Shields Can't Be Trusted On Returns
The undrafted rookie's skills are best utilized elsewhere on the team rather than kick and punt returns.
GREEN BAY – Sam Shields' supposed 4.20 40-yard dash time can, indeed, be utilized by the Green Bay Packers but not on returns.
Thankfully he's been better than expected as a cornerback on defense, but he's been flat-out unreliable as a return specialist. Head coach Mike McCarthy sees the potential when he tried to assess the young man's performance following Friday's training camp practice.
"Up and down, a lot of good things," said McCarthy. "He is a talented young man, a very mature individual. I like his approach. He has been impressive in the classroom and the extra time that he spends with his coach. He is a talented player that is making a position transition. He has done a lot of good things. Special teams is a place he can take advantage of some of the opportunities that he is going to be given."
For the sanity of Packers fans as well as the coaching staff, hopefully Shields' opportunities on special teams come as a gunner on the punt unit or on the kickoff squad, maybe even as a field goal and extra point blocker coming off the edge.
In those capacities, he can utilize his obvious speed in addition to his better-than-advertised skills on defense like running down ball carriers. Those talents are a valuable commodity and will help his chances in making the team. But as far as being a return man, I've seen enough.
During Friday's practice Shields dropped two kicks, one punt (with no oncoming tacklers) and one kickoff, both from the JUGS machine. This is a problem that dates back to May and June's Organized Team Activities and minicamp. And his troubles haven't improved in the interim. Shields' case of the drops have been an ongoing issue the first week of training camp.
"I just got to keep focusing on catching the ball in practice," said Shields earlier in the week. "Showing the coaches that I can field the ball and judging the ball, things like that."
You want to cheer for Shields. He's one of the first players on the practice field every day practicing punt returns, probably taking more reps than any other potential return specialist.
But it's just not working. Catching punts is a difficult task, there's no doubt about that. The high, arching spiral of the ball makes it one of the toughest skills to master in the entire sport.
However, catching kickoffs is another thing. Its end-over-end oncoming approach and lower trajectory makes it much easier to cradle. And Shields has dropped one of these each of the last two practices.
"We want everybody to catch the ball consistently," said McCarthy. "We’re asking them to do some things from a technique standpoint, we have changed I don’t want to say the style or the type of returns that we are doing is a primary emphasis. There is a little bit of an adjustment in there for the returners and they are doing a good job with it so far."
Maybe the other return men have been doing a good job but not Shields. The Packers can't afford to put him back in a game situation and throw him to the wolves. Once the regular season hits, there will be too much at stake.
It's possible Shields can still be a valuable, contributing member to the 53-man roster, but the coaching staff is wasting their time trying to put the football into his hands. Furthermore, it's the coaching staff that should be at fault if Shields is put back there during a game and fumbles the ball away.
Comments (46)
August 06, 2010 at 08:46 pm
I've always assumed he's gonna be the gunner anyway.
August 06, 2010 at 08:46 pm
I've always assumed he's gonna be the gunner anyway. Bush with half a brain....
August 06, 2010 at 09:24 pm
Obviously I wanted to reiterate my opinion....
August 06, 2010 at 08:53 pm
Let's put Harrell back there. Just once in a preseason game. I want just one moment of entertainment for those millions we wasted before we cut his fat arse.
August 06, 2010 at 09:10 pm
Is one week of camp is really enough data to proclaim, in a headline (when we really need a returner)that the guy can't be trusted?
Are his hands really THAT bad?
August 06, 2010 at 09:24 pm
Bad hands is the reason he was switched from WR to CB in college and only used as a gunner on special teams. I like the idea of field-goal or punt block specialist. That would be a nice weapon to have.
August 07, 2010 at 11:10 am
But do we have the roster space to allocate in a guy that has basically zero experience as a CB, that wasn't very good at that in college, and that only asset is really his speed?
