2016 East-West Shrine Game: Wednesday's East Team Practice Report
2016 East-West Shrine Game: Wednesday's East Team Practice Report
By Charlie Campbell -
@draftcampbell
The third East practice of the East-West Shrine was held in St. Petersburg, Florida under sunny skies with temperatures rising to the 60s. The East team is being coached by former Patriots offensive coordinator, Notre Dame and Kansas head coach Charlie Weis. Weis had the players practicing in full pads on Wednesday.
Sources from multiple teams have been raving about Massachusetts-Amherst wide receiver Tajaé Sharpe. The 6-foot-3, 188-pounder has quickness to go with good size and length. Sharpe is having a superb week and has been catching the heck out of ball. As one scout said, "He's been dominating these DBs all week." Sharpe gets separation and is a smooth receiver. He's really helped himself this week. One team said he's in the mid-round range and shouldn't go any lower than the fifth round.
Another wide receiver who sources say impressed has them this week was Notre Dame's Chris Brown. Brown (6-2, 195) has a nice skill set and is a sleeper receiver who was got up on a crowded depth chart for the Fighting Irish. Brown had some touch catches and showed soft hands this week. Along with Sharpe, Brown impressed in the one-on-ones with separation from corners. Teams feel Brown helped himself.
The other player who has greatly improved his draft stock is Michigan center Graham Glasgow. The 6-foot-6, 303-pounder had another good practice on Wednesday. He held his own in the pass-rushing one-on-ones and looked very good in the team scrimmage. On one play, Glasgow fired out to the second level and crunched a linebacker to spring Illinois running back Josh Ferguson for a big run. Glasgow also showed nice awareness on a screen to Ferguson. He turned around to get a critical block on a linebacker, and that allowed Ferguson to explode downfield.
Glasgow also functioned well in pass protection and is adept at hitting double teams with guards. Glasgow's huge week puts him in the thick of the top center competition with other players like Alabama's Ryan Kelly and USC's Max Tuerk.
Ferguson continued his strong week with another impressive practice. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the MVP of the game on Saturday. Ferguson used his speed to rip off a few long runs in the team scrimmage. The small and shifty runner slashed his way through the defense with impressive cutting before breaking into the open field with his sudden burst. Some teams have graded Ferguson as a third- or fourth-round pick, and he validated that draft grade in St. Petersburg.
Miami safety Deon Bush has had a solid, but unspectacular, week. He has been reliable to be in the right position in pass coverage and contributes to run defense. Bush made a nice break on the ball and came close to a falling interception, but had the ball bounce off his chest. Sources say that Bush could be a quality backup safety and special teams contributor. They see him going in the early rounds on Day 3.
Overall, Ole Miss right tackle Fahn Cooper has had a good week, but Wednesday's one-on-one session wasn't as good. He split some reps against Notre Dame defensive end Romeo Okwara. N.C. State defensive end Mike Rose also beat Cooper with a bull rush and using speed to the inside. Cooper (6-5, 306) looked more like a guard candidate than an edge protector to start out his career, but he has potential to develop.
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