1) Introduction: Sherrod was drafted in the first round last April with the intent of being the future replacement for Chad Clifton and bookend tackle compliment to the previous year’s first round pick, Bryan Bulaga. Thanks to the NFL lockout, Sherrod would miss months of important technique instruction and studying the playbook.
2) Profile:
Derek Lee Sherrod
Position: OT
Height: 6-5
Weight: 321 lbs.
AGE: 22
3) Expectations coming into the season: Coming in cold thanks to the NFL lockout, it was hard to expect Sherrod to outperform either Clifton or Bulaga. Most observers felt he would earn the primary backup job at both positions. Sherrod was also given an opportunity to compete with TJ Lang for the left guard spot. He didn’t win either job, and then had his season come to a gruesome end in the Chiefs’ game.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: His season highlight was probably the week 5 game against Atlanta. With Bryan Bulaga out with an injury and Chad Clifton leaving after 15 plays with a hamstring injury, Sherrod slotted in at right tackle with Newhouse moving to the left side. Despite minimal experience at right tackle, Sherrod found his bearings and played reasonably well. He allowed no sacks or QB hits and garnered positive reviews from his coaches after the game. His lowlight, of course, was the Kansas City game.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Let not make any excuses, Sherrod’s first season was a disappointment. I was very high on him coming out of the draft and absolutely loved the pick by the Packers. I was still convinced that with a full off-season in the Packers’ program, you would see his talent flourish. But now, with at least a full off-season of rehab, it’s unclear what the future will hold for Sherrod.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: None. He was on injured reserve.
Season Report Card:
(D) Level of expectations met during the season
(D-) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(N/A) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: D
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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I personally think it was short-sighted and unnecessary to shift Sherrod all over the line in training camp, attempting to let him compete for a roster spot.
Let’s be honest: He was undersized and needed time to build upper body strength (much like Newhouse did), and on top of that, he didn’t get OTAs or Mini camp, either. THere was probably not much of a legitimate shot for winning a starting spot, and I have to think all the Packers did was help to confuse him early on. I wonder if they were merely bowing to public pressure to see the first rounder “get a shot”.
At any rate, D is fair, hope he can overcome the leg.
I agree. What is this obsession with having every new player learn to play every position on the line? I never felt that Campen was such a great coach to develop players, especially at multiple positions.
I dunno. I have a bad feeling about this guy. The busted leg seems kind of metaphorical. Hope i’m wrong.
Interesting can’t seem to comment. Hope I’ve not offended anyone !
Oh so that one works to make me look even stupider…
Sherrod wasn’t a disappointment for me. In fact I felt when he was allowed to settle at tackle he did ok and was shaping nicely to develop in the off season before the broken leg. Might set him back a season but I personally would be happy to wait for his 3rd season to see him start if that’s what it takes..
Agree very few just come in and become starters at that very important position. I saw him get bowled a few times which worried me, but thought he showed promise. He’ll be fine as a backup next season.
Do you use Chrome? some strangeness with the comment widget and chrome. When you click reply, it’s supposed to jump down to the bottom. Sometimes it doesn’t and you have to scroll down on your own…
Sherrod got hit in a bad place and that was all for the year. He was forced to play as a fill-in for Bulaga. As I understand the injury it was broken bone(s). Depending on the location, the break will probably have healed in time for TC. That will give the Oline a good starting point for next year.
I guess D is a fair assessment for time played and performance. He will improve and become more of a force ovetime. It will be nice to work people in without being in crisis mode everytime someone’s out for a while.
I just get the feeling he is another Harrell out of Tennesee-hope I’m wrong!