2006 EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME - Preview and Day 1

[EnglishBengal]

link: [url="http://nfldraft.scout.com/3/2006ShrineGame.html"]http://nfldraft.scout.com/3/2006ShrineGame.html[/url]

* Rod Wright: Works Out for the Browns
* Kamerion Wimbley: Scheduled to Meet with KC
* Vince Young: New York Jets schedule workout
* Charles Spencer: Private Workout Set
* T.J. Rushing: Helps Himself at Pro Day
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2006 East-West Shrine Game - Preview and Monday Practice[/b][/size]
By TFY Draft Preview

[u]Previewing Shrine week practices (Jan 15, 2006)[/u]

As the 81st Shrine Game prepares to kick off in San Antonio tomorrow one only needs to inspect the rosters of this years NFL playoff teams to understand the importance of this week. Looking at the eight playoff teams from this weekend, nine players from last year’s Shrine Game will be on the field at any single time, including four starters.

Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur represent the starting left side of the New England Patriots offensive line. Along with reserve defensive tackle Santonio Thomas, the team came away with three solid players from last years event. The Denver Broncos are also relying on a pair of former Shrine veterans. Starting cornerback Dominique Foxworth and reserve cornerback Karl Paymah both excelled in the 80th Shrine Game last year. Chris Kemoeatu, a reserve offensive guard for the Steelers, also impressed scouts when the game was in San Francisco a year ago.

In the NFC several rookies who participated in the 2005 Shrine week are now helping playoff teams. Seahawks starting strong side linebacker Leroy Hill has led a rejuvenated defensive movement in Seattle. Stefan LeFors is Carolina’s third string quarterback. And though no longer listed as the team’s starter, no rookie had a greater impact on their team than Kyle Orton did fro Chicago this past season.

Other teams also relied on rookies that played in last years Shrine Game. Michael Roos started all season at offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans. Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Moats, a junior when he played in the '05 Shrine Game, was impressive in late season action. Jay Ratliff played well for the Cowboys defensive line rotation. Fred Amey did enough to earn himself a roster spot on the 49ers next season while Ryan Fitzpatrick started several games for the Rams when their veterans were injured.

So who are the prospect on the radar screen once practices begin in earnest Monday morning?

The East Team

Wisconsin receiver Jonathan Orris a physically gifted athlete who showed minimal consistency in college. A big week could push him up draft boards.

Leon Washington was a highly rated running back coming into the season. Yet a porous Florida State offensive line and terrible passing game was part-n-parcel to the disappointing campaign suffered by the Seminole ball carrier. Washington needs a big post-season to jump back into the draft's top 75 selections and his opportunity starts tomorrow.

Ohio cornerback Dion Byrum flashed big play ability all season, being the difference-maker in several games. Byrum has the opportunity to prove to NFL scouts '05 was no fluke as he'll be pitted against several outstanding receivers all week.

Jason Spitz has been a dominant offensive lineman for several seasons now. Holding down the guard position at Louisville for three years, Spitz will be able to show his versatility by playing center. Good performances will only enhance his draft value.

Considered the top I-AA prospect in next April's draft, Cornell's Kevin Boothe was a devastating blocker on the small school level. He needs to prove he can handle a step up in competition at the offensive tackle position.

The West Team

After an exceptional first campaign at BYU, game breaking wide out Todd Watkins took a step back as a senior. A receiver with the ability to stretch opposing defenses, a good week of Shrine practices could get Watkins back in the good graces of NFL scouts.

This year's new internet icon, Abilene Christian's Danieal Manning, possesses the size\speed numbers which legends are made of. Yet no one is quite sure what Manning's best NFL-position is. A junior invited to the game, Manning needs a big week of football to impress scouts.

A former tight end at Oklahoma, Chris Chester did an outstanding job last year after moving to the offensive line. Effectively handling both the guard and center positions despite a knee injury, Chester's draft stock has been on a straight-shot north since September. Good performances in San Antonio could push him into the draft's first day.

Another who stood out in his first year on the offensive line was TCU tackle Michael Toudouze. Doing a terrific job on the blind-side all year, Toudouze could continue to improve on a splendid senior season against some of college football's better pass rushers next week.
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[u]Monday (Jan 16, 2006)[/u]

East Practice

The East team started the on field festivities with the first practice session for the 2006 East West Shrine Game. As always many scouts, and some general managers, were in attendance trying to get an early read on the practice habit of this years draft class. Though the first day of practice rarely runs smoothly players still have an opportunity to display their habits and preparedness to NFL teams.

Bruce Gradkowski was the player who wowed the scouts the earliest by excelling at the passing drills. The quarterbacks coach asked the players to call out a part of the receivers body before he threw the ball and hit them there five times in a row. Gradkowski was up to 8 times in a row by unofficial count while no other quarterback reached five. Tavaris Jackson had a difficult time adjusting to the speed of his receivers and missed many throws by only a few feet.

