Scouts Inc: Shrine Game Players to Watch
by David Fucillo on Jan 20, 2010 10:30 AM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintThe Shrine Game takes place this Saturday at noon pacific, and will provide an opportunity for high level talent to compete against other high level talent. It's not the best of the best, but it will include a lot of guys we'll see on Sunday afternoon next season. The folks at Scouts Inc have put together lists (Insider protected) of the best players in the game, players to watch and those with something to prove. Here are the guys Scouts Inc decided to highlight.
At this point in the offseason my draft knowledge is fairly limited (one of the reasons I brought on Drew K as a front page writer). Since I know that many of you are passionate about the draft, I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of these lists. For example, given the players listed as "Top 5," what does that tell you about the talent level in Orlando this week? Scouts Inc included some comments on the various players that you can check out at the link above. After the jump I discuss some of these guys a bit more.
Top Five Players
DE Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
DE Lindsey Witten, Connecticut
TE Dennis Pitta, BYU
S Larry Asante, Nebraska
DE Willie Young, NC State
Five to Watch
RB Lonyae Miller, Fresno State
MLB Mike McLaughlin, Boston College
CB Devin Ross, Arizona
OT Kevin Haslam, Rutgers
S Barry Church, Toledo
Something to Prove
OLB/DE O'Brien Schofield, Wisconsin
CB Alterraun Verner, UCLA
QB John Skelton, Fordham
OT Zane Beadles, Utah
Rutgers left tackle Anthony Davis is a big name expected to go high in the draft. Scouts Inc pointed out his teammate Kevin Haslam as a player with some potential as a right tackle in the NFL. They also mention that he has some experience at guard, and could bulk up enough to move inside. Has anybody watched enough (or any) Rutgers football to throw out a few thoughts specifically on him? The 49ers have needs on the offensive line, and if they plan on keeping Joe Staley at left tackle, maybe a versatile guy like Haslam is a later depth option. Just a thought.
The other offensive tackle on the lists above is Zane Beadles of Utah. Apparently he has plenty of strength, but there are questions about athleticism and foot quickness. I'll check out the practice notes for more details on how his week goes.
Scouts Inc's practice reports also pulled out a random player that could be a potential late round tackle/guard option: local product Chris Marinelli of Stanford. Apparently he struggled a bit in practice yesterday, showing a relative lack of athleticism, and getting under defenders. At the same time, after the first day of practice, Todd McShay thought he could turn into a late-round steal. So obviously the information will have to be considered in the bigger picture looking at the week as a whole.
Speaking of the practice reports, Scouts Inc provides some live-blogging from practice with a run down of players having particularly good and bad performances. If you check out the East and West team rosters and are curious about specific performances, you can post a comment about the players and I'll check for any information in the practice reports given that many facts don't have Insider accounts.
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title edit?
Were you torn between “Shrine Game Players to Watch” and “Shrine Game Players Worth Watching?”
Feel free to delete this comment.
Jason Hill is turning the corner!
Andrew Quarless, TE, PSU
Best all around TE in the draft. There are reports of him owning Greg Hardy at the Shrine Bowl blocking drills. Coaches at PSU praised him for his WR speed (4.55 40 time) and OL blocking ability. He also has great hands and size at 6’5 254lbs . What kills his stock is that he was in Paterno’s doghouse just about his entire collegiate career until the Bowl game vs LSU where he set a Penn State bowl record for receptions by a TE.
probably a 3rd-4th rounder… makes me wish the niners could trade V.D for a 2nd round pick, just to see this guy in a niner uniform.
Trade Vernon Davis for a 2nd round pick? The guy just broke a scoring record for TE’s and you’re wanting to trade him for much less than what he is worth? He’s probably going to be mentioned in the top 5 TE’s to ever play once he is finished… I don’t think that would be a very popular move. Maybe you meant Delanie Walker…who knows? I like Quarless but he is slotted as a 3rd-4th because that is how good he is; not because Paterno had problems with him. But even if Paterno did, then maybe that says something about his character. I think he would be a decent 3rd round pick.
