Sam Shields faces real test against Chicago Bears

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg did it just once.

Buffalo’s Curtis Modkins couldn’t do it at all.

The “genius” Mike Martz should be more successful, right?

The Green Bay Packers are off to a 2-0 start with an undrafted rookie starting in its most used defensive subpackage — the nickel. Forget that he wasn’t drafted, Sam Shields played cornerback only one year at the University of Miami.

Shouldn’t any NFL offensive coordinator worth his paycheck at least want to test Shields a few times?

“I keep getting asked, he hasn’t been tested, people didn’t throw at him,” Packers cornerback coach Joe Whitt said. “Well, (Bills receiver Lee Evans) wasn’t open, either. That’s one of the reasons people don’t throw, when the guy’s not open.”

Shields’ career is off to a better start than anyone imagined when he signed with the Packers over the summer. He was brought to Green Bay because of his speed and potential as a kick/punt returner. That experiment ended quickly because he had trouble fielding the ball, but Shields slowly moved up the cornerback depth chart during the preseason. He picked off two passes in preseason games and would have won the nickel job even if favorite Brandon Underwood hadn’t hurt his shoulder, Whitt said.

Shields started and played the entire game in the 27-20 win in Philadelphia. He gave up a 17-yard touchdown from Michael Vick to Jeremy Maclin in the fourth quarter when he got turned around on a double move.

Shields was better in the 34-7 win against Buffalo.

The Packers didn’t play much Cover-2 with a pair of safeties over the top. Because of the Bills’ trio of running backs — Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller — the Packers brought more help to the box and played a lot of single safety and press-man coverage. Shields lines up on the outside in the nickel, which left him matched up on Evans much of the game.

Evans didn’t catch a single ball.

“He didn’t have help with him most of the game, he was by himself,” Whitt said. “We didn’t do anything to protect him. The thing I was really pleased with, he went after the guy. He attacked him. He just physically really beat him and covered him well. Clay (Matthews) got great pressure on them, but a lot of the pressure came because the routes were not open up the field. And when they were open, they weren’t on Sam’s guy.

“Now is he going to do that every week? Maybe not. Are there going to be growing pains? Sure there are. But the kid is mature enough to do what we ask him to do right now.”

Many observers are waiting for those growing pains and fear this could be the week.

Martz has the Bears ranked No. 3 in the NFL in passing offense with an average of 316.0 yards through two games. Chicago finished 2009 ranked No. 17 with 217.1 yards a game.

Quarterback Jay Cutler leads the league with a 121.2 quarterback rating after throwing an NFL-high 26 interceptions last year — five picks shy of Sid Luckman’s single-season Bears record.

“There’s a lot more passing going on (this week), so we’ll see Monday night,” Shields said. “(The receivers) are all good route runners. Fast, quick. I’ve just got to play on top. That’s my responsibility.

“Don’t let any deep balls, because they throw a lot of deep balls.”

Coaches were impressed with the strides Shields made from Week 1 to Week 2. He played more aggressive, crushed a receiver on a crossing pattern and forced a fumble later in the game.

“I think he played more confidently,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “I saw him, as the game went on, being aggressive on blockers. Where he was attacking their blocker instead of waiting and trying to play off.”

Whitt said Shields has done everything the coaching staff has asked. Shields has spent hours watching film with reigning defensive player of the year Charles Woodson and most importantly has learned his assignments. He’s earned the trust that he will at least be in the right position.

Then it’s just a matter of making the most of opportunities — which Shields has done enough of to keep the nickel job despite Underwood returning from injury with a full week of practice.

“I know I’m a rookie out there and they’ll probably go after me, but they haven’t,” Shields said. “There’s still more games to come.

“This is the game, me being a rookie, I really have to show my coaches and teammates I can be accountable. Being out there in big games, especially on Monday night. That’s my mindset right now.”

Whitt echoed those sentiments.

“All I care about is who’s going to compete, who’s going to play at a high level and who’s going to do it on game day,” Whitt said. “Sam has shown … he can do it on game day. If he continues to do that, he will keep getting his shot.”



(greenbaypressgazzette.com)