Several wide receivers benefited from Jackson’s errant throws by making great catches. The most impressive of the skill position players on the day was Wisconsin receiver Brandon Williams. Williams displayed fantastic athleticism at every opportunity and caught everything thrown in his direction. His collegiate teammate Jonathan Orr also played well running good routes and making strong plays on the ball. Orr also demonstrated good hands and had neither drops nor body catches throughout the practice. The best route runner was Western Michigan receiver Greg Jennings. Jennings, however, made several body catches and appears to lack the speed to get open without a perfect route. Both East tight ends Cooper Wallace and Matt Henshaw had solid practices as well.

On a day when the Easts offensive line was destroyed during scrimmages and one on one drills by their defensive line counterparts they can take some solace in knowing that the most impressive player of either practice was LSU offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth dominated everyone he faced all day and was very popular with most of the teams in attendance after practice was over. The only other offensive linemen that stood out were Wisconsin center Dominic Raiola and South Carolina tackle Jabari Levey, who both showed good speed and quickness but played too upright.

Defensively the standout on the East squad comes again from Auburn University, and again plays defensive tackle. Tommy Jackson was unblockable during lineman drills and was constantly disrupting the offense during scrimmage. After practice Jackson spoke with a scout from the Philadelphia Eagles for almost half an hour.

Linebackers Rocky McIntosh and Anthony Schlegel, from Miami and Ohio State respectively both looked good in pass coverage. Notre Dame linebacker Brandon Hoyt struggled against the pass, however.

Alabama safety Charlie Peprah was the class of the defensive backs. Peprah displayed an explosive break on the ball and showed great speed in all directions. Pittsburgh defensive back Josh Lay showed a nice recovery but was a half step slow in reacting to the routes. Army defensive back Dhyan Tarver had difficulty in transition and was badly beaten by double moves several times. Dion Byrum, from Ohio, also had difficulty staying in his backpedal and appeared to be more of a side shuffler.

Overall the East team appears to be solid with good athletes at all positions. Much of scrimmage was lost due to an abundance of bobbled snaps but that is to be expected on the first day of practice. With their first day jitters behind them the offensive players should be a little more comfortable playing next to each other and have more productive practices for the rest of the week.

West Practice

Like the East practice before it the West practice was marred by botched snaps throughout the day. It was also characterized by athletic plays throughout the practice. The West team spent more time on one on one drills and did not scrimmage for quite as long as the East team.

Offensively UCLA quarterback Drew Olson established himself as the premier player at his position early. Displaying both accuracy and arm strength Olson impressed scouts all day long. Paul Pinegar did not stand out and Reggie McNeal struggled making throws downfield.

Two beneficiaries of Olson’s play were receivers David Anderson and Mike Haas. Anderson, from Colorado State ran precise routes and lost very little speed in his breaks. The smallest guy on the field, Anderson was almost uncoverable all day. Oregon State receiver Mike Haas also ran precision routes and made athletic plays throughout the day. Haas did not catch the ball as well as Anderson though and had one memorable drop. BYU receiver Todd Watkins also made several acrobatic catches. Texas tight end David Thomas also excelled at catching the ball though he did not appear to be effective as a blocker.

Kansas State offensive tackle Jeromy Clary showed good footwork on the outside. Coupled with his large frame Clary was difficult for defensive linemen all day. Washington offensive tackle Joe Toledo also used his size and footwork to keep defensive linemen out of the backfield. No other offensive linemen stood out during the scrimmage.

Defensively most of the defensive linemen showed well given the struggles of the offensive line. Steve Fifita of Utah and Texas A&M’s Johnny Jolly were the two most impressive.

Jamar Williams was the most impressive of the West team defenders. The Arizona State linebacker was all over the field displaying great speed sideline to sideline as well as in reverse during pass coverage situations. Stanford linebacker Jon Alston also displayed the ability to get good depth on his drops and to close on the ball carrier or receiver.

Josh Powell was the most physical performer on the West squad. Powell is best near the line of scrimmage and knocked several players to the ground during the limited contact scrimmage. After the practice Powell told us directly that he prefers playing in the box so that he can best use his physical nature. For those people looking for a small school sleeper, Daniel Manning could be a name to remember. The Abilene Christian prospect, who was recruited by Nebraska coming out of high school, stayed with his man all day and was not obviously susceptible to deep routes or double moves. Manning has solid fundamentals and above average athleticism. After practice Manning was also very popular with scouts in attendance.

Which players drew interest from the scouts?

Several teams in attendance for Monday's East-West Shrine practice were very active interviewing potential future employees. The most interesting note from the sidelines is a general manager from an AFC team following Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski’s every move.

A list of the other players of interest from Monday’s practices follows.

