2015 Dolphins grades: Kelvin Sheppard

The Miami Dolphins added young interior linebackers following the 2015 NFL Draft but the workload was shouldered by veteran Kelvin Sheppard.

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Kelvin Sheppard – Linebacker

2016 salary – impending free agent

2015 was not a very good year for Sheppard. While his play elevated in the final three weeks of the year, well after the team was eliminated from the post-season, Sheppard was largely ineffective as the teams inside linebacker.

PFF rated Sheppard as the 84th linebacker in the league with a a paltry 38.8 grade. He was horrible against the run, rating out at 34.8 and only marginally better in coverage at 40.9. On the season, Sheppard totaled 105 tackles and two passes defended but of those tackles 13 were for losses or at the line of scrimmage. Granted one yard would not be considered a tackle for loss but Sheppard was so inconsistent throughout the season that the Dolphins linebacker unit looked like swiss cheese.

Sheppard’s play in 2015 has led the Dolphins to look for another starting caliber linebacker and that can’t be discounted. Sheppard was so bad at times that it looked as though the Dolphins didn’t play with a linebacker in the middle. When Sheppard finally started stepping up, the Dolphins defense looked much better and their ability to stop the run improved. That of course came late in the season.

Sheppard wasn’t good with his pursuit angles and was unable to consistently fill the gaps made by the defensive line.

After five seasons in the NFL, two with the Dolphins, it’s time to let another team employ him. The Dolphins are his third team in five years and there is a reason for that.

2015 grade – D-

Why a D-?

While Sheppards grade easily could have been an “F” and should have been, his play late in the season was much better. Perhaps he finally figured out how to play in the Dolphins system.