Shields Should Get Nod In Nickel

The Packers would just be wasting time playing Brandon Underwood or Pat Lee ahead of Sam Sheilds.

Great post from Kevin Seifert regarding the situation at nickel cornerback.

Money quote:

Considering how frequently the Packers use sub packages under coordinator Dom Capers, the nickel back is almost like a 12th starter. That fact requires some pause in light of recent developments, most notably the swift ascent of undrafted rookie Sam Shields to the top of the depth chart.

Shields displayed surprisingly mature instincts in coverage and looked much more comfortable as a cornerback than he did as a kick and punt returner -- the original role the Packers envisioned for him. But to add some context to the original observation, those instincts merely provided a hint that Shields had a chance to make the team, which in itself is a pretty nice result for a rookie free agent. At that point in camp, I don't think anyone considered him a potential Week 1 nickel back.

Is Shields' opportunity based on merit, or is it because the Packers' options are so limited? I'm guessing that's a question the team didn't think it would face in the final week of the preseason.

The bolded part (mine, obviously) is the crux of the issue.

The Packers have been singing Shields' praises for quite some time. (As have some more astute Packer bloggers) And its hard not to notice the athleticism on display every time he's given a chance in the defensive backfield.

Unfortunately, it's also hard not to notice his lack of refinement in coverage and the general slap-dash nature of his play. This is to be expected of course from a guy who has played all of one season at the collegiate level after several years playing wide receiver. It would not normally be expected from the Packers nickel cornerback.

But that may be just what we're about to witness and I think its the right move.

Brandon Underwood and Pat Lee have both been up and down, with Underwood being slightly better. But neither have the suddenness of explosive playmaking ability Shields has and both are just as prone to lapses and mistakes as Shields, despite each having been with the club longer than the few months Sheilds has.

Look, how the team arrived here is immaterial in my view. They have a real problem that needs fixing and all the ganshing of teeth that is sure to flow from fans about who they should have drafted or who they should have signed in free agency only delays finding an actual solution. If Al Harris isn't back for the Eagles game (and I would be shocked if he doesn't start the season on the Physically Unable To Perform list) they would just be wasting time playing either Underwood or Lee ahead of Sheilds.

Throw the insanely talented and incredibly raw prospect into the fire. He will only get better and if, fate willing, Harris comes off the PUP after Week 6, the secondary will really be cooking with gas. Imagine using Sheilds and his blinding speed on blindside blitzes out of the slot... You get the idea.

The guy could be a weapon. Like the defense as a whole, he will take his lumps but he should get better every week, giving Dom Capers more and more options as the season progresses.

 

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Comments (41)

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WayneF's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:24 pm

Frankly, the Packers should win their first 4 games regardless of who's playing the nickel. Why not throw Shields into the fire and get him some OJT? Roll the dice just a little. This is the big boy's league and sometimes you have to push the envelope. IMHO, this kid's got nothing but upside. You can't teach what he already has. We already know what Underwood and Lee will give us.

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PackersRS's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:29 pm

I don't know about the last part.

I don't thik we're allowed to play guys for development. We need to put the best on the field.

If Shields is it, then the better...

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Tarynfor12's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:41 pm

Shields is raw and will get burnt but,no more than Lee or Underwood.Perhaps even a bit less due to his speed to recapture lost ground.Honestly,this is a problem know matter who is there at this time and just how bad it gets will be decided by the front 3.No pass rush = how do you like your toast,light,medium or END OF DAYS!!!

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Bad Knees's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:42 pm

This is looking like Thompson's best draft class yet(possibly three starters on a good team)...and his previous classes were not that shabby. We will know for sure if other teams are cherry picking our cut players.

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Bad Knees's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:43 pm

And, if Chery becomes a solid return man...wow!

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CSS's picture

August 31, 2010 at 03:43 pm

Depends on what part of the game McCarthy and Capers place premium value on. On one hand, Capers 3-4 is predicated on stopping the run, creating favorable down-n'-distance for the defense and forcing/generating turnovers. Sheilds instincts and explosive play could play a factor in that decision.