East Practice

Both the Ravens and the Broncos were interviewing all of the East team quarterbacks.
The Ravens, a squad in need of offensive line help, also spoke at length with Andrew Whitworth.
The Browns spoke to as many offensive lineman as they could as well as defensive end Rob Nincovich.
The Panthers spoke with defensive backs Gerrick McPhearson and Dion Byrum as well as receiver Brandon Williams.
Tampa Bay spoke with Wake Forest kicker Ryan Plackemeier.
The Eagles spoke with Tommy Jackson at length, as did the Saints and the Chiefs.
The Chiefs spoke with Brandon Williams.
The general manager from an AFC team following Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski? Floyd Reese of Tennessee.
The CFL teams seemed very interested in Andy Fantuz.

West Practice

The Chiefs spoke with offensive linemen Aaron Merz and linebacker Fredicc Brock.
The Panthers spoke with offensive lineman Joe Toledo, defensive lineman Devan Long, and linebacker Trent Bray.
The Falcons spoke with Frostee Rucker.
The Jets spoke with Danieal Manning.
The Patriots spoke with Steve Fifita.
The Saints spoke at great length with linebacker Jamar Williams.
The Vikings spoke with Justin Wyatt.
The Ravens spoke with tight end Tim Day.
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2006 East-West Shrine Game - Tuesday and Wednesday Practices[/b][/size]
By TFY Draft Preview
[u]
Tuesday (Jan 17, 2006)[/u]

East Practice

The second day of practices in San Antonio saw a clearer drier sky that was had sustained winds throughout the day. With a better familiarity of the system and better conditions on the playing field the East teams morning practice was considerably more physical then the previous days. Several players made the most of the opportunity and forced scouts to pay more attention to them for the rest of the week.

Quarterbacks definitely had the hardest time producing in today’s conditions. Bruce Gradkowski’s arm strength was severely tested as he was consistently short and behind on his throws throughout the day. On a more positive note Gradkowski did display a knack for making throws on the run and finding his check down receivers when pressured. Tarvaris Jackson had another difficult day struggling with both arm strength and accuracy through out the day. Jackson did appear to adjust to the windy conditions as practice wore on in terms of his velocity but his accuracy remains a question mark. Brett Basanez had the best day of the East quarterbacks. Basanez put nice touch on his deep balls and was able to consistently throw accurate passes throughout the practice.

FSU running back Leon Washington had one of the better days on both teams. Washington hits his hole at full speed displaying great shiftiness and balance while running. He also looked natural in the passing game. His small stature may concern some scouts, as he is not a physical player and put the ball on the ground after some of the days “hardest” contact. Virginia running back Wali Lundy also looked impressive hitting the holes well and running with good balance. Lundy appeared to be the most comfortable of the running backs at catching the ball out of the backfield. Arkansas running back De’Arrius Howard did not stand out except for his upright running style. Nick Hartigan showed good technique as both a blocker and a receiver. The fullback from Brown also showed an impressive motor throughout the practice.

Wisconsin receiver Brandon appears to be the best athlete on the East team. The only thing Williams has not excelled at is throwing the ball downfield, a play that the East team worked through several times. Marques Colston used his size advantage over the defensive backs to make plays throughout the day. The large receiver from Hofstra runs precise routes and extends his hands when making the catch. Fearless over the middle Colston may not have the speed to be a deep threat in the NFL. Auburn tight end Cooper Wallace is a willing blocker that also displays a knack at finding the seam in the defense and extending his hands to make the catch.

The offensive linemen rebounded from an unimpressive performance the day before. Ohio State guard Rob Sims is a physical blocker that locks onto his man and displays a nasty streak. Dominic Raiola again displayed the ability to get out side and to the second level though he was admonished by the coaches for not maintaining proper knee bend and for playing without leverage. Arkansas center Kyle Roper had a difficult time snapping the ball and blocking his man in one on one drills. Roper does show a great deal of heart and is surprisingly athletic. Miami tackle Rashad Butler is an athletic offensive linemen with the quickness to stay with anybody. He appears to be a little thin though and could use another twenty-five pounds of muscle as he gets overpowered. He also has a bad habit of bending at the waist instead of the knees. Isaac Sowells is another athletic tackle playing for the East team. The former Indiana Hoosier not only displayed excellent footwork, he was not beaten during drills, and he also displayed proper knee bend and balance while blocking. Cornell offensive guard Kevin Boothe has the physical attributes that scouts are looking for but remains very raw in his fundamentals. Florida offensive tackle Randy Hand had another difficult day on the outside. Louisville offensive guard was a dominating blocker during drills and used the scrimmage portion of practice to demonstrate his ability to get to the second level and blow defenders off the ball.

