The ERod EXPERIENCE

ERod in Optimum Scouting's "Prospects at Each Position that I Love"

2012-02-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Optimum Scouting Written by Eric Gelko

In the Valentine's Day spirit, I wanted to return the "Scout's Notes" section of the site on a high note: prospects I "love".

While the next Scout's Notes may not be as "loving" as these (actually quite the opposite), we'll stay with prospects who have been the ones that I'd stick up for in the mid to late rounds of the draft.

Tight End: Evan Rodriguez, TempleThe role of the tight end has increased and become THE position that adds versatility to the offense. Rodriguez has development as a fullback blocker, fullback route runner, tight end second-level blocker, and tight end seam and outside routes. That completeness plus his versatility in how many different spots he's played over his career at Temple makes him a likely coveted mid-round addition because of how many spots he can fill, and fill well.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Wisconsin-While at NC State, Wilson seemed to run a more helter-skelter offense, utilizing his athleticism, quickness in and out of the pocket, and his vision on the move to be successful. While at Wisconsin (for one year), he showed more control in the pocket, a consistently high release point, and balance in the offense. And at the Senior Bowl, he showed a mixture of both, along with making multiple reads from the pocket. His combination of football IQ, craftiness as a running QB, and check down ability as a pocket passer has me excited, as to me he seems like a much better version of Colt McCoy.

Running Back: Lennon Creer, Louisiana TechWhile he lacks a dynamic first burst through the hole and isn't a big play runner, Creer seems to play fairly well behind his pads, has some development as a pass blocker, and keeps his balance well through traffic and arm tackles. Not a flashy runner, Creer seems to be a running back destined for a great rotational back in a variety of systems in the NFL.

Wide Receiver: Rishard Matthews, NevadaA physical receiver with flanker size, power, and explosive burst after the catch, Matthews has the frame to get even bigger and use his strength even more, as well as continue to catch away from his body and explode in short area routes after the catch. Also a very productive returner, Matthews was far more impressive and maybe more well-known as a junior when Colin Kaepernick was at the helm, he's still has all the attributes to be a Terrell Owens type run after catch athlete who can work at all three receiver positions at the next level.

Offensive Lineman: Desmond Wynn, RutgersWynn is, as of now, is a guard prospect, one who played the left guard spot in college. He has the length, power off the line, and second level blocking ability to play either guard spot at the next level. However, I'm mostly intrigued by his potential as a right tackle at the next level. Regardless, his potential to play three offensive line spots plus his length/balance combination really excites as a mid round interior lineman.

Defensive Tackle: Derek Wolfe, CincinnatiWolfe didn't flash to me at all through my first time of film watching, as he was mostly a tackle who took advantage of poor technique linemen and really was more of a delayed, clean-up tackler. However, it was at the Senior Bowl, where he showed fantastic vision to the backfield, lateral balance and quickness, and the ability to react quickly to blockers positioning/reach really impressed, and after I reviewed his film, I am thoroughly impressed with his patience and vision, and he could play and be very versatile in a 4-3 defensive front.

Defensive End: Adrian Hamilton, Prairie View A&M
Another small school prospect on here, Hamilton is just too exciting to project to not be on here. While I'm not a fan of looking at stats AT ALL for analyzing prospects, his sack numbers (and more importantly, how consistently they were because of his pass rushing ability, not from offensive mistakes) are very impressive. Undersized for many 4-3 schemes, he can fit in a Robert Mathis role (a solid comparison for Hamilton) as well as in most 3-4 outside linebacker roles.

Outside Linebacker: Brandon Marshall, NevadaJames Michael Johnson, Nevada's top defensive prospect and inside linebacker, seems to gain all the headlines for the defensive success, but Brandon Marshall is an impressive talent himself. Actually lead the team in tackles this year over JMJ, Marshall is more of a complete linebacker, showing good balance and fluidity (for a linebacker) in coverage, closes well on the ball and breaking down well, and be able to extend and drive through blocks or evade them well with balance. Not a flashy linebacker, Marshall should be able to play both weakside and strongside (depending on the scheme) and should be a long-term starter in the NFL.

Inside Linebacker: Shawn Losieau, MerrimackSpeaking of love, I love Losieau's aggression and fearlessness to the ball. What he lacks in coverage range and overall speed to the outside, he makes up for in blitzing ability, forceful hits, and vision in and shortly outside of the box. He likely could fit in coverage limited 4-3 defense or an aggressive 3-4 team, but it's his overall football sense that is the most impressive part of his game.

