Shrine Game Practice Report

For the 2nd year in a row, the Shrine Game has found a new home, this time in Houston. The practices were being held in the bubble at Reliant Stadium, next to the actual stadium. I was lucky enough to be a fly on the wall for three days, culminating in the NFL Day practice on Wednesday. There’s so much going on at any time that it’s hard to give definitive word on any player unless you focus on only one or two positions, so I focused on offensive skill positions.

More detail can be heard in these podcasts: West Day 1, East Day 2, West Day 2, NFL Day, Interviews (Podcasts express the views and opinions of Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey, not Football's Future)

Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey will be interviewing draft experts and prospects throughout the next three months leading to podcasts recorded live at the draft in New York. They will be at the Senior Bowl practices next week with more reports and interviews and will break down the rookie class from a fantasy perspective at footballguys.com. Subscribe to "The Audible" through iTunes so you don’t miss anything.

Quarterbacks

Drew Tate, Iowa – Drew was probably the worst QB at the practices. He did show some nice zip and good athleticism scrambling at times, but he was indecisive and very inaccurate for most of the practices. His errant throws did allow the East WRs show off their ability to adjust to poorly thrown balls.

Matt Gutierrez, Idaho State – Gutierrez was a top Michigan recruit, but Chad Henne took the job and ran with his when Matt tore his labrum early in his college career. Gutierrez was inconsistent, but he definitely has NFL size and he flashed surprising athleticism on the run. He does have a low delivery, which hurt him under pressure. He showed NFL arm strength and a quick release at times, but is still more of a project at this point.

Lester Ricard, Tulane – Ricard is very tall and showed a good deep arm, but he also played with a lack of urgency. He also has a low release point despite his ideal height, and was prone to throwing flutterballs. I overheard some scouting talking about his intangible problems and comparing him to Tony Banks.

John Beck, BYU – Beck showed his normal quick release, good mobility and good zip on short passes, but he had the least imposing presence at QB, with a meek snap count. He’s a system sensitive QB that wouldn’t work as a pocket passer.

Jeff Rowe, Nevada – Like Gutierrez, Rowe just looks like an NFL QB physically, although he is lankier than Gutierrez. He had a terrible first day that saw him very frustrated, but improved as the week went on, showing his good arm strength and nice touch on deep balls.

Zac Taylor, Nebraska – Zac was the best QB of the three days, with good accuracy and zip on short passes, good mobility, and a fierce snap count that drew many offsides (and a few false starts). The questions about his deep arm were not quite addressed, but he showed that he’s a decisive, confident QB with good mobility and consistent accuracy.

Running Backs

Tyrone Moss, Miami – Moss still lacks a great burst or explosion, but he was the most natural RB at the practices. He read his blocks well, got small to get through cracks in the line, and showed some moves to create something where there was nothing.

Jason Snelling, Virginia – Snelling showed that he will be a sound investment in the draft with his excellent receiving skills, great lead blocking as a FB, and between the tackle power running that will be good enough to slate him as a backup RB while starting at FB or H-back

Alonzo Coleman, Hampton – Coleman showed some spunk running over Kyle Shotwell in a passing drill, and showed shiftiness when he got in space, but he did not run well at all inside, getting engulfed by defensive lineman, and did not seem to have the strength to run through arm tackles.

Steve Baylark, Massachusetts – Baylark failed to impress in any facet of his game. He wasn’t particularly strong as an inside runner, and got tripped up going through trash when he tried to run wide. He did show good hands at times, but also had some terrible drops.

Selvin Young, Texas – Young dusted off his punt return skills and showed terrific power running and receiving ability before getting hurt. He seems like a good fit for a one-cut zone blocking scheme team.

Stevie Hicks, Iowa State – Hicks ran too upright and was only effective when he had a huge hole. He did show terrific receiving ability and good moves in space, and he has more of a wide receiver’s body, so maybe he can make as a WR at the next level, but he certainly won’t do much as an RB.

Jon Cornish, Kansas – Cornish was very solid in every aspect of the RB game – good vision, good change of direction and overall efficient running. He’s not a special athlete and somewhat stiff, but he looks to have the potential to be a nice backup RB for the NFL.

Jackie Battle, Houston – Jackie is built more like a fullback, but he was a tailback at Houston. He doesn’t seem to be well-suited to do either in the NFL. He ran too upright as a tailback, and was not very powerful as a fullback.

Wide Receivers

David Ball, New Hampshire – Ball has almost impeccable technique catching the ball and very sticky hands. He’s also got great body control in the air. He was most impressive on Monday when everyone else was rusty, but by Wednesday he had been surpassed by some of the more physically talented WRs on the East squad.