That being said, both also value assignment sure, fundamentally sound play. They will take a leap of faith on Sheild's game to develop as the season wears on in this area. Underwood and Lee have the edge (though not substantial) in this department.

Biggest downside to placing him in the nickle: Smart, veteran QB's will know a safety will likely slide Sheild's way to help, or he's one-on-one. That's a plus or a minus if Capers wants to bait a QB.

Who knows.....

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Max (ukpackersfan)'s picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:11 pm

Look! ... who proof reads this stuff LOL.

Shields is a rough diamond but one thing you can say, we've heard nothing but play-after-play in practice and Shields has intercepted in preseason as well. He's talented, much more than Underwood and WAY more than Pat Lee (who at this point is worse than the football comedian Jarett Bush). But being a nickel corner demands much more than he's got right now. We really have been stung by Underwood and Lee

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PackersRS's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:31 pm

Interceptions are nice, but Shields has a real feel for the ball in the air. It's more than interceptions. I don't mind that Bush doesn't intercept a lot of people. But he can't locate when the ball is in the air.

From the little I've seen of Shields, he can.

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Ron LC's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:15 pm

Shields should get as many snaps as possible Thursday. Give him a real test. Zone, man, blitz and attacking the run. Let's see what he's made of.

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PackersRS's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:27 pm

Agreed to some extent, Ron.

You don't want to go with your nickel CB unprepared, but you definitely don't want to tip your hand on the very last preseason game...

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Tarynfor12's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:22 pm

Kolb really can't pass for 300 yds,Cutler never gets his head out of his ass,Edwards only has Spiller,Stafford is joke because he plays for Detroit,McNabb was in Philly who we haven't beaten there and he was a QB at the time,Marshall will hide from Henne so as not to catch 100 balls this year,and the old man won't be around to ... again.

All these QB's are incapable of winning against us and our elite secondary may be worst off than last year.No Harris,Bigby,but we have Bush,Lee,Burnett(rookie),Shields(walk on rookie),an injured OLB in Matthews,a questionable pass rush,and the thought that it's the 2nd year in a defense kind of gets nullified some what as all the starters last year aren't starting.

"SUPER BOWL or DIE"
Live and Die with them I will for sure.
The first 5 games are EASY PICKINGS.

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PackersRS's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:37 pm

I really didn't understand your post man. Don't know when you're being sarcastic or not.

But, in the first six games, we won't play an elite passing offense.

Kolb is too inexperienced to beat the intricate Capers' blitz scheme, specially when there won't be any film of the new stuff he'll pull.

The Bills.

The Bears.

The Lions.

McNabb is a savvy (though overrated) veteran QB, but he doesn't appear to have either the receiving core nor the OL to be able to exploit our D.

Miami is a running team.

I'm not saying those are wins, but they're not the kind of offenses that Kurt Warner-led AZ, PITT, Favre-led MN, IND, PATS are... They don't have the combination of multiple WRs + Veteran QB that those have.

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Tarynfor12's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:55 pm

PackersRS,I'm repling to the notions that the first weeks are easy.The intricate blitzing schemes of Capers that will be played out by 2 rookies and a Bush,Lee,Martin,hurt Matthews and unsure B.Jones or rookie Zombo etc.
Not sarcasm,just looking at facts and knowing how asses get kicked when assuming.

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Oppy's picture

August 31, 2010 at 06:26 pm

Fans assuming whatever ridiculous outcomes they can imagine has zero effect on the Green Bay Packers winning or losing real games.

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Chris's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:23 pm

Underwood and Lee had time enough to convince the coaching staff they could be a solid nickle corner. They obviously did not. So give the new guy a chance. It's not like this is set in stone for the rest of the season. They will probably still keep both Underwood and Lee on the roster, right?

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Jersey Al's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:47 pm

Aaron,

In that article you linked to (thank you, as always), I float the idea of also using Shields speed on offense in limited ways. Deep threat decoy, end around/reverse threat, etc. What do you think of that idea?

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Tarynfor12's picture

August 31, 2010 at 05:13 pm

Al,your setting Nagler up aren't you?