4 TE’s I would take over Quarless:
Gresham
Gronkowski
Hernandez
Pitta
Pitta and Hernandez are more like your Dallas Clark type of TE’s… but for what the Niners seem like they were installing in to the offense this season, Hernandez and Pitta would work well.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
In terms of value you're right
Vernon is worth a 1st round pick but just to emphasize how much I want Quarless on the 49ers I wrote 2nd.
Quarless was in the doghouse from the very beginning when he broke Joe Pa’s leg. Then was in trouble with the law when he was charged with a DUI. I think he has put his troubles behind him and would be well worth a selection if the 49ers didn’t already have 2 good TEs.
Pitta lacks speed
Gresham lacks speed and maybe even blocking
Hernandez lacks size
Gronkowski lacks speed (can’t say I’ve watched too much of him though)
There is no better specimen at TE in this draft; Hands, Speed, Blocking, Size. All of these 4 attributes are elite strengths for Quarless.
The 49ers usually have 3 TEs on the team but didn't in 2009
So he would be a possible pick up.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
True but it might be too early for a position the niners don't need
here are some notes about Quarless from practice about Quarless
“Penn State’s Andrew Quarless might be the most physically gifted tight end here — and that’s including BYU’s Dennis Pitta — but he looks annoyed that he’s having to practice. He’s not dogging it or anything, but there’s no extra effort, the attention to detail kind of wanes and you see it in his play and technique. Something’s missing with him.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/9430/shrine-game-updates-on-bt-hopefuls (Also note Mike Kafka someone else who I’m very high on)
01/18/10 – East-West Shrine Monday Practice: The most unlikely participant in this week’s game is Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy. Most expected him to be in Mobile for the Senior Bowl next week, but injuries and inconsistent effort have caused his stock to drop. He showed flashes of talent Monday, jumping inside off the snap to get across the face of the tackle and disrupt a run play to the opposite side. But Quarless locked him up on the edge a couple of times, even though Hardy has a 25-pound weight advantage. Those are the sort of matchups the SEC star needs to win if he wants to get into the draft’s second round.
- Chad Reuter, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com
Quarless
runs a 4.85 40…. how are you calling the other guys slow? Btw, Gresham is considered to be the best well-rounded catching/ blocking TE coming out.
40 times:
Pitta- 4.75
Gresham- 4.80
Hernandez- 4.56 …lacks size? He’s 6’3 250, plenty big for a TE. Exact size of V. Davis.
Gronkowski- 4.70
Quarless is the slowest guy out of them all…. ???
Your analysis sounds slightly biased because you favor him. Like I said, he belongs in the 3rd or 4th round. And to get rid of Vernon Davis for him is just not a realistic wish.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
And you believe he runs a 4.85?
really all I can tell you is wait for the combine…I bet he posts a faster 40 than Pitta, Gresham, and Gronkowski.
Aaron Hernandez is listed as 6’2 on ESPN. Does look small on film too..again wait for the combine.
Yep.. I believe he is not faster than the other guys.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
More Shrine notes
One bright spot for Penn State on Monday was tight end Andrew Quarless, who is far and away the most explosive TE on the East roster. His ability to fire out of his stance and get down the seam was a real eye opener, and he definitely looks like someone who can make plays vertically at the next level. The biggest concern I have with him is his awareness off the snap and his ability to consistently get off the ball on time. But overall, it was a productive first day for Quarless.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/EastWest-Shrine-practice-begins.html
Doesn’t exactly say that he is faster than the other guys. Said he was explosive but then contradicts the statement later in saying he has trouble with awareness off the snap which leads me to believe that he’d get drilled by a DE or blitzing OLB in the NFL. The only other TE noted as playing in that game that we discussed is Pitta.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
Even though in other reports it says he's stone walling
prospects like Greg Hardy? How does that lead you to believe he’s getting drilled?
Getting off the snap has to do with reaction time
Exploding out of his stance is when he has reached.
The only other TE noted as playing in that game that we discussed is Pitta.
Yep.. I believe he is not faster than the other guys.
So, is Quarless faster than Pitta? because the article says that he is “far and away the most explosive TE on the East roster”
Yeah, Quarless is definitely one of those later round "steals"....
a guy nobody really thought too much about, but then has a great career. My fellow PSU grad and i were talking about it the other day. No way giving up VD though lol, but for a supposed “power running” team, having a third TE that can block would be a necessity :)
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 20, 2010 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
Oh...
his numbers may not be spectacular, but you have to remember he was playing most of his career with the terrific trio of Williams, Butler and Norwood, so you have to imagine it is hard to get passes your way with those guys on the field.
