTY under HC TURNER GILL whose name should be familiar to many of you. He had looked OK on Tuesday looking solid out to about 45 yards, but that was into a gusting wind in his face. My ears perked off on his first two kick-off efforts today because I heard that explosive sound as his foot struck the football. Not all kickers get that sound. It’s more of a boom than a thud and tells me the ball was struck by a powerful leg. Two guys I remember clearly having that booming leg, as I refer to it, at an All-Star venue were P/BRYAN ANGER & K/STEVEN GOSTKOWSKI. THey’ve worked out pretty well in the League, IMO.
Before practice officially started LUNSFORD was long snapping to WILL MONDAY/P. And the snaps were impressive in both accuracy and velocity. JOHN told me he had snapped some in his college career and was the back-up for the upcoming game to TE/STEPHEN SCHEU on Punt snaps. My mind wandered and I could only picture him snapping to his holder MONDAY and then sprinting back to also kick the FG attempt. Not happening, but it flashed through my mind. I like this kid and think he has an NFL leg and confidence level.

His partner in crime for the week is WILL MONDAY/P/Duke. MONDAY is as little more laid back than LUNSFORD and felt I should indeed be able to clock some 5-second plus Punts on Saturday. IN watching his limited on-field work he is not just a big leg. He knows how to drop the ball for backspin and sidespin. I think he too has legit potential.

Looking at my notes I believe I failed to mention a couple of players who I had positive notes on this week. How about one from each squad.

FAHN COOPER/OT/OLE MISS #74, Coop as he is often called is a very good looking athlete with a full sized, conditioned body. At 6’5 and over 300 lbs. he has the strength and length to control most of the DL he’s taking on down here. I think he got lost in the shuffle a bit at Ole Miss with everyone zeroed in on elite prospect LAREMY TUNSIL. But COOPER may have a shot at a Top 100 prospect ranking.

For the West team TED KARRAS/OG/ILLINOIS #69 has had a real solid week down here. He’s strong but also has good mobility. He also plays like a savvy veteran after a full career for the Illini. He struck me as the best interior OL on the West this week. His Great Uncle was the late ALEX KARRAS who had a good NFL career before heading to Hollywood.

Drum roll please… Time to unveil my Shrine Game All-Star practice team. This is based on what I saw from players this week and to some degree how well their skills may translate to an NFL career. No honorable mention just 22 guys.

QB BRANDON DOUGHTY/W KENTUCKY #12 W
RB JOSH FERGUSON/ILLINOIS #6 E
FB DEREK WATT/WISCONSIN #34 W
WR RASHAWN SCOTT/MIAMI #11 E
WR HUNTER SHARP/UTAH STATE #14 W
TE DARION GRISWOLD/TE #89 E
T BRANDON SHELL/S CAROLINA #71 E
T ALEX LEWIS/NEBRASKA #71 W
G TED KARRAS/ILLINOIS #69 W
G PARKER EHINGER/CINCINNATI #78 E
C GRAHAM GLASGOW/MICHIGAN #61 E

DE/ER VICTOR OCHI/STONY BROOK #91 E
DE DEAN LOWRY/NORTHWESTERN #94 E
DT CORY JOHNSON/KENTUCKY #67 W
DT JAVON HARGRAVE/SOUTH CAROLINA ST #97 E
LB JAMES BURGESS/LOUISVILLE #43 E
LB CORY JAMES/COLORADO ST #31 W
LB TERRANCE SMITH/FLORIDA STATE #44 E
CB BRIAN POOLE/FLORIDA #24 E
CB BRIEAN BODDY-CALHOUN/MINNESOTA #29 W
S R.J. WILLIAMSON/MICHIGAN STATE #26 W
S ANDREW WILLIAMSON/VANDERBILT #32 E

And as a parting note it seems clear to me that the football career thing does not work out of CORY “CJ” JOHNSON/DT he may have a career as a late night FM DJ. He has that deep, rich voice similar IMO to The Black Moses/ISAAC HAYES. Buy this guy a set of body chains someone… please!

Good day from Florida.
 

boozeman

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With a Texans' Slant, but Harris is pretty good with his observations regardless.

------------


Shrine Game players to watch

Posted Jan 21, 2016



John Harris

Texans Analyst


This Saturday, the East-West Shrine Game will take place at the Trop, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Most people think of the Senior Bowl as the one and only postseason all-star game and it’s the one most players want an invitation to attend. But, the Shrine Game has been good to the Texans the past few seasons.

Last year’s game included future Texans LSU RB Kenny Hilliard, Bowie State TE Khari Lee (subsequently traded to the Bears), Michigan State WR Keith Mumphery and Toledo C Greg Mancz. The previous year’s game included current starting safety Andre Hal from Vanderbilt, Michigan State ILB Max Bullough and two players the Texans signed as undrafted college free agents - former Texans Bloomsburg’s own Matt Feiler and North Dakota State CB Marcus Williams.

