The West practice field at St. Petersburg High School continued to prove a difficult surface for players to cut on this Wednesday. However the total number of instances of a player falling to the ground probably diminished at least a little bit, so that is a positive. The field has made it difficult to get a true read on the receivers group in particular, to the point the players will need a strong showing during the game itself this Saturday in order to prove that they are better route runners than they showed on a sloppy field. Unfortunately, the accuracy (or rather, lack thereof) of the West quarterbacks may not afford them the opportunities during the game itself.
By: Chris Kouffman
Quarterbacks
-Though Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo is likely the best quarterback in the West squad, the honor continues to be misleading based on his uneven performance during practices. Cody was a player whose offense and skill position players let him down at Nevada, and similar appears to be happening during the week of Shrine practices. It cannot be easy for these quarterbacks to throw to receivers that keep slipping on their breaks. He will need a strong game this Saturday.
Running Backs
-The West tailbacks unit looks to be a source of strength for the team. The unit is clearly led (in more ways than one) by the boisterous North Dakota State running back John Crockett. The energy level and exuberance of Crockett bleeds over to his fellow teammates. Understandably, scouts are not in the habit of grading a player high based on his mouth. However, it would behoove them to take note of his seemingly limitless supply of energy during practice sessions. Several times a practice, he sprints 50 yards up the field for no other reason than to have a Rocky and Apollo water splashing bromance moment with a teammate who has just made a play. Others may see a loudmouth but they should really see a player who is never out of breath, regardless matter how many reps he takes or how hard he goes on each rep. Crockett performed solidly in pass protection drills against blitzing linebackers, and was virtually uncoverable during one-on-one coverage drills with linebackers. The linebackers had no idea how to handle his speed, and everything they did ended in abject failure. Between his stamina, demeanor, size, build, strength, speed, explosiveness and pass catching potential, Crockett is one of the most draftable players at the Shrine game in 2015.
–Malcolm Brown of Texas struggled during one-on-one coverage drills, however as a runner and perhaps as a pass protector, the tailback remains an interesting prospect who could run well during the game this Saturday. South Dakota State tailback Zach Zenner’s focus and intensity have ratcheted upward every practice session as he gains more and more confidence. He is not a shifty cutback player at the position, but he does possess speed, the consistent ability to catch the football, and the ability to turn the corner on a defense.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
-Arizona wide receiver Austin Hill once again was the top performer at practice due to his consistent ability to finish plays. Hill’s route running has been very smooth all week, however that descriptor can often be a backhanded way of identifying a player’s lack of burst. In Hill’s case, that is a fair criticism. He is playing very technically sound football, cutting well, using his 6’3” and 215 lbs size to his advantage, and catching the football even when challenged physically. However, unlike East squad’s Tre’ McBride, Hill is not displaying the extra gear that would have scouts buzzing.
-Washington receiver Kasen Williams has been Hill’s polar opposite all week. He shows explosiveness, but does not run his routes with precision and simply cannot finish plays on this field. He probably damaged his draft stock this week as scouts will begin to think his disappointing 2014 season was not just a product of prior injury and limited chances given to him by his coaching staff.
-Rice receiver Jordan Taylor’s grade for the week could depend heavily on how he plays this Saturday. All week he has shown intermittent flashes of near elite level cutting and catching ability, to go along with his impressive 6’5” and 210 lbs frame. Typically for a player that tall, speed is expected to be an issue. This has not been the case with Taylor at all. His combination of height, cutting ability, speed and catch radius provide for a highly intriguing receiver prospect. But during the week Taylor slipped on the sloppy surface more than any receiver with the exception of Kasen Williams. The unsure footing has damaged his ability to show consistency in the way he finishes plays. If he is able to keep his footing on the Tropicana Field surface and have a big game this Saturday, his grade could go up significantly. He reminds of a taller, bigger version of Brian Hartline.
-Canadian wide receiver Addison Richards of Regina is another tall player at 6’5” and 210 lbs. He is not quite as big as Jordan Taylor, though the two players’ listings are exactly the same. Richards shows good balance and good enough speed, but his burst is non-existent and he does not show great flexibility during his breaks. He also has trouble consistently finishing plays. Northern Illinois receiver Da’Ron Brown and San Diego State receiver Ezell Ruffin both show the movement ability to make big plays, but both players have also had difficulty being consistent this week.
