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You’ll occasionally see Shemar Stewart mocked to the New Orleans Saints. It’s a name that may give many fans the shivers due to his lack of production. It’s easy to think back to Marcus Davenport who was more traits than production. Even without that history for the team, it’s difficult to invest a top-10 pick in a player with 4.5 career sacks. He had exactly 1.5 sacks in each of the last three years.
The lack of production at Texas A&M or how freakishly athletic he is will often be the talking points around Stewart’s name leading up to the NFL draft. You can’t tell the full story of Stewart without looking at both, and that’s what makes him such a difficult evaluation. His combine performance featured an impressive 40-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-11 broad jump. That’ll definitely catch the attention of many, but football isn’t played in shorts and a T-shirt.
Stewart doesn’t need it to be. He defended himself against his biggest critique, but he isn’t leaning on his athleticism to do it. The edge rusher correctly pointed out, “Sometimes the stats don't tell the whole story.” Film is paramount and he believes his tape showcases a player much better than a 4.5-sack stat line.
So why did he have little production? “Sometimes, I have to play dead to rights, and sometimes I just couldn't finish or just couldn't get there in time," Stewart said. Players can improve on finishing at the quarterback, and his athleticism shows you not getting to the quarterback in enough time is more about the quickness of the pass and not about a slow pass rush. Stewart's 2.43 seconds to first pressure was the fastest in the country.
"I wasn't a sack-chasing warrior. I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don't show that,” Stewart added. As a unit, the Aggies were one of the best teams at rushing the passer in the country. Take those players out of the unit, and they may have to produce more independently. Stewart is confident he can do that.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Shemar Stewart defends his low college production, says watch his tape
Continue reading...
The lack of production at Texas A&M or how freakishly athletic he is will often be the talking points around Stewart’s name leading up to the NFL draft. You can’t tell the full story of Stewart without looking at both, and that’s what makes him such a difficult evaluation. His combine performance featured an impressive 40-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-11 broad jump. That’ll definitely catch the attention of many, but football isn’t played in shorts and a T-shirt.
Stewart doesn’t need it to be. He defended himself against his biggest critique, but he isn’t leaning on his athleticism to do it. The edge rusher correctly pointed out, “Sometimes the stats don't tell the whole story.” Film is paramount and he believes his tape showcases a player much better than a 4.5-sack stat line.
So why did he have little production? “Sometimes, I have to play dead to rights, and sometimes I just couldn't finish or just couldn't get there in time," Stewart said. Players can improve on finishing at the quarterback, and his athleticism shows you not getting to the quarterback in enough time is more about the quickness of the pass and not about a slow pass rush. Stewart's 2.43 seconds to first pressure was the fastest in the country.
"I wasn't a sack-chasing warrior. I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don't show that,” Stewart added. As a unit, the Aggies were one of the best teams at rushing the passer in the country. Take those players out of the unit, and they may have to produce more independently. Stewart is confident he can do that.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Shemar Stewart defends his low college production, says watch his tape
Continue reading...