Defensively Tommy Jackson appears to not only be the defenses best player but also its e motional leader. Jackson was seen and heard cheering on his defensive teammates and jeering at his offensive teammates throughout the practice. Jackson is a quarter step quicker off the ball than any of the East interior offensive linemen. Kedric Golston gave the SEC two terrific defensive tackle performances today. The former Georgia standout bull rushed his way through all of the eastern offensive linemen throughout the day. Jason Hall bounced back from his thrashing at the hands of Andrew Whitworth the day before by beating Whitworth in their first face off during drills. The Tennessee product was able to get off of blocks all day long. James Wyche appears to be best suited to rushing the quarterback from the outside. Purdue defensive end Rob Nincovich had a superb day consistently getting pressure from the outside.

The linebackers also had a more noticeable day after flying under the radar for much of Mondays practice. Northwestern linebacker Tim McGarigle impressed coaches and scouts alike by displaying near perfect fundamentals throughout the positional drills. The outside linebacker continued to show good instincts throughout the day. Oliver Hoyte made his presence known during the teams scrimmage session. The NC State alum was explosive while playing downhill or from sideline to sideline. Rocky McIntosh looks like a work in progress as he has better athleticism than most of the other linebackers but appears to be a bit slow to react and he has trouble staying in control. The former Miami Hurricane gets good depth on his drops but has a difficult time changing directions. Virginia Tech linebacker James Anderson may be the most complete linebacker here. Anderson got good depth in pass coverage, displayed excellent speed to the sidelines, aggressively attacked the backfield, and showed solid reactions. While he may be the most physical of the East linebackers Anthony Schlegal appeared uncomfortable in pass coverage.

Charlie Peprah remains the best defensive back on the East squad. Peprah not only is impressing as a safety during scrimmage but he is getting beat less in man coverage drills than most of the cornerbacks in attendance. Dion Byrum showed good closing speed today and though he is susceptible to double moves he does have the speed to stay with the receiver down the field. Nate Salley, though physically impressive, is not using his size properly and does not make a play on the ball when it’s in the air. Louisville defensive back Gerrick McPhearson is fundamentally sound and fast. McPhearson also does a nice job of getting his hands on the ball before the receiver can control it.

West Practice

Like their colleagues from the East, the West team’s second practice was considerably more physical than the previous days. With the offensive and defensive schemes fully installed the west team spent most of their time in scrimmages and unit on unit drills. This appealed to scouts in attendance and many were remarking on how informative this practice was.

The difficult wind conditions did not hinder the West team quarterbacks as much as the East quarterbacks. Fresno State quarterback Paul Pinegar had the best day of all quarterbacks in attendance displaying nice touch on his deep balls and throwing a perfect spiral on almost every occasion today. Drew Olsen continued to impress on short and medium range throws but his deep balls and medium range out passes tended to flutter. Reggie McNeil made one of the best throws of the day delivering a deep out while on the run. Unfortunately for McNeil that was his only highlight of the day as he consistently missed receivers high, low, and wide.

San Diego State receiver Jeff Webb does a nice job extending his hands when making a catch. Colorado State receiver Tim Anderson continued to make great catches all day building off of a strong first day. Todd Watkins made several more highlight reel catches and scouts appear to have been taking notice. Watkins was very busy with a handful of teams after today’s practice. Texas A&M receiver Jason Carter also had a nice day. Carter ran crisp routes and made several great catches. Carter also has the speed to get deep and the fearlessness to make plays over the middle. Both of the West’s tight ends continued to shine. Tim Day continues to make plays downfield and is more than effective as a blocker. Texas TE David Thomas, meanwhile, consistently seems to do everything fundamentally correct. Thomas also shows the ability to get downfield and make plays.

Jeromy Clary remains the best offensive lineman on the West team. Clary can use his size and strength, quickness, or textbook fundamentals to beat his man on any given play and frequently does. Joe Toledo also continues to hold up well though Toledo was more susceptible to the outside rush today. Toledo is definitely more inclined to maul his opponents rather than finesse them. TCU tackle Michael Toudouze also displayed nice footwork today and showed the ability to play in space. While he appears to have the necessary physical skills to play Toudouze may need some more strength and refining of his technique before he is ready to produce at the next level. Paul McQuistan, of Weber State, gives the West team another raw but talented offensive tackle prospect. McQuistan has impressive size and enough quickness to play in the NFL should he improve his technique and his playing strength. Cal guard Aaron Merz was the most dominant of the interior linemen today. Once Merz locked onto his man he directed him away from the action. Oklahoma guard/center Chris Chester had an up and down day. Still having difficulty on the quarterback-center exchange Chester had a difficult time during the early part of one on one drills. Later in the practice though Chester showed his athletic skills and was able to keep up with even the quickest of the defensive tackles.

