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Shrine Game: Practice Winners From The First Two Days
BY JEFF RISDON

JAN 19, 2016 8:55 PM


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Two days of practice at the 91st annual Shrine Game are now complete. I’ve had a chance to watch all of the position groups for both the East and West at least a little bit over the last two chilly days.

There are several standouts from the two rosters, as well as several players who have not helped themselves thus far. The focus here is on the positive. Here are some of the players who have impressed on the fields in St. Petersburg, in alphabetical order:


Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon--The best pure passer on either roster, Adams consistently spins a very tight spiral with excellent ball placement considering the unfamiliarity with the receivers here. He can throw on the run and releases the ball from a high platform with a smooth release. The elusiveness is evident in watching him move around behind the play and in reps where he’s off the stage. I desperately want Adams to get a shot. Everything about his game says he can be successful in the NFL. Unfortunately, his size says otherwise and there’s the rub. Adams is 5’10” and under 200 pounds. I’ve met Allen Iverson, and Adams is built just like him with that lanky frame, small bones and stringy muscle. I’ve also met Johnny Football and Adams is definitely smaller and shorter than Mr. Manziel. He’s not anywhere close to as sturdily built as Russell Wilson. I have a feeling that the lack of size will keep him from being drafted, and the durability is an issue after his one season in Eugene after transferring from Eastern Washington. Yet this is a guy you want your team to take a chance upon.


Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois--One of several Illini players here, Allison definitely validates the popular take that Illinois was held back by poor coaching last fall. The 6’3” receiver is having himself a fine week. The JUCO transfer flashed real potential at times last fall, but then they wouldn’t throw his way for quarters at a time despite him getting favorable matchups and proving he could shake free. In this more controlled environment of guaranteed opportunity, Allison is making the most of it. For a taller wideout he has quick steps and acceleration, yet he still has the open-field gear with the long gallop to create separation down the field. His hands are consistent and capable of quickly securing throws away from his body. One NFC South scout I was standing with for a time at West practice on Monday was quite impressed, asking me (without expecting an answer) “where has this guy been hiding?” Indeed.


Joe Bolden, LB, Michigan--Definitely one of the biggest standouts, Bolden has dominated East practices. He’s drawing raves from both scouts and the media for his instincts, quick reactions and hard-hitting finishes. Michigan Joe Bolden has been the biggest surprise for me - just killing it out there @Shrine_Game #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/PmZ2snkgD2
— College2Pro.com (@BoMarchionte) January 19, 2016
What also stands out is his leadership. In a group filled with some other alpha males, the players definitely respect him and listen to what he has to say. That’s of incredible importance for Bolden, who is an average athlete with limited range to the sidelines and in coverage. He’s going to make it on his smarts, leadership and thriving in a role as an inside linebacker destroying plays in the tackle box and blowing up screens and draws. He’s done all of those with aplomb here.


Devondre Campbell, LB, Minnesota--This is a great example of context being important in the scouting process. I have seen a lot of Campbell playing for the Golden Gophers and quite frankly my impression was “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”. I even thought that after seeing him in person at the Quick Lane Bowl, where he essentially ended the game with a fantastic blitz. My expectations were low coming here, but the impressively built Campbell has definitely impressed me. He has shown better play recognition in team drills and closes on the ball with real power and strong pad level. That’s important, because at Minnesota he often played too tall and it caused him to sacrifice hitting power. He’s still got some detractions; he’s consistently the last guy moving at the snap and he’s leggy in coverage, but I can see the outstanding athletic prowess finally starting to fit into a better football context. I think he’s shown enough to be a sub-package OLB and a core special teams fixture. That’s more than I ever thought I would think he would be. That sentence makes no sense, but perhaps that is a positive for Campbell.


Parker Ehinger, G, Cincinnati--When watching the offensive line compete against itself in drills, it’s imperative to look for the athletic tools. Footwork, hand placement, balance and punching force can all be evaluated. Ehinger thrived in those drills on the East practice Tuesday.
Then the offense vs. defense drills began, and the skills translated nicely… Cincinnati OG Parker Ehringer turning in some solid reps. Strong punch, coordinated athlete, looks good pulling
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 19, 2016
He was visibly more athletic and blessed with quicker feet than the player often flanking him at tackle, Taylor Fallin from Memphis. Ehinger made a great down block on a Keenan Reynolds (much smaller and less speedy than expected) run, and also got out in front of a screen and blew up Georgia State LB Antwione Williams (omitted from this list but having a solid week as well). He played tackle reasonably well for the Bearcats and I can see him being a versatile 6th offensive lineman early on in his NFL career.