Really,with our offense deeper than 20,000 Leagues under the Sea,why would we do anything with Shields than to put all his time and energy into defense.
Forgive me for jumping in,but being from Jersey as yourself you know I couldn't help it.LOL

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Jersey Al's picture

August 31, 2010 at 05:55 pm

First, I don't ask questions to set people up. I ask questions to get answers. I am interested in Aaron's answer.

As for why use Shields on offense? Because you can never have too many weapons to show opponents. Even if mostly as a decoy. A guy with 4.3 speed is going to draw attention, if nothing else.

And for a few years I have been on a personal crusade to bring the end around / reverse back to the Packers playbook. He could be the guy.

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Tarynfor12's picture

August 31, 2010 at 07:42 pm

C'mon Al, it was only in jest.But I stand on my thought that Shields should only concentrate on defense at least for this year.

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Doug In Sandpoint's picture

August 31, 2010 at 06:24 pm

Al, how about a double reverse with Shields and Chery...two guys with sub 4.3 40 times? Would A-Rod even have time to make the first handoff?

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PackerAaron's picture

September 01, 2010 at 08:54 am

Yeah, I had a bit in the post about your idea, actually. Just didn't flow well so I took it out.

I can see both sides - on the one hand, the guy is a failed receiver. He's got all he can handle learning the corner position. Why waste time working him on offense?

Well, you pinpoint why above - because he's got the kind of speed and explosiveness that just doesn't exist anywhere else on the offensive side of the ball. Trying to find some kind of Wildcat role for him might be exciting, etc.

In the end though, I tend to think leaving him on defense to concentrate on his still-quite-new position is probably the way to go.

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D HARV's picture

September 01, 2010 at 10:38 am

How the hell do you come up with the FAILED RECEIVER COMMENT? The man played with the Miami Hurricanes when they had a joke of a QB named Kyle Wright, who never was and will never be a QB. You just wait til the coaching staff and Aaron Rogers finds out what a great receiver he really is. I know him personally, and personally you dont know shit!

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PackerAaron's picture

September 01, 2010 at 10:44 am

Um, ok. So they moved him to cornerback because...um...he was such a success at wide receiver. Got it.

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CSS's picture

September 01, 2010 at 10:45 am

How can you place the blame for his lack of development at the feet of his collegiate QB when he was asked to convert to CB by the coaching staff? IDGI....

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PackRat's picture

August 31, 2010 at 04:48 pm

I'm amazed at the bravado that is being shown on the board. Treating ANY offense second rate is a recipe for disaster, especially if you are SUPPOSED to win. If Tramon or Woodson get nicked or on plays that they are out, we've got problems. Lee HAS NOT shown acceptable coverage ability. Underwood this year will be Bush redux until he gains experience that is still a year away. Shield flashes great and has enormous upside potential. But like with Taucher and Clifton, an experienced CB is what we need to fill the gap so that we don't have to drop a double on every second/third receiver. Hopefully, College (you don't REALLY believe that MM/TT think he should start over our beluga whale do you??---it's just a show to enhance trade value IMHO) + Hall + LEE will get it done to bring back quality at CB.

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WoodyG's picture

August 31, 2010 at 05:47 pm

Just who is this quality CB? ..... Easy to throw out an idea but a little more difficult to be specific ...... Available quality CBs don't exist in the pass-happy NFL just before the season openers.

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chicago hooligan's picture

August 31, 2010 at 05:05 pm

Two rookies in Burnett and Shields back there? Could be... interesting. The Eagles will demand a lot of snaps in the nickel. But Collins, Burnett, Shields can all cover a lot of ground quickly. I'm thinking Woodson may be locked up on Celek much of the time.

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Shootz's picture

August 31, 2010 at 11:22 pm

Locking Woodson with a TE is good policy when you're facing an offense like Tampa Bay, where Kellen Winslow is their main receiving threat. Assigning Woodson to Celek is a waste when Jackson and Maclin are also on the field.