Austin Flynn, Iowa State – Flynn showed good hands (both receiving passes and punts) and some moves, but he’s not athletic enough to stay at WR at the next level. There’s some talk of him moving to safety.

Jayson Swain, Tennessee – Swain struggled to show above average speed, quickness, or hands this week, although he did get hurt early on Monday.

Steve Breaston, Michigan – Breaston was the player of the day on Wednesday, making sprawling catches, drawing gasps from the crowd with his moves setting up the defensive back while he was running routes, and doing damage deep. He looked more like the WR that was highly heralded earlier his career than the inconsistent WR that showed up in 2006.

Jacoby Jones, Lane – Jones improved each day, and displayed a terrific skillset should get him drafted despite coming from tiny division II Lane College (Jackson, TN). Jones showed power, hands, quicks, deep speed, determination, and punt return skills. John Murphy, from the Shrine Game player selection committee, said the 3rd round is within Jones’ reach.

Paul Williams, Fresno St – Williams looks like a first round pick athletically. He’s got top end speed, very long arms, natural hands, good quicks, and fluid athleticism. The thing is, it doesn’t always translate to production on the field. In individual drills, Williams looked a notch above any WR at the game physically, but he was only mediocre in 11 on 11’s. He did seem very coachable, which could help his draft stock because questions linger about his up and down career at Fresno.

Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech – Hicks flashed good ability here and there, but struggled with some simple drills like catching the ball at the sideline and while getting his feet down. His stock has only been going down since 2005.

Joel Filani, Texas Tech – Filani outplayed his Red Raider teammate, and did not look as stiff or slow as expected. He was not outstanding, but definitely showed enough to get drafted with his excellent 6’3” size.

Syvelle Newton, South Carolina – Newton improved as the week on, working exclusively at WR. He displayed the quickness to get open in his routes, and his hands got more consistent every day. He’ll be an excellent project, and the former QB is willing to play just about anywhere to make a team.

Jerard Rabb, Boise State – Rabb ran in the play of the year in college football in the Fiesta Bowl and kept his momentum going with a nice Shrine Game week. He showed fearlessness catching balls over the middle and seemed more athletic than Hicks or Filani with a similar long, lean build.

Tight Ends

Brent Celek, Cincinnati – Celek seemed to have the support of his teammates who rallied around him when he made catches, but didn’t seem to be a good enough receiver to make it at the next level.

Matt Herian, Nebraska – Herian ran good routes and his college teammate Zac Taylor hooked up with him a few times downfield, but he clearly hasn’t gotten back his speed after a terrible leg injury. He also got lit up by Desmond Bishop at the end of Tuesday’s practice.

Michael Allen, Whitworth – Allan has a long frame and he used it to make some nice catches in the air. He also had a terrible drop in the open field. He should be an interesting practice squad type project, but nothing more.

Ben Patrick, Delaware – Patrick was clearly the class of the TEs, showing amazing athleticism laying out for balls. He even lined up wide and looked natural running routes, which is tremendous for a 6’4” 270 TE. He had natural hands and good toughness fighting through jams at the line of scrimmage. He’s definitely a sleeper to watch on draft day.

Offensive Line and Defensive Standouts

Check out “The Audible” for more detail on the rest of the Shrine Game rosters. Here’s a few of the players at the non-offensive skill positions that made a positive impression:

Enoka Lucas, C, Oregon
Herb Taylor, OT, TCU
Adam Koets, OT, Oregon St
Clifton Ryan, DT, Michigan St
Jeremy Clark, DT, Alabama
Dan Bazuin, DE, Central Michigan
Michael Coe, DB, Alabama St
Travarious Bain, DB, Hampton
Kenny Scott, DB, Georgia Tech
Brian Robison, DE, Texas
C.J. Wilson, DB, Baylor
Bo Smith, DB, Weber State
Brandon Archer, LB, Kansas St
Desmond Bishop, LB, California

Sigmund Bloom can be reached at Bloom@footballguys.com

Podcast Interviews By Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey:
Zac Taylor (QB-Nebraska), Matt Gutierrez (QB-Idaho State), John Murphy (Shrine Game Selection Committee)
Tyrone Moss (RB-Miami), Ben Patrick (TE-Delaware), John Wendling (S-Wyoming)
WRs Jacoby Jones (Lane), Jerard Rabb (Boise St), Syvelle Newton (South Carolina), Jayson Swain (Tennessee), and David Ball (New Hampshire)
Keith Jackson (Eagles TE), West coach Dan Reeves, and West LB coach Mike Singletary, along with audio of Singletary coaching up the West LBs