Darion Griswold, TE, Arkansas State--All of the tight ends here have done some positive things, but Griswold is the most complete. He’s got impressive size and bulk at 6’3” and 255 pounds, and he moves fluidly. What stands out is his blocking, both in-line and when flexed. His hand placement is right on the mark and he packs some power behind it. Several times he created real movement on the edge, earning consistent praise from the coaches. His receiving ability isn’t bad, either. Griswold caught low throws nicely in a drill, and he can extend and snag the ball away from his body. The speed is only average, and it’s of the build-up variety. That’s okay, because his NFL future looks like an in-line presence, primarily a blocker but with enough athleticism and presence to be a capable receiving threat too.


Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State--One of my quirks is that I always like to have a couple of players at these events whom I have never seen play before. I like to think it gives me an honest viewpoint to evaluate them without any preconceived notions. Hargrave is one of those players this year. The first thing you notice is his butt, which is a prominent bubble that Sir Mix-A-Lot would surely approve. While it makes it tough for him to find pants that fit, a giant bubble butt is something NFL scouts covet for interior linemen. His work in drills has been a mixed bag, but his good reps are very good. That is what scouts want to see from the small-school guys, the ability to win battles against bigger names from bigger schools. Hargrave has proven he can disrupt with nice rip and swim moves. There is a lot to work with here, even though I don’t see him being NFL-ready as a rookie.


Mike Jordan, CB, Missouri Western--Your team need a stacked 6’ corner who can turn and run? Mike (don’t call him Michael) Jordan from Missouri Western is a guy to investigate.
He is the most physically impressive corner on either roster, well-muscled and thick through the thighs and calves. Jordan moved well in agility drills, showing quick feet and loose hips. During team drills he used his hands subtly like a veteran in covering down the field, and I only saw him really beaten once. He has definitely made me want to see more tape of him, and that’s always the goal for small-school guys. At worst, he’s a middle-round draft pick based on the feedback I’ve received from some of the NFL personnel in attendance.


Ted Karras, OG, Illinois--No frills, just a really solid football player. That’s Karras in a nutshell. There is very little not to like. He has power, balance, good footwork, sound hand placement, ability to pull and engage with power, i.e. anything you want from a guard. He even played some center for the West and didn’t look out of place there, either. Like the way Illinois OG Ted Karras pulls and runs under control, breaks down and doesn't whiff on his blocks. #ShrineGame
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 19, 2016
Karras is NFL-ready to step in as a right guard or perhaps even a center. I like him much more in the process than I did Travis Swanson, a third-round pick who has been uneven in his first two years in Detroit.


Daniel Lasco, RB, California--Lasco is a player who is hoping to prove he is 100% healthy and back to the dynamic runner who many projected as a 3rd or 4th round talent before injuries sullied his 2015 season. Thus far, mission accomplished. Cal RB Daniel Lasco working on his feet and getting coached up. #teamsideline https://t.co/xzacEMKy48
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 18, 2016
He’s handily got the fastest feet and best bounce to his step of any of the West RBs. The 6’1”, 205 pounder also flashed strong receiving and pass protection skills in drills on Tuesday. It’s easy to project him in the third-down back role in the NFL. These practices are not always real conducive for judging the actual rushing prowess, so Lasco definitely needs to show some vision and toughness during the actual game. But he’s excelling at the other aspects of the position, and that’s important.


Alex Lewis, T, Nebraska--The offensive line on the West looks like one of the strongest units, though it also happens to have two of the weakest players here. Lewis is a big part of the positive. I’ve been impressed with his length, consistent punch and ability to deliver power from his core. He can get caught upright at times, something I also saw on tape during his Nebraska career. Lewis also brings the intensity and is constantly driving his teammates to thrive. The attitude and leadership are important for Lewis, who lost his captaincy at Nebraska after a couple of troubling incidents last fall. So far, so good. It’s worth noting he has very strong chemistry lining up next to the aforementioned Karras.


Dean Lowry, DE, Northwestern--Straight out of central casting for defenses (either a 4-3 or 3-4 front) who want length and power at defensive end, Lowry has consistently stood out in the East practices. A legit 6’6” with long hoses for arms, he stands tall above his mates and uses his length to his advantage quite well. Two things really stand out. First is his ability to get his weight and momentum low for such a tall guy. Normally guys his height have some struggles with leverage, but that has not been the case here. Then there is the effort, which has folks buzzing along the sidelines. Count Mike Mayock of NFL Network as a fan:
EW Shrine day 2 - NW DE Dean Lowry a lunch pail guy... All day sucker.... Goes to work every snap !
— Mike Mayock (@MikeMayock) January 19, 2016
Lowry dominated Stanford’s Kyle Murphy in the Wildcats’ opener last fall, and he also posted monster games against Nebraska and Wisconsin. Because he lacks twitch on the edge he can be a tough sell for speed-based pass rushes, but I strongly believe Lowry is a starter at end at the next level, and will do so right away.


