The East won 31-27 and the story was how the running backs looked.
The East-West Shrine game featuring many NFL prospects was played on Saturday in Florida. The East beat the West 31-27 in a higher-scoring game than in years past.
Who were the players to stand out in the game?
Charlotte RB Bennie LeMay
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The Charlotte RB was the game’s offensive MVP with 16 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
The East extend their lead!@CharlotteFTBL RB Benny LeMay runs it for the score 💪
Scouts from across the NFL will have their eyes on the East-West Shrine Bowl, where prospects will look to elevate their draft stock.
The Bears are nearly a month into their offseason, where they’ve already made some moves to the offensive coaching staff. Now, all eyes shift to impending free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.
On Saturday, scouts from across the NFL will have their eyes on the East-West Shrine Bowl, where prospects will look to elevate their draft stock.
While the Bears didn’t draft any players that played in last year’s game, two of their undrafted free agents — Jesper Horsted and Mathieu Betts — played in the game.
In the past, Pace has found prospects like Bilal Nichols, Javon Wims, Bryce Callahan and Deon Bush from the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Here are seven prospects the Bears should keep an eye on Saturday:
QB James Morgan, FIU
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One prospect that has already caught the Bears’ eye is Florida International quarterback James Morgan, who the team met with earlier this week at practice. Morgan has quite the arm along with good size and mobility that make him an intriguing prospect at the pro level, and someone the Bears could snag on Day 3.
During bowl season, the big question is how much motivation each team has. After losing the Pac 12, the same question was asked about Utah.
Every year during bowl season, the big question for some teams is how much motivation each team has and how it will positively or negatively affect them. In last year’s Sugar Bowl, many said the only reason Texas was able to get a victory over Georiga is that the Bulldogs wanted to be in the College Football Playoff, not the Sugar Bowl.
The same was thought after it was announced that Utah would be playing against the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl. Just like Georgia, the Utes lost in their conference championship game and missed out on the College Football Playoff.
After losing the Alamo Bowl, Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley used that excuse, saying the Utes “took it more as a vacation.”
Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley on the loss against Texas in the Alamo Bowl: "We took it more as a vacation than preparing for a game, and it came back to bite us."
Texas dominated most of the game on both sides of the ball but especially on the defensive side. The Longhorns held running back Zach Moss to 57 rushing yards and Huntley to under 150 passing yards.
Even if Utah did use their trip to San Antonio as a vacation, they could have had a better showing than what happened. Dominated on both line of scrimmages, killing their drives through penalties, and losing their temper is what cost the Utes the game.
This year’s Alamo Bowl has the chance to be high scoring with Tyler Huntley and Sam Ehlinger. Here is the QB comparison between UT and Utah.
This year’s Alamo Bowl has the chance to be an offensive shootout with quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Sam Ehlinger under center. With Texas scoring 35 points a game and Utah scoring 34 points a game, both quarterbacks are accustomed to scoring.
When looking at the two, they have similar traits that make it an interesting matchup. Each player has been starting for three seasons and has been vital to their team’s success. The offenses run through their quarterbacks and if they are struggling, more than likely their team is going to have a bad day.
Here is the quarterback comparison between Texas and Utah:
Tyler Huntley: 73.7 completion percentage, 2,966 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, four touchdowns, 88 rushing attempts, 257 rushing yards, five touchdowns
Sam Ehlinger:Â 65.1 completion percentage, 3,462 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 152 rushing attempts, 590 rushing yards, nine touchdowns
Similarities
Both Huntley and Ehlinger are mobile quarterbacks who have the ability to make plays on their feet. While Ehlinger has the better rushing stats on the season, Huntley is a threat when running the read-option with star running back Zach Moss. Letting Huntley carry the ball is dangerous, as he has the ability to make people miss. As for Ehlinger, he has the ability to power over defenders. We saw it in the Sugar Bowl last season and throughout the year this year. Both have the ability to make big plays in the air, but their work running the ball will be key.
Differences
Of the two, Huntley is the more accurate quarterback. Both having their highest completion percentage of their careers, Huntley has slightly better than Ehlinger throughout this season. Completing 75% or better of his throws in seven out of 13 games this season, Huntley has been the most accurate quarterback in the Pac 12 this season and is only behind Joe Burrow on a national level. It will be crucial for Texas to get some pass breakups and not give Huntley time to find receivers. If they do, he is going to hit them all day for big gains.