The Western defensive MVP of Tuesday’s practice was likely USC defensive end Frostee Rucker. Rucker has a quick first step and the ability to beat his blocker with speed, finesse, or power. Nebraska defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith also showed several moves other than a bull rush during drills. At one point Smith got off the snap and put a spin move on the center before the center was able to touch him. Scouts from the Seattle Seahawks were heard comparing Smith to current Minnesota Viking Kevin Williams. Steve Fifita appears to be the strongest lineman here. Standing barely six feet tall, the former Utah Ute used his natural leverage and size to bull rush the offensive linemen all day. What Washington defensive tackle Manase Hopoi lacks in bulk he makes up for in quickness. Hopoi has a great first step and is very difficult for offensive linemen to get and keep a hold of. Devan Long again showed promise as an edge rusher. Today, however, Long also showed the ability to quickly adjust and pursue the ball carrier. During scrimmage he made several tackles on the sidelines. Texas A&M defensive tackle Johnny Jolly is one of the most physical players on the West roster. When he gets leverage on an offensive lineman Jolly is unblockable.

Jamar Williams had a second solid practice in as many days. The former Sun Devil is aggressive when playing downhill and can cover from sideline to sideline. Williams is not as impressive playing in reverse though. Oregon State linebacker Keith Ellison got the highest grades for pass coverage potential. His immediate reactions, quick burst, and ability to get depth on his drops was impressive. Stanford linebacker Kevin Schimmilmann is effective at cutting off angles in pursuit and playing down hill.

Daniel Manning remains the best of the West receivers. Manning is playing both safety and cornerback and continues to stay with his man throughout the field. Texas Tech safety Dwayne Slay is a big safety that may be best suited on special teams or in a defensive system where he can stay in the box. He has shown neither speed nor instincts in pass coverage. Darrell Brooks is another who is having a difficult time. The Arizona safety does display better range than Slay but still does not make enough plays on the ball. USC cornerback Justin Wyatt has good closing speed and enough deep speed to stay with receivers. He tends to give receivers too much cushion and is often only in position to make a quick tackle rather than breakup or intercept a pass. Josh Powell remains one of the most physical players in San Antonio. Powell is also likely to be confined to a scheme that limits his coverage responsibilities.

Which players interested the scouts?

Most teams are in attendance and have their scouts conducting interviews. Here’s a list of the players scouts were talking to after Tuesdays practices. Some scouts in the stands were discussing the low key nature of many of this years participants. It seems many of the players here are spending too much time in their hotel rooms or on the river walk and not meeting with the NFL teams as much as they would like.

East

James Anderson spoke with the Bears.
The Browns spoke with Tim McGarigle and Leon Washington.
The Vikings spoke with Anthony Schlegel.
The Ravens spoke with Rob Sims.
The Panthers spoke with Kyle Roper.
The Chargers spoke with Jabari Levey, Jason Spitz, Rob Nincovitch, and Nick Hartigan.

West

The Panthers spoke with David Anderson, Drew Olson, Gilbert Harris and Justin London.
The Saints spoke with Fredicc Brock and Chris Gocong.
The Ravens spoke with David Anderson and Chris Chester.
The Bears spoke with Mike Haas, Boone Stutz, EJ Whitley, and Johnny Jolly.
The Raiders spoke with David Anderson and Taurean Henderson.
The Chiefs spoke with Dwayne Slay, Nick Milhauser, and Devan Long.
The Cowboys at one point took all three tight ends on the roster and corralled them for a long discussion.
Tampa Bay talked with both Johnny Jolly and Frostee Rucker.
The Browns spoke with Mike Haas and Johnny Jolly.
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[u]
Wednesday (Jan 18, 2006)[/u]

Joint Practice

Wednesday’s practice was the first and only time that players from the East and West squads practiced together. The full pads scrimmage and unit drills offered players and coaches a more upbeat and competitive environment, giving scouts on hand an opportunity to watch more match-ups.