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nypacker's picture

August 31, 2010 at 05:25 pm

A little off topic, but I do remember that Derrick Martin's agent mentioned that he would get some snaps as a nickel or dimeback. However I haven't seen Martin used in either role. Anyone have any updates on this?

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Oppy's picture

August 31, 2010 at 06:30 pm

No idea, but I'd have to guess there must have been -some- reason why Baltimore decided to transition Derrick Martin from CB to Safety, and even more reason why he wasn't even tried at CB when Bush was getting lit up like a Christmas tree late last year.

BTW, Jarret Bush is nice boy who loves his mother.

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MarkinMadison's picture

August 31, 2010 at 06:49 pm

"all the ganshing of teeth that is sure to flow from fans about who they should have drafted or who they should have signed in free agency only delays finding an actual solution"

Only if TT, MM and staff actualy read and rely on our whining. Really all three of these guys (Shields, Underwood and Lee) have upside in my view. IMO, we have not seen enough of any of them to say they will NOT develope into at least a solid nickel.

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WoodyG's picture

August 31, 2010 at 07:11 pm

Glad to see someone who has a handle on logic ...... No one can draw solid conclusions on any of the three with such a scant amount of evidence ..... Anyone of the three could be "fan darlings" by the end of the season ......

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FITZCORE1252's picture

August 31, 2010 at 07:58 pm

"Imagine using Sheilds and his blinding speed on blindside blitzes out of the slot… You get the idea."

Or, or, let's use his blinding speed to return kicks! I mean he's fast so he's gotta be a natural right? I'd love to see Sam smokin' QB's, just don't assume that because he's fast he will be good at it.

GBP 4 LIFE

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PackerAaron's picture

September 01, 2010 at 08:59 am

Where did I say he was going to be "good at it."? Just throwing out possible uses for a unique talent.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

September 01, 2010 at 07:56 pm

Fair enough.

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corey jenkins's picture

August 31, 2010 at 10:11 pm

Wow, a lot of folks looking past Philly. They're loaded with speed and talent on offense with receivers who can get past defenders and they have good depth at TE. Kolb is already a good quarterback. Sorry but to say the first five are gimmees is laughable. Have we learned jack about Sept. games against pushovers the past two years?

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happyc's picture

August 31, 2010 at 11:40 pm

I think the packers are going to have to seriously consider giving Blackmon some reps at nickleback.

He's got more experience there then the other three and from watching him in the past he looked better then what's there now.

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happyc's picture

August 31, 2010 at 11:50 pm

Sheilds has played well in the preseason because he has been aggressive. Lee and Underwood practice fine, but play to tenatively in games. They have to get over that. Somtimes I wish Capers would just line up and play bump and run for the first few plays just to get the corners in a agressive state of mind.

As for Kolb, a couple starts with mixed results and a poor preseason doesn't make you a good quarterback. He's got potential and could be dangerous, but he has a ways to go. Philly's loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball, but they can be shut down. Just ask Dallas.

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corey jenkins's picture

September 01, 2010 at 08:06 am

Blackmon is no where to be seen. Sure, give him some looks at nickel but he's not even playing right now and no one knows when he'll be back. Based on his history and the injury he had last year I don't suspect he'll be back soon at all.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

September 01, 2010 at 08:30 am

Re: Philly. Sapp said it best on NFL TA, they got nothing but runts on the D side of the ball. If he was correct they only have one guy over 6'1" and 300 lbs. That doesn't seem possible to me, but that's what he said. If that's the case, I will be ashamed if Grant doesn't rush for 100+. I don't think Philly is in our league this year.

GBP 4 LIFE

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Tom's picture

September 01, 2010 at 10:11 am

So, this is a little off subject, but did anyone else see that Iowa OL Josh Koeppel will miss their season opener after being hit by a truck while riding a moped? Wasn't there a GB Gazette article that mentioned Bulaga sold his trusty moped that he used to get around Iowa City while in college? I wonder if that trusty old moped just saw its last ride... Koeppel is okay, by the way, just scrapes and bruises, but the accident was caught on tape and looks pretty scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZBktBPnjPo&feature=player_embedded

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