Sam Shields ready to make big leap forward

GREEN BAY — Joe Whitt just might put together a Miss Cleo-type psychic career if this whole football coaching thing doesn't work out.

It was this time last year when he told everyone Tramon Williams would be one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. It was evident Williams was an improving young player, but in 2010 he had career highs of 63 tackles and six interceptions and a Pro Bowl invitation.

Whitt, the Packers' cornerbacks coach, is at it again with his I-know-something-you-don't-know routine.

"I would have loved to have my hands on him (during the lockout) because he's still so raw and in the early parts of his career," Whitt said of second-year player Sam Shields. "He's rare. He's rare with his ability to bend and pedal and really loves the game. We got lucky with him.

"When we got him, I knew he was going to be good. I didn't know he was going to be that good, that quick. He can improve from what Tramon did in '09 to 2010. If he can make that same kind of jump, which he can … ."

There were two moments last week that encapsulated Shields' value to the organization.

On Thursday, he made a spectacular interception on the last play of practice and landed squarely on his hip. The entire team fell silent on Ray Nitschke Field as coaches and the medical staff rushed to Shields' side. The first player out to check on Shields? Charles Woodson, who didn't participate in team drills that day.

The injury kept Shields from playing in the preseason opener at Cleveland on Saturday night. He and Woodson didn't play, which left Williams, Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush as the top three cornerbacks. Browns quarterback Colt McCoy didn't glance at Williams on the opening drive and scored the game's first touchdown on a 27-yard pass to Josh Cribbs with Lee in coverage. The Browns won 27-17.

The defense looked completely different with Shields and Woodson on the sideline. And, frankly, Woodson's coverage responsibilities have been lessened since Shields arrived in Green Bay.

"Tramon and Sam give us the opportunity to do other things with Wood," Whitt said.



(thenorthwestern.com)