East-West Shrine Game isn't really a football game for the fans

 

As a football game, it wasn’t a very good one, sure the Fourth Quarter was pretty exciting, but it seems that many football fans tuned this game out, or watched it in bits and pieces. There didn’t appear to be that many people in the stands, and we have yet to learn what kind of rating it pulled in on TV.

Games like the Shrine game are more for the scouts, or draft guru’s out there than it is a game meant for the fans. Especially given the fact that Todd McShay was one of the game TV broadcasters.. Regardless of what the players did on the field, these scouts got to see how these players practice, how they respond to coaches, and how they deal with the class work part of being a NFL player.

That is not to say what they accomplished in the game is unimportant, just that is secondary to the practice work and things that happen off the TV cameras.

To be perfectly honest, the game itself isn’t really the show. This is a game where these players play the game under NFL rules for the first time, where they play with players they are no all that familiar with, and where they are trying to show case their talents. As a football game not so great, as a tool to evaluate talent it is superb.

What we saw yesterday confirms a lot of things about the 2010 draft. First and foremost this is going to be a draft where defense rules the day. After the showing yesterday clearly teams will be cashing in on big time defensive prospects through at least the first two rounds. We might have already known that, but proof is in the pudding and these two all star teams only managed to score 23 points combined.

Almost all the QB prospects in this game hurt, their draft stock. Daryll Clark (QB, Penn State) had a terrible week, both in practice and in the game itself. His mechanics were terrible and led to a very awkward inaccurate delivery. At best he was a sixth or seventh round pick, now it seems he will have to seek his football fortunes in the UFL.

Much was the case for most of the other QB’s participating in this game. Max Hall (QB, BYU) played ok, but had a strong set of practices. It seems his ability is there, but his lack of size and elite arm strength will keep him for being a high draft pick.

Mike Kafka (QB, Northwestern) also showed that he has the skills to be a NFL QB, but he is still a raw talent, who is going to have to hold a clipboard in the NFL until he can get a shot at being a starter. It is really too bad that there is not a minor league system for the NFL, because if there was Kafka would be an excellent developmental pick for the future.

In the end I think two players helped themselves the most in this game. The first O’Brien Schofield (OLB/DE, Wisconsin) played very well and proved to everyone that where he fits best is at middle linebacker. He now looks to be a second or third round pick.

Andrew Quarless (TE, Penn State) caught the game winning pass, and had a superb week at the Shrine Game. He was a late round pick beforehand and now could go as high as the third round. He could climb even higher with a good showing at the Scouting Combine.

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