Oakland Raiders: With Pickings Really Slim, A Few Options At Linebacker
By Kevin Saito
Taken out of LSU in the third round by the Buffalo Bills in the 2011 Draft, Sheppard was the sixty-eighth overall pick that year. And in his rookie season, he appeared in all sixteen games – making nine starts – recording 70 tackles, a fumble recovery, a safety, and a pass defensed.
All in all, a respectable showing for the first year pro.
Sheppard’s best year, statistically speaking, was 2014. He made fourteen starts that year, recording 102 tackles and two passes defensed. That seems to line up with his production in 2012, when he made fifteen starts and notched 80 tackles, a pair of sacks, and a pass defensed.
It seems that when Sheppard is given an opportunity to be a consistent starter, he produces. His production seems to dip when he’s in and out of the lineup and reduced to a bit role.
At six-foot-two, 250 pounds, he’s got good size. And with a 4.7 time in the 40, he’s got decent speed. He is a physical tackler and decent in pass coverage.
Again, he’s not going to dazzle you with his athleticism or outstanding play. But at this point, very few players are going to be able to do that, given what’s left on the shelf – there are very few genuine impact players left out there to be signed.
But Sheppard is competent and can help elevate the unit as a whole. And at this point in time, with the regular season bearing down, that’s about the best we can hope for.