DL Nathan Shepherd: 'Right Now, I'm an Intern with the Jets'

[Marshmello]

.@NathanDShepherd has a simple mindset:

It's intern SZN. pic.twitter.com/dHiWr5v02Z

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 9, 2018

My new favorite player.  Hopefully he can adjust quickly

 

 

[Patriot Killa]

He’s got an awesome personality and he’s been through a lot that has humbled him. Hopefully Shepherd can be the guy in the middle for years to come.

[Larz]

Perfect attitude. This guy gets it 

[flgreen]

One things clear to see, the interview process didn't hurt him at all

[T0mShane]

I wish we had 53 guys like this so they could combine to produce eight or nine sacks. 

[mphtrilogy]

Other than Sam, I am looking forward to seeing him the most in camp.

[Jet Blast]

2 minutes ago, mphtrilogy said:

Other than Sam, I am looking forward to seeing him the most in camp.

I look forward to seeing both Nathan Shepherd and Frankie Luvu.

 

[Tony MaC]

The one benefit of his relative later age for a rookie is that he's all growed up in terms of maturity. He'll take nothing for granted.

[TheNuuFaaolaExperience]

Character guys who contribute along with franchise QB character guys makes for a bright future. I would imagine that it's easier to recruit players when the team is cohesive. 

[C Mart]

1 hour ago, Patriot Killa said:

He’s got an awesome personality and he’s been through a lot that has humbled him. Hopefully Shepherd can be the guy in the middle for years to come.

Not sure they are pigeonholing him in the middle. With his athleticism I think they’re viewing him as a 3-4 DE. 

[HighPitch]

Im really really hoping this dude is the diamond in the rough

[Saul Goodman]

Seems to be a great kid. I’d like him more if we drafted him in the 6th round but where he was drafted shouldn’t count against him (i.e. Jamal Adams). 

[GreenFish]

This draft class has to be one of the best draft class of all time in terms of interviewing. Every time I see an interview of one of them I’m like bring on the Pats we are going to the Super Bowl right now. 

[stoicsentry]

2 hours ago, GreenFish said:

This draft class has to be one of the best draft class of all time in terms of interviewing. Every time I see an interview of one of them I’m like bring on the Pats we are going to the Super Bowl right now. 

This is one of the best non-douche drafts that I can ever remember us having. For now, at least...

[Patriot Killa]

17 minutes ago, stoicsentry said:

This is one of the best non-douche drafts that I can ever remember us having. For now, at least...

Ironically Josh Rosen is apart of it lol.

[jetstream23]

The culture change is in full effect.  Improvement by subtracting guys like Wilkerson and adding guys like this.  Now, let's just hope they can also play.  The important thing to realize is that by instantiating a culture change now it will allow flexibility in the future to bring in some very talented FAs who are possibly borderline when it comes to character or team-first attitude.  It's like the Patriots....players tend to change when they get there for the better.  But if the foundation isn't in place then adding a questionable guy can be toxic to a team.  The Jets aren't ready to take those risks now.  They're building the foundation and Shepherd seems like a key part of it.

[Dcat]

10 hours ago, C Mart said:

Not sure they are pigeonholing him in the middle. With his athleticism I think they’re viewing him as a 3-4 DE. 

He'll slide around the line for sure.  I think he will primarily play 3-tech and often as 5-tech as a DE on Bowles' 3-4.  I like this kid but couldn't find very much to watch other than one-sided highlight clips.    We knew the Jets had to make a replacement for Wilk and I was hoping they would draft Da'ashawn Hand out of Alabama, whom I think is the perfect fit for this (and Hand was there for us in both the 3rd and the 4th before being taken in the middle of the 4th.)  But I'm fine with Shepherd if in fact he can adjust to the 3-4 DE position.  There will be times where he lines up outside the tackle, which should prove interesting since I think that would be relatively different for him.

[sourceworx]

11 hours ago, T0mShane said:

I wish we had 53 guys like this so they could combine to produce eight or nine sacks. 

Not for anything, but this was a Mangini-like draft. A lot of high-character guys.

You should be happy.

[BurnleyJet]

Very, very athletic, and strong guy. He's had a hard path to get this far. I think he's going to be Mo's replacement, his buddy Folorunso Fatukasi is our new Nose Tackle.

