Fast friends Sam Shields and Morgan Burnett avoid rookie blues

Morgan Burnett and Sam Shields first met during offseason workouts in Green Bay. Burnett was the third-round pick out of Georgia Tech. Shields was the undrafted free agent from The U (Miami).

The duo became roommates and are nearly inseparable — even in the Packers lineup.

“We clicked up the first day,” Burnett said. “You won’t find us without each other.”

Burnett’s words apply on the field and off.

The safety was expected to play a significant role beginning as a rookie. When Atari Bigby stayed away from organized team activity workouts and mandatory minicamp looking for a new contract, Burnett played with the starters.

Shields was just trying to make the team.

An ankle injury kept Bigby out of training camp and on the physically unable to perform list, making Burnett the official starter.

Shields quietly climbed the ranks during camp, made the 53-man roster and was named the No. 3 cornerback with Brandon Underwood out with an injury.

The Packers played strictly nickel and dime packages throughout the 27-20 win over Philadelphia in the season opener with Burnett and Shields playing the entire game.

“Me and Morgan, being freshmen,” Shields said, “being in the ACC we played against each other and now playing with each other at Green Bay.

“I can’t explain. It was more exciting than I thought (it would be).”

The two went relatively unnoticed for most of the game, which is a good thing because they weren’t getting beat.

But both had their bad moments. Burnett missed on three tackle attempts and was evaded on a screen play to LeSean McCoy.

Shields was beat just twice, but bit on a double-move and gave up a 17-yard touchdown from Michael Vick to Jeremy Maclin in the fourth quarter.

“It was a good start for them,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “There are some things they’d like to clean up. I think you’ll see them play more aggressively because of the kind of guys they are. Both worked extremely hard in preparation.

“When you’re playing your first game on the road, there’s probably going to be a little reluctance. I think you’ll see them play more aggressively this week. You’ll see both those guys get better as the season goes on.”

Shields was not the only one slightly surprised the Eagles didn’t throw his way more often — a trend unlikely to continue. Rookie cornerbacks get picked on. New York Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson found out quickly on “Monday Night Football” courtesy of quarterback Joe Flacco and receiver Anquan Boldin, who finished with seven catches for 110 yards.

Morgan and Shields are fairly even-tempered and neither seems to get too excited about the good things or too depressed about the bad.

“Quiet guys,” safety Nick Collins said. “I expect, as the season goes on, they’ll start talking a little more. Right now they’re just taking it real slow, trying to understand what’s going on around here.

“The main thing you want to be is humble. Both of those guys are very humble. They accept coaching and that’s all you can ask from a young player.”

At least they have each other, and Capers thinks that goes a long way.

In the pass-oriented NFL, the strong safety and nickel cornerback will be tested regularly. The Packers are scheduled to face Brett Favre (twice), Jay Cutler (twice), Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady and Eli Manning this year, so the duo will have to put any rookie tendencies to bed in the near future.

“Likes kind of attract,” Capers said. “We like what we see in both these guys in terms of their professional approach. The time they spend together looking at tape.

“They’re both in the same situation so they can relate to each other from the standpoint that they come in as rookies and the next thing you know they’re out there starting in Philadelphia. And under close scrutiny because they are rookies. Everybody in the league knows when you’ve got a rookie out there starting. I think there’s a comfort in having your best buddy right out there with you.”



(greenbaypressgazette.com)