I think he goes to the PS based on hope alone. Because, like Bush with awareness, I don't know if hand-eye coordination is something teachable.
August 07, 2010 at 10:44 pm
My only thought is that his better than expected play at CB and obvious speed make the coaches keep him around for the possibility of his being an asset in the future. I'd say put him on the practice squad, but a guy with his speed probably wouldn't stay there long.
August 06, 2010 at 09:39 pm
So, basically, his hands ARE that bad?
Bummer, man. I just remember him taking a kickoff back 85 yards against Wisconsin in a bowl game, so maybe I have loftier expectations. I hope he can be a better gunner than Bush.
August 12, 2010 at 02:31 am
yeah, I remember that man, he was awesome!
August 06, 2010 at 09:45 pm
Jerry Rice had hands of butter in his first year, and dropped a ton of passes.
You can teach catching, but you cannot teach speed.
Just saying.
August 06, 2010 at 09:52 pm
I'd keep him or Bell over Bush. Dude's got potential. We could always put Jordy back there to catch the ball and run reverses and stuff on P returns. LOL.
August 06, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Speaking of returns, has Pat Lee done any kick returns in camp so far? His preseason highlight from last year was a KO return...
August 07, 2010 at 09:10 am
I was at the pratice yesterday the kick returnes were brandon jackson, nelson, shields,cherry, and pat lee.
jackson 2 tries 2 TD
Nelson 2 tries 0 TD
shields 2 tries 1 drop 1 td hes fastest
cherry 2 tries 1 td
Pat lee 1 try 1 drop the coaches really took it to him for his drop
August 07, 2010 at 02:24 am
I think we should give the kid more time. I know a lot of fans like to write guys off early but catching is not a gift, you can learn over time, give the guy a chance.
August 07, 2010 at 03:38 am
He couldn't catch in High School,couldn't catch in Colledge and can't catch even when there's MONEY involved in the NFL.
To even mention him as a returner is a nightmare coming to a game near you.I would rather let the kicking team down the ball,as we will at least ensure posession of it.
What would the o/u on drops be for him...is he related to Darius"Stonehands" Bey in Oakland?
August 07, 2010 at 05:07 pm
Ughhh...he was a 4 star WR recruit out of Florida in high school placing him among the best in the nation. Miami switched him due to receiver depth and felt he was athletic/fluid enough to play CB. Unfortunate for him, they did it his final year so he's raw, really raw.
August 07, 2010 at 09:05 am
keep at cb great speedcan he tackle hes got the best cb as in woodson to learn from its his first yr. give him a break. look how long we had harrel .the GM twin brother i trust mr. shield . make me smile mr. sheilds and shut the critics. pitts
August 07, 2010 at 09:33 am
The 'he's fast' phenomenon reminds me of the fan reaction after the Packers drafted David Clowney. Few people knew too much detail about the Virginia Tech product but they immediatley tuned into his 4.2 40yd dash time and declared how super awesome he was.
I'm cheering for Sheilds, but he really needs to excel elsewhere on special teams AND flash weekly at CB in camp to make the practice squad. Sincerely hope he does well...
August 07, 2010 at 10:13 am
If I never see him with an INT highlight I'm okay so long as he knocks the ball down and he isn't highlighted in giving up the TD pass.
JUST DON'T KICK IT TO HIM!!!
August 07, 2010 at 11:21 am
How much stickum can they put on his hands before he gets caught?
August 07, 2010 at 11:25 am
If he catches one,they'll know he's cheating.
August 07, 2010 at 02:20 pm
so hes like the orlando jones character in the movie THE REPLACEMENTS...wtf was his name?
August 07, 2010 at 04:25 pm
Clifford Franklin
August 07, 2010 at 09:46 pm
i no its just family night but hey shields got a pick and scored these all pro bitches talk again is cheap.will see what happens.
August 07, 2010 at 09:55 pm
So you're thinking Packer Hall of Fame? It's a scrimmage man, relax.