[The Crusher]

4 minutes ago, BurnleyJet said:

Very, very athletic, and strong guy. He's had a hard path to get this far. I think he's going to be Mo's replacement, his buddy Folorunso Fatukasi is our new Nose Tackle.

FATukasi? Love him already

[Dcat]

2 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

FATukasi? Love him already

When do we start the annual "adopt-a-player" thread?  You, fine sir, MUST select FATukasi.

[The Crusher]

7 minutes ago, Dcat said:

When do we start the annual "adopt-a-player" thread?  You, fine sir, MUST select FATukasi.

Sold. Already changed avatar. 

[jetsons]

12 hours ago, flgreen said:

One things clear to see, the interview process didn't hurt him at all

He actually wore a suit for the interview.

[JetFreak89]

FATukasi? Love him already

(Dad joke incoming) Let’s hope he knocks centers over like a Fats Domino!


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[T0mShane]

49 minutes ago, sourceworx said:

Not for anything, but this was a Mangini-like draft. A lot of high-character guys.

You should be happy.

Plus side:

1. Good guy

2. Athletic for the position, which shows a newfound awareness of predictive traits

3. Fills a need.

 

Negatives:

1. Athletic traits never translated to production at exceedingly low levels of competition

2. Complementary player who will need a real edge rusher next to him in order to be effective.

3. Doesn’t help Sam Darnold in any way, which should have been the laser-like focus of remaining picks

4. Need only exists because two significantly more talented players straight up quit on Bowles and the organization after looking dominant under Rex.

[chrisfaceoff]

I wasn't excited about this pick when it was made.  I would have liked it be a selection for the O-line, but this guy makes it so easy to root for.  I'm very excited to see him in action at camp and in the preseason.  If his talent is even half of his attitude, we are in very good shape.

[dbatesman]

love too use a 3rd round pick on a 25 year old intern

[UntouchableCrew]

2 hours ago, sourceworx said:

Not for anything, but this was a Mangini-like draft. A lot of high-character guys.

You should be happy.

Choir Boys Win Championships.

[derp]

50 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Plus side:

1. Good guy

2. Athletic for the position, which shows a newfound awareness of predictive traits

3. Fills a need.

 

Negatives:

1. Athletic traits never translated to production at exceedingly low levels of competition

2. Complementary player who will need a real edge rusher next to him in order to be effective.

3. Doesn’t help Sam Darnold in any way, which should have been the laser-like focus of remaining picks

4. Need only exists because two significantly more talented players straight up quit on Bowles and the organization after looking dominant under Rex.

I'd add that he apparently showed really well at the Senior Bowl and was a pretty good value where he was drafted per other people's rankings - and I imagine his age was taken into account there. To an extent, that offsets the lack of production.

Age is a negative.

I don't think he's really supposed to produce as a 3rd round 5-tech. Clog up blockers, disrupt a little with his athleticism, and let guys around him make plays.

Agree that the edge guys are going to need to make plays - but that's how it's supposed to work in a 3-4. I'd rather be building the line with mid-late round picks and try to put more of a premium on edge guys. Granted that isn't how it's worked thus far until this season, but if we're moving in that direction then awesome.

 

I actually wanted to get more into two of your other items. The lack of help for Darnold is an interesting one. I think the good TE's and OL mostly got scooped up before the Jets' third round pick, RB's too really. That said, Maccagnan has always claimed to be a BPA heavy guy. I think that's great in practice until it isn't and the young QB doesn't have a supporting cast built around him.

Great example is the lack of drafting OL - I think there are less pro ready offensive linemen coming out of college now than there used to be and that's causing the better ones to be drafted at more of a premium than there used to be. It's one thing to pass if you don't like the value but then there won't be any good linemen.

It'd be good if Maccagnan deviates a little from his BPA strategy in order to get help the franchise QB.

Other one is the culture - I actually think it kind of needed to be ripped down and brought back up again. Not there yet but I think we're nearing the point that they can pick their spots and take chances on guys with character questions again. But I think it's hard to rebuild the culture on the fly and take those risks. Hopefully we see the team turn the corner there and start to make some adjustments. I think the team overachieving relative to talent expectations instead of underachieving is a step in the right direction.

