Rookie Depth Chart Battles: Kelvin Sheppard

by Jon Dove on Jul 12, 2011 11:59 AM EDT

More and more NFL rookies are expected to contribute early in their careers. However, for them to make an impact they need to beat out a veteran player. We are going to analyze the situation of specific rookies and determine the likely hood of them winning a position battle.

Player: Kelvin Sheppard

Team: Buffalo Bills

Position: Linebacker

Competition: Paul Posluszny (free agent), Akin Ayodele

Chance of winning the battle: 60 percent

Thoughts: Sheppard landed on a team that lacks great defensive talent and depth. The Bills have been working to improve their overall talent for a few years and are making strides. The first thing Buffalo needs to figure out is a defensive identity as last year they rotated between a 3-4 and 4-3 alignment. It appears they are leaning towards running a 3-4 system.

Sheppard has good size and decent athletic ability. He would be best served as an inside linebacker where he can attack the line and plug holes. However, he is not the most instinctive player and at times is out of position. What he lacks in instincts is compensated by athletic talent.

The linebacker corps in Buffalo is thin and could get thinner if Paul Posluszny leaves via free agency. The lack of depth means that Sheppard has a good shot to earn a starting spot early. At the very least he will be looking at significant playing time as part of the rotation. However, it will all come down to how he performs in training camp because starting jobs need to be earned.

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Akin Ayodele is likely gone. However, two more veterans, Andra Davis and Reggie Torbor, are still around. Whether Sheppard starts or not is almost entirely dependent on whether the team can re-sign Posluszny; if Poz is back, Sheppard will probably be sitting behind 2-3 veterans.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 12, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

If Poz goes, they re-sign Ayodele, right?

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 13, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

He would be best served as an inside linebacker where he can attack the line and plug holes.

If that’s the case then wouldn’t he be best served as MLB?

I always thought he’d be more of a WLB like Poz where he would be chasing the ball instead of the “thumper” role…

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 12, 2011 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

so….. no reply here Jon?

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 13, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

sorry for late reply

here is a copy of my scouting report on Sheppard.. a tough guy to figure out.. a lot of hype but I wasnt very impressed from what I seen.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/3/16/2042422/kelvin-sheppard-nfl-draft-scouting-report

Jon Dove
NFL Analyst at Mocking the Draft
@Jon_Dove42

by Jon Dove on Jul 13, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

ya i’ve read that – I guess the problem is that i’ve heard conflicting reports on him too – it seems that most people don’t have a good bead on him.

Hopefully with that week in the Senior Bowl with Chan he got a real good feel for him as a player. Part of the problem with couch scouting is you don’t know what’s asked from a player so in that regard Chan, obviously, has more info.

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 13, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Sheppard will definitely compete for playing time this year, especially if the Bills can’t bring Poz back. He won’t be the only rookie fighting for a starting job/significant playing time either. Dareus is a lock to start, Aaron Williams will challenge McKelvin and Florence (if he resigns), Da’Norris Searcy will challenge George Wilson/Bryan Scott at strong safety and Chris Hairston will get a shot to battle with Erik Pears, Mansfield Wrotto and Cordero Howard for the right tackle job.

by KillerKowal on Jul 12, 2011 4:16 PM EDT reply actions