2023 East-West Shrine Bowl: East Team Game Notes
Don’t ask me why the East-West Shrine Bowl is during the same week as the Senior Bowl. Don’t ask me why the East-West practices aren’t televised. It’s a total travesty and makes no sense, but again we work with the cards that are dealt.
Historically speaking the East-West game sends far fewer players to the NFL than the Senior Bowl does. With that in mind, we’re not going to go super crazy here. For the East Team game notes, we’re going to spot things you should keep in the back of your mind when the 2023 NFL Draft eventually arrives. Let’s not waste any more time and get to what you need to know!
Side note: The Hulu stream at the house crashed with seven minutes to go. I am beyond tired so we’re sending it through now. The game at that time was currently 9-3 with no touchdowns. Bad QB play had something to do with it.
Quarterbacks:
Aidan O’Connell needed to dominate. He’s already 24 and in an All-Star setting, you have to take this thing by the balls. The accuracy is probably a C+? Sometimes he can sit there and rip it but not so much when pushed off his spot. It’s noticeable. Can loft a nice deep ball but that’s about all we’re working with.
I’m not making this comparison. All I’m saying is if anyone can be a Brock Purdy in this draft it just might be Tanner Morgan. About the same size. Poised. Can move better than he looks. I don’t think he’s good but this is the best compliment I can make from this QB room.
Running Backs:
Not really a fan of this Tavion Thomas. Might be on the bigger side but he’s not on the good side. No burst. Got stood up right in the hole by Trey Dean a safety out of Florida. Did have one big role but I’m way too tired at this point to figure out what happened.
Jordan Mims had some big runs. Looks like he can catch as well.
Wide Receivers:
Good day for Joe Ngata. He’s a height, weight, speed guy that didn’t totally put it together at Clemson. The traits are there. Even returned kicks in this one. Peep this reception by Ngata on a ball thrown by O’Connell.
Jacob Copeland looks like he really trusts his hands. Take that for whatever it’s worth.
Tight Ends:
Joel Wilson with a terrible drop. That O’Connell pick is on him.
Defensive Line:
Caleb Murphy is the sack artist leader in college football. He got one in this game. Overall I wasn’t super blown away but you can see something may be here.
I actually thought BJ Thompson looked better. There was a long lenky bendiness to him. Felt more scary coming off the edge.
Cornerbacks:
Khalef Hailassie dropped what would have been a pick 6 thrown by DTR. Would have been a hell of a way to make an impression.
Nehemiah Shelton had the interception for the East team. It was interception city from the jump.
