Undrafted Shields an early Packers camp standout

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Rookie Packers cornerback Sam Shields knows what's at stake when he takes the field for Saturday's Family Night scrimmage.

"Once you're on that field, it's your turn to do what you've got to do," Shields said Friday. "You've got to show 'em something just to make them smile or anything."

Past Family Night scrimmages have been a stage for lesser-known players to make a case for their place on the team. One of this year's candidates is Shields, an undrafted free agent out of Miami who has been impressive in the first week of training camp.

Buoyed by exceptional speed and a studious approach, Shields has been a quick study in the Packers' talent-laden secondary only a year after he was moved from wide receiver for his final college season.

"I think he's on his way," Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. said. "He has a long ways to go, but he's in the right direction. He's not going the opposite way right now."

Whether flying in for an interception or making up ground fast to break up a pass, Shields is producing a big play on an almost daily basis since Green Bay's camp opened last Saturday. This Saturday, the Packers will hold their intrasquad scrimmage in front of a huge crowd at Lambeau Field.

"I'm very excited," Shields said. "Packers fans is crazy, I heard; they're all about the Packers. So, I'm more excited to see that, especially playing inside the Frozen Tundra. That's going to be great."

This is the 10th year of the scrimmage, a family-themed event that has regularly drawn more than 50,000 to 73,000-seat Lambeau in recent years, though thunderstorms washed out last year's game.

Whitt, among others, is looking forward to seeing Shields in a game-like environment.

"Sam, it's his first time to see a real NFL speed," Whitt said. "Family Night is going to be a lot faster than it is in practice. It's going to be packed, so he's going to see an NFL crowd. I'm excited to see what he's going to do."

Whitt's not surprised by Shields making favorable first impressions. The Packers coveted him as a cornerback when they were preparing for the NFL Draft in April, even though he had only 10 starts there as a senior at Miami.

"To me, he was the most talented corner in the draft," Whitt said. "We got lucky to get him, and we got him as a free agent" after Shields didn't have his name called during the three days of the draft.

"He's a talented young man," Whitt added. "He still has a ways to go, but I've been pleased with his progress. He's a serious guy, he's a professional, he studies as hard as he can to not make mistakes out here, so very pleased with him."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy gave Shields an assessment Friday of "up and down, (but) a lot of good things."

"He is a talented player that is making a position transition," McCarthy said.

The Packers also are trying to tap into Shields' breakneck speed — he was timed as fast as 4.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash in college — by having him audition as a kick returner. But he has been shaky so far in camp with numerous drops.

"We want everybody to catch the ball consistently," McCarthy said.

Shields had an 84-yard kickoff return on a reverse for Miami against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl last December. He has heard comments about that play — a Hurricanes bowl-game record — from several Wisconsin and Packers fans since his arrival in the cheesehead state.

"Just running a return back on Wisconsin and then coming here, it's crazy," Shields said.



(greenwichtimes.com)