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 20, 2010 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
Joe John Finely just signed a contract to be the 3rd TE. I doubt we would draft a TE now unless it’s extremely late in the draft.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
Wasn't it just a future contract?
meaning he’ll get a chance to compete for a spot on the 53 man roster?
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will get picked in the first round.
Yep, but typically clubs don’t do that unless there is something there. The play for your contract sort of just works as insurance. If they didn’t believe in him, they would have just left him on the PS
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
They may pick up an UDFA and have him compete with that guy. Or there’s also FA to consider. Maybe your Alex Smith to Alex Smith scenario will play out. haha
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
Yeah true, I forgot about him lol
Isn’t he like 6’6" or something? If the man can learn how to catch well, that would be a great threat in the Redzone
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 21, 2010 5:43 AM PST up reply actions
I think I’m going to have to exit all draft discussions from now on. All I read about is drafting a RB, TE or trading both picks to move up in the draft . . . I sure hope that trade up pick is to target a LB to replace Willis.
What are we selecting first OFF or DEF???
what do you guys think? i wana know what to watch for in these games. i personaly think we need to use our first two picks on linemen. but thats just me. i think once we sow up the O, the D wont have to do as much. i think we’re ok with what we have an D. a 3rd round pass rusher would be ok
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are"
Pitta and Beadles
Since i live in Utah i have gotten to watch these two players college careers.
Pitta is a very good recieving TE. His blocking is going to need work in the NFL and his speed will be question until he runs in the combine and BYU pro day. If he can run the 40 in between 4.6-4.7 that should be good enough for most teams to consider him in round 3 maybe even round 2. He has great hands and put up the best numbers for TE’s last year in college (62 recs, 829 yds, 8 TD’s). Our goaline offense would we tough to stop with VD, delaine, and pitta to throw the ball to off of a play-action. I dont think TE is a big need though so we probably wont draft one til rounds 6-7 which is gonna be too late for Pitta.
Zane Beadles is a 6’4 305lbs Left Tackle. He will probably need to switch to RT or Guard in the NFL, which are needs for the niners. He is a good run blocker and a decent pass blocker. Played LT after starting out as a guard. Will also need to gain some weight, especially if he moves to the inside. He reminds me of former 49er Harvey Dahl, who is now starting for the Falcons. Beadles is looking like a 3rd to 4th rounder right now becuse of his versitility. If the niners don’t grab Iupati in the 1st then Beadles would be a solid choice later in the Draft.
other UTahns to look out for : FB Manase Tonga, RB Matt Asiata, TE Andrew George, DE/OLB Jan Jorgenson, S Robert Johnson
Any info on Sergio Render?
OL for Va Tech, saw his draft stock drop over the course of the year but still a very solid run blocker. Just wondering if he has been mentioned.
Haslam - Rutgers
Hello from New Jersey. A little about Haslam. First, great to see you look past Anthony Davis. Haslam is under the radar coming into the East West Shrine but he has been “pinging” the scouts from the time he turned all heads at the weigh in. And now he is blowing up the practices.
What you get with Haslam is deceptive size, 305 now and more then likely 312-315 bycamp. But he sometimes gets the rap of to lean only because he has no gut. All 300+ is arms, chest,lower body. He has great feet, developed a very good hand punch and follows the play downfield. Little known fact. Haslam has led the Big East last 2 years in pancakes, downfield blocks and blocks leading to TD’s. He is also the guy that coaches look at to mentor younger players both on the field and off. And he is the guy on the line at Rutgers asked to recognize stunts, blitzes, etc. Comes from great family and 3+ gpa. May take a year to develop or maybe early playtime at OG but will be a RT in the league for a long time.
haslam
I know you had some questions on Kevin Haslam, OT, Rutgers…He had a very good week at E/W Shrine and helped his stock.
He has a newly created fan page on facebook that will follow him through the NFL draft and beyond. You should be able to get all you want about him there. Ask questions, add comments, etc
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kevin-Haslam-Fan-Page/451612560715?ref=mf
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