Sam Shields Practice Hard For Week 1

Sam Shields has played a lot in the nickel cornerback position and he said he expected to continue along that role this week. He said he was excited about the opportunity. “It’s a blessing, I just have to keep going forward,” said Shields.

He’s especially confident in working on the field with his roommate, safety Morgan Burnett. The two of them have been testing each other on assignments and schemes all during camp and by now, know each other so well that on the field, they can communicate non-verbally.

“It helps, we quizzed each other almost every night,” said Shields. “We talked to some of the veterans who helped us out and then we kept doing it. Plus we’ve got that bond now, like we’re brothers. And that’s what I like about Green Bay, we all help each other out. There’s nobody that’s isolated.”

In preparation for the week ahead and the opener at Philadelphia, Shields had just asked Charles Woodson on Monday afternoon to accompany him to the film room so they could study together.

“Just getting with him, it’s really going to help me out, come game time,” said Shields. “I just went up to him and just asked him for help, and he was willing to do it.."

Otherwise, “Don’t get a big head,” is the advice he’s heard around the team so far. “Just keep working.”

Shields said his hard work and dedication landed him a job here. He is one of three new faces of undrafted free agents to make the team – Frank Zombo and Nick McDonald were the others. Tim Masthay could be considered the fourth, since he came out of Kentucky last year undrafted. Shields also has a job with the Packers because of his blazing speed.

His special teams work, however, may be limited to simply playing gunner in Week 1. He was given a shot at returner but a few muffs hurt his chances of earning that right now.

“Hopefully I do get an opportunity again but right now, they’ve got their guys,” said Shields. He said he wasn’t upset that he didn’t win a return job; he also added it will be up to him to put in extra work in catching and securing the ball to try to prove himself capable again.



(jsonline.com)