The 2007 East West Shrine Game Report

The 82nd annual East-West Shrine Game ws played Friday night (January 21st 2007). The game moved last year to San Antonio from San Francisco after years of declining interest in the Bay Area of California, then to Houston's Reliant Stadium this year. Paid attendance was announced as 23,554, an improvement of about 5,000 from a year ago at the Alamodome.

The game itself wasn't too exciting and there were no phenomenal performances similar to last years performance of WR Marques Colston, but nonetheless, due partly to Colston's stunning success in the NFL, the game itself has taken on a renewed interest from NFL scouts. New Orleans star receiver Colston was the 2006 Shrine Game MVP and was drafted in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft. If you are a draftnick, you have to love this game where Small School Prospects get to compete with the second tier major college prospects.

The West team was coached by an engaging Dan Reeves while the East team was coached by an old, out of touch Don Shula. Reeves was seen actively coaching his young players, where as Shula barely knew who was on the field, seemingly delegating everything to his assistant coaches. The West defeated the East 21-3, but I don't think anyone really cared who won, except Reeves, who has publicly stated he would like to coach again in the NFL.

On to the 2007 NFL Draft Prospects:
I think the difference was the West had the better quarterbacks, BYU's John Beck led a scoring drive in the first quarter and Nevada QB Jeff Rowe threw two TD passes later in the game and subsequently was the MVP of the game. Both quarterbacks helped their stock for the 2007 NFL Draft, but none more than Rowe, who at 6-5 225 pounds stands tall in the pocket, sees the field well and has a strong arm. Beck is a little smaller at 6-2 216 pounds, but he has a very quick release and is extremely accurate, there are questions about his arm strength however. Beck finished his career at BYU as the Cougars' second all-time leading passer with 11,021 yards.

Other standouts for the West Team:

WR Paul Williams from Fresno State had an excellent game. I was real high on this kid last year, but he battled injuries this year and his NFL Draft stock slipped a little. Williams hauled in a nice 79 yard TD pass from Jeff Rowe in this game and his NFL Draft stock is on the rise again. He has nice size at 6-2 210 pounds, blazing speed and good hands. We will see much more of Williams as he has recently been invited to the 2007 Senior Bowl.

Center Kyle Young is an interesting prospects, after starting 47 straight games and widely considered a top prospect for the 2007 NFL Draft, Young was suspended and not invited to the 2007 NFL Combine. Young showed up at the Shrine game and played the entire second half. At 6-5 330 pounds he is a mammoth of a man and he did a good job, he isn't real mobile, he looked a little heavy and wore two huge knee braces on both knees. Some think he might project to guard at the next level.

Cornerback C.J. Wilson from Baylor looked good at the game and displayed outstanding coverage skills all week in practice.

Defensive End Justin Hickman from UCLA provided a nice pass rush during the game. Hickman is a little short at 6-2 263 pounds, but had excellent production in the PAC 10. Hickman finished the season with 42 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

Outside Linebacker Quincy Black from New Mexico is an impressive prospect, he looked very fast in the game and at 6-3 238 pounds, he is a special teams daemon, which is a highly regarded talent in the NFL. Blazing speed will help him fly up the NFL Draft boards after the NFL Combine.

Inside Linebacker Brandon Archer has been around for a while, playing for Kansas State he has been making big plays his entire career and he continued to clog up the middle in this Shrine game.

TE Michael Allen is Small School talent, he played for tiny Whitworth College and he showed himself well during this game. He was the "first man down" on punt coverage and recovered a Steve Breaston muffed punt. Allen will have to earn a roster spot playing special teams and he flashed impressive special teams ability in the game.

University of Houston Running Back Jackie Battle had 2 carries for 18 yards and one reception for 11 yards in this Shrine game. He will be tried out at fullback in the NFL and at 6-2 245 pounds he has the size for it.

Prospects for the East Team:

Defensive End Dan Bazuin from Central Michigan was the star of the East recording 2 1/2 sacks. Bazuin is considered a little short at 6-2 272, but he has an explosive first step and a big league swim move (arm over). Bazuin has been incredibly productive in his career, recording 16 sacks last year and 10 1/2 this year.

Defensive Tackle Clifton Ryan from Michigan State had one heck of a game and looks like a major NFL Draft "sleeper". Ryan has a non stop motor and nice size at 6-2 302 pounds. The West Team's centers had a tough time with him.

Linebacker Zak DeOssie from Brown was in on tackle after tackle. His dad played in the NFL and he also seconds as a long snapper. At 6-4 240 pounds he will be given a chance in the NFL and if he runs a good enough 40 yard dash he could sneak into the first day of the 2007 NFL Draft. DeOssie might be the top non division I prospect in the nation.

Cornerback Michael Coe from Alabama State looked good in the game and showed good coverage ability during the week in practice. Coe played for three years at Arkansas before transferring to Alabama State this year.

Wide Receiver David Ball was already a celebrated prospect before this game, but here he caught everything thrown his way in this game and only helped his draft stock. He made a big league catch in traffic, jumping and catching the ball at its highest point.

WR Jacoby Jones from tiny Lane College is an interesting prospect, he has NFL size at 6-4 218 and is very explosive, he was getting open play after play and was very elusive on a punt return. He is raw and needs to improve on catching the ball , as he had a couple drops. If he would have caught all his passes he could have been the MVP.

Cornerback Travarous Bain was an impressive specimen during the game being the first man down on numerous occasions on punt and kick-off coverage. Reportedly he looked good in practice and at 6-0 180 pounds looks to hear his name called in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Tight End Ben Patrick from Delaware stood out for a catch he didn't make. He was wide open on one occasion and his quarterback overthrew him badly, he dove and laid out for the ball, flashed superior athletic ability. At 6-4 270 pounds he will get a long look in the NFL Draft.

One of the best running backs on the field was University of Massachusetts Steve Baylock. Baylock looked fast on the field, good vision and caught the ball very well out of the backfield.

On a negative note, quarterback Lester Ricard from Tulane looked terrible. Yes he has nice size at 6-5 223 pounds, but he has an agonizingly slow delivery, mediocre accuracy and has no chance in the NFL in my opinion.

Wide Receiver Steve Breaston from Michigan didn't help his draft stock. He muffed a punt in the game and muffed a few in practice leading up to the game.