“He knows me and he knows what my standard is and how I operate and just doing the bare minimum is just not how I roll,” McNeill said Thursday of Sheppard.
McNeill said he knows it wasn’t realistic that he would pick up right where he left coming off a significant knee injury, which has been a little frustrating, but he expects more of himself moving forward.
For the season, McNeill has 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble in 454 defensive snaps.
“If I’m going to be out there, whether I was out one year, two years or three years, if you’re going to be out there, then be out there and have a presence,” he said. “That’s just what I’m trying to create. I’m just trying to create my presence out there and have it known and press that pocket in the middle.
“It might not necessarily be sacks but get him off his spot and get him running. Make him make bad throws. Stuff like that. Just impact. I’m dumbing things down this week and simplifying things for myself and just make it simple and hit somebody in the mouth and play football.”