Adam Shaheen should see a bigger role in 2018. Has he progressed as a run blocker?

Most Chicago Bears fans tend to hope that a strong tight end duo of Adam Shaheen and Trey Burton can emerge this season. The two complement each other perfectly. Shaheen can go over the seams and stay in-line to block. Burton is a motion nightmare who can work with the ball in his hands.

Of course, this scenario looks nice on paper, but it would involve a step up in play from not only Burton, who was a third tight end in Philadelphia, but also Adam Shaheen. Shaheen was a rookie last season, and is a former basketball player with limited tight end experience. Most of his tight end work in college came when using his size and jumping ability to catch passes.

He has the size and strength to block but has never really done that until 2017. Being thrown up against the NFL’s best as some of your first real experiences would be tough. So how did Shaheen fare in this area, and is this something that will get him on the field more?

Week One

Adam Shaheen played just eight snaps in his rookie debut. Five of them were in run blocking situations. Of the five, three were positive efforts, where he lost in two situations.

One of his losses is highlighted below. Brooks Reed,50, is able to use his right arm to keep separation from Shaheen. Reed is able to read the run, shed the block, changed directions and make the play. Shaheen was easily shoved out of the way.

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Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 60%

Week Two

Week Two saw even less play. He saw five snaps and was in a run blocking situation for three of them. He won two and lost one.

A winning block on the edge is highlighted below. Shaheen is able to drive his man to the sideline and cover him from their initial engagement. This helps to free the run to the outside.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 63%

Week Three

The Chicago Bears were committed to running the football in Week Three and it saw Shaheen on the field for 15 snaps, 9 of which were run blocking situations. Shaheen had a strong day and had eight positive blocking plays. His one downfall was a holding call.

In the play below, you can see Shaheen get to the second level and connect on a block. Again you can see he completely covers his opponent, like an eclipse as he helps free a running lane.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 76%

Week Four

Week Four was the worst game of Shaheens season to date. He only saw 8 snaps and five run blocking situations. Still, he won only 2 and lost 3.

Below, you are able to see Ahmad Brooks toss Shaheen to the side with pure strength to get into the backfield. A run for loss almost solely because of Shaheen.

Again, he delivers noting on a chip of Brooks and then whiffs in the second level against Jake Ryan.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 68%

Week Five

Week Five saw 11 snaps against the Minnesota Vikings He saw six run-blocking snaps, winning five of them and losing one.

Below, he is able to pull across the line and effectively pick up the defensive end. His ability to make blocks on the move has been impressive so far.

Again, Shaheen is out on the move. A quick chip to help Zach Miller is followed by Shaheen turning it upfield and picking up the cornerback, Xavier Rhodes. He is able to ride Rhodes to the ground.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 71%

Week Six

Against the Baltimore Ravens Shaheen put in 19 snaps. 16 were run blocking snaps, and only three resulted in personal losses by Shaheen. One was a holding penalty.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 76%

Week Seven

The momentum of Shaheen being a solid run blocker saw him with back to back 19 snap games. Shaheen only had 11 run blocking opportunities in this game, but still won on nine and lost on just two.

In the play below, you can see Dion Sims motioning to line up beside Shaheen. Shaheen is able to burst out of his stance, pick up Wes Horton, 96, and shove him inside, to help seal off the run to the left. Shaheen made this run happen.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 76%

Week Eight

Zach Miller got hurt and Shaheen started to see starting playing time. In this game, he saw 19 snaps for the third straight week. He saw 9 run blocking snaps and won on eight of them.

We once again see Shaheen pulling across the line of scrimmage below. It was not sexy, but Shaheen put enough body on Cameron Jordan to keep him out of the way for Jordan Howard to hit the hole.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 78%

Week 10

With the injury to Miller, Shaheen 31 snaps, and 16 run blocking opportunities. Green Bay was not kind to Shaheen as he had one of his uglier days again. He lost seven run-blocking matchups and won just nine.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 74%

Week 11

Week 11 saw a career high in snaps at 46. It also saw his most run blocking chances at 19. He won 14 of those snaps and had one of the best days of his season.

Covering the defensive end to seal the whole off of the tackle below.

Shaheen got into the second level to pick up a defensive back perfectly.

And he was able to finish the block against Anthony Zettel by getting him on the ground after springing the run into the open field.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 74%

Week 12

If anyone remembers the Eagles game it was not pretty for anyone. Shaheen only played 17 snaps, mainly due to how little the offense was even on the field. He saw six run blocking chances and won four and lost two.

Below is an easy loss against Brandon Graham, 55. Graham blows by Shaheen off of the ball and gets into the backfield easily. Shaheen did not even realize Graham was behind him until it already happened.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 73%

Week 13

Against the San Fransisco 49ers, Shaheen played just nine snaps. Six were run blocking chances, and he split them, 3 to 3.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 72%

Week 14

Shaheen ended his season on the IR but is tough to say he finished his season slow or that rookie fatigue caught up to him. He was at snap 32 of the game when his season ended and had 11 run blocking opportunities. Before he got hurt, he had won 8 of his run blocking chances and was looking fierce against Cincinnati.

Below, you can see Shaheen leading the way as the pulling tight end. The ability to get out into the open field as a blocking threat is intriguing moving forward.

However, his season did end on a punishing hit from Carlos Dunlap. Shaheen had momentum going across the line of scrimmage but Dunlap is a huge and powerful man who made the rookie pay.

Season to date positive run blocking percentage: 72%

Still, overall, this was a very promising season from Shaheen in this regard. He was overall above average as a blocker. His ability to block on the move is impressive, and his overall blended skill set will be something that Matt Nagy can get excited about utilizing for the Chicago Bears.