2012 East West Shrine Game Player Analysis

Posted by Andy Miley on 01/22/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: East WestShrine Game, 2012 rookies, dynasty, keeper, NFL, football, Tauren Poole, BJ Coleman, Alfred Morris, Chase Ford, BJ Cunningham, Marc Tyler, Devon Wylie, Jarius Wright, Lennon Creer, Bobby Rainey

One of the first signs of the NFL Draft approaching is the college all-star games. The grand-daddy of them all is the East West Shrine Game, which has been a part of football tradition since 1925. More information about the game and what great things the Shriners do for the community can be found here: http://www.shrinegame.com/. If you are looking for practice notes, please check out the http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/ and follow Wes Bunting on twitter (@WesBunting). I will be discussing many of the key offensive players that hopefully will transition to the NFL and make an impact on your fantasy teams.

RB Tauren Poole (Tennessee) - Poole showed good outside speed on his first sweep. He was a better runner on the outside than between the tackles. When Poole kept on bouncing his runs outside, the defense caught on and met him by closing down his lanes. The flashes he showed in the passing game were then met with disappointments as he did not realize where the sideline was and failed to stay in bounds to make a catch that could have changed the game.

QB- B.J. Coleman (Tennessee-Chattanooga) - He started off playing well by making quick decisions and nice throws. Coleman is big 6' 5" 220 lbs and reminded me of John Skelton with his arm strength. Like Skelton, I am not sure if he can be a starter in the NFL, but I believe he can make a team and earn the right to play in time.

RB- Alfred Morris (Florida Atlantic) - He ran with power early and showed a decent spin move on his first carry of the game. Morris looked good when the offensive line was blocking well, but struggled to get past the line of scrimmage when he had to create his own lanes.

TE- Chase Ford (Miami) - First, Chase Ford is no Jimmy Graham, not even close. He is a big physical TE (6' 6" 245 lbs), but is not overly fast or quick. Ford caught a reception in the game between several defenders and rumbled down the field for a long gain, unfortunately he came up small in the game's last-minute failing to bring down a catch in traffic. With 16 receptions in two years with the Hurricanes, he is a raw prospect.

WR- BJ Cunningham (Michigan State) - He had one impactful play, a 21 yard TD reception. Cunningham beat his coverage being physical and used the sidelines to get to the end zone. His practice reports this week were good so I am keeping a closer eye on him.

RB- Marc Tyler (USC) - Tyler showed good vision, reading the defense, setting up his offensive line, and following the running lanes that were there. He ran hard at times, but what concerns me is that he was tackled when a defender grabbed his arm, twice. Tyler also can get caught up in the trash around the line of scrimmage and may not have the wiggle to get away from swarming defenses.

WR- Devon Wylie (Fresno State) - Wylie is small for a wide receiver (5' 9" 186 lbs), but showed great hands and concentration catching the ball in traffic. He showed good speed and agility while being effective as a returner as well. He looks like a more explosive Dane Sanzenbacher and could develop into a Danny Amendola type receiver in a pass first offense.

WR- Jarius Wright (Arkansas) - Wright saw limited opportunities during the game and had an excellent catch wiped away by penalty. On his few receptions, he showed great hands, amazing wiggle to avoid defenders, and good vision. Wright does a great job tracking the ball in the air and making adjustments with his body to make the tough catch.

RB- Lennon Creer (Louisiana Tech) - Creer ran well behind his pads and delivered a few blows when linebackers and defensive backs tackled him. He showed good vision as he took what the defense gave him. Creer had a decent power and speed combination. His upside is probably only a 2nd string NFL running back, but could be effective for a short yardage role.

RB- Bobby Rainey (Western Kentucky University) - Rainey showed decent quickness and burst. His inconsistent hands were concerning as he projects as more of a third down back in the NFL. He also appeared to avoid contact and seemed to lack toughness.