Some of these observations will look familiar from yesterday, but some guys basically looked the same - once again, more in depth coverage of the practice will be available on the audible, stay tuned...
QB: Drew Tate wasn't as obviously bad today, but he wasn't good either. He kept the mistakes to a minimum - except for an INT that Travarious Bain returned for a TD, but still looked very tentative. Lester Ricard was throwing ugly passes in the short game and generally lacked a sense of urgency. I think you can cross both of them off of your draft watch list. Matt Gutierrez was again the class of the East QB. He showed surprising athleticism and was very decisive in the pocket. He definitely looks like a solid project QB at worst.
RB: Alonzo Coleman and Steve Baylark still fail to impress. Coleman is shifty, but he can't run through arm tackles, and he can't run inside. Baylark has shown nothing except decent hands and some solid blocking on the punt team. Tyrone Moss is still showing nice hands, good power running, and some nice moves, but he does not have suddenness or a strong burst. The most impressive East RB was Jason Snelling. Snelling reminded me of Nick Goings - strong running with a surprising burst, some great lead blocking as a FB, and terrific receiving skills, including terrific ball tracking on a wheel route that basically turned into a fade. Snelling will be an excellent pick for a team in the mid rounds because he can be a RB/FB/H-back and save a roster spot.
WR: David Ball again showed impeccable technique and hands, but he was upstaged by Jacoby Jones. Jones was the standout of the east practice, showing terrific adjustments to poorly thrown balls (cough Drew Tate cough), natural RAC ability, great routes, and great speed - even getting behind Travarious Bain, who is probably the fastest player at the Shrine Game. Keep an eye on this kid out of tiny Lane College. Syvelle Newton again showed how raw he was, but again showed the raw materials (quickness, toughness, speed) to eventually develop into a solid hardnosed possession WR. Steve Breaston continued to impress with his quicks, his hands, and his routes. Jayson Swain is running way behind the pack, and will be lucky to make an NFL roster.
TE: Brent Celek seemed popular with his teammates when he made plays, but this guy has little in the way of NFL prospects. The same cannot be said about Ben Patrick out of Delaware. Patrick showed outstanding body control and routes (sometimes lining up at WR - impressive for a 6'4" 270 TE), nice hands, fantastic adjustments and a knack for presenting a big target and blocking the defender out when the ball was in the air. When we weren't being wowed by Jones, Patrick was stealing the spotlight.
OL: Doug Free is looking HORRRRRRIBLE. He's a turnstile. Everyone was turning the corner and getting the QB on him. Like Free, Mario Henderson has an ideal frame for an NFL LT, but unlike Free, he was actually blocking. It's hard to watch the interior lineman from the sidelines, but the East DTs were getting a ton of penetration, so that doesn't bode well for the OGs and Centers on the east roster.
DL: Clifton Ryan was a BEAST. He read a screen, intercepted it, and returned it for a TD. He consistently collapsed the pocket. Ryan was the player of the day among the east defense. Jeremy Clark also continued his day 1 performance by getting a good push and frequently harassing the QB. Dan Bazuin and Cameron Craig were two of the guys abusing Free. Keith Jackson seemed a little sluggish and not as quick was he was the first day.
LB: Tyler Tidwell and Sam Olajubutu really struggled in coverage. Kelvin Smith continued to play QB of the East D. Ill confess that we didn't have many notes on the LBs of the east, not nearly as much as the west - I watched the West Lbs a lot just to watch Mike Singletary coach them.
DB: Travarious Bain is the real deal. The terrific change of direction and speed and swagger of a shutdown corner is there. Kenny Scott continued his terrific performance. Michael Coe and Daren Stone had very nice days proving their meddle coming from Alabama State (Tarvaris Jackson's school) and Maine, and both should along with Bain continue the new tradition of small school DBs making it big on draft day. Daniel Francis was almost as bad as Free and Tate, getting decidedly beat just about every time he was thrown at.
QB: Drew Tate wasn't as obviously bad today, but he wasn't good either. He kept the mistakes to a minimum - except for an INT that Travarious Bain returned for a TD, but still looked very tentative. Lester Ricard was throwing ugly passes in the short game and generally lacked a sense of urgency. I think you can cross both of them off of your draft watch list. Matt Gutierrez was again the class of the East QB. He showed surprising athleticism and was very decisive in the pocket. He definitely looks like a solid project QB at worst.
RB: Alonzo Coleman and Steve Baylark still fail to impress. Coleman is shifty, but he can't run through arm tackles, and he can't run inside. Baylark has shown nothing except decent hands and some solid blocking on the punt team. Tyrone Moss is still showing nice hands, good power running, and some nice moves, but he does not have suddenness or a strong burst. The most impressive East RB was Jason Snelling. Snelling reminded me of Nick Goings - strong running with a surprising burst, some great lead blocking as a FB, and terrific receiving skills, including terrific ball tracking on a wheel route that basically turned into a fade. Snelling will be an excellent pick for a team in the mid rounds because he can be a RB/FB/H-back and save a roster spot.
WR: David Ball again showed impeccable technique and hands, but he was upstaged by Jacoby Jones. Jones was the standout of the east practice, showing terrific adjustments to poorly thrown balls (cough Drew Tate cough), natural RAC ability, great routes, and great speed - even getting behind Travarious Bain, who is probably the fastest player at the Shrine Game. Keep an eye on this kid out of tiny Lane College. Syvelle Newton again showed how raw he was, but again showed the raw materials (quickness, toughness, speed) to eventually develop into a solid hardnosed possession WR. Steve Breaston continued to impress with his quicks, his hands, and his routes. Jayson Swain is running way behind the pack, and will be lucky to make an NFL roster.
TE: Brent Celek seemed popular with his teammates when he made plays, but this guy has little in the way of NFL prospects. The same cannot be said about Ben Patrick out of Delaware. Patrick showed outstanding body control and routes (sometimes lining up at WR - impressive for a 6'4" 270 TE), nice hands, fantastic adjustments and a knack for presenting a big target and blocking the defender out when the ball was in the air. When we weren't being wowed by Jones, Patrick was stealing the spotlight.
OL: Doug Free is looking HORRRRRRIBLE. He's a turnstile. Everyone was turning the corner and getting the QB on him. Like Free, Mario Henderson has an ideal frame for an NFL LT, but unlike Free, he was actually blocking. It's hard to watch the interior lineman from the sidelines, but the East DTs were getting a ton of penetration, so that doesn't bode well for the OGs and Centers on the east roster.
DL: Clifton Ryan was a BEAST. He read a screen, intercepted it, and returned it for a TD. He consistently collapsed the pocket. Ryan was the player of the day among the east defense. Jeremy Clark also continued his day 1 performance by getting a good push and frequently harassing the QB. Dan Bazuin and Cameron Craig were two of the guys abusing Free. Keith Jackson seemed a little sluggish and not as quick was he was the first day.
LB: Tyler Tidwell and Sam Olajubutu really struggled in coverage. Kelvin Smith continued to play QB of the East D. Ill confess that we didn't have many notes on the LBs of the east, not nearly as much as the west - I watched the West Lbs a lot just to watch Mike Singletary coach them.
DB: Travarious Bain is the real deal. The terrific change of direction and speed and swagger of a shutdown corner is there. Kenny Scott continued his terrific performance. Michael Coe and Daren Stone had very nice days proving their meddle coming from Alabama State (Tarvaris Jackson's school) and Maine, and both should along with Bain continue the new tradition of small school DBs making it big on draft day. Daniel Francis was almost as bad as Free and Tate, getting decidedly beat just about every time he was thrown at.
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