Stock Up, Stock Down from 2015 Shrine Week
In an inexact science, information is crucial.
In a perfect world, the NFL draft wouldn't be such a crapshoot. We'd know the studs from the duds, and it would be just drafting the guys in a decent order, rather than pinning an entire team's hopes on guys who may bust (or pan out after all) against all of the available conventional wisdom.
Because drafting and player development is such an inexact science, the NFL world turns to events such as the East-West Shrine Game and its week of practices in order to gather as much information about as many prospects as possible.
The Shrine Game isn't for top prospects, but it's about diamonds in the rough who could one day end up not only with productive NFL careers, but proving a lot of people wrong in the process for missing on them. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor are just a few of the players who have done just that.
Click ahead for a look at the players who have helped themselves during this process, both during the game and the week of practices, which I attended in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Stock Up: Derrick Lott (DL UT-Chattanooga)
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A lot of people went into the week expecting to be wowed by Derrick Lott, and he didn't disappoint.
The small-school tackle weighed in officially on the week at an impressive 6'4", 299 pounds, and he looked the part of an SEC lineman both walking around and in his stance. He did more than pass the look test, though, as he's got a fantastic first step and impressive functional strength against the run.
Though he was outshone by some exterior pass-rushers on the East team, Lott was an impact player, garnering one tackle with an unblocked burst that had him meeting the running back right as he was being handed the ball.
Stock Down: Jake Ryan (LB Michigan)
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I wanted to like Jake Ryan in the practices this week, and I did...just not enough.
Ryan is a high-motor, instinctive linebacker as well as about a dozen other generalizations we usually make about interior linebackers from Big Ten country. He fits the bill to a T. In the worst-case scenario, he's a high-level special teams contributor whom coaches and teammates will love to have around.
During the week of practices, I got about two minutes with Ryan as storm clouds were rolling in, and while I didn't get a whole lot answered in terms of substance, he seemed like an infectiously positive guy who will be well-liked, thanks to a high football IQ and a great demeanor. This matches just about everything ever said about him during his time at Michigan.
He was effusive in his praise for the Shrine Game coaching staff, calling it an "honor" to get one-on-one instruction from someone like Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary.
Here's the negative on him and why I think his stock dropped: His upside isn't that much higher than that worst-case scenario above. I think he can be a good two-down linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL—a rotational guy who's going to struggle to react sideline to sideline in the faster NFL and someone who's a liability in coverage.
That's what he showcased both in the Shrine Game and during the week in practices. It makes fewer teams willing to draft him, and his potential takes a hit.
Stock Up: John Miller
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John Miller was a man among boys at the Shrine Game.
It started in a week of practice, where the East offensive lineman made fools of a lot of really good prospects when he was manned up with them in teamwork. Then, in the game against a much lighter West defensive line, Miller looked like he was ready for prime time in every sense of the phrase.
The Louisville guard is definitely headed to an NFL city near you. You'll be more than lucky if it just happens to be on your favorite team.
At 6'3", 315 pounds, according to the Shrine Game weigh-in, he's definitely playing guard and likely on the right side in most NFL schemes, as he almost always played on the strong side of the formation in college and is more polished as a run-blocker right now.
Before the game, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said that a fantastic week of practices raised Miller's stock to the third round, and while I agree with his sentiments, I'm not sure it was far enough. Frankly, in a weak guard class, Miller may be a second-rounder if his offseason keeps going this well.
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Stock Up: Jermauria Rasco (DE LSU)
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I had "stock down" on the top of this slide before the game...
Jermauria Rasco had a rough week of practices, which was an oddity because I noticed him in positive ways while watching LSU plenty during the season. Yet his practices were lackluster, and he looked like he was fighting his own body half the time he was getting down into his stance.
Now, it may seem pedantic and pure "scout speak," but watching how comfortable a lineman is in his stance is informative. We live in an age of rapid bulking up and guys playing pounds heavier than their frames were ever meant to carry. Because of that, a guy who looks awkward and unbalanced in his stance may be a poor fit with his hand in the dirt.
As he showed in the game, though, Rasco clearly has pass-rushing polish. Although he may be a better fit in a 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker, someone that productive and with that much burst will be a coveted prospect...even if he doesn't practice quite as well as he plays.
Stock Up: Niklas Sade (K NC State)
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The best kicker during the week and in the game was Marvin "Money" Kloss, who was actually the game's offensive MVP with four field goals (Shrine Game...feel the excitement!), but if you're looking for a specialist who kicked himself into the draft, it may have been Niklas Sade.