Which team has the QB advantage?
While they are similar, Huntley is the better quarterback in this game. One of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football mixed with his lack of interceptions this season makes him reliable game in and game out. Having one of the top backs in the country in Zach Moss helps take the pressure off him as well. Ehlinger is more important to the Longhorns than Huntley is to the Utes, but Huntley’s accuracy and ability to use his feet makes him dangerous.
Texas and Utah are going to be energized as they will be playing on prime time television on NYE. Here are three defensive keys for Texas.
Going into this year’s Alamo Bowl, Texas and Utah have two different outlooks. Texas is happy to be in such a good bowl game after a disappointing 7-5 season, while Utah was one game away from the College Football Playoff. Despite this, both teams are going to be energized as they will be playing on prime time television on New Year’s Eve.
Losing the Pac 12 championship to Oregon, if the Utes had won that game they would of been playing in a more important game. Most of that was due to their offense success and the threatening duo of Tyler Huntley and Zach Moss. If Texas wants any chance of slowing Utah down, they need to make those two uncomfortable.
Here are three defensive keys for the Longhorns against the Utes:
Containing Zach Moss
Texas has faced some great running backs this season in Chubba Hubbard, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Pooka Williams. Utah’s running back Zach Moss may be the best of the bunch. Rushing for 1,329 yards in the Pac 12 this season, Moss led the conference in yards this season. He also led in rushing touchdowns, having 15.
Running backs have had big games against the Longhorns this season, with Oklahoma State’s Chubba Hubbard having 121 rushing yards and Kansas’ Pooka Williams having 190. If Texas is going to have someone beat them, it needs to be anyone but Moss. He has the ability to run all over defenses and the Longhorns cannot let that happen.
Force Tyler Huntley to throw an interceptions
In the Pac 12 championship against Oregon, Utah’s quarterback Tyler Huntley really struggled after having a solid season for the Utes. Only completing 58.6% of this throws, his lowest of the season. He also threw two interceptions against the Ducks, the same amount he had in the previous 12 games.
Utah is 0-4 in games that Huntley throws multiple interceptions. Texas forced multiple interceptions against Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia this season, going 3-0 in those games. It may sound simple, but if the Longhorns can make Tyler Huntley uncomfortable and throw a couple interceptions, Texas has a great chance of winning on New Year’s Eve.
Get pressure on Tyler Huntley
The way you make Huntley uncomfortable is by getting constant pressure against a solid Utah offensive line. The Utes only gave up 21 sacks this season, the second-fewest in the Pac 12. On the flip side, the Longhorns only had 22 sacks this season, the third-fewest in the Big 12. It would be an excellent time for Texas to start pressuring the quarterback well.
If they do get pressure, they must also contain Huntley, as he can easily make plays with his feet. Contain him inside the pocket, get some sacks, or force him into throws he is uncomfortable making. That would force quick, short drives by the Utah offense and let the Longhorns’ offense be as explosive as everyone knows it can be.
Texas will face Utah on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.
The stars are aligning. Oregon leads Utah 20-0 at the half.
Before the rain began to fall early in the second quarter, the Ducks lead 17-0.
The stars are aligning. Oregon leads Utah 20-0 at the half.
Before the rain began to fall early in the second quarter, the Ducks waddled ahead 17-0. Oregon is playing lights out on defense, forcing two failed fourth down conversions, a blocked punt and a Tyler Huntley interception before the half.
Oregon quarterback, Justin Herbert has picked the Utes apart for 178 yards on 11 completions and one touchdown. Herbert’s made a few poor reads but has connected deep twice for 45 and 50 yards.
Utah has looked flat and defeated for much of the first half. The Utes were stopped twice on fourth and short by the Ducks, just needing two yards on each attempt. Huntley has been shut down by the Ducks’ pass rush throwing for just 75 yards and going 7-12 with an interception.
Oregon has gotten to Huntley three times and has sacked him once, not allowing Huntley to get into a rhythm.
Of course, a Utah loss benefits Oklahoma so long as the Sooners can take care of Baylor tomorrow. With a two-loss PAC-12 champion if Oregon wins, the path to the playoff is less muddy. if the Ducks can finish the job, Oklahoma needs a win on their own as well as LSU to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship to sneak in as the fourth seed for the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma and Baylor are set to kick off at 11a.m. CT on ABC.