Cornerback: Coty Sensabaugh, ClemsonSensabaugh has good length and revovery speed who can run down the field well in man coverage. He's been a team leader over his career at Clemson and was one of the more consistent defensive players for the team all season long. He had a fantastic week at the Players' All-Star Classic according to our scout Alex Brown (see Tuesday and Wednesday's Notes here: http://www.optimumscouting.com/2012-players-all-star-classic-coverage.html). Could bulk up a little and not a fit for zone schemes necessarily, he has the deep speed, fluidity, and length to be a potential starting cornerback down the road.

Safety: Matt Daniels, DukeWhile he didn't impress as much as I was anticipating at the East-West Shrine Game week of practice, Daniels film while at Duke is impressive as a strong safety prospect. He attacks the ball well, anticipates middle of the field routes quickly, finishes tackles very well, and has been a consistent leader and playmaker for the Duke team. As a strong safety prospect, he may be one of the best in this draft.

ERod meets Dickie V @ Athletic Edge Sports

2012-02-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

Legendary hoops announcer Dick Vitale dropped in at Athletic Edge Sports to meet all the NFL Combine athletes and to share a few words of wisdom, and ERod took the opportunity to introduce himself. Prime Time baby!

Bunting Puts ERod on "NFL Draft: All Underrated Team"

2012-02-08T23:24:00.000-05:00

Pre-game warm-up: East-West Shrine Game

Courtesy of National Football Post, Written by Wes Bunting

With only a couple weeks left until the NFL Combine, the NFP looks at which offensive prospects aren’t getting the kind love they should at this time and who could be poised for a rise up draft boards over the next couple weeks.

H-Back Evan Rodriguez: Temple (6-3, 250)
Rodriguez isn't a guy who's going to get drafted high. However, he's got the potential to fill a number of roles on an NFL offense in both the run and pass game, can create some mismatches as a pass catcher and develop into a core special teams guy early on.

QB G.J. Kinne: Tulsa (6-2, 234)
Kinne has a little Jeff Garcia/Bruce Gradkowski to his game. He will fall on draft day because of his size, but is your typical gritty QB prospect who is the son of a coach and in my view will find a way to make a roster and potentially fight for playing time down the line. I like him more as a prospect than Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

RB Robert Turbin: Utah State (5-10, 216)
Physically, he reminds me some of New York Jets RB Shonn Greene. But as a runner, he looks more natural as a zone guy who he can use his cut back ability to pick his way through traffic, square his shoulders and then attack daylight. Has the skill set to mature into a starter at the next level, but because of his lack of a great burst, he doesn't strike me as a guy who is ever going to have a real gaudy yards per carry average. Nevertheless, he should be able to keep you ahead of the chains and create the tough yards through contact.

TE Rhett Ellison: Southern California (6-5, 250)
Isn't an elite straight-line athlete or dominant in-line guy. However, has the ability to be successful in both the run and pass game at the next level. Doesn't look like a starter to me, but may be able to earn playing time early during his NFL career.

WR Devon Wylie: Fresno State (5-9, 185)
Is limited a bit by his size, but is the kind of cat-quick slot guy with great ball skills who can make a living in the NFL. The major positive with him though is that he also has very good speed and can easily make plays down the field.

WR Jarius Wright: Arkansas (5-10, 180)
A coordinated athlete who is slippery as a route runner, tough over the middle and knows how to get open vs. man and zone. Will get re-routed vs. press at times and looks more like an inside player at the next level, but has the skill set to make a roster and carve out a big niche early.

OT Andrew Datko: Florida State (6-6, 321)
He’s a solid athlete who can bend, re-direct and block in space. However, he’s had some struggles with power when trying to stay engaged and hasn’t been able to stay healthy throughout his career. Nevertheless, in a weak offensive tackle class, he’s one of the few prospects that possess the skill set to start in the NFL.

OT Nate Potter: Boise State (6-6, 300)
Potter, in my book, is a poor man's version of former Boston College LT Anthony Castonzo. He has the talent to earn a starting job in more of a zone scheme, but is going to need a year or two before he's ready physically to mature into the player he's capable of becoming.

OG Brandon Brooks: Miami (Ohio) (6-5, 343)
Is a big, strong kid who has some lateral quickness for his size, but needs some technique work. Nevertheless, he has some upside and can win consistently in both the run and pass game, and looks like an NFL starter in an angle scheme to me.

OG Jeff Allen: Illinois (6-5, 315)
He's not an overpowering run blocker, but can bend, gain leverage and seal inside. He’s smooth and coordinated in pass protection, can keep his base down and warrants a higher grade because of it. Needs to play inside at the next level, but looks like a guy who can start in the league.