Most scouts agreed none of the quarterbacks were top level prospects. Paul Pinegar distinguished himself from the other signal callers today by throwing tight spirals and hitting receivers in stride. Wide receiver Brandon Williams has had a very positive week. Showing deep speed, excellent athleticism, and crisp routes, Williams has been the most consistent and explosive player in San Antonio. New Mexico running back DonTrell Moore also impressed scouts today. Moore runs low to the ground and displays excellent balance and quickness. Patient carrying the ball, Moore found the secondary holes when forced away from his primary running lane. Northwestern linebacker Tim McGarigle not only showed speed in pass coverage but also the ability to make plays on the ball as well. Brandon Hoyte redeemed himself in the eyes of scouts by playing aggressive and physical football all day. His teammate Oliver Hoyte had the best hit of the practice when he popped a running back in seven on seven drills. Kevin Schimmelmann continued to cover lots of ground, making several tackles in space. The highlight of the day came during the lineman drills. Texas A&M coaches set the tone early, annoying the Arkansas staff by taking their time in between each rep and using double counts. Auburn defensive tackle Tommy Jackson was fooled five or six times by this ploy. Jackson did, however, beat his man most of the day. The most impressive lineman from the West today were TCU tackle Michael Toudouze and Cal guard Aaron Merz. Merz is a mauler who dominates the opposition yet also did a nice job of getting out to the second level. Toudouze has the footwork to play in space but may need more strength and technique training in order to hold up against NFL caliber pass rushers. Chris Kuper rebounded with a better effort in Wednesdays practice. Though still out classed, Kuper does have the ability to lock onto then turn his man off the play. Oklahoma center Chris Chester also had a better day. Chester got out to the second level destroying linebackers and held up well during the scrimmage. He was not as consistent during one-on-one drills, however, getting beaten off the line and forced backwards several times. Rob Ninkovich, Tommy Jackson, and Kedric Golston remain the class of the Eastern defensive line. All three built on their performances earlier in the week. At the other side of the field the East offense squared off against the West defense. Donovan Raiola led the way, opening holes for most of the Easts running backs. Joining Raiola were Andrew Whitworth, Isaac Sowells, Rob Sims, Kyle Roper, and Jason Spitz. Sims, Sowells, and Cornell guard Kevin Booth were the most effective during drills. Booth drew praise from scouts for physically mauling his man once he got a hold of him. Dan Stevenson also impressed scouts with his ability to get to the second level and pull around the outside. Stevenson played with good leverage and was difficult to overpower once he locked onto his man. USC defensive end Frostee Rucker continues to show solid pass rush skills and an array of moves. On several occasions Rucker set-up his man on one side, only to beat him in the other direction. Texas A&M defensive tackle Johnny Jolly also showed a surprising burst in pursuit and bull rushing skills. Jolly made several plays outside on the sidelines. Chris Gocong has worked exclusively at defensive end this week. Gocong is best suited as an edge rusher as he lacks the bulk to mix it up in the middle. CFL scouts were praising Gocong in today's practice.

News & Notes

As the final day of full pads practice ended at the Shrine Game, scouts gave their impressions of what they saw throughout the week before leaving San Antonio.

Most scouts thought very little of the defensive backs at this years games. Danieal Manning and Charlie Peprah were singled out as the best of the bunch though neither have good hands or appear to be complete players at this point in time.

Interestingly one of the most impressive performers during this weeks practices may have hurt himself by talking and jawing too much.

Auburn defensive tackle Tommy Jackson stood out every day with his play. Yet his gift of gab, or more to the point, the inability to shut up, annoyed scouts. Jackson was over the top with his rhetoric and several scouts mentioned his cockiness and constant jawing left them unimpressed.

Scouts feel there were fewer gaps in the Shrine roster this year. The consensus on the top five performers of the week included Brandon Williams, Isaac Sowells, Frostee Rucker, Leon Washington, Andrew Whitworth.

Williams displayed better than expected speed while once again Sowells silenced the critics about his ability to play the left tackle position. Rucker played stronger then advertised while Washington performed as most scouts thought he would have during his senior season. Whitworth was dominant though most agree the former LSU left tackle is solely a strong-side blocker in the NFL. Were it not for his constant gabbing Tommy Jackson would've been included in this group.

San Antonio is a friendly city but ticket sales have been worse than expected, something which led to the demise of the game last year in San Francisco.

However almost no local people knew anything about the Shrine Game. San Antonio may get the game again next year with a ramped up marketing scheme.
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[size=3][b]
2006 East-West Shrine Game - Practice Reviews (Jan 20, 2006)[/b][/size]
By TFY Draft Preview

[u]East Squad[/u]

While the game is yet to be played, NFL scouts have long since left San Antonio. The 2006 Shrine Bowl practices are now in the books. Our man on the scene, Brent Foshee, briefly describes the prospects on the East squad after taking in every practice.