Victor Ochi, OLB, Stony Brook--Teams looking for a pass rushing OLB are going to love Ochi, a small-schooler with big-game speed and skill. His burst off the line is superlative, handily the best on either roster. Here’s an example from No. 91… The bend around the edge and closing tack to the ball are both top-flight. He also showed he can win by working inside today too, using a stutter step to blow inside the tackle expecting the outside speed. If you asked me what player from the Shrine Game will hear his name called first on draft weekend, right now the answer would be Victor Ochi.


Jake Rudock, QB, Michigan--As I’ve said before, if you would have told me in October that I would be trumpeting Jake Rudock as a viable NFL commodity, I’d have spit-taked whatever was in my mouth out violently in laughter. The Iowa transfer was the sole reason Michigan’s offense struggled early in the season. But then he got it together and thrived under Jim Harbaugh, improving his ball placement and playing with confidence. Those latter attributes are definitely on display at Shorecrest Prep Academy, where the East practices. He’s also shown a better arm than I witnessed even in seeing him in person twice last fall. There is real zip to his shorter and intermediate throws, and while his deep throws lack arc when he guns it, they are more on target than his East QB mates Blake Frohnapfel (who has been okay) and Joel Stave (who has not). Then there is the intangibles, one of the biggest reasons why it’s important to come to events like this. Rudock is a natural leader; guys want to follow him. He quickly mastered the offense and helps line up those who aren’t quite so proficient, much to QB Coach Brady Quinn’s liking. Rudock fantastic with the fans, too, signing pictures and autographs once most other players are already on the team bus. There are still warts, enough that I doubt he’s ever more than a capable No. 2, but the league is crying for smart, dependable, no-drama backup QBs.

Ochi tore it up

James Bradberry
Samford
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Official Weigh in at the senior bowl. This kid must have had one heck of a growth spurt. He was listed before at 6" 1' 210 before.

Senior Bowl Day One Stock Report: Winners and Losers

By: Jon Ledyard | 9 hours ago
Sheldon Rankins

Following each practice during Senior Bowl week, I’ll be posting a stock report on each player, detailing whose stock is up and whose stock is down after the day’s session. Keep in mind this is just one practice, but with only three opportunities to evaluate these players in an on-field setting, I thought the exercise could prove useful.

Today I spent most of my time watching the offensive and defensive lines work, so the majority of my analysis generates from observations on those two units.

North Practice: Stock Up

1. DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
Sheldon RankinsRankins has been one of my top prospects in the 2016 class for months now, but the first day of Senior Bowl practice should have officially removed any doubt surrounding his status. Rankins is built like a brick house, with a stout lower half and exceptional explosiveness in all his movements. He tore up the one-on-one drills against opposing offensive linemen, showing off the spin, push-and-pull, and swim moves he has in his impressive repertoire. We’re getting closer to him being universally recognized as the top 15 lock he should be.

2. EDGE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
Spence was absolutely dominant off the edge, showing incredible bend and the ability to counter with

quick feet. The former Ohio State edge defender displayed his physical side too, working into offensive linemen with leverage before slipping around the off-balance blockers. Spence is clearly out here with something to prove, more on that later.

3. LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
Reggie RaglandReggie Ragland was impressive playing on the edge in practice. He called Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage last week and told him he’d like to play some 3-4 outside linebacker this week, and the early results were eye-opening. Ragland’s first step is explosive, and he diagnoses plays extremely quickly. He shot down the line of scrimmage unblocked for a tackle for loss today, before setting a hard edge to spill a run back inside to where Kaufusi could clean up with a big hit.

