Shepard needs to show up and play

[KillerKat]

Just now, Millioso7 said:

My eyes are bleeding.. bersin has done what again?.. 

He is Richardson's son. He is infallible. 

[KillerKat]

Ideally having Shepard on board would help the team more than Bersin. Same with Clay. I would love both of them over Bersin. Our WRs should be KB, Funch, Byrd, Samuel, Shep, and Clay. But I don't trust Rivera to put together the best group of WRs. With Shepard having done nothing while Bersin still shows his sticky hands, he has the leg up. I'm trying to view it in Rivera's eyes. Rivera could also not value punt returning, as evident when he sent Bersin out there years ago, and just cut Clay to keep the golden one. That would suck having to hold our breath again whenever it's time to return one. I don't fully trust Byrd back there. I have a bad feeling of him dropping it. Right now all I can go on is production and Shep has done the least so far.

[Millioso7]

8 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

Ideally having Shepard on board would help the team more than Bersin. Same with Clay. I would love both of them over Bersin. Our WRs should be KB, Funch, Byrd, Samuel, Shep, and Clay. But I don't trust Rivera to put together the best group of WRs. With Shepard having done nothing while Bersin still shows his sticky hands, he has the leg up. I'm trying to view it in Rivera's eyes. Rivera could also not value punt returning, as evident when he sent Bersin out there years ago, and just cut Clay to keep the golden one. That would suck having to hold our breath again whenever it's time to return one. I don't fully trust Byrd back there. I have a bad feeling of him dropping it. Right now all I can go on is production and Shep has done the least so far.

Dude we're keeping 5 and bersin ain't one of them.. bet it?

[Shocker]

He gets cut IMO.

[KillerKat]

6 minutes ago, Millioso7 said:

Dude we're keeping 5 and bersin ain't one of them.. bet it?

Something I didn't think of until this discussion.....We cut Bersin before right? No one claimed him. So now cutting Bersin seems more likely. I see him the least to get claimed between him and Clay or Shep. And we could bring him back in a pinch. Now I'm leaning more towards my previous prediction that I just stated. So thanks for the discussion. 

[KillerKat]

Signed as a free agent by Carolina (10/4/16)...Waived by Carolina (10/1/16)

http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/Brenton-Bersin/31c00b21-d52b-4041-bfe0-df150e44ddfe

That's why I didn't remember him getting cut. He was signed 3 days after it lol. Ok, so fug all I said. But even though Shepards ceiling is higher than Bersin's,  I still would like more production out of him though. I still feel like he should earn it. 

[Saca312]

Brenton Bersin is no longer PS eligible if i recall correctly.

[SeoulPanther]

25 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

I still feel like he should earn it. 

 This is what I agree with most of all. I don't doubt Jeremy when he says Shep is a lock. But if he is its got to be true that he wants to show he can be an asset and build some momentum. He should be getting worked into the game more by the OC even with DA throwing. Why are Frazier and Duke getting more snaps? They're not even in the first team conversation for most people. Maybe preseason G 1 + 2  are just about the bubble guys but as the thread title says hopefully sometime in the next couple of games he will log a few receptions. You can't tell me its desirable to take a guy into the season as a lock WR who has virtually zero game contribution for his new team while at the same time not having a proven track record as a WR.

 Point is I want him and Funchess to start feeling comfortable (and ideally) building chemistry and  confidence with Cam in preseason not during the first few regular season games having been given a free pass.

 

[top dawg]

1 hour ago, Saca312 said:

 

And so I turn to film. 

In terms of whether special teams play and leadership alone would garner him a spot, it will. 

His leadership often rivaled Jameis Winston's. The energy and ferocity he brings to the locker room more than warrants his roster spot.

In his first three seasons, Shepard played in 43 of a possible 48 games, leading the team during that span with 30 kick-coverage tackles. Shepard cemented himself as the foundation of the Buccaneer's special teams group, and enjoyed every second of it.

In 2015, Russell Shepard achieved the role as the Buccaneers Special Teams captain. Recognized for his steady improvement, energy, and skill on the team, Russell Shepard received that title with plenty of support. Everyone knew Shepard was an integral part of the team, and his drive and passion awe-inspiring.

As I said, he's not just some nobody. He was huge in the Buccaneer's locker room. There's a reason multiple teams were dealing with him this past off-season, including us.

In the above, Shepard comes down gunning for Ted Ginn. He's right beside him as Ginn makes the unfortunate fumble during a kickoff. Shepard immediately dives on the ball, recovering it.

A very good special teams ace. There's no way we're not going to be using his skills to the max.

Now, in terms of route running, he does really well, even in the short to intermediate game.

Check above as he goes against a 49ers corner and makes a nice move. Cutting to the inside, he gets separation and finds himself open for the easy endzone reception. A good looking route all around.

On the play seen above, Shepard runs a 7 route. Although there was a late jam from the defender, Shepard's route was unaffected. He gets separation and finds himself open in the endzone for the touchdown.

On the deep hitch, Shepard does a nice job hitting the top and getting open. Carolina's offense employs a lot of deep hitches, and Shepard does them very well.

On the play above, watch Shepard adjust to another one of Jameis' erratic throws. Gets himself in position to catch rather quickly and adjusts to the ball well. 

