Bright Spots From the Shrine Game

The East-West Shrine Game is where players and coaches are invited from all over the country and get together with the patients from the Shriners Hospital for Children. The players and coaches that are invited to the event hang out, play games and do so much more with the children. After the rosters are divided between East and West, the players go down to St. Petersburg and have a week of practice and on January 21 they played the game.  Under-the-radar athletes use this game to boost up their draft stock and to really exhibit their talents to people who have not seen a whole lot of film on these guys. While the West beat the East 24-17 due to a late touchdown run by Lennon Creer, many players in this game showed potential to be successful in the NFL. Former Shrine Game participants like: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tavaris Jackson, Jerome Simpson and Rocky McIntosh really benefitted from this game, all of them are currently starters in the National Football League.

Throughout this week’s practices, CB Josh Norman of Coastal Carolina created the most buzz. The 6-foot-1, 203 pound prospect showed great mechanics, ball skills and maturity. Norman displayed great movement in his hips and stuck to the receivers like glue. Four years at Coastal Carolina is looking like it will pay-off, Norman totaled 196 tackles and 13 interceptions during his career. When asked about his skills, Norman said, “I’ll watch his eyes from the snap of the ball and I can usually tell when a throw is coming by the look on his face. When I see the look, I just jump the route and go to the football.” In the Shrine Game, Norman showed great discipline by not biting on the double moves the West WR were running. When Norman did give up a catch he would bounce back the next play and not let the catch affect him. He also had one punt return for eight yards but showed the ability to make the first guy miss. I suspect Norman gets drafted in the middle rounds, possibly the 4^th round the earliest.

Quarterback BJ Coleman was another player who stood out on Saturday. I have been watching a lot of BJ Coleman video in the past couple of weeks and I have a gut feeling that he will carry the same draft status that Josh Freeman and Joe Flacco did. Up until the combine of the years they were drafted, they were both very quiet quarterbacks, then about a week before the draft their draft stock shot up and were both taken in the top 20 (Flacco 18^th overall in 2008, Freeman drafted 17^th overall in 2009). I am not saying Coleman will be a first round pick but I am a believer that he can be either the third or fourth QB taken in the draft. Coleman is a true NFL QB, he has outstanding pocket awareness, great throwing mechanics and throws a tight spiral. Accuracy is not a question for Coleman but arm strength could be of some concern. It didn’t look too bad in the Shrine game but the combine will answer more questions. On Saturday Coleman was on point, he went 10/15 for 170 and a TD.  There were some remarkable throws made this game, two were to TE Chase Ford, one completed for 64 yards. Both throws were placed perfectly over the trailing defender’s shoulders. The first one was caught by Ford and the second was dropped, but I’m sure Ford would love to have that throw back. Coleman was a transfer from the University of Tennessee and apparently found his own at Chattanooga. I expect him to get drafted before anyone else from this games roster.

Defensive Lineman Akiem Hicks out of Regina University made his presence known on the football field Saturday. Although he seemed a bit raw in the game, he is built for success. 6’6, 300 and long, Hicks showed the ability to overpower offensive lineman at will.  In 2010 at Regina University Hicks recorded 1.5 sacks and forced 2 fumbles in eight games. In 2011 he recorded 6.5 sacks, forced 2 fumbles and had 8 tackles for loss. The stats might not seem like they are there but with a little bit of coaching this kid can be an excellent DE. From the looks of his play, I believe he could fit in both a 3-4 and 4-3 defensive scheme because he is so big and active. His long arms make it easy for him to keep his distance from the blockers and if he doesn’t get to the QB he can throw them up and block many passes. Don’t look for Hicks to have an impact right away, but he could do some damage as a rotational guy. Hicks probably won’t be drafted until the late fourth or early fifth, he put himself on the map and he can make himself known even more at the NFL Combine.

Short, stocky and a burst of energy, running back Bobby Rainey showed upside in the East-West game.  Rainey had 56 total yards in limited touches for the West team.  While only getting several touches, Rainey revealed his plethora of jukes. He performed cutbacks, head fakes and more. There is much to like about Rainey, he plays hard, never gives up, but he also understands the game. Rainey does not dance around the field, he can make defenders miss and he knows that, but he is a one cut and turn it up the field guy.  At Western Kentucky, the 5’7, 208 pounder totaled 2,056 yards and 17 touchdowns.  It is unlikely that Rainey can carry the majority of the load for an NFL team but he can be a good complimentary back taken late in the draft, much like Ahmad Bradhsaw (7^th round, pick 250) or James Starks (6^th round, pick 193).