Shepard needs to show up and play

[top dawg]

I just don't know what to think of Russell Shepard yet. He's been ballyhooed seemingly all summer, but in the preseason games, his play hasn't met his hype (much like Funchess'). He spoke to the AP about his potential, and of course he's saying all the r---uh, things, but I'm not so sure that whichever Associated Press writer wrote this article is 100 percent right in their assertions.

 

"Shepard entered the offseason expecting to compete with another free agent signee Charles Johnson and rookie second-round pick Curtis Samuel and Damiere Byrd as the team's third receiver. But Johnson was cut earlier this offseason after battling injuries, Samuel has been plagued by hamstring injuries and Shepard has outperformed Byrd to take the lead."

 

I mean, has Shepard outperformed Byrd? Really, people, has he? Or does it really fall back to his advantage at special teams?

And in regards to Samuel, the hammy was only "mild" anyway (and the team was accordingly cautious), so I'm not necessarily buying that Shepard is entrenched at the slot over Shepard like the article is basically suggesting. Shepard's back, and I am going to say that it's not going to take too long for him to become a mainstay on the field as well as people's minds.

Shepard certainly hasn't made any noise during the preseason games, but he did make some with this statement.

 

"Every young receiver follows Steve Smith," Shepard said. "He is a guy that has done it the hard way. He's not the most athletically gifted individual but he's a polished receiver and a confident individual and he's very good at what he does. I'm a feisty guy, a competitive guy too, so he's one of the guys that I look to model my game after."

 

So he dreamed about being Smitty...what young receiver hasn't, but where does Shep get off saying that Smitty was not "the most athletically gifted individual?" Smitty was polished (after working on it), good at what he does, and athletically gifted. He was all that and a bag o' chips! But 89's heart was his secret sauce. 

I mean, Smitty could jump out the gym, adjust his body, high point the ball, could break tackles, outrun most, was strong as hell pound for pound, and had the attitude and will to always show up. So...

If Shepard wants to really get an expanded role receiving, then he needs to let his play start talking on the field.  Tomorrow would be a good start. Until then, like I said back in June, I don't believe. Smitty never disappeared, and when he got his shot, he seized it! Shepard needs to remember that!

 

[Bartin]

6 minutes ago, top dawg said:

He's been ballyhooed seemingly all summer

??

He's been a nobody for 4 years in the league. How exactly is he ballyhooed and even if he was how were you buying into the hype? His career highs are 23 rec, 341 yards and 2 TDs on a team with major WR injuries.

[top dawg]

9 minutes ago, Bartin said:

??

He's been a nobody for 4 years in the league. How exactly is he ballyhooed and even if he was how were you buying into the hype? His career highs are 23 rec, 341 yards and 2 TDs on a team with major WR injuries.

It's not like I'm going to call any names here, but most people know what I'm talkin' 'bout. Perhaps "ballyhooed" is too strong a word, but it pales in comparison to Shepard talk in these parts since OTAs...that is until the preseason games started anyway.

[Bartin]

Just now, top dawg said:

It's not like I'm going to call any names here, but most people know what I'm talkin' 'bout. Perhaps "ballyhooed" is too strong a word, but it pales in comparison to Shepard talk in these parts since OTAs.

Fair enough. I wasn't around much in the offseason.

[Jon Snow]

I'm not so sure Shepard makes the team unless it's just for special teams and #5-6 wr.  I'm not seeing the greatness that some have portrayed.

[top dawg]

3 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

I'm not so sure Shepard makes the team unless it's just for special teams and #5-6 wr.  I'm not seeing the greatness that some have portrayed.

It's like I told Saca in one of my posts, I honestly forget that Shepard is even out there. 

[Jon Snow]

20 minutes ago, top dawg said:

It's like I told Saca in one of my posts, I honestly forget that Shepard is even out there. 

You have to take Saca with a grain of salt.  He means well but does over hype these guys a bit.

But after saying that I too thought that Shepard just might carve out a niche for himself here because we sorely need help on special teams.  If he can catch on as a backup wr then that's a plus.  Right now I'm not so sure he makes the cut.

[therealmjl]

3 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

You have to take Saca with a grain of salt.  He means well but does over hype these guys a bit.

But after saying that I too thought that Shepard just might carve out a niche for himself here because we sorely need help on special teams.  If he can catch on as a backup wr then that's a plus.  Right now I'm not so sure he makes the cut.

I feel like there's a 0% chance he is cut...based solely on his ability on special teams (which we haven't even seen yet).

he needs to start producing as a WR asap though...he's done nothing.

[gmonjimbo]

I'm going to wait until tomorrow and the regular season to draw conclusions about Shepard or even Funchess. Tomorrow we get an extended look at the starters before the regular season starts. Also, I noticed that Shepard name was mentioned more the first few training camp practices when Cam participated then it took a dip when DA started taking the majority of snaps. It could be that Cam has better chemistry with Shepard than DA does. 

[Jon Snow]

1 minute ago, mjligon said:

I feel like there's a 0% chance he is cut...based solely on his ability on special teams (which we haven't even seen yet).

he needs to start producing as a WR asap though...he's done nothing.

I thought so too at one time.  Now I'm at 50% until he shows up in preseason.  

[*FreeFua*]

50 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

I'm not so sure Shepard makes the team unless it's just for special teams and #5-6 wr.  I'm not seeing the greatness that some have portrayed.

So on a team where no one has really separated themselves (minus KB obviously) you're not sure the guy with a dead cap hit of 2.1 million makes the team?

Shepard is 100% making the team this year.

Now next year if we cut Shep we will save 2 million but still carry 1.4 million in dead cap. 

 

[csx]

Remember that the early Shepherd optimism was based on his apparent chemistry with Cam early in camp.

[Jeremy Igo]

6 minutes ago, csx said:

Remember that the early Shepherd optimism was based on his apparent chemistry with Cam early in camp.

This. 

 

When DA stepped in he lost all his opportunity. 

[Jon Snow]

2 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

So on a team where no one has really separated themselves (minus KB obviously) you're not sure the guy with a dead cap hit of 2.1 million makes the team?

Shepard is 100% making the team this year.

Now next year if we cut Shep we will save 2 million but still carry 1.4 million in dead cap. 

 

Anything is possible and nothing is guaranteed.  Hurney will rubber stamp whatever Ron wants.