MORSE: East West Shrine Game Standouts
(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots News
(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) The East-West Shrine game will be played Thursday night (8:00 NFL Network). The practices are more important to the scouts than the game itself is. The first practice was held Saturday, and the final practice will be Tuesday. I will highlight some of the players that have been having good practices and shining for the scouts. The analysis is from various sources. My criteria is when you read multiple sources talking about the same guys then they really stood out.
G Mason McCormick – South Dakota State
One of my favorite interior offensive line players so far in Frisco at the Shrine Bowl has been South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick. He had a very impressive weekend in the first two days of practice and will look to carry that momentum into the week. At 6’4, 310-pounds, McCormick’s size and strength have been on display, especially in the run game. When he lands, it’s very difficult for defenders to break away from him. In one-on-ones, he’s shown a good anchor as well.
McCormick has guard-center versatility which is something that teams will value along with experience. He started 57 games with the Jackrabbits. Again, he’s been especially stout in the run game and at the very least is a depth option that can be had late on day three of the draft.
CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers – Toronto Argonauts
The biggest story of the Shrine Bowl is the Cornerback who didn’t play college football. Qwan’Tez Stiggers started in the Fan Controlled Football League where he caught the eye of the CFL. Last season, he was the Rookie of the Year for the Toronto Argonauts. He finished with 53 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and five interceptions.
Some of his professional experience in the CFL has been on display in Frisco. He’s a physical and aggressive player and consistently gets his hands on the ball. Stiggers has done a nice job, especially in zone, reading the quarterback and then coming up and through the hands of the wide receiver to get the pass breakup. Stiggers has at least shown that he should get some NFL consideration.
WR Tahj Washington – USC
Washington has without a doubt been one of my favorite players throughout the first two days of the Shrine Bowl. He just looks like a Rams wide receiver. He is smaller at 5’9, 177-pounds, but his routes are extremely crisp and he play much more physical than his size.
Washington has shown the ability to be clean off the line, impressive in his pursuit of catching the ball, and has done so with a smoothness that is noteworthy. Another good day on Monday has helped confirm what many have thought of the young wideout after Days 1 and 2.
The Rams were unable to bring back Brandon Powell last offseason and Washington fits a similar mold and he brings value on special teams as a kick returner. Washington has done a good job creating separation and finding the soft spots in zone in drills at the Shrine Bowl. His quickness is as-advertised and he’s simply a tough player that the Rams like in their wide receivers.
EDGE Gabriel and Grayson Murphy – UCLA
Both Murphy brothers are at the Shrine Bowl and while both have had positive moments, Grayson Murphy has stood out slightly more from what I’ve seen. In team drills on Tuesday, he put left tackle Dylan Grable on his back and then in one-on-ones, he’s shown off impressive moves like the one below.
Grayson Murphy who turned heads with his ability to consistently penetrate into the backfield and disrupt the action. He followed that up with another terrific practice Sunday.
C Matt Lee – Miami
Lee doesn’t possess the same size as a player like McCormick from above. He’s only 6’3, 288-pounds. However, he had a good first two days of practice at the Shrine Bowl. Lee has shown positive moments in pass protection and has shown good ability to block in space downfield.
This past season at Miami, Lee helped lead one of the best offensive lines in the country after transferring from UCF. He was Pro Football Focus’ third-highest graded center this past season. At some point, the Rams would be smart to draft a center. Again, Lee is a bit on the smaller side, but should be someone on LA’s radar.
DL Khristian Boyd – Northern Iowa
Arguably the most impressive offensive linemen in Frisco this weekend was Northern Iowa’s Khristian Boyd. His power was consistently on display in one-on-ones and then in team drills he showed that he could make an impact in the run game as well.
The Rams could use some defensive line depth and Boyd is an explosive player with a high motor that they usually like. Boyd is a little on the small side at 6’2, but at 320, he has plenty of power in his lower body. We’ll see if he can keep it going over the next two days.
Khristian Boyd out of Northern Iowa. That’s the name. You need to put Boyd on your list of guys who will absolutely fly up boards after this event. Before this week, I am not sure why Boyd did not get more hype. He obliterated everyone he faced on Sunday with impressive tape. He has a great club-swim move but has about six other moves that he can use to set interior offensive linemen up.
G Christian Mahogany – Boston College
There is no bigger name playing in this game than Boston College massive Offensive Guard Christian Mahogany. The 6’3” 322 lb guard is laying waste to the D-lineman. Mahogany is just a stud and can run a 5.3 40-yard dash. In 2023 Mahogany gave up no sacks. He is a fire hydrant that D lineman can’t get around. Mahogany has played both guard positions and has 34 career starts.
EDGE Xavier Thomas – Clemson
The Clemson pass rusher has been disruptive all week, but Monday may have been his best day of work in Frisco. Thomas has shown all the physical tools to be a quality pass rusher at the next level and has been productive in his work this week. His speed stands out and impresses for a man as physical as he is.
Thomas has been a standout at edge through the first two days of practice at the Shrine Bowl. His athleticism is consistently on display as well as his strength and explosiveness. He was especially impressive in one-on-ones on day two. I’ll be excited to see what he does over the next few days.
LB Easton Gibbs – Wyoming
Unfortunately for players like Edgerrin Cooper who many were excited to see, he’s been unable to practice. However, that has opened up opportunities for players like Easton Cooper out of Wyoming. Gibbs is a coverage stud. He has blanketed receivers and even had a pick with underneath coverage.
Gibbs had a red zone interception that would have been a pick-six in a live-game setting. He did a great job reading the eyes of the quarterback and making a play on the ball. Gibbs is natural in coverage as he was a safety in high school. That’s exactly the type of player that the Rams need to pair next to Jones. Gibbs will be somebody to watch on days three and four of practice.
C Hunter Nourzad – Penn State
Nourzad, who began his college career at Cornell and spent the last two years playing guard and center for Penn State, is listed at 6-2, 319 on the Shrine Bowl roster. He had the two most impressive reps of anyone on Sunday. Nourzad’s anchor and hand usage stood in a big way. Even when tackles tried to shove his hands off them, he reset the hands and stuck like a vice grip. He’s an exciting center. He’s a smooth mover in the run game and is comfortable in space. But I still have questions about how he handles more explosive, squatty rushers. But that chance should come tomorrow in a similar frame. Either way, Nourzad’s stock is soaring through the roof, and I like his game.
T Garrett Greenfield – South Dakota State
The last player I want to highlight is South Dakota State tackle Garret Greenfield. I love his footwork. He is as smooth a player as you will see in this class in the offensive line rooms. But his hands can get wide, and he habitually drops his eyes when engaging defenders. That’s fine. The physical tools are rare to find. Greenfield has a layered game with all different types of pass sets and a variety of moves to counter defenders overall. His stock will rise, and as a mid-round pick who is a natural right tackle, the Steelers could bite.
Troy Brown is calling the Offensive plays for the East squad of the Reece’s Senior Bowl. Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh, Patrick Stewart Senior Personnel Advisor, Camren Williams College Scouting Director are at the Senior Bowl. Troy Brown is also the Offensive Coordinator. Interesting point is that Brown is not wearing a Patriots logo jersey, but a Senior Bowl jersey. Does that indicate that Brown may not be back with the Patriots once a new Offensive Coordinator is selected? Who is attending the East – West Shrine game and practices?
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