OC David Snow: Texas (6-4, 295)
Isn't an overly powerful in-line guy or elite athlete. But he can bend, is coordinated in both the run and pass game and does a great job shooting his hands inside and sticking to blocks. Looks like a guy who can make a roster and with some improved strength fight for playing time down the line.

Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ERod's Strong Performance vs. Miami

2012-01-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Jimmy O'Brien (@phillyjimmy on Twitter) for putting this game highlghts reel together. It certainly shows the versatility for which ERod is known.

National Web Site ranks ERod #4 TE

2012-01-26T09:24:00.001-05:00

Here's what Walter Football has to say on the 4th ranked TE:

Evan Rodriguez, TE, Temple Height: 6-3. Weight: 250. Projected 40 Time: 4.70. Projected Round (2012): 3-4.

1/24/11: Rodriguez was Temple's leading receiver this year, catching 35 balls for 479 yards and two touchdowns. He was reasonably consistent this season. Rodriguez is a fluid receiver who picks up yards after the catch. He was used in the same manner that Florida used tight end Aaron Herndandez under former Gators assistant Steve Addazio, the first-year Owls head coach. Rodriguez looked good in that role as he is a quality blocker and good athlete as a receiver. The biggest knock on Rodriguez is a lack of foot speed. He had a quality week at the East-West Shrine.

8/19/11: Evan Rodriguez started out his collegiate career at West Virginia before he left for Temple. In 2009, Rodriguez caught 13 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he recorded 21 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Full Walter Football TE rankings, 1/24/12

ESPN: ERod on "Shrine Game Stock Up"

2012-01-20T10:31:00.001-05:00

Temple TE Evan Rodriguez

Rodriguez is an H-back type who showed natural hands and a good feel for the deep seams. He knows how to find open spots in zone coverages and can separate from man-to-man coverage, and he did a good job opening his hips to snag a ball thrown behind him. He also looked smooth when transitioning upfield after catches. And while he's not an overpowering blocker, Rodriguez competes well, has some toughness and thickness in the lower half, and works hard to cover up defenders. He also has the versatility to play some fullback, and some intriguing film combined with his showing during Shrine week has helped him get into the mid to late rounds.

-- Kevin Weidl

ESPN's Full Report

East Team Practice #4: Tom Melton's take on ERod

2012-01-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

Tight Ends:

Chase Ford (Miami) continued to catch the ball well today, but I don’t think he offers much as a blocker. He’s got impressive size and length for a tight end along with some athleticism, so he has range as a receiver. His hands are solid and he has definitely helped himself this week, but I don’t think he has a ton of upside. Evan Rodriguez (Temple) looked solid today as he has all week and made a couple nice catches. He’s not a flashy guy, but he’s reliable. Emil Igwenagu (Massachusetts) has gotten an invite to the Senior Bowl which surprised me, but I have a feeling it will be as a fullback, not as a tight end. He missed a couple blocks the last couple days when I was watching him though, so we will see how he does.

Read Tom Melton's full review of the East Team on Day #4

2012 East-West Shrine Game: Breakdown of Top Draft Prospects

2012-01-20T09:53:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of bleacherreport.com, written by Dan Hope

Evan Rodriguez, Temple, East, Grade: Round 5-6

The West roster is the home for most of the tight-end talent in the Shrine Game, but the top prospect at the position in the game is on the East squad. Temple’s Evan Rodriguez is an H-back who can play both tight end and fullback. He is a solid blocker both on the line of scrimmage and as a lead-blocking fullback, and is a good receiver.

Although not nearly as athletic, Rodriguez compares to Aaron Hernandez in terms of his versatility, receiving skill and how he can be used on the field in various ways. He will not be the big playmaker that Hernandez is, but can be a solid, productive player for the team that drafts him.

The draft prospects among the West tight ends consist of North Carolina State’s George Bryan, Oregon’s David Paulson and Michigan’s Kevin Koger, all worthy of being selected late in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Bryan is not much of an athlete, but he has great size (6’5’’, 265 pounds) and is a very solid blocker. He has been successful as a pass-catcher at North Carolina State, but his lack of speed will limit his impact as a receiver in the NFL. Bryan projects well as a third tight end for goal-line sets to be used as a blocking specialist and goal-line receiver.

Paulson is a skilled receiving tight end who had success in Oregon’s up-tempo offense. Paulson is undersized for the tight end position, but his receiving ability makes him a solid late-round prospect for a team with a West Coast offense.

Koger did not put up big numbers for the Wolverines, but he is a big tight end with athletic ability and good hands. He projects well to the next level and is worth taking a chance on late in the draft.