So, as this year’s game nears and the week of practices come to a close, there’s bound to be a future Texan in this game. Here are a few names to watch a little closer than others this weekend; the game will be on NFL Network at 3 PM CST.

DT Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (6-2, 295) - this guy is all butt and legs...and he’s one explosively quick interior disruptor. He’s been near unblockable in practices this week and he caught my eye back in September. I’ve seen this guy completely wreck shop in the MEAC and that’s continued this week in Tampa. He might not fit the Texans defensive scheme, but the Texans scheme is versatile enough to match Hargrave’s varied skill set.

WR Tajae Sharpe, U Mass (6-2, 188) - plenty of analysts/scouts are worried about his tiny hands (under eight inches) but when I studied him last summer and early this fall, Sharpe caught everything thrown his way. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he’s a definite deep ball threat, small hands notwithstanding. The hands “thing” will honestly turn some teams off but it’s clear when a guy can play. He can.

WR Robby Anderson, Temple (6-3, 180) - similar to Sharpe in a number of different ways, Anderson’s a circus catch waiting to happen. For the same reasons as Sharpe, he may not be thought of as a physical marvel, but, like Sharpe, this guy can ball out.




FB Derek Watt, Wisconsin (6-2, 234) - wait, a second...Watt...from Wisconsin? Yep, J.J’s brother. Fullback isn’t a position that gets a ton of love, but you know you want to see J.J’s brother in the game. He’s not a gimmick either and will find a spot on special teams at a minimum in the league.

RB Josh Ferguson, Illinois (5-10, 196) - of all the running backs at the Shrine Game, Ferguson has put together the best work according to most in Tampa. He was injured and missed three games in the 2015 season, but he averaged 5.5 yards per carry, which led the Illini. He can catch the ball out of the backfield (137 receptions his last three seasons), but he’s got some juice to and through holes at the line of scrimmage. Whooo, he can scoot.

TE Darion Griswold, Arkansas State (6-3, 253) - quite frankly, this isn’t a loaded tight end class and with Evan Engram (Ole Miss) and O.J. Howard (Alabama) returning to school, it’s even thinner than expected. That makes Griswold a hotter commodity than in most years, but his skills stand on their own. He doesn’t look 253 lb., that’s for sure but he’ll mix it up in the blocking game. He had only 26 receptions combined the past two years, but he’s an athlete who lines up at a number of different spots along the offensive formation.

OLB/DE Victor Ochi, Stony Brook (6-1, 244) - he doesn’t seemingly fit the profile for a Texans OLB but I just want you to watch this Tasmanian Devil out on the edge. RE-LENT-LESS. He has 33.5” arms and an 82” wingspan, which means he’s LOOONG. He’s just learning how to unleash his toolbox too but, man, he’s fun to watch.

S Justin Simmons, Boston College (6-3, 198) - I noticed Simmons last spring watching another Boston College defender. He’s long and wiry and consistently finds the football. Not to mention, he’ll run down on special teams, in addition to finding a role on defense. Love everything about the way he plays safety.

CB/Returner V’Angelo Bentley, Illinois (5-8, 188) - his dimensions work against him as a perimeter cornerback in the future, but in this spot, I’m really only interested in him as a return man on both punts and kickoffs. He averaged well over ten yards per punt return. He had a return for a TD v. Ohio State as a sophomore in 2013. He could be a nickel CB candidate, but he’s electric on returns and something the Texans have honestly lacked since the days of Jacoby Jones.

I could talk about the entire roster on either side, but figured it was best to just give you an idea of a few key guys to watch this Saturday.
 

boozeman

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Game is on right now. So far Ochi and Hargrave look as good as the practice reports. Doughty looks terrible, two picks including a pick six thrown from the opponent's two.
 

boozeman

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Mayock for some reason started talking about Wentz and how excited he is to see him next week.

Basically dissed Goff and all but anointed Wentz as the top QB prospect in this draft.
 

boozeman

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Big TD pass for Vernon Adams, the little short shit.
 

boozeman

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Another TD pass from Adams. He doesn't have a damn leg to stand on from a height or even hand size perspective, but he's standing out.
 

boozeman

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I know. What's funny is he's attending games and studying, etc....as if he wants to be an owner/GM. :skurred
The more of that he does, the more he can get credits towards his honorary Jerry Jones degree.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Another TD pass from Adams. He doesn't have a damn leg to stand on from a height or even hand size perspective, but he's standing out.
Yeah but he is at least making a charge at looking like a potential NFL backup. He is athletic and can make some throws. The kind of guy who won't run your system like you want but can make some plays to keep a team in the game by running around and chucking the ball.
 

boozeman

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The rest of the QBs, like Sudfeld and Doughty carried supposedly draftable grades but they don't look like they can play.
 

Cowboysrock55

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The rest of the QBs, like Sudfeld and Doughty carried supposedly draftable grades but they don't look like they can play.
I still kind of like Sudfeld. He hasn't done anything to separate himself in this game but his receivers aren't helping him out and all the designed screens basically suck with him.
 
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