Speaking of Ragland, I had the pleasure of sitting next to longtime NFL defensive end and pass rush specialist Chuck Smith at weigh-ins, who runs Defensive Line Inc, designed to train front seven defenders for the NFL. Ragland is one of Smith’s clients, and the former Atlanta Falcons defensive end told me that he believes Ragland might be the best 3-4 pass rusher in the entire country. High praise, even amidst a so-so 3-4 edge class, as Ragland played most inside linebacker at Alabama, only seeing the occasional rep as a pass rusher. Ragland flashed even with limited opportunities off the edge however, tearing up Georgia tackle John Theus when the two met this season. He looked great today in pass rush drills, and will only improve as he learns to use his hands better

North Practice: Stock Down

1. OT Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
Clark had a great weigh-in, with the longest arms at the combine at 36 1/4 inches. It was all downhillLe'Raven Clark from there though, as the offensive tackle struggled to combat speed and power off the edge all day. Spence worked him thoroughly, inside and out, and even Shawn Oakman got a few licks in. His footwork is the major issue, so we’ll see if the Jaguars staff are able to help him throughout the week.

2. DL Quinton Jefferson, Maryland
Jefferson is light on his feet, but definitely lacks some body control. Winds up to get power behind his hands and his outside foot will come well off the ground consistently. He got worked pretty good in one-on-ones. I need to get into his tape more, but he struggled today, and I wanted to see a little more fire.

3. OT Spencer Drango, Baylor
Spencer DrangoOne-on-ones obviously aid the defensive side of the ball given the ample space pass rushers have to work with, but to say Drango struggled today would be kind. He simply doesn’t have the feet to mirror speed rushers, and can get yanked around by more powerful defensive linemen when he doesn’t win inside with his hands. They’ve got to try him inside at guard this week I think, but his issue extend beyond just his position. I love his fire and tenacity, but Drango has a lot to work on as a pass protector.

South Practice: Stock Up

1. DL Matt Ioannidis, Temple
I’ll be honest, I saw Ioannidis as a tenacious, run-stuffing defensive linemen before today, but his performance as a pass rusher during Tuesday’s practice was truly impressive. He won a number of one-on-one battles, showing good hand usage and quickness inside. I’m excited to continue watching him this week.

2. DE Carl Nassib, Penn State
Nassib has clearly continued to fill out his frame since the regular season ended, and looked plentyCarl Nassib strong at the point of attack today. His length and physicality immediately set him apart in one-on-ones, but Nassib’s ability to bend the edge at 6-6 is really impressive. He dominated Kyle Murphy.

3. DE Jihad Ward, Illinois
Talk about a guy who plays with a relentless motor and exceptional physicality, Ward’s frame is among the most imposing of any prospect here in Mobile. Vines for arms and ridiculously balanced mass to all major muscle groups, Ward needs to play with better technique and leverage, but his arm extension and violence at the point of attack is fun.

South Practice: Stock Down

1. OT Joe Haeg, North Dakota State
I had the pleasure of watching Haeg with The Football Educator analyst Brandon Thorn, who astutely noticed the shallowness of Haeg’s pass set. He consistently got beat around the edge, even by limited speed guys like Jason Fanaika. Haeg has some rawness, and may get a few looks at guard this week. His feet need work to survive on an island.

2. QB Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech
I didn’t spend a ton of time watching quarterbacks, but what I did see left me pretty unimpressed with Driskel. The former Bulldog and Florida Gator was wildly off-target, tossing one throw several yards out of bounds. He held the ball far too long in the pocket, and the speed of the game looked overwhelming to him. Desperately needs two good days to stay on teams’ radar.

3. OT Kyle Murphy, Stanford
Kyle MurphyAgain, easy to pick on the offensive linemen, but Murphy really had a rough day, and continues to show he’ll have issues sealing the edge at the next level. He just isn’t very nimble and has a hard time with speed rushers. Even at right tackle he looked overmatched. I like aspects of his tape, but I’ve got to see more the next two days.

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2016/01/27/senior-bowl-day-one-stock-report-winners-and-losers/

Don't know if we will stick with Schwartz or not. But I think that will be more determined due to the Cap and matrix for our future expenditures.

Schwartz is strong and a good run blocker. Transitioning from a stretch - outside zone blocking scheme. To a Power base blocking scheme which btw will have Inside Zone blocking in there. Is not a hard transition. In no way is Schwartz considered a pure finesse blocker where he cannot function unless its a finesse scheme. Again hard to communicate on a message board sometimes.

So I might have miss understood what you were saying there when you stated "I was afraid of this."

OL taken in top 50 solid pick. Shame on you as you diss your pic...lol

I'm gonna have to have another look at Matt Ioannidis, I keep hearing more and more hype about him.

Braxton is having some great practices. People can't stop talking about him. I wonder if he'd be worth trading down in the second for.

It seems like he is Percy Harvin without the douchiness.

That is a very valuable thing.

I don't think I would give up picks to get him, but if he were available when we picked in the second round, I would take him.