East Team Practice #3 Notes: ERod "Polished as a blocker..."

2012-01-18T16:08:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko

Day three for the East roster, I got a great chance to look at the receivers and defensive backs especially today, with also focus on how the linebackers and running backs did in team drills.

The big winners today were Tauren Poole, Chase Ford, AJ Jenkins, Josh Norman, and RJ Blanton, but see who did well at each position here.

Tight End-Similar to yesterday, Chase Ford of Miami stole the show. He's not overly athletic, gets high in blocking, and doesn't get separation in man coverage well, but he's been tracking the ball outstandingly well in both practices with full pads, grabbing the ball away from his body and looking the ball well in. I'll be surely watching more on him after the event, but he looks like at the very least, a red zone option for an NFL team.

-Evan Rodriguez of Temple and Emil Igwenagu of UMass were once again a bit overshadowed by Ford today, but both got more chances out of the backfield. Rodriguez once again looked polished as a blocker from the fullback position, as well as getting off the line and vertical in traffic from the tight end position. Igwenagu still doesn't looked developed as a fullback receiver, needs more polish as a run blocker, and overall seems like a project compared to the other two.

Quarterbacks-Austin Davis of Southern Miss may have actually gotten the better of BJ Coleman today for the East roster's best quarterback. He showed great touch down the field, keeping the ball tight and on time, hitting his deep receivers on time. It was his pocket passing accuracy that intrigued me before the week, and he showed that now that he has more chemistry with these receivers, he has the accuracy and timing, especially on the outside.

-BJ Coleman of Chattanooga was confident deep, getting the ball out quickly and over the top, utilizing his big arm and velocity. He did struggle to place the ball well in the red zone, floating passes out of the endzone at times, but he overall looked composed and had some great vision as a passer in traffic. Not perfect day, but better than yesterday with his accuracy, and still week-long, the best quarterback here. Also, look out for my interview notes with him in the "Daily Notes" tonight.

Running Backs-So I hate to keep talking about only one running back, but Tennessee's Tauren Poole continues to impress this week. He's getting to his top speed quickly, accelerating through the hole, decisive in his vision and cuts down the field, and even showed some explosion and power in the goal line. He's not a dynamic guy, but he does everything well and seems like the perfect #2 running back in the NFL.

-Alfred Morris of Florida Atlantic flashed a little today, some power and playing behind his pads well in traffic, but he's not smooth out of the backfield, doesn't have a ton of wiggle in traffic. And Davin Meggett of Maryland struggled in the open field, didn't make a ton of plays in space, and overall was lackluster.

Wide Receiver-The usual suspects lead the way at the receiver position today, with BJ Cunningham of Michigan State showing once again why he's been impressive. He explodes well through the catch, something myself and Chris Kouffman of Universal Draft noticed in position drills. He's tracking the ball well on quick routes, doesn't hesitate, and can explode upfield well. I still hope he gets some more reps in the slot as I don't think he gets consistent separation against more physical and fluid cornerbacks, but he looks the part of a Top 4 rounder.

-Tim Benford of Tennessee Tech showed some explosion again today, but more impressively, he was making some plays in the red zone drills, getting vertical and grabbing the ball as well as some suddenness off the line. He did have a few drops in traffic today and needs to rip the ball out of the air more consistently, but another adequate day moves him closer and closer to a solid draft pick.

-California Pa's Thomas Mayo had a decent day today, continuing to echo his strengths and concerns from my film evaluation before the event. In shorter routes, he grabs the ball in traffic well, getting off the line with some quickness and burst, and reacting very well to timing routes. But once again today, he struggled to track the ball in stride and in the red zone, and needs to work on his ball skills down the field much more. He's athletic and quick enough to get down the field, but his hesitation once the ball is in the air and his lack of great ball recognition has limited what was a very solid day.

-Laron Byrd of Miami flashed a bit today, showing some raw red zone skills and getting the ball at the highest point, but still didn't get separation overly well and is a bit of a body catcher. Lance Lewis of East Carolina looked better today, grabbing the ball away from his body, and positioning his body well inside.

-Finally, maybe the position's most consistent players has been Illinois's AJ Jenkins. Small, thinly built guy, he won't be an outside receiver in the NFL. But he grabs the ball so well away from his body, has great suddenness off the line and in his routes, and tracks the ball well in traffic, looking it in well. He may end up being this draft's top slot receiver
Offensive Linemen
-Rishaw Johnson had another solid day today, showing why I think he's a Top 6-7 offensive guard in this class. He has some great burst and pop in pass protection, he's best skill by far as a guard prospect. But today, he seemed to be keeping his feet and staying in good position on down the field blocks, something he didn't really show in college. He's still got heavy feet and won't be a great down field run blocker, but he's showing some athleticism to the second level for sure.

