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09/10/2010 -
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -Russell Shepard's career at LSU isn't turning out quite as he had envisioned, and that might be the best thing that ever happened to him.
The Tigers' quarterback-turned-wide receiver has remade his game in the mold of dynamic players like Percy Harvin, Reggie Bush and Aramanti Edwards, whose versatility allows them to be a big part of their teams' attack on the ground, through the air and even on special teams.
``I want to be a guy who's able to create that big play when we need it, something that Percy did throughout his career,'' Shepard said this week. ``I love players that are able to move around the field. At the end of the day, I want to be a football player. Receiver is my main position, but I feel like I can play other positions.''
Shepard is off to a promising start, having scored touchdowns on a 50-yard run and 6-yard catch in his debut at his new position in the No. 19 Tigers' 30-24 win over North Carolina last Saturday night.
Bush, a Southern Cal standout, is now a key player for the New Orleans Saints. Edwards quarterbacked Appalachian State to the upset over Michigan and the NFL rookie is now doing a little bit of everything for the Carolina Panthers.
But the way Shepard compares his role to Harvin, entering his second year with the Minnesota Vikings, makes sense. LSU receivers coach and passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales was Harvin's receivers coach at Florida.
When Shepard made the move to receiver, Gonzales showed him ``a million clips of Percy Harvin,'' Shepard recalled.
``Seeing how he moved from position to position, how he made things happen, definitely helped me out a lot.''
As a true freshman in 2009, Shepard saw limited action at quarterback, receiver and running back, and contends he can be effective at all three spots as needed. LSU coach Les Miles wants to get Shepard the ball more. Miles has him on the kickoff return team with Patrick Peterson and even seems willing to have Shepard take some snaps at quarterback in the wildcat formation.
``He's really just starting to receive the opportunities that he's going to get,'' Miles said. ``You'll find going forward that his productivity will continue to rise, and he's a guy we'd love to get more touches.''
That's exactly what Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell expects when the Commodores host the Tigers this Saturday.
Caldwell said Shepard ``looks like he catches lightning bugs for practice.''
``He's quick as a cat and can dodge and make you miss.''
Just like he did when he ran away from North Carolina linebacker Bruce Carter and the rest of the Tar Heels' defense on his 50-yard score.
Shepard, who is 6-foot-1, 198 pounds, recently ran an electronically timed 4.45 40-yard dash and has a vertical jump measured at 41 1/2 inches.
He was always a threat to scramble while playing quarterback at Cypress Ridge High School in Texas, where he ran for more than half of the 3,789 total yards and 48 TDs he racked up his senior year.
His speed and agility led most colleges to recruit him as a receiver, but he chose LSU in part because he would be given an opportunity to keep playing quarterback.
Shepard was the third-string quarterback as a freshman behind Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, and as that season progressed, he began to consider whether a change would be best for his career.
``I realized that Jordan and Jarrett were our two quarterbacks. So I had to sit down and think to myself, `You can play, but where do you best fit this team, and also, where can you have the most success?''' Shepard recalled. ``I realized quarterback is something I did in the past, something I love, but at the same time, I can help this team and I can better myself by playing receiver and running back. So far that's been the best thing for me and I haven't looked back.''
Shepard spent the past six months trying to master the fundamentals of a position he'd never really played, saying he's ``never worked harder at anything in my life.'' Last weekend, it was clear he still had more to learn. He dropped an early pass in the open field and later got flattened by Carter during another incompletion because he did not run his route correctly.
``That's the first time I've ever been hit in my life like that. It woke me up,'' Shepard recalled. ``I told Bruce, when he hit me, `Good hit. You're going to regret that.' A couple plays later I had my long run.''
Harvin's best year at Florida, in terms of yards from scrimmage, was 2007, when he totaled 1,622. His best for touchdowns was 2008, when he had 17.
Shepard said his goal this season is 1,000 total yards and 20 TDs. With 80 yards and two TDs in his first game, he's on pace in touchdowns and close in yardage.
He has yet to face a Southeastern Conference foe this season, but he also expects to improve.
``I had right under six months to prepare to be a starter in the SEC,'' Shepard said. ``The rest of our receiving corps has been receivers their whole life. So I really challenged myself to not be that weak point in this offense.''
He just may turn out to be its greatest strength.
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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Colts hoping battered line holds up against Texans
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Charlie Johnson understands the stakes in Sunday's season opener against Houston.As the Indianapolis Colts' left tackle, he must keep former No. 1 draft pick Mario Williams away from Peyton Manning. As part of the offensive line,
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans Saints opened their title defense by winning with defense.Jonathan Vilma intercepted Brett Favre, and the Saints allowed the Minnesota Vikings only two first downs and no points in the second half of a hard-fought
<< Packers' O-line expects to keep Rodgers upright
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - The Green Bay Packers' offensive line got off to such a bad start last year that it's even serving as a punchline for the satirical newspaper The Onion.In its tongue-in-cheek NFL preview this week, the paper's website wrote, `
<< Brady's day starts with crash, ends with contract
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - A loud crash. A crumpled front end. A brief stay in an ambulance.It was a very bad start to Tom Brady's day.A new contract. The highest average salary in the NFL. A deal that ties him to the New England Patriots through 2014
Wyoming, mourning death of player, faces Texas >>
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -The Wyoming football teams says they will play this weekend in honor of a fallen teammate.The Cowboys play at No. 5 Texas on Saturday night. Before the game, Ruben Narcisse's photo will grace the giant stadium scoreboard screen a
No. 11 Wisconsin on 14-game home opener win streak >>
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -Wisconsin wants to shoot down any comparisons with another top ranked team that could be made Saturday when the 11th-ranked Badgers take on San Jose State.The Spartans lost 48-3 to No. 1 Alabama last Saturday and San Jose State c
Report: NCAA looks into Tennessee basketball program >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has reportedly looked into the
Tennessee men's basketball program as part of an overall investigation into
the school's athletics program.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Thursday,
No. 6 Huskers' Martinez to measure self vs. Idaho >>
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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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