Patriots Upgrade Pass Rush – Sign Jabaal Sheard
Former Browns edge rusher first domino in revamping the defense
The Patriots made a bit of a splash on Day 2 of free agency by signing former Cleveland Browns DE/OLB Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year contract. Sheard should immediately upgrade the Patriots pass rush by providing a true third option for Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich as an edge rusher.
The deal is a modest one considering some of the numbers given out in Day 1, $11 million dollars with $5 million guaranteed and only a $4 million dollar cap hit in 2015.
Adam Schefter cited an NFL league source stating that Sheard will be one of the best free agent signings of the year:
Patriots fans may remember that Sheard was widely pointed at the Pats during the 2011 NFL Draft as a good fit. But the team selected CB Ras-I Dowling and Sheard was taken by the Browns in Round 2 with the 37th overall pick shortly thereafter.
The 6’3, 267 Sheard is physical and tough and reportedly played most of 2014 with a broken bone in his foot, something that may have come into play with his dipped production. He will probably be used as a situational pass rusher giving Jones and Ninkovich a breather on occasion. Given that the Patriots spend a considerable amount of time in their sub-packages, Sheard should see a big role in Matt Patricia’s defense.
The Patriots used Mark Anderson in that role in 2011 and he responded with double digit sacks. But Sheard is far from a one trick pony and is very stout in run support and is able to set the edge well on the outside. Should either Jones or Ninkovich go down with an injury, he can step up and start immediately.
Here in 2013 as a member of the Browns, Sheard blows by LT Nate Solder and sacks Tom Brady in the third quarter of the Patriots - Browns game during Week 12, courtesy of NFL Game Rewind:
He’s also versatile and can play upright as a 3-4 outside line backer, but is a bit stiff in the hips and isn’t the greatest player in space if the team places him in coverage. And being only 25, he’s still young and should be just hitting his peak as a player.
Sheard has 23 career sacks and had 15 in his first two seasons. But a switch in philosophy from a 4-3 to more of a 3-4 scheme hurt his effectiveness. Plus, during his four years in the Browns system, the team used three different defensive coordinators.
As we pointed out yesterday, after losing Revis and Browner in the secondary, one way to deal with their loss is to improve the pass rush and limit the time the secondary will have to cover. Adding Sheard to the mix on the edge is a great first step.
On our weekly Patriots 4th & 2 podcast of March 4, and again on our March 11 morning podcast we spoke about the fit that Sheard would have in the Patriots defense.
Look for the Patriots to see what third year edge rusher Michael Buchanan and second year defensive end Zach Moore have to offer this summer too. Adding to the interior presence will be (hopefully) a healthy Dominique Easley, last season’s #1 pick who isn’t a traditional Patriots two-gapping DL and is more of a penetrating, disruptor. The Patriots are also rumored to be interested in former Lions DL Nick Fairley and the Broncos Terrence Knighton as well as bringing back former DL Vince Wilfork.
One thing is for sure, Michael Lombardi, Bill Belichick’s special assistant to the coaching staff is well versed in Sheard’s capabilities and knows him well. He’s also a solid player off the field, being named the Browns recipient of the Walter Payton Award in 2013, highlighting the player’s community service.
As the team moves on into 2015, the defense will have a different look to it than the 2014 version that brought home the Super Bowl. This one will probably not have the coverage skills in the secondary without Revis blanketing one side of the field. But it may be a more aggressive unit utilizing the front seven in getting after the quarterback, something fans have been clamoring for.
Bill Belichick always a master in building a team a small step at a time, without the big flash of signing the top name free agents. The Patriots have stayed true to the course during Belichick’s 15 years of tenure by adapting year-to-year. Adding Sheard to the mix is a big step in the right direction.
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