-Jeff Adams of Columbia had another adequate day, transitioning his hands well to secondary blocks, keeping his hands explosive and in good position. He wasn't the best tackle from what I saw today, though, as Lamar Holmes of Southern Miss seemed to be consistently balanced in his kick slide and ready to pop, once time even bringing Julian Miller of West Virginia to the ground on his speed rush.

-South Florida's Jeremiah Warren has really impressed me this week, starting off with his length in weigh-ins (84 inch wingspan). He's not overly technique-ready for the NFL, but he's been taking to coaching and using his length very well, today especially in engaging, then transitioning to the short area second level, getting some initial punching. He's gone from a PFA to a potential draftable guy so far this week.

Defensive Linemen-Miami (FL) Micanor Regis showed once again his suddenness initially and in his pass rush moves. I didn't watch a ton of him before the event, but based on this week and the high praise he's drawn from Rotoworld's Josh Norris, he looks like a solid situational quick rusher in the NFL, and worthy of a late round selection.

-Nick Jean-Baptiste of Baylor showed some effective rush moves in drills, but he really lacks the quick hips and change of direction skills (echoed in yesterday's notes from one-on-ones), to be a consistent pass rusher. Julian Miller of West Virginia reset his feet well in his rushes and getting off the snap low and with some burst, but he's lacking raw pass rushing ability and hasn't been utilizing his length and hands well so far.

-Finally, Akiem Hicks of Regina wowed once again today in drills, showing some great pop in his rip moves, quick in his rush transtions, and an overall smoothness as he moves in drills. He sure looks the part in drills and situational plays so far this week, but we'll see if we can put this all together.

Linebackers-I wanted to focus more today on Brandon Lindsey of Pittsburgh, and got a chance to see what he really is as a linebacker. He does look stiff in deeper drops, not fluid, doesn't have great recognition. But, I will say that he reacted well in short area, closer to the line of scrimmage in his coverage, nearly had a pick. THAT is where he'll be dropping in coverage in the NFL in a 3-4 scheme. Wasn't great, but for what he is, I didn't think he had a bad day.

-Shawn Loiseau tracked the ball and scrapped well once again today, getting up field quickly on a screen pass and (if they were full contact) would've blown it up in the backfield. He's been showing more fluidity and completeness in space that I thought he did on film, and so far, he's been the most consistent linebacker on the East squad.

Defensive Backs-Josh Norman of Coastal Carolina stole the show again today. He had three interceptions that I saw. Now, part of the picks was the poor route by receiver or just guessing right (something he seems to do a lot) and being in the right place. But he did finish each of the three chances he got today, and reacted quickly to the receiver. He's still not exploding quite as well fro his back pedal, but he surely is the top cornerback here.

-Micah Pellerin of Hampton and Justin Bethel of Presbyterian both closed well and were physical today, Pellerin especially. He shot well with his hands in man coverage, got physical in the red zone drill and re-directd routes well, and consistently closed hard and quickly on plays, one time intercepting a John Brantley late, slow outside route. Bethel still isn't reacting as well as I'd like, but I do think he could be a solid nickel cornerback or a free safety in the NFL.

-RJ Blanton of Notre Dame was very physical today, consistently keeping the speedier receivers off their route and frustrating the quarterback-receiver timing. He's been very impressive the past two days, looking to see if he can finish up tomorrow with a last good day of practice. More on Blanton in the "Daily Notes" tonight as well.

East-West Shrine Game makes kids the stars

2012-01-18T11:10:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Tampa Bay Online, written by Martin Fennelly

You probably haven't gobbled up tickets to Saturday's East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field. There are plenty of seats there for the gobbling.

College football all-star games aren't much to see unless you're a kid with an NFL dream in your head or a scout with a stopwatch in your hand. This will be the 87th East-West game. It's tryout time. It's business.

That's not the biggest reason why it matters.

"Let me tell you something," said BJ Coleman, a quarterback from Tennessee-Chattanooga who'll play for the East on Saturday. "We dream NFL dreams. But these kids right here — they're my heroes."

On Sunday, buses pulled up to the Shriners Hospital on the USF campus in Tampa. East-West players rumbled off. The children were waiting. This had nothing to do with mock drafts — it was the real deal.

This game raises money for hospitals that never stop giving. For a couple of hours, big, strong young men played with small, strong fighters in wheelchairs, in body casts and all the others trying to beat their own kind of odds.

