Andra Davis benched for Kelvin Sheppard?

7 months ago poz 21 comments 0 recs |

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so is he moving to Mike then? he’s a Will so that’s Barnetts?

i’m confused

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by J2 on Oct 17, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

They play so little true 3-4 that it hardly matters. He’ll be playing alongside Barnett.

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by Brian Galliford on Oct 17, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

well of course I get that – but that’s what I was asking. :)

11 years of losing has taught me just a smidge of humility. - k8

by J2 on Oct 17, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember seeing a few plays yesterday where Davis was chasing a Giant from behind on a pass play. Shortly thereafter I noticed Sheppard on the field a lot more.

by Pistol on Oct 17, 2011 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Yup.

On a PA to Bradshaw then he went out and caught the pass for like 20 yards or more. That hurt.

Also another thing I was confused on was when Bradshaw would come off the field, they kepy Davis out there… very frustrating.

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by bflo on Oct 18, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

good move

andre looked slow and old out there yesterday.

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by captainStros on Oct 17, 2011 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

think a lot of it has to do with schemes

think teams have noticed that his job is stuffing the run and is below average as coverage. He pretty much plays when there is a fb or 2 TE in for the opposing team. But teams have learned that and are creating mismatches for themselves (ie. davis having to cover bradshaw on a swing pass yesterday) Just a theory

OR. it has to do with lateral speed and figure shep will be better at coming around the edge and meeting the RB before he can turn the corner upfield

by Acera on Oct 17, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

oh.. third option

they really really really really like what shep has done in practices and see great potential

by Acera on Oct 17, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Player coach

IIRC Chan was asked recently about Davis and he said that he would have a future as a coach if he so desired. Chan praised what he has taught the younger guys on the team. While Davis role will diminish on the field it doesn’t mean he can’t have an impact on this team.

Harooo

by Robot Nixon on Oct 17, 2011 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

good comment

I tend to think you are right

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by poz on Oct 18, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

yup

That’s Davis’s role now. he went to Atlanta and taught Shep during the offseason. And I just read an article on Davis where he said he’s had the personal success, but not the team success, and that’s his goal now, to help the team however he can.
very cool!

by dgrid on Oct 18, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know if benched is the right word.

A few of the beat writers, and I think Chan, mentioned that the vets were pushing for Shep to get playing time in the Philly game. They made it sound like Andra was one of those players.

To me, that is the ultimate team player right there. The guy recognizes that Shep had more ability and versatility at this point in time and asked the coaches to get him on the field. I think it’s part of the reason that Chan spoke so glowingly about Andra after the Philly game.

Andra is a classy guy all the way around. I hope he gets into coaching as Chan suggested he should when his playing career is done.

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Oct 17, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Wasn’t Shep injured for a while early on also? I think we might have seen him taking playing time earlier in the season if he hadn’t had to sit out much of TC.

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by thefourwinds on Oct 17, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

He was hurt early in camp

I don’t think he saw the field until the final PS game against Detroit.

This is another good sign for him since he was able to pick up the defense and make an impression with no off-season and a truncated pre-season due to injury.

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Oct 19, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

i think its kind of cool

that a 3rd rounder who was a heavy Rumbler favorite is proving to be an impact guy

Good for Andra for helping him along, I’d welcome Andra back as a LB coach whenever he wants to hang it up though I dont think he has to just yet. He has looked good at times this season He’s just noticeably lost a step is all

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Oct 18, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

It is cool. I love going back tand watching that clip of him leading LSU in their pre-game ritual.

Talk about passion and energy.

As he develops, I hope he can get a knack for blitzing/rushing the passer. All of our pressure packages for the last couple years have mainly been effective off the edge with DB’s and OLB’s.

Our ILB or MLB have not been very effective when called upon in that department for a while now. Mitchell was average at best, and he was the best of the group for the last 2-3 seasons.

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Oct 19, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

your right

and a promising sign watching him nail Vick on that Barnett interception touchdown.

To your above comment, definitely a good sign that he could pick up the defense despite being hurt, so quickly. A plus for him coming out was that he was a very intelligent guy. Looks to be true.

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Oct 19, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Andra for defensive cordiantor next year!!!

by Fernando brazil on Oct 18, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Time catches us all, I just hope that Sheppard is ready. But the big problem with our defense appears to be up front we just dont look strong enough, and it seems that we lack the abllity to shed blocks, and our LBs aren’t filling the gaps fast or hard enough.

by atsnigduh2u on Oct 18, 2011 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

This is good. I love Davis and think he’s great to have on the team, but he’s looking really slow out there this year. I’ve said this in a couple posts since Sunday. I know that in the 3-4, Shep is playing a different position than Davis, backing up Barnett, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play Davis’ position. And, of course, they don’t play a real 3-4 that often and Shep had already seemed to replace Davis in nickel-type (e.g. the ones where they use two true linebackers rather than Scott and Barnett).

He’s done well when in there. I think he “gets it” adequately to receive more playing time, and this’ll help us see what we get from him going forward.

by paxon on Oct 18, 2011 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

I’d add that I’m not quite sure in what ways he’ll be an upgrade and in what ways he’ll be a downgrade, but he seems pretty decent against the run and should certainly be better than Davis at providing pressure if they ever decide to blitz from his position.

by paxon on Oct 18, 2011 8:23 PM EDT reply actions