East/West Shrine Game: Players to Watch
Last year I gratefully attended the East West Shrine Game and practices preceding the game. It is a great event that helps out sick children and gives lesser known players an opportunity to get recognized for their athletic abilities. This year I decided to attend the Senior Bowl as I did not go to Mobile last year, but I will be keeping close tabs on these players and this charity game. The East West Shrine Game is on this Saturday, January 18th at 4pm on the NFL Network. Last year’s game featured a diamond in the rough, Zac Stacy, the St. Louis Rams running back who accounted for over 1,100 total yards and eight touchdowns in twelve games this season, so don’t discount the level of competition found at this game. Here are a few of the players I will be keeping an eye on:
Zach Bauman, RB N ARIZÂ
The senior running back has impressive tape against mostly sub-par competition. In all four seasons of college, he ran for over 1,000 and at least eight touchdowns. Bauman has quick feet, uses a spin move, possesses great balance and has loose hips. He also has good hands, follows his blockers well, keeps moving forward with sustained leg drive, and the upper body strength to swat away defensive backs and other off-balance defenders. It will be good to see what Bauman does with a higher level of competition. I watched a few of his interviews – he is well-spoken and appears to be a team-first guy. It will be great to see the week and game he can put together, I’ll be cheering for him.
Ted Bolser, TE IND
Bolser is an old school tight end who works well in the passing game as well as the running game. He spent a few snaps lined up as a fullback and in the slot as well. The tight end loved to attack the defense on running plays, squaring his shoulders and taking them out of the play. He kept on blocking after his helmet flew off, that is toughness. Bolser gets off the line of scrimmage well, and catches the ball with his out-stretched hands. He fully extends to get to the ball in stride. I liked the way he has a nose for the end zone and keeps on driving his legs to try to get there. Maybe Bolger can impress enough to find his way onto an NFL roster this summer.
Max Bullough, LB MICH ST
The linebacker plays mostly inside and will occasionally line up on the outside to rush the quarterback. He flows to the ball and seems to read the play, but does not do a good job getting into the best position to make the play. Bullough doesn’t trust his eyes and gets caught off-balance by blockers. The backer needs to step up and shed to keep the offensive linemen off his body. He is decent in pass coverage, but is his best when he pass rushes. Bullough might be a better outside backer than an inside one in the NFL. Can he makes scouts forget his bowl game suspension?
Tim Flanders, RB SAM HOU
Some people may discount that he went to such a small school, but he was impressive against Texas A&M with over 200 combined yards and two touchdowns. The young back has a great stutter step, finds a crease and explodes thru the line of scrimmage with a quick burst. Flanders squares his shoulders, gets low, leans forward and runs with power and leverage. He can read his blocks, is efficient in pass protection and catches the ball well. Flanders can get behind a defense and take the ball to the house. He is another back with a great opportunity to impress a national audience with a higher level of competition.
Jeremy Gallon, WR MICH
If you read my writing, you already know I’m a Michigan fan and have watched a lot of their games. Gallon has the foot speed, quick hips and body control to make anyone miss.  He lines up in the slot and on the outside, but can be used on reverses and bubble screens.  He grabs the ball at its highest point, grabbing catching in stride, and fights for every yard.  Since Gallon is small (5′ 8″ 183 lbs.)  bigger defensive backs can move him around at times, but he has enough zu-zu to make a play regardless. The receiver finds the ball in the air and can contort to make difficult catches. I expect him to put on quite a show in Tampa.
Allen Hurns, WR MIA
He lines up mostly on the outside, but occasionally lines up in the slot and gets sent in motion to give him the best matchups. Hurns runs sharp routes, gets separation, has good sideline awareness (getting both feet down while maintaining control of the ball) and concentrates throughout the catch. The wide receiver is a willing blocker in the run game, but needs to get better leverage. He adjusts well to the ball in the air while balancing and contorting his body to make the play. Hurns has a bad habit of catching the ball with his body or helmet which makes most of his passes easily contested by better defensive backs. I am looking forward to see if he can catch the ball cleanly with NFL coaching during the Shrine week.
Chandler Jones, WR SAN JOSE
The wide receiver has quick feet, gets sent in motion quite a bit, but spends most of the time lined up in the slot. He has the speed and quickness to get behind the defense, but got used a lot as a decoy. Defenses concerned themselves with where he was on the field because of his sudden burst. Jones catches the ball with his hands in stride, changes direction quickly, adjusts his body to the ball in the air, and has an explosive first step. He always keeps an eye on his quarterback, coming back to the ball to bail the signal caller out of trouble. How will he adapt his game, it will be fun to see. Hopefully he will get the chance to return some punts and kickoffs as well.
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