What does anyone know about the East-West Shrine game? Probably as much as they know about Shriners International, the 140-year-old non-profit fraternal order that to most means those funny hats, tiny cars, oh, and that charity football game we never watch.

The Shriners opened their first children's hospital in 1922. There are now 22 hospitals in the Shriners system, including the one in Tampa, which is also home to Shriners International world headquarters. These hospitals have treated hundreds of thousands of children, specializing in orthopedics, spinal injuries and conditions, burn treatment and other services — regardless of a family's ability to pay.

"We try to make dreams come true," said Richard Leger, potentate of the Egypt Shrine, Tampa's Shriners chapter.

Potentate means he's the head cheese. Leger loves his fez, loves his pint-sized parade car — and worships East-West Shrine week. "I love seeing these players be with these children … they leave with tears in their eyes and smiles in their hearts."

"Strong Legs Run That Weak Legs Might Walk." That's the East-West motto.

When strong legs met weak legs Sunday at the hospital, it turned into a party. A mammoth offensive lineman boosted a girl onto a jungle gym, but she decided the lineman was a better jungle gym and climbed back onto him. Football players had their faces painted by kids, extra glitter.

Former Florida quarterback John Brantley will play for the East. He has his work cut out for him. After a rough senior season with the Gators, Brantley has a sea of doubters. "These children, they can show us the way," Brantley said.

Meet Ben Carpenter, a 16-year-old from Brandon who is at the top of my draft board when it comes to points of light. Ben and the Shriners Hospital are old friends. To Ben, the Shriners have always been there for him and his family, always been about hope. As a child, Ben was diagnosed with spinal muscle atrophy, degenerative, unstoppable. He uses a power wheelchair. Last year, he was an East-West game ambassador.

Ben once had doubters. The doctors said he wouldn't live to his first birthday. Then they said he wouldn't live to his second birthday. And so on.

Ben is a junior at King High School, where he gets straight A's (he always has) in the IB program. He wants to be a mechanical engineer and design theme park roller coasters. One thing Ben loves about them: "Everyone is the same on a coaster."

Ben's nonprofit is called Ben's Mends. It helps restore damaged books and donates them to nonprofits that support the elderly, children and women.

By the way, Ben is also captain on a power wheelchair team. "We're ranked third in the nation," he said. He plays midfielder.

Former South Florida players Jerrell Young and Jeremiah Warren, now East teammates and NFL long shots, were standing on the hospital basketball court, children all around.

"There are so many things we take for granted in life," Young said.

"These kids lift you up," Warren said.

We're all on the same coaster.

East Practice #2: ERod Stuggles, Still Impresses with His Blocking

2012-01-18T01:12:00.001-05:00

Courtesy Optimum Scouting, written by Eric Galko

It was day two for the East Roster on the practice field, but day one for them for their pads. While I focused heavily on the offensive and defensive lines (always fun to see the one on ones), I got a good feel for almost every position.

The biggest winners today seemed to be RB Tauren Poole, TE Chase Ford, DT Akiem Hicks, DT Travian Robinson, and LB Shawn Loiseau, but see how each position players did at today's East practice.

Tight Ends-Evan Rodriguez of Temple didn't flash as much today as a receiver, but he seemed comfortable and effective blocking from the fullback position, and as I saw on film over the course of the season, he's developed into a multiple-system/set tight end.

-Miami's Chase Ford may have had the most surprisngly impressive day, as he wasn't noticable yesterday. But he showed concentration and receiver skills off the line, adjusted his hands and vision to the ball in traffic, and flipped his hips to turn and run well. Still needs to show a quicker get-off and a more effective in-line blocker, but I'm intrigued for tomorrow for sure.

Quarterbacks-While I did focus more on the linemen and linebackers today, I did notice Austin Davis of Southern Miss looking smoother than Monday. He seemed to more consistently spin the ball cleanly, had better timing, especially on quicker throws, with his receivers, and showed some nice touch throws down the field, all three of which he struggled with on Day One.

-Davis is still the second guy on the QB rankings behind BJ Coleman of Chattanooga, but Coleman didn't blow anyone away today either. He does seem controled, developed in his drop backs, a big plus for a small school prospect. He still didn't consistently complete passes down the field and needs to show better accuracy across the field past ten yards. NFL Network's Chad Reuter even asked if he had completed a pass of greater than 5 yards the past two practices. Still, based on his coachability, leadership, and overall way about him, I love him as a prospect.

-John Brantley looked more comfortable as today, as he's really a rhythm passer that needs to be in-sync with his receivers. Still, that windy release and low release point limited his arm strength again and he still floated far too many deep passes.

