East-West Shrine Game 2015: Final Takeaways and Analysis
Saturday brought us the 90th edition of the East-West Shrine Game. In addition to raising awareness for Shriners Hospitals for Children, the game serves as a showcase for draft-eligible NFL prospects.
While the East-West Shrine Game might not garner quite as much attention as the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine, it is one of the last chances for draft hopefuls to showcase their skills on a national stage.
Mike Singletary's East team defeated the Jim Zorn-coached West team 19-3, but the outcome isn't as important as the performances of the players involved.
Players projected to go high in the draft often avoid collegiate all-star games because of injury risks. However, that does not mean that the East-West Shrine Game was devoid of potential superstar talent.
More than 70 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame took their first steps toward professional greatness in the East-West Shrine Game.
It is obviously way too early to predict whether Saturday's game featured any future Hall of Famers; however, there were plenty of things worth taking away from the contest, which we will discuss over the next few pages.
Tony Washington Just Seems to Love Football
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While NFL teams are looking for talent when evaluating draft prospects, it definitely doesn't hurt for a player to have passion for the game.
There might not have been a player on the field Saturday who loves football more than Oregon linebacker Tony Washington.
A four-year contributor for the Ducks, Washington already had his fair share of national exposure, including a pair of college playoff games to end the 2014 season. Yet he was on the field and playing hard for the West team, less than a week after appearing in the national championship game against Ohio State.
Washington was productive as a senior for the Ducks (49 total tackles, 5.0 sacks) and is currently projected as a fourth-round selection by NFLDraftScout.com. He should easily become a target for teams that are looking to add a defensive player with passion.
Anthony Chickillo Plays Fast for a Defensive Lineman
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One defensive player who really stood out during the East-West Shrine Game was Miami defensive lineman Anthony Chickillo.
He showed a mastery of down-lineman technique and an excellent burst off the line at the snap. He frequently found himself around the football due to a fast first step and appeared to fight until the whistle on every play.
His second-quarter sack of West quarterback Dylan Thompson was a technical work of art. On the play, he twisted through the line, beat his blocker and chased down a scrambling Thompson for a 10-yard loss.
"Chickillo, to me, was unblockable. It didn't matter if he was coming from the right or left," analyst Mike Mayock said after the game on the NFL Network broadcast.
Chickillo only produced 2.0 sacks as a senior in 2014, but he had 14.5 in total in his collegiate career to go with 167 tackles. At 6'5" and 270 pounds, he looks and plays line an NFL lineman. His explosiveness and instinct should at least allow him to make an impact as a rotational player early in his career.
B.J. Finney Will Provide Offensive Line Depth for an NFL Team Very Soon
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When an offensive lineman hears his name called during a football game, it is usually because he made a mistake.
However, the announcers singled out Kansas State center B.J. Finney during the East-West Shrine Game broadcast because of the good things he accomplished in the week leading up to the game.
According to announcers Mike Mayock and Andrew Siciliano, Finney had an excellent week of practice with the West team. He showed both talent and poise during the game.
At 6'4" and 317 pounds, Finney has the size and build of a prototypical NFL center. His could likely also play guard at the next level.
NFL DraftScout.com currently projects him as a fourth- or fifth-round selection, ranking him No. 4 overall among draft-eligible centers.
Even if he can't walk into a starting role as a rookie, expect Finney to land on a 53-man roster as a depth player.
Terrence Magee Looks Like an NFL Running Back
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LSU running back Terrence Magee only logged 112 carries in 2014. However, he made the most of those opportunities, averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry on the year.
He wasn't quite as productive for the East team on Saturday, and Louisville back Dominique Brown often outshone him. However, the 5'9", 214-pound runner showed both vision and strength during the game.
He created a couple of nice runs with quick initial cuts. He also displayed his ability as a pass-catcher, hauling in a 14-yard pass early in the game.
Magee is not likely to be an early draft pick, but he should satisfy a team that is looking for running back depth in training camp.
Dominique Brown Also Appears NFL-Ready
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As mentioned previously, Louisville running back Dominique Brown was one of the few offensive standouts of the 2014 East-West Shrine Game.
He didn't handle a large workload in 2014 (96 carries for 378 yards) and only averaged 3.9 yards per carry for the season. However, his size (6'2", 240 pounds) is intriguing.
On Saturday, Brown showed that he can be more than just a physical between-the tackles rusher at the pro level. He flashed both strength and quickness, easily looking like the best back on the field. He finished with 69 yards on 19 carries and the game's only touchdown.
He should have no trouble ending up on an NFL roster next season, and his limited collegiate workload has left plenty of tread on the proverbial tires.
Damian Parms Is Making a Name for Himself
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Florida Atlantic safety Damian Parms probably isn't at the top of a lot of draft boards right now, but his performance on Saturday may help him creep into the conversation as a late-round selection.
Parms performed well in coverage and showed good awareness and movement in the open field. His two interceptions played a big role in the East team's victory.
For a guy coming out of a small school like Florida Atlantic, this was the perfect time for Parms to leap into the spotlight.
The 6'2", 210-pound defensive back has the size that teams are now looking to add in the secondary. He should earn a chance to stick with a team as a depth player and special teams contributor, especially after showing up big in the East-West Shrine Game.
Expect teams to give him an even closer look in the months leading up to the draft.
Marvin Kloss Can Kick
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It might be hard to get excited about a draft-eligible kicker, but you can bet that teams with kicking struggles understand the importance of the position.
University of South Florida kicker Marvin Kloss showed his stuff on Saturday, making all four of his field-goal attempts plus the game's only extra point.
His biggest kick was a tough 47-yarder. Even proven pros can struggle from that distance, but Kloss made it all look relatively easy.
If Kloss doesn't hear his name on draft day, expect him to earn a camp invite from an NFL team that is looking to upgrade the kicker position.
Hutson Mason Is an Interesting Quarterback Prospect
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Most of the quarterbacks seemed to struggle from under center and in a pro-style offense on Saturday; Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason was the lone exception.
He had no trouble whatsoever operating the East offense and looked like a future NFL signal-caller while doing it. He finished the game 7-of-8 for 71 yards, and he scrambled twice for 15 yards more.
There isn't a ton of tape on Mason, a one-year starter at Georgia. As a result, he isn't considered one of the top quarterback prospects of this year's draft, although his statistics in 2014 (67.9 completion percentage, 2,168 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions) were impressive.
Mason has adequate size (6'2", 210 pounds) for the position and flashed pro-caliber arm strength and mobility on Saturday. This isn't a particularly deep draft for quarterbacks, so expect Mason to begin moving up boards as the draft-evaluation process continues.
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