The Chicago Bears 2017 draft class is fast becoming one of the most special in franchise history. It’s already produced two All-Pros in safety Eddie Jackson and running back Tarik Cohen. Now quarterback Mitch Trubisky is coming off a Pro Bowl trip and the most efficient passing season of the Super Bowl era. Truth be told, only one player from that class has been a disappointment. That is 2nd round pick, Adam Shaheen.
The buzz on him was significant. Despite coming from an FCS background at Ashland and having made a late switch from basketball to football, many felt he had a rare level of physical skill. A 6’7 kid who weighed 265 lbs but could run like he was a big wide receiver. It led to people bestowing the nickname “Baby Gronk” upon him.
There were times as a rookie where that showed up. He’d make some impressive catches that a lot of tight ends can’t make. However, a trend also began to appear. One that has haunted him since he got to the NFL. Shaheen can’t stay healthy. Yet that alone isn’t the worst part. According to him, the types of injuries he suffered were so random.
First, it was a shoulder from an awkward fall while scoring a TD in Cincinnati. Then it was a severely sprained ankle and foot in a preseason win over Denver last year. Hamstring? Torn ACL? He might be able to accept those because they’re common. His injuries to this point feel like plain bad luck. That is why his work this offseason is in an effort to prevent that.
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Adam Shaheen is embracing martial arts to hone his body
Rather than the traditional workout regimen for tight ends, Shaheen told Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly that he is trying something different: Mixed Martial Arts. The idea is to obtain more balance and flexibility. Not to mention losing some pounds along the way.
“I lost a little weight, did some things this offseason like got into a bunch of Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, as well as the lifting stuff to get in better shape as well as doing stuff, a lot more ‘pre-hab’ stuff.”
Asked how much weight he’s lost, Shaheen says, “Only like 7 pounds but coming back from the injury it was hard to run, especially with a foot so I wasn’t in the best shape at the end of last year.
“But I had to do what I had to do to help the team out.”
So what exactly is the benefit of stuff like that? Do such exercises actually help a football player despite them being intended for a different sport? According to STACK.com, they have enormous benefits.
“Teaching a player to involve his entire body in a strike often translates to the field, where players must hit and generate power from awkward angles. A player who hits with his entire body, instead of isolating individual body parts, has a distinct advantage in power, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.”
That sounds like a good thing. It has always felt like Shaheen has a ton of physical potential but hasn’t been able to hone and sharpen it. These exercises should help with that as he continues to further immerse himself in the Bears offense. If the light ends up going on for him, defenses are in a lot of trouble.