Running Backs-Tennessee's Tauren Poole impressed once again today, this time with pads. While there wasn't a ton of physical contact, he did impress as he stayed low through the hole, played behind his pads while seeing the field well, and had a great second gear and exploding through the hole. He should impress in the non-running position skills as well, and if that's the case, he could rise event further of draft boards.

-Alfred Morris of Florida Atlantic showed his lack of great stop-start ability today, not being able to re-direct himself overly well in traffic, but he did have better than expected vision on a few inside out cuts, and seemed decisive in his reactions. Anxious to see how he does in more physical drills.

Wide Receivers-Probably the biggest winner today was Tim Benford of Tennessee Tech once again, getting consistent separation and drive quickly and powerfull in his cuts. He's been outstanding in driving down the field, getting vertical, then driving back on comebacker routes. He adjusted well to balls as well, despite lacking great length, but needs to extend more effectively and get better release down the field to be a potential Top 4 rounder.

-BJ Cunningham of Michigan State had a bounce back day today, got some seperation with developed route running and baiting the defense well. He didn't suffer as many drops today, but those drops will come with his small hand size in the NFL. As I said yesterday, I think he's best suited in the slot in the NFL, using his vision as a receiver and balance in traffic, and he could really be effective in his inside-out routes.

-AJ Jenkins of Illinois continues to be maybe the most sure-handed receiver from what I'm seeing, and he could be challenging Jarius Wright (on the West Roster) as the best slot-only receiver at the Shrine Game. Opposite of him, Kevin Hardy of the Citadel has struggled with drops, counting five so far in the times I've watched him the past two days. He runs tight routes, but isn't explosive in them, and with drop issues as well, he's not emerging as safe draft pick.

Offensive Linemen-Today, the defensive line won most of the battles. Probably the most impressive were South Florida's Jeremiah Warrenand Rutgers's Desmond Wynn. Warren was using his length very well, and when he got his hands low and tight and didn't over extend, he was consistently slowing inside rushers. Wynn fires his hands up quickly and moved laterally very well, but still is raw in hand placement and footwork. But he held his feet very well, strong base, and showed good leg drive in the run game

-Rishaw Johnson of California PA had an up and down day today. He had some powerful leg drive and stayed low in run blocking, driving to the second level well. But he showed once again his heavy feet and over-extended consistently once again. He lacks the lateral quickness to stay with high motor/quicker rushers like Micanor Regis or Nicolas Jean-Baptiste.

-Jeff Adams of Columbia and Joe Long of Wayne State both flashed a little today. Adams extended well with a strong punch initially in the run game, and was repositioning his hands well in pass protection. But he didn't seem overly balanced in his kick slide on the outside and didn't seem to stay fluid laterally against counter rushes. He did flash, but not as much as yesterday. Adams worked out at long snapper a little as well, which is intriguing for his draft prospects. As for Long, he kept his feet fairly well in pass protection, but he lacked great explosion or power in his hands, needs to shoot them quicker and get a stronger initial punch while staying engaged longer.

-Quentin Saulsberry seems very polished in his hand placement, stays low and bends very well, and when he locks on, he was the only one to handle Travian Robinson or Akiem Hicks. He looks like maybe the most consistent offensive lineman here.

-Derek Dennis of Temple didn't seem overly fluid, and as it showed on film, he's too choppy and off-balance to the 2nd level. He also was consistently too high in his hand placement, allowing rushers to drive him back far too easily inside.

Defensive Linemen-As I said in the offensive linemen section, today, the defensive line really impressed. Most notably of the group, Canadian import Akiem Hicks of Regina showed why Matt Elder of BuffaloBillsDraft.com told me to watch out. He still came off the snap a little high and didn't consistently extend and drive well off the line in drills, but that mostly looks like raw-ness as a prospect. He did, however, show outstanding power and drive in drills, some suddenness in his counter rush moves, and generated consistent pressure in team drills. He was consistently impressive, and despite being raw, he could play his way onto an NFL Draft board if he can finish out the week like today.

-Also very impressive on the defensive line was Travian Robinson of South Carolina.  He was driving his feet very well, extending and setting up his rushes with good balance. He played with great leverage all day despite being taller than some of the offensiive lineman, and had some inside and outside shoulder rush moves. He and Hicks were quite a tandem on the inside in Ones vs. Ones today, and it should be more of the same.