# Name Pos School Notes
1 Brandon Williams WR Wisconsin Explosive player who was the top overall performer
3 Leon Washington RB Florida State Fast, quick, and explosive. May not be big enough to play every down
4 Gerrick McPhearson DB Maryland Solid if not spectacular cover skills
5 Bruce Gradkowski QB Toledo Accurate but limited arm strength limited him.
6 Brandon Johnson LB Louisville Good speed; looks like a WR; best in pursuit or coverage situations
7 Tarvaris Jackson QB Alabama State Erratic with his passes all week
8 Cooper Wallace TE Auburn Solid receiver but limited as a blocker. Worked hard.
9 Jonathan Orr WR Wisconsin Impressive size with surprising speed and athleticism
12 Josh Lay DB Pittsburgh Nice size but need to refine his technique
13 Andy Fantuz WR West Ontario Fundamentally sound but plays slow.
14 Brett Basanez QB Northwestern Decent arm strength and good decision making all week.
15 Greg Jennings WR West Michigan Fundamentally sound receiver with some explosion
20 Dawan Landry S Georgia Tech Best suited for two deep cover scheme
21 Nate Salley S Ohio State Did not look comfortable in pass coverage
22 Dhyan Tarver DB Army May only be effective in a zone defense
23 Josh Huston K Ohio State Low trajectory on kicks; good leg strength
25 Dion Byrum DB Ohio Comes out of his backpedal too soon but has top recovery speed
26 Charlie Peprah S Alabama Physical defensive back best suited as a strong safety
28 De'Arrius Howard RB Arkansas Runs high and cautious
31 Vickiel Vaughn S Arkansas Best close to the line of scrimmage
33 Wali Lundy RB Virginia Follows his blockers and runs with good balance
40 Nick Hartigan FB Brown Excellent receiver out of the backfield. Hard working blocker
41 Tim McGarigle LB Northwestern Good lateral speed. Looks smaller than advertised.
42 James Anderson LB Virginia Tech Aggressive downhill player who also displays lateral speed
44 Brandon Hoyte LB Notre Dame Shined during scrimmage
47 Brandon Kennedy FB Arkansas Strong blocker; tends to drop passes
50 Rocky McIntosh LB Miami Athletic linebacker. Must focus on fundamentals
51 Anthony Schlegel LB Ohio State Looks uncomfortable in reverse
52 Oliver Hoyte LB North Car St Fast and athletic. Makes plays in all aspects of the game
53 Donovan Raiola OL Wisconsin Quick and agile but must add strength.
56 Eric Henderson DL Georgia Tech Did not stand out
58 Tommy Jackson DL Auburn Quick off the ball. Gets penetration inside
59 Jason Spitz OL Louisville Most dominating interior lineman in attendance
64 Rashad Butler OL Miami Very lanky player with good feet. Needs more strength and technique
70 Kyle Roper OL Arkansas Gets by on effort.
72 Andrew Whitworth OL LSU Dominating blocker who looks like a good fit at strong side tackle
73 Randy Hand OL Florida Had dfficulty in space
74 Dan Stevenson OL Notre Dame Slow to react; decent in space
75 Kevin Boothe OL Cornell Good run blocker who is slow to react in pass blocking situations
76 Isaac Sowells OL Indiana Excellent size, technique, and athleticism. Solid left tackle prospect
77 Rob Sims OL Ohio State Physical; gets to the second level
78 Jabari Levey OL South Carolina Big bodied tackle that must learn to bend his knees
81 Ryan Plackemeier P Wake Forest Big legged punter
84 Matt Henshaw TE Florida State Better receiver than blocker
89 Marques Colston WR Hofstra Large, fearless possession receiver
90 James Wyche DL Syracuse Good motor but not effective as a pass rusher
93 Rob Ninkovich DL Purdue Explosive edge rusher
94 Jason Hall DL Tennessee Quick to the outside has trouble coming off blocks.
95 Barry Cofield DL Northwestern Strong but stationary defensive tackle
97 Kedric Golston DL Georgia Quick penetrating defensive tackle; plays with high motor
99 Antwon Burton DL Temple Difficult to move but does not get penetration.

[u]West Squad[/u]

While the game is yet to be played, NFL scouts have long since left San Antonio. The 2006 Shrine Bowl practices are now in the books. Our man on the scene, Brent Foshee, briefly describes the prospects on the West squad after taking in every practice.

