NewEra Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 He's cheap. He'll make the team. He'll most likely be invisible all season. I hope Pettine can get something out of him. In all honesty, if we cut him, I'd be happy. Too slow. Can't shed blocks. Below average instincts. Terrible in coverage. No one would know he was gone.
Adam Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 I think James Patton will have a breakout season, first.
buffalobillsgrl Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Oh my.....did i just see Moats mentioned? So people do remember he is on the team? I actually just started a thread about him lol
DrDawkinstein Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 I've been the only poster to back Sheppard, and I'll continue to do so. Yes, he can contribute, and he's not nearly as bad as most here make him out to be. Kid made plays AT the line of scrimmage once Wanny shifted away from the Nickel.
WellDressed Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 By this measure we would have cut Eric Moulds. He was a bust.....until his third year. Moulds was a great KO returner in the first 2 years and Marv didn't like to play rookies. He just didn't justify his draft position until '98.
Alaska Darin Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Sheppard is outstanding at identifying the lead blocker and engaging him. They then together move carefully away from the play. Amen.
Magox Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Sheppard just doesn't seem to be able to cover enough ground, from what I've seen he always seems to hit the gap on those out wide plays a tad too late. I don't know if it's that his instincts aren't quite there to anticipate those players better or if he lacks the speed to make the play. In any case, I don't believe he is the answer.
VirginiaMike Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Seriously, if you watched him at all, your realized he looked slow, unable to tackle, and not physical in the least. How many times did you see him in the backfield? It's hard work for a middle linebacker to disappear for a game. He found a way. That last quote says it all. You would go an entire half without hearing his name.
eball Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Sheppard is outstanding at identifying the lead blocker and engaging him. They then together move carefully away from the play. If the lead blocker can get to more than one defender, the terrorists win.
Green Lightning Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 Moulds was a great KO returner in the first 2 years and Marv didn't like to play rookies. He just didn't justify his draft position until '98. Yeah, Marv didn't play rookies, like Cornelius Bennett. But I get your point. My point is Sheppard may not be a three down player but he's not a bust at this point.
Baba Booey Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 I give Shep one more year under Pettine's guidance, though we do need a linebacker or two via draft or Free Agency. I think Mark Andersen will be an OLB in Pettines defense like he was in Bellicheks. Nigel Bradhan is the one lb who will sky rocket in Pettines defense he showed flashes at the end of last year. Sheppard will have one moreyear to prove himself, though he may be out before that.
RuntheDamnBall Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 It would not surprise me to see that Pettine has a deep file on all of our defensive players and knows what he is working with. I am equally certain that he has seen that some players are being misused and that others are simply ineffective. No team has a roster of 53 starters but hopefully he can make sure that the depth and the starters are worthy of an NFL defense. Above all I am hoping for creativity. Whether Sheppard is the beneficiary of that or not will be largely up to him.
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