They had better not stick Jackson back there in any meaningful game. I realize he ran one back today, but I don't think he can do that in an actual game. It would be similar to sticking Ahman Green and Jordy Nelson back there like we did last year.
I'm down with Shields. Even Rodgers was asking other vets how a guy with that much athleticism goes undrafted. I don't thinke the Pack will let a guy like that get away from them. Even if he ends up as a so-so corner (Which I doubt), he could still be a gem on special teams. Not just as a returner but as a gunner on the punt team, or maybe work him into the offense, I don't know. Just keep him.
I think Shields is this year's Brandon Underwood. Nobody's expecting anything from this kid, but he has a lot of potential. And as the Colts have shown last year, you can always do good with a set of rookie CBs.
I was disappointed to hear he's struggling with catching punts. He is extremely talented and seems to have a knack for making the right cuts in open space. Maybe that speed can pay off on coverage and kickoff returns.
"Based on this comment from his position coach, I believe the Packer staff views Shields much more highly than Underwood." I didn't come to the same conclusion after reading that. At this point, Underwood is more of a lock to make the roster than Shields. In the short term, I don't think the coaches think Shields could contribute better this year. In the long term, I wouldn't doubt the coaches believe he has a higher ceiling. Talent only gets you so far. Underwood has seemed to have made a jump in the off-season and he has the defense down (while sheilds doesn't).
It's true that they like him a lot. But Underwood (and Lee) was the reason the Packers didn't draft a CB. They're really, really high on Underwood, and everyone that has seen him practice and seen him on Family Night has said he looked amazing.
Shields looked very good in the family night scrimmage, but that performance isn't enough in my books to warrant him a roster spot. Not to be nitpicking or anything but there was one play where he clearly got beat, he simply looked like he didn't know what he was doing. He made it up later on though, which I give him a lot of credit for. Everyone likes to talk about Shields' speed, however I have yet to see it. Sure he made a fantastic break on the ball when he caught that INT and took it to the house, but it's nothing like the 4.3 speed that he's been praised for. I look forward to seeing it in reality come preseason. He did fine catching a punt in the family night scrimmage. I just think he deserves the chance to be a returner. As for his speed, I have yet to actually see it but not doubting that it's there. Very true. Lee and Underwood are higher on the depth chart than Shields at this point. Don't even forget Jarret Bush. While we love to hate this guy, the coaching staff always feels differently. I can't believe I'm saying this but it seems like Bush may be a threat after all, a threat at Shields making the final 53. I thought Underwood played lights out. Against the No. 1's he didn't look bad in coverage. IMO this is what our coaching staff looks for. They don't keep a player around because he can play "nickel" or "dime", they keep them for the long term. If either Lee or Underwood want to keep their place on the Packers roster, they need to prove that they can handle a starting spot.
--------------------- Whitt said he would have been a 1st or 2nd rounder if he would have played 4 years at CB. And then he said he may have been one of the most talented CBs in the draft. If the coaches thought he was a first round talent they would have drafted him. Those statements make it more likely he'll make the roster. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ends up on the practice squad. I don't think anyone is nitpicking the guy, just he doesn't really know the defense. If he does make the roster it will be because the coaches think he can contribute on Special Teams and he has the ability to develop into a CB. Like Charles Woodson said, you can't teach speed, but you still have to learn the defense. That's not just memorization, you have to have the intuition and intelligence to execute at that spot. Don't get me wrong, I think he can be great too. He's one of the most exciting rookies on the team. It's just he's a long way off that now
----------- If you mean there is less tape on him because he's played one season at CB as opposed to four, then I'de agree. But I don't think that's why he didn't get drafted. "Shields went undrafted for a reason, though. He also was exceptionally raw — he’d been a receiver his first three seasons at Miami before switching to cornerback in the spring before his senior year — and came with some minor concerns about his character. He’d been benched twice early in his college career, once for skipping classes and another for bad practice habits, and about a month before the draft was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. The marijuana charges eventually were dropped, and Shields graduated from Miami this spring." ~From GBPG Definitely has a lot of potential and I def agree he wouldn't last the season on PS tho.
not exactly impressed to say the least of sam shields from tonights preseason game...2 drops on returns, 1 was for a turnover...hopefully he can play better defense than he has been returning so far
I really haven't seen anything good out of this kid thus far. I do like the fact that he comes from the "U"
Duno why they had him returning that many kicks and punts, especially after concerns about him catching in practice. Silver Lining for Shields is Porter also looked timid and hesitant.
Really? Thanks for clarifying. He's been consistently shaky in practice on PR/KR. Yes, I am surprised he was first on the depth chart. Why have him return a 3rd, 4th, and a 5th time when he botched the first two.
I dont agree at all, Shields looked HORRIBLE on returns absolutley NO WAY we can have this guy be our #1 return guy he should be #3 at best. That being said he looks just as good as jarret bush at CB so im sure we will hold onto him. At this point in the kids life thats is not really something you can fix. He ca go out there and try to catch 1000000 balls everyday until teh season starts, but it wont change the fact that he looked scared back there and in big time situations he will drop the ball and lose the game for the packers. Quinn porter looked Good at Returning. Yeah he ran into some of our own blockers, BUT HE DIDNT FUMBLE and he GOT IT PAST THE 20. Porter also ran hard as an RB. An offense that has aaron rodgers, doesn'tneed Devin Hester Returning kicks, we just need to HOLD ONTO THE DAMN BALL. I dont care if we get 0 return yards for the entire season as long as we have 0 turnovers on special teams as well we will be fine. Giving up Fumbles or turnovers on special teams play is the Easiest way to not make the playoffs. TT better figure this and the punting game thing out. IF you go through an entire offseason and you cant find a fricken punter, or a Return guy that can catch the ball, its time for you to be let go. We had some of the worst special teams in the league last year, there is no reason for that. I have my Eye on this Slocum guy, if we arent top15 in special teams this year, he needs to go.
it's not like he caught the ball and got Hit Big by some linebacker, HE CANT CATCH THE BALL CONSISTENTLY. How will you feel when we are up by 4 points, 4th quarter, and Shields to Receive the Punt, OH WOWW Shields drops it, recovered by Minnesota for a touchdown, Vikings win, vikings Win!. Everyone thinks are return guy needs to have 4.2 speed and run through tacklers like devin hester. But no, we score enough points, what we need is someone with good hands, that wont lose the football and get us decent field posistion.
I think he can learn to catch. And in the next 3 weeks, he'll be working on that. I don't think you rule him completely out when there's 3 preseason games left to evaluate him. If he's dropping balls against Indy and Kansas City, then I'm with you, but this problem could be rectified with practice by the end of the preseason. And on the 1 kickoff return I remember him getting the blocking was terrible.