No. Name Pos School Notes
1 Reggie McNeal QB Texas A&M Erratic passer all week
2 Todd Watkins WR BYU Exciting playmaker who caught the eye of scouts
3 Dwayne Slay S Texas Tech Not effective in coverage
4 David Anderson WR Colorado St Hard working, fundamentally sound, and made plays all week
5 Keith Ellison LB Oregon St Excelled in coverage
6 Justin London LB UCLA Strong downhill player with some lateral speed
7 Cory Ross RB Nebraska Quick, elusive runner and potential third down back with improved hands
8 Jeff Webb WR SD St Extends hands and fearless going over the middle
9 Darrell Brooks S Arizona Marginally effective in pass coverage
10 Danieal Manning DB Abilene Christian One of the better cornerbacks in attendance. Needs to adjust to higher speed
11 Jaxson Appel S Texas A&M Did not stand out
12 Jason Carter WR Texas A&M Good hands and excellent routes
13 Paul Pinegar QB Fresno St Best quarterback on hand. Made good decisions all week.
14 Drew Olson QB UCLA Decent arm strength though not accurate
15 Tom Malone P USC Gets altitude on his punts, but not distance
16 David Thomas TE Texas Better catching passes than blocking
18 Willie Andrews DB Baylor Did not stand out
19 Taurean Henderson RB Texas Tech Fast runner with good change of direction.
20 David Kirtman FB USC Solid lead blocker
22 DonTrell Moore RB New Mexico Patient, well balanced runner. Has good speed and awareness
24 Justin Wyatt DB USC Better in man off or zone situations
25 Quincy Butler DB TCU Did not stand out
26 Jonathan Scifres K Missouri St Strong kickoffs
28 Mike Hass WR Oregon St Runs solid routes and has nice hands
33 Josh Powell S San Jose St Physical safety best near the line of scrimmage
36 Gilbert Harris FB Arizona Not effective as a blocker
37 Jon Alston LB Stanford Pass coverage specialist?
44 Adrian Byrd FB New Mexico Solid blocker that can also catch the ball
45 Trent Bray LB Oregon St Decent depth on drops but did not appear to be as physical as advertised
47 Kevin Schimmelmann LB Stanford Excellent speed and awareness. Frequently around the ball
51 Jamar Williams LB Arizona St Excellent speed though more comfortable facing the action
52 Jasper Harvey OL SD St Overpowered much of the week
53 Jeromey Clary OL Kansas St Looks like he has the size and skills to play on the left side
56 Manase Hopoi DL Washington Quick defensive tackle that got penetration
59 Fredricc Brock LB Texas So. Did not stand out
64 Chris Chester OL Oklahoma Athletic but looked slow off the snap
65 Nick Mihlhauser OL Wash St Did not stand out
66 Le Kevin Smith DL Nebraska Quick defensive tackle with good leverage and pass rush skills
67 Joe Toledo OT Washington Big bodied; effective in space, though likely only a strong side tackle
72 Michael Toudouze OL TCU Solid fundamentals and athleticism; must add strength/size
73 Chris Kuper OL N Dakota Physical but had difficulty with stronger competition
75 E.J. Whitley OL Texas Tech Has a Mean Streak
76 Paul McQuistan OL Weber State Very raw but has solid potential
78 Aaron Merz OL California Dominating inside blocker
85 Tim Day TE Oregon Equally strong in passing game and blocking
88 Boone Stutz TE/LS Texas A&M Rough week with his snaps
90 Frostee Rucker DL USC Explosive outside rusher
92 Devan Long DL Oregon Solid outside rush skills; good pursuit
93 Chris Gocong DL Cal Poly Good athleticism but must get stronger
94 Steve Fifita DL Utah Short defensive tackle plays with good leverage
96 Daniel Federkeil DL Calgary Tall quick player but had difficulty changing direction and coming off blocks
97 Johnny Jolly DL Texas A&M Athletic playmaker along defensive line. Gets good penetration; physical
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[Guest fredtoast]

[quote name='EnglishBengal' post='238395' date='Mar 25 2006, 04:56 PM']95 Barry Cofield DL Northwestern Strong but stationary defensive tackle[/quote]

I'm not sure exactly what this means, but for being "stationary" he sure has a lot of speed. Coefield had a great combine. Here are how his numbers stacked up against the other DTs that worked out.

Short Shuttle...1st
10 yd dash......1st
20 yd dash......2nd
40 yd dash......2nd
Cone Drill........2nd
Vertical jump...2nd
Bench.............4th

That's a prett impressive combination of speed, power, and athleticism. I can see him really rising fast in the draft, especially with DTs like Wroten and Mahelona falling.

[TheWretchedMass]

Tommy Jackson, Kedric Golston and Johnny Jolly are DTs that I would LOVE to have in stripes.

Jackson seems like a Marvin kind of kid...a bit cocky, we need some of that along that Dline.

He's a run stopper if I remember correctly, and Golston's the Pass rusher.

I'd DEFINATELY take Kolston in one round, then grab Jackson in the following round.

[TheWretchedMass]

As I said in the other thread, I really want Golston.

He might have his problems, but I believe that bringing him in here with David, Odell and Marvin would keep him in line.

The guy is simply amazing at getting pressure in the backfield, he finished his career with 54 total QBHs.

He's also got that kind of motor Marvin likes.

[EnglishBengal]

[quote name='fredtoast' post='238411' date='Mar 25 2006, 05:21 PM'][quote name='EnglishBengal' post='238395' date='Mar 25 2006, 04:56 PM']
95 Barry Cofield DL Northwestern Strong but stationary defensive tackle[/quote]

I'm not sure exactly what this means, but for being "stationary" he sure has a lot of speed. Coefield had a great combine. Here are how his numbers stacked up against the other DTs that worked out.

Short Shuttle...1st
10 yd dash......1st
20 yd dash......2nd
40 yd dash......2nd
Cone Drill........2nd
Vertical jump...2nd
Bench.............4th

That's a prett impressive combination of speed, power, and athleticism. I can see him really rising fast in the draft, especially with DTs like Wroten and Mahelona falling.
[/quote]

"Stationary" means he's more of a run stuffer who's strong enough to hold the point of attack, but doesn't provide sufficient penetration to be an effective pass rusher.

As for the prospects go, don't be surprised if the Bengals look at DT/DE Manase Hopoi or DE Devan Long as day 2 selections. These guys are 2 of my sleepers for the draft.