Patriots kick-off 2016 in 93 days: Profiling No. 93 Jabaal Sheard
Welcome to another installment in Musket Fire’s annual jersey number-dictated New England Patriots kick-off countdown series. For the duration of the summer, we will be profiling the player whose jersey number corresponds with the number of days left until the New England Patriots open the season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 11. Since today marks 93 days until the Sunday Night Football opener, we are profiling No. 93, veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard.
Size: 6-foot-2, 260 pounds
College: North Carolina State
2015 stats: 38 combined tackles, 8.0 sacks, four fumbles forced, two passes defended
NFL experience: Five seasons (age 27)
Hometown: Hollywood Hills, FL
Sheard proved to be the Patriots’ top free agency signing of 2015 by nearly matching his rookie total of 8.5 sacks with the Cleveland Browns. In fact, of the Patriots nine free agent signings last year, only three made the team, and Sheard was certainly better than Scott Chandler and Jonathan Freeny.
32 offseason additions, 32 interesting facts
It should be noted that Sheard’s four fumbles forced tied for second in the league only behind teammate Jamie Collins. When Sheard breaks into the backfield, he is skilled not only at bringing down the passer, but also at making the most of his time back there and knocking the ball loose. Half of Sheard’s eight sacks were strip sacks.
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In addition, it’s telling that Sheard started only one game in 2015. He was able to be one of the most productive members on the Patriots’ defense without starting much at all. One of the reasons the Patriots were fine with shedding Chandler Jones over the offseason probably had to do with Sheard’s outstanding production within a rotation, as the Patriots will most likely employ a rotation of Sheard, Rob Ninkovich and Chris Long to start the season (with Geneo Grissom working in).
In closing, Sheard has gone from a promising free agent signing a year ago to one of the more crucial components of the Patriots’ front seven.
Next: 10 Best Names on 90-Man Roster
Tomorrow marks 92 days until the Patriots open 2016 in the Arizona desert. Be sure to stop by Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we profile No. 92, defensive end Geneo Grissom.