Now, Kloss was already a more-than-draftable prospect, and just about everybody expected the week that he had. However, Sade was just as impressive in really terrible field conditions all week at St. Petersburg High School and showcased his leg at Tropicana Field with a 51-yard field goal, which was the only scoring his West team could manage.
Stock Down: Taylor Heinicke (QB Old Dominion)
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One of the downsides of the Shrine Game this year—and almost every year—is that lackluster quarterback play makes it difficult to properly assess the talent of the other skill positions. So, in that regard, one can use Taylor Heinicke here as a totem for the other five quarterbacks on the two rosters.
However, in terms of stock, I entered the week with Heinicke as the only quarterback I was really interested in and the only one I would've considered drafting. After a week of seeing a big arm (it really is impressive) and absolutely nothing in terms of touch, decision-making, poise or polish, I don't think he's doing anything meaningful on Sundays.
He's still got a small chance, though, as that arm of his could impress enough people to give him a long shot on a roster. The fact that this is a weak quarterback crop anyway could help those chances even more.
Stock Up: Devin Gardner (WR Michigan)
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Speaking of long shots, Devin Gardner is a player who worked his way up from potential late-round flier into a guy for whom it would be a surprise if he wasn't drafted on physical talent alone.
Like a few other players, Gardner was a sponge during the week of practices. After spending most of his college career as a quarterback in Michigan's tepid offense (note: he was a huge reason for that), he's moving to wide receiver in the NFL. But on the first day, I wasn't impressed.
Then, as the week went on, one started to notice little flashes of separation or physicality through his routes. He has some natural polish to his game, such as understanding spacing and hand-fighting that some of his lifelong-receiver peers didn't grasp nearly as well.
I'm not saying Gardner is a pro-in-the-making, but he's well on his way to proving he deserves the chance.
Stock Down: Jim Zorn
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Other than lackluster quarterback play, want the other reason the West couldn't score?
This guy, right here.
His practices were boring and lacked direction. He reportedly picked his starting quarterback for the game by drawing names out of a hat. Like Singletary on the other sideline, he coached the game to his kickers, pretending that winning a meaningless game of field position in a meaningless game of football was going to get him some sort of medal.
Jim Zorn was a fantastic NFL story as a quarterback who went from undrafted nobody into defining a half-generation of Seattle Seahawks football and getting to throw to all-time great Steve Largent. As a coach, though, he's been around the block and back again, and nothing in St. Pete screamed that he deserved another shot.
Stock Up: Anthony Chickillo (DE Miami)
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The easy pick for defensive Shrine Game MVP is a Miami player with a star-studded past.
Anthony Chickillo was a big-name recruit once upon a time for the Hurricanes who was actually named MVP of a high school All-American game over and above last year's first-round pick, Jadeveon Clowney. Between that game and a fantastic high school career, Chickillo had an aura of unblockability around him.
Then his Miami career came and went with a thud—or maybe crickets.
Part of that was alluded to on the Shrine Game broadcast, where Chickillo made no bones about his preference in the 4-3 defense used by his East team. It allowed him more space and pass-rushing mentality than Miami's 3-4, two-gapping front, and he showcased incredible talent once again.
He was everywhere, pressuring the West quarterbacks not only around the edge, but on stunts and bull rushes as well. He's raw, but the natural ability is definitely still there.
It reminded me a little of former Miami offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson who was a prized high school recruit, but he ended up being far more productive as a rookie in 2014 than he ever was during a disappointing Miami career.
Stock Up: Terrence Magee (RB LSU)
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My favorite player from the week of practices had himself a pretty good game as well.
Now, one cannot box-score-scout a game like this. Magee's 27 yards on 11 carries isn't going to light up any fantasy matchups, even when adding his 14-yard reception. But from a scouting perspective, he was one of the more impressive participants.
First off, he had a long run called back on a hold that didn't actually help open the hole he burst through. Secondly, most of the issues he had with being stopped for little-to-no gain happened when he was running away from the Louisville tandem on the right side of the line that was opening so many holes.
When space was there, Magee got positive yardage.
Here's what else Magee did: He showcased phenomenal pass-blocking ability and was able to run routes both as part of the overall scheme and as a safety valve. His burst, balance and vision made him the clear-cut best back in the game no matter what his ending stat line said.
More Shrine Game Reading Material:
- Notes from Day 1 Practice
- Notes from Day 2 Practice
- Notes from Day 3 Practice
- Dan Hope on why you should care about the Shrine Game
- Shrine Game Scouting Guide from Jeff Risdon
Michael Schottey is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff on his archive page and follow him on Twitter.
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