[Miss Lonelyhearts]

19 minutes ago, dbatesman said:

love too use a 3rd round pick on a 25 year old intern

But he speaks so well.

[#27TheDominator]

I am not that worried about the age.  He is 24 and they have him for 4 years.  Is anybody worried he won't be able to produce at 28?  I am more concerned that he is considered raw and a project. He is going to have some acclimation period coming from such a tiny school, but we aren't drafting for 2022.  

[Scott Dierking]

Someone forgot to tell him that if he is late, that is the coaches fault.

[T0mShane]

18 minutes ago, derp said:

I'd add that he apparently showed really well at the Senior Bowl and was a pretty good value where he was drafted per other people's rankings - and I imagine his age was taken into account there. To an extent, that offsets the lack of production.

Age is a negative.

I don't think he's really supposed to produce as a 3rd round 5-tech. Clog up blockers, disrupt a little with his athleticism, and let guys around him make plays.

Agree that the edge guys are going to need to make plays - but that's how it's supposed to work in a 3-4. I'd rather be building the line with mid-late round picks and try to put more of a premium on edge guys. Granted that isn't how it's worked thus far until this season, but if we're moving in that direction then awesome.

 

I actually wanted to get more into two of your other items. The lack of help for Darnold is an interesting one. I think the good TE's and OL mostly got scooped up before the Jets' third round pick, RB's too really. That said, Maccagnan has always claimed to be a BPA heavy guy. I think that's great in practice until it isn't and the young QB doesn't have a supporting cast built around him.

Great example is the lack of drafting OL - I think there are less pro ready offensive linemen coming out of college now than there used to be and that's causing the better ones to be drafted at more of a premium than there used to be. It's one thing to pass if you don't like the value but then there won't be any good linemen.

It'd be good if Maccagnan deviates a little from his BPA strategy in order to get help the franchise QB.

Other one is the culture - I actually think it kind of needed to be ripped down and brought back up again. Not there yet but I think we're nearing the point that they can pick their spots and take chances on guys with character questions again. But I think it's hard to rebuild the culture on the fly and take those risks. Hopefully we see the team turn the corner there and start to make some adjustments. I think the team overachieving relative to talent expectations instead of underachieving is a step in the right direction.

Yeah, I don’t want to disparage the pick in isolation, necessarily. It’s just part of an established theme with Maccagnan and Bowles that they’ve become extremely conservative with the positions and personalities they’re bringing in and time might be (should be) running out on them. As you said, Shepherd is going to occupy blocks and let people around him make plays, but they don’t draft the guys who can actually make those plays behind guys like Shepherd, so it’s hard to get excited about the overall product. It’s great to fill your roster with try-hard dudes, but a roster full of those guys, at these positions, will get you to 6-10. 

[JiFtheOracle]

10 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

The culture change is in full effect.  Improvement by subtracting guys like Wilkerson and adding guys like this.  Now, let's just hope they can also play.  The important thing to realize is that by instantiating a culture change now it will allow flexibility in the future to bring in some very talented FAs who are possibly borderline when it comes to character or team-first attitude.  It's like the Patriots....players tend to change when they get there for the better.  But if the foundation isn't in place then adding a questionable guy can be toxic to a team.  The Jets aren't ready to take those risks now.  They're building the foundation and Shepherd seems like a key part of it.

Agreed.  That said, nothing changes without W's.   Culture change is great in theory.  It's awesome to have guys that Bowles doesnt need to actually manage because he's shown he cant but if  they cant play or are just mediocre and it doesnt equate to wins, who gives a sh*t?

 

[#27TheDominator]

7 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Yeah, I don’t want to disparage the pick in isolation, necessarily. It’s just part of an established theme with Maccagnan and Bowles that they’ve become extremely conservative with the positions and personalities they’re bringing in and time might be (should be) running out on them. As you said, Shepherd is going to occupy blocks and let people around him make plays, but they don’t draft the guys who can actually make those plays behind guys like Shepherd, so it’s hard to get excited about the overall product. It’s great to fill your roster with try-hard dudes, but a roster full of those guys, at these positions, will get you to 6-10. 

Improvement!

No joke, 6-10 might let them keep their jobs... if Darnold starts and gives hope for 2019.