SHRINE GAME The Good & The Bad

January 19, 2015

The dust has settled and after a full Sunday of NFL Play-Off action it’s time to reflect back on some good things from last week’s Shrine action and some bad, specifically in the game itself. I will go on record one more time as saying I do believe that these All-Star Games have value in evaluating prospects. Too many coaches fall in love with practice ‘stars’ who sometimes come up small under game pressure, and vice versa with practice dogs. So here are some of the guys who I thought wrapped up the week with a big bow on their head…

MARK GLOWINSKI/OL #64 He was a pleasant surprise all week showing better athleticism than I thought he had, and doing well in the tale of the tape/scale. He was also very effective in his blocking work during the game. His frame sorta says OG, but in short spurts I think he could hold his own on the outside. Used his arms well to move defenders. I now think he’s moved himself into draftable status with his solid game work.

BEN HEENEY/LB/ST #41 HEENEY is undersized, but it is clear he will make an NFL roster, star on Special Teams and be a solid sub-package defender for some NFL team. His FBI looks to be off the chart. It’s hard to overlook his 6’0/226# frame, but it’s even harder to miss his effort and productivity when you roll the game and practice film. He’s a hard worker and productive with his results.

AUSTIN HILL/WR #29 Though never a speedster, there was concern in 2014 about how well he had come back from a knee injury. He showed some good things in practice and was just a machine at getting open and making the catch during the game action. He caught 4 balls for 41 yards and would have had several more if throws had been more timely or accurate. His medical and numbers at the COMBINE just got more important to more people after this week.

TAIWAN JONES/LB #34 JONES was impressive from the weigh-in on, and continued to play active and smart football during the game. He’s now firmly entrenched in my Top 10 for the ILB position. JONES finds the ball and gets to it. Kinda important for any LB. Looked good all week and was a force in the game.

MARVIN KLASS/K #37 KLASS was moaning about lack of kicking reps in practices and he was justified. But he came through on game day, going 4/4, when neither offense could cross the goal line until very late. He also showed a pretty strong leg on kick-offs. He deserved to be Offensive MVP and got my vote. He is draftable (late) for a team needing a new/better PK.

JOHN MILLER/OG #70 MILLER was solid all week in practice and was a man on game day. He held his ground in pass-pro and fired out to second level blocks repeatedly. MILLER looked really good on a couple of seal blocks. He’s an experienced, hard nosed, smart football player who could battle for a starting job early in his NFL career. He has moved himself darn close to Top 100 overall territory heading for the Combine.

JERMAURIA RASCO/DE #59 I will stand by my practice notes that his only noticeable skill right now is pass rush pressure. But he showed how good he is at that in the game. He had a sack, a TFL and 2 QB hurries on the game stats sheet. And be created some other havoc as well. For any team needing more pass rush pressure this guy has to be a late round prospect, even if he never develops standing up.

JOSHUA SHAW/CB #16 SHAW took what he showed on the practice field and brought it to the game. He’s a good sized, smooth athlete. Hw wasn’t a kamikaze run supporter, though he did not shy away from action. But he showed he could go deep with receivers and make a play on the ball. He had a nice INT and another pass knocked down. He too, will be in Mobile this week for a further look. After missing most of 2014 for discipline reasons, he’s making up for lost time in the post-season.

ZA’DARIUS SMITH/DE #94 He got a call late in the week to join the Senior Bowl for their week of activities, pretty much replacing his higher profile teammate BUD DUPREE. I think he’s a more productive player than DUPREE, and he sure looked it in the Shrine Game. He only got credit for 2 tackles, including 1 sack. But he also had a QB hurry which led to a CHICKILLO sack. SMITH proved he’s a good athlete, with a high rev motor and can bring the pressure. This guy did not coast because of the SR Bowl invite. That impressed me.

XAVIER WILLIAMS/DT #98 XAVIER had a great week of practice IMO. I thought he followed that up with a solid game. At times he was just immovable at the line of scrimmage. He was officially in on 3 tackles, but the East didn’t run much inside on him Saturday night. He also flashed that strength in penetrating on several occasions.

And now for some guys who finished up their weeks with some poor to mediocre game productivity.

ALL THE QBs THese six guys lived up to their practice struggles in the game. Poor decisions and poor execution plagues them all at times. Only TAYLOR KELLY completed over 50% of his throws going 7/13. The most disappointing of a disappointing group may have been…

TAYLOR HEINICKE/QB #14 He did not turn out to be this year’s JIMMY GAROPPOLO. He went 2/9, including an INT. He looked lost and harried, and his arm strength looked mediocre to me. He had a 0 passer rating for his efforts Saturday night. He looked like an undersized guy trying to compete with the big boys.

CAMERON CLEMMONS/OT #52 CLEMONS had a tough week in practice and it got no better in the game. The speed rushers just worked him like a swinging gate. He did not show quickness, or the ability to recover once beaten. He’ll need to bulk up and try to move inside after this week of work.

CAM THOMAS/CB #19 If you are a WKU fan this was a rough game for your guys. THOMAS looked a little shaky in practice all week. He seemed like a Corner who guessed a lot on where he receivers were going. And more often than not he guessed wrong. He just didn’t make plays on the ball. I still think he will test well in Indy and be draftable, but he just looked very average in St. Pete all week.

DARREN WALLER/WR #88 After some nice work in practice WALLER disappeared under the game lights. He was targeted twice, but failed to make either catch. He seemed lost in his routes and unable to contend for throws with defenders. Like many GA TECH receivers he has little experience and finesse to his game. After looking lost in the game I’d say he’s an URFA in all likelihood.

ZACH ZENNER/RB #31 ZENNER’s game effort seemed to reinforce the notion that he just does not have the speed or quickness to play at the NFL level. I certainly would not fault his effort, but he clearly struggles to get results for his effort. He carried twice for a net gain of 0 yards. I will be surprised if he gets drafted based on watching him compete with the other RB in town. He might have a chance in the CFL with his style and versatility.