August 08, 2010 at 12:57 pm
its just a scrimmage. did you me. guy did you ever play football css.
August 08, 2010 at 01:49 pm
I've read this 5 times and can't for the life of me understand what you're saying.
August 12, 2010 at 12:12 am
its very easy to read my posts just take your pink-eyed glasses off and resource your sandlot football years playing with the girls like I assume you might have done via your football skills are a little bit to be desired not counting your 5th grade reading level.
August 08, 2010 at 01:00 pm
how fast is your 40 css.
August 08, 2010 at 01:48 pm
Track timed at a 4.5 when I was 18 in high school. I'm 36 now and have no idea where your question is going. Nobody can be critical of Shields game/history provided he runs a faster 40 yd dash? No idea what your point is.
August 08, 2010 at 05:33 pm
Let's see him catch the ball when an OPPONENT and not a teammate is 1 yd away and ready to level him.It was a scrimmage game.
August 08, 2010 at 09:25 pm
css if you cant understand it rdit 5times why read it at all. whats your time running off your mouth .in sorry for a rookie to run a 4.20 was fast nobody tackle him .maybe it was planed by coaching, not to take chance in huting him.next weekend they play a real team not against thier own guys.but next week our guys mightnot be there next week.
PackerAaron
August 08, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Is "huting him" like "hurting him" in Huttese?
August 08, 2010 at 09:44 pm
i hope nobody gets hurt when we play a real team next week
August 09, 2010 at 06:30 am
sorry for my spelling , (error) sir aaron now that were off touch football maybe the 4.20 will get a pick and run it back 102yds againts a real team . i remember a guy name travis williams droped passes alot ran a lot of kickoffs back 1900s my 40 time when i was 18 5.3 but i good fly.no wings.i had a xzpmzz-234 with a hemi,not not go pack go .
August 09, 2010 at 12:11 pm
hey big mouth css were you a round as in round when lombarde was coach as in coach coach 1 2 3 4 i still like the 4.20 guy he beat you in 40.its a flag football scrimage im sorry when a fast guy like shields runs it back no hes not hall of fame yet but the kids went nuts over it.back to mr vince you go all out no matter if its trainhg camp or season.are you with me yet css.1234ho 5 i rember me and my twin brother forgot our autograph books.from the locker room door vince said walk with me boys to the field your my body guards today .and laughed ill never forget it. pitts and mike
PackerAaron
August 09, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Easy there on the name-calling Pitts. CSS has done nothing but answer in a civil tone. You're the one getting all defensive...
August 09, 2010 at 12:16 pm
never forget the past,but wonder about the future as in game .
August 09, 2010 at 12:26 pm
sorry i dint want to hurt your body sorry aaron ill respect him more im sorry he could not understand my other comment sir aaron
August 12, 2010 at 02:31 am
we play 4 preseason games play shields in place off woodson.see how he does go from there.or williams spot to.then on off.put him in spread package.i heard he cant catch . put def has to respect his speed.drives the cb. s, out of area. spread. off wide outs driver,jennings,nelson or jones. how could I forget jones he escorted my niece up the path wedding practice it was cool back to the packers.and shields 5 w-outs i no coach mac.agood plan of attack haha on me
August 12, 2010 at 02:56 am
Hahahaha, anyway- I kinda like this kid, hope he sticks, like someone said, you can't teach speed. Sounds like his head is on right , just a little raw. Naggy-Cariview keep us posted!
August 12, 2010 at 11:53 am
shut up css hey nagier why am i still on post .
August 12, 2010 at 11:56 am
Why are you telling me to 'shut-up'. I'm one of few being curteous and you're calling me out?
Do you want to converse with people or just show up and insult them?
August 12, 2010 at 11:56 am
hey css did you ever play foot ball?
August 12, 2010 at 11:57 am
Yes, I have....and? pitts, I haven't posted on this thread for 5 days, what are you attempting to 'call me out on' for no reason?