-Micanor Regis of Miami and Nick Jean-Baptiste of Baylor both had some suddeness in their initial rushes today, but neither was able to gain consistent leverage and push after the initial snap. Jean-Baptiste seems like an all motor guy, attacking doubles fairly well, fighting at the line, but he lacks great suddeness, flexibility in interior rushes, and overall, he doesn't look like an ideal nose tackle pass rusher in the NFL.

-Virginia's Matt Conrath still lack the quickness and flexibility to get low and generate some consistent pass rush, but he seemed to improve his technique and vision in the defense over the course of the day, taking well to DL coach Paul Spicer's points. That coachability and headiness is a good quality for the lackluster athletic Conrath is, and he could be a worthwhile rotational 5-technique in the NFL.

Linebackers-It's important, at least in my eyes, to see which players emerge as the true leaders at each position, and that's especially true for linebackers. That role, it seems, so far goes to Shawn Loiseau of Merrimack. Along with showing maybe the quickest feet in linebacker drills and scrapping to the ball well all practice, he seemed to be a fiery leader that the linebackers and defensive linemen related to. He's quickly showing why he belongs here, as he probably the clear top linebacker of this group.

-Former Pitt defensive end Brandon Lindsey seemed to be a bit looser and more comfortable in zone drills. He still is a long way to go as a linebacker prospect (especially as a 4-3 guy), but that may be his best bet to stick in the league. he did react well to one pass in his short area zone and nearly had an interception that he dropped, following it with 10 pushups. Overall, he's improving slowly, and I'll be intrigued to see him on Thursday to see how much he's improving with the coaching he's getting.

Defensive Backs-I didnt' get a great look at the defensive backs today, but the two things I did notice was that Josh Norman (along with now having his own helmet), continued to use his length well and flipped his hips well in deep breaks. He does need to keep his feet underneath him better and not over-anticipate routes as much, and his overall back pedal was the focus of coaches more than once. We'll see if he can keep his balance and transition on the ball quicker without losing his feet over the rest of the week.

-I also noticed that a guy I like a lot, Duke safety Matt Daniels, before the event, was still struggling with picking up a man in coverage. He's a pure strong safety who can lay a hit and comes downhill hard, but when asked ot man up with tight ends, he struggled to turn and run and be in good position. I do think, from film, he has better vision as a short area zoning safety, so I'll be interested to see him in that role more this week.

ERod's East Team's First Practice Reviews Very Positive

2012-01-16T23:03:00.001-05:00

ERod's been quick to make an impression on National media. Here's a few comments that have been piece together from the 87th East-West Shrine Game's first East Team practice.

Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko practice notes and Tweets:

"To me, Temple's Evan Rodriguez was the clear leader of the tight ends, also not overly surprising to me. He showed tight, smooth routes in the seam, and used sutler hand placement, route definition down the field to show some separation ability, including one deep pass over the head of Penn State safety/linebacker Nick Sukay. He, as well as the other tight ends, played some full back, but overall, Rodriguez looked the part of the best tight end at the game."

@optimumscouting Seems BJ Cunningham, Thomas Mayo, and Tim Benford getting most consistent seperation. Of TEs, Evan Rodriguez getting lots of passes his way

@optimumscouting PSU's Nick Sukay working in some safety. (listed as LB), but couldn't stick w/ #Temple TE Evan Rodriguez deep. Looking out of place man-man

The Sports Exchange/CBS Sports' Dan Brugler practice notes:

"Teams looking for a poor man's Aaron Hernandez should take a long, hard look at Temple's Evan Rodriguez. He showed his versatility in practice, lining up outside the tackle on the line of scrimmage and also in the backfield. Rodriguez isn't very impressive physically, measuring a hair over 6-1 1/2 and 242 pounds, but he put his reliable hands on display with very good vision and focus to reel in tough catches. He is a smaller target and struggled in blocking drills, but Rodriguez is an intriguing pass-catcher."

NFL Draft Blog's Tom Melton practice notes:

"Evan Rodriguez, TE, Temple: Rodriguez looked like the best tight end on the East roster today. He showed good burst and speed to threaten down the seam and absolutely burned Jerrell Young down the seam as he used good suddenness in his route to catch him flat footed and literally fly right by him. Young recovered though and managed to get up and deflect the pass which was lucky for him because Rodriguez was 5+ yards away from him down the field. Regardless, Rodriguez impressed me today and I will definitely be paying more attention to him as a blocker the rest of the week."

Bleacher Report's Michael Schottey Tweets:

@schottey Another nice play from Rodriguez gettin vertical and making a nice grab on an overthrow...lumbers a bit but nice athlete for his size

@schottey Evan Rodriguez (FB Temple) just made a nice grab on a late ball from Brantley ... Great late round Hback type