On this play, Shepard takes an inside release on the Saints defensive back. He's able to get leverage, then runs a skinny post. Jameis nearly botches the snap, but he does get it out on time for a big gain.

So yes, Shepard has shown on film he's a very good route runner and will be a very solid WR3 for us. Coaches feel the same, and training camp validates everything.

As seen above, Shepard quickly drops weight at the top of his route and finds himself open against Worley. Easy reception and shows a lot of good technique. Only validates what has been seen on his tape at Tampa.

He's a competent receiver. Stats never tell the whole story. Film does. 

And yet all of that, didn't keep him with the Bucs (for legitimate reasons), nor did it address why you don't understand why I actually need to see him do more than what he's done these last two games, when you basically downplayed Benjamin for being productive until seeing him show up for these last two preseason games. Like I said, to me it's a bit hypocritical. I've never been dismissive of Shepard like you've been towards KB, I've just pointed out that he hasn't been this extraordinary receiver that you make him out to be. If he does, that would be great. If he doesn't then he's only a special teams ace (which I have already given him credit for months ago). And I don't think it's unreasonable to actually want to see him not only do something in preseason, but the regular season as well. 

[top dawg]

1 hour ago, Saca312 said:

I mean right now Derek Anderson isn't helping matters. I'm going off what I've seen last year in Tampa, and Shepard was pretty dang good.

Good? And, "pretty dang good" at that?  It's statements like these that make one really question your objectivity.

He was so good that he was expendable.

[Saca312]

25 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Good? And, "pretty dang good" at that?  It's statements like these that make one really question your objectivity.

He was so good that he was expendable.

Same NFL office that proceeded to draft a kicker in the 2nd round. I'm literally showing you evidence on Shepard and multiple instances of good WR route running and play. 

If you want to complain about sample size understand I'm not going to upload every single snap he ever took and I'm highlighting the constants.

As I said, Shepard has a lot of upside and I've already been proven right with every bear writer and Igo saying he's a lock. Cam was trash his rookie preseason, then he showed up when it mattered.

I don't doubt at all Shepard will be a good contributor. His spot is assured. Nothing will change that, no matter the complaining.

And in case you're wondering, check my post on KB in March. I actually said I was optimistic he'll be back finally 2 years removed from his ACL injury. I was skeptical because his prior tape showed a pretty bad receiver, but then preseason validated my hopes Benji may actually be good. 

As far as Shepard, him "not doing anything in preseason" doesn't mean anything. I back statements up with film, and Shepard's film shows a guy who contributes. Can't evaluate a guy who hasn't even really been targeted anyhow, so I'm going off what he did at Tampa and training camp.

That is the big difference. I come to a conclusion that doesn't match what you think and you assume that questions my objectivity lol. Something we'll have to disagree on I guess.

[top dawg]

3 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Same NFL office that proceeded to draft a kicker in the 2nd round. I'm literally showing you evidence on Shepard and multiple instances of good WR route running and play. 

If you want to complain about sample size understand I'm not going to upload every single snap he ever took and I'm highlighting the constants.

As I said, Shepard has a lot of upside and I've already been proven right with every bear writer and Igo saying he's a lock. Cam was trash his rookie preseason, then he showed up when it mattered.

I don't doubt at all Shepard will be a good contributor. His spot is assured. Nothing will change that, no matter the complaining.

And in case you're wondering, check my post on KB in March. I actually said I was optimistic he'll be back finally 2 years removed from his ACL injury. I was skeptical because his prior tape showed a pretty bad receiver, but then preseason validated my hopes Benji may actually be good. 

As far as Shepard, him "not doing anything in preseason" doesn't mean anything. I back statements up with film, and Shepard's film shows a guy who contributes. Can't evaluate a guy who hasn't even really been targeted anyhow, so I'm going off what he did at Tampa and training camp.

That is the big difference. I come to a conclusion that doesn't match what you think and you assume that questions my objectivity lol. Something we'll have to disagree on I guess.

That's not what's exactly going on here. I believe in actually seeing players compete before I draw a hard-line conclusion like you. I don't go to the Rivera school of competition, I actually believe in real competition. 

[Saca312]

7 minutes ago, top dawg said:

That's not what's exactly going on here. I believe in actually seeing players compete before I draw a hard-line conclusion like you. I don't go to the Rivera school of competition, I actually believe in real competition. 

The fact more evidence on a larger sample size shows Shepard has made an impact gives me more confidence than say two preseason games where the 1s barely had playing time.

His season last year + training camp shows a trend of a player who is actually good. And before you say "but he sucked before," understand that players undergo a process called growth, so recent data is more accurate than outdated ones from 2+ years ago.

My conclusion is based on a larger sample size of Shepard's 2016 season and performance from many accounts during training camp. I think that makes his "no show" during preseason the exception, rather than the norm.

[Saca312]

But please, go check out the tape yourself and come with your own conclusion. I'd love to hear another side with your own ideas on how he looked on film. I can respect that and I'd love to have a fruitful discussion based on that.

I don't respect baseless accusations with no film evidence to back up anything. Stats never tell the whole story. Film shows how a receiver is used, how well they run routes, and how they work against the defense to make plays. 

I apologize for having a different opinion from you and saying that there's no way that Shepard doesn't make this team and back it up.