-Oklahoma quarterback-turned-tight end Blake Bell has shown a smoothness and polish during the week that is surprising for a player as new to the tight end position as him. He catches the football very consistently outside of his frame, showing good body language and athleticism. He is not quite as fast or athletic, but comparisons to Detroit backup tight end Joseph Fauria are beginning to look more and more appropriate.
-Southern Illinois Saluki MyCole Pruitt has shown no problems catching the football during the practice week. He stood out a number of times in blocking. However he lacks Bell’s body control and catch radius.
Offensive Linemen
-Kansas State center B.J. Finney has shown the finest hands and overall technique of any of the interior linemen on the West unit. He consistently locks his hands inside his opponent’s pads, keeps his elbows tucked and steers with power and control.
-Oklahoma guard Adam Shead looks very similar to the East unit’s John Miller of Louisville in that both player are thick and extremely strong. They look like Hollywood type casts for an offensive guard. Fortunately, they both play as powerfully as they are built.
-Texas Christian’s Tayo Fabuluje had looked unbeatable in pass protection drills, prior to Wednesday’s session. He still won more than he lost this Wednesday, but he did have a little more trouble with speed. He is likely still the best offensive lineman in the West squad. For a 6’7” and 360 lbs lineman to be built as soundly as he is with as good movement skills as he possesses, he should move up draft boards.
Defensive Linemen
-For the second consecutive day, University of Northern Iowa defensive tackle Xavier Williams showed up among the West’s top performers. He practices with an intensity and ferocity that should intrigue the scouts. He is quick, explosive and very strong.
-Quietly, Oklahoma State defensive tackle James Castleman has put together a solid week of practice. While he rarely does anything flashy, he shows up consistently in both one-on-one pass protection drills as well as team drills.
-Stanford University defensive tackle David Parry has similarly put together a solid week of practice. His key identifying trait is his scrappiness as he finds any way he can to frustrate blockers and get off their blocks. Comparisons to former Ravens nose tackle Kelly Gregg are very apropos.
-Purdue University defensive end Ryan Russell passes the eyeball test as he is 6’5” and 265 lbs with a lengthy build that should see some comparisons to Detroit Lions standout defensive line rotator George Johnson. His body seems built for outside pass rush, and several times during the week he flashed excellent ability on speed rushes.
Linebackers
-Coverage drills proved interesting for the West linebackers. While all of the linebackers initially had trouble covering the West tailbacks and tight ends, Benjamin Heeney of Kansas and Bryce Hager of Baylor absorbed the coaching from the West linebackers coach and improved significantly as the session went on.
-Michigan State linebacker Taiwan Jones also impressed during coverage drills, but only when allowed to physically maul his coverage responsibility within the five yard zone.
–Tony Washington of Oregon reported for practice for the first time on Wednesday, after having played in the National Championship Game this past Monday. He consistently struggled covering tight ends up the field from an on-the-line position, however he showed some potential in this capacity. He was able to relate to the receiver well and his athleticism was enough to keep up with the players down the field. All he needed to do better was get his head around to try and knock down the ball. His combination of length and athleticism makes him an intriguing possibility as a Sam linebacker.
-Three players that struggled consistently in coverage Wednesday were Utah State’s Zach Vigil, Stanford’s A.J. Tarpley and Stanford’s James Vaughters. The first two struggled with their responsibilities covering backs out of the backfield. Vaughters struggled covering tight ends.
Defensive Backs
-Colorado corner Greg Henderson has created a buzz among scouts. He has been very consistent the entire week. He shows the combination of easy movement skills, competitiveness, physicality and sound technique that should have teams intrigued, especially in schemes that utilize off coverage.
-While Texas Christian safety Samuel Carter has yet to be as impressive on the field as he was during Monday’s session, he capped off another solid practice this Wednesday. He is a very communicative safety with good size and he has shown solid man coverage ability.
-Though USC cornerback Josh Shaw has struggled to practice with energy and enthusiasm on a consistent basis this week, his overall performance does justice to how highly he is regarded. He looks every bit of his 6’1” and 200 lbs listing and shows a great combination of movement ability and physical strength.
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