Sam Shields

[Smidgeon]

I suspect Hester was getting frustrated because he was up against a guy who could actually run with him.

I actually think this hits pretty close to the mark myself.

[Smeefers]

So with Williams and Sheilds as our starters, Peprah and Burnett play saftey, and Woodson doing his thing in the Nickle, how are we giving up so many yards in the air?

I think it has to do with the off season. I don't see any defenses out there flat out dominating and shutting down opponents. I admit though, that I'm concerned with the play of our secondary. We're still getting turn overs and making plays, but they're getting beat at least twice a game.

I'd also like to put out the theory that our offense, being so awesome, is sorely testing our secondary. Everyone is playing from behind against us... sometimes by a lot, and so they can't just sit and run the ball and play a balanced offense. They have to attack and push the ball down field.

[Pugger]

So with Williams and Sheilds as our starters, Peprah and Burnett play saftey, and Woodson doing his thing in the Nickle, how are we giving up so many yards in the air?

Maybe because of our lack of a pass rush? If you give any NFL QB enough time back there somebody's gonna get open. DBs can only cover so long. CM3 is continually double and triple teamed so somebody else has to get in there. It was nice to see Wynn get in there a couple of times against the bares last Sunday. Let's hope this is repeated tomorrow afternoon.

[Upnorth]

So I am thinking about our pass d this morning instead of working and had a couple of thoughts.
1. Bree's ripped them a new one, but that is what Bree's does, and the pass d gave up a couple of big plays.
2. Carolina was a trap game, emotional week one win, bears in week three, easy to over look last years last place team. After giving up 13 points quick, they gel and wind up with 3 picks but gave up a couple of big plays.
3. Against bears, pass d felt like it really came around but still gave up 300 uards. 2 pics, but gave up a couple of big plays.

The common theme is giving up the big pass play. Last year we gave up very few big plays through the air, this year it seems to be the d's achilles heel. If they eliminate 2 big passing plays per game I doubt that the first two games come down to the last play. When a team tries to build a long drive against our d it tends to stall or end in a turn over this year. I havent seen a change in our scheme, so I wonder if it is coming down to a lack of pass rush? Do we miss Jenkins? Can Soto or Walden provide push opposite CMIII?

[pbmax]

I think they can stop making mistakes in coverage (McGinn said there was trouble in the zone in the Bear game) and that alone might improve the pass D to acceptable.

Not sure about So'oto, but Neal will make at least a small difference if he can come back full strength.

[Upnorth]

What is the word with Neal? Is he probable, questionable or inactive tomorrow?

[mmmdk]

What is the word with Neal? Is he probable, questionable or inactive tomorrow?

Maybe back for week 9, maybe!

[vince]

Shields may never be a great tackler, but Whitt is putting some heat on him to step it up. I'm not sure I like Shields' defensive and dismissive response. "I don't understand it." he says, "Other guys are missing tackles too." ... If this kid can stay out of his own way he'll be great some day.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/shields-needs-to-step-up-his-tackling-130898228.html

Green Bay - Sam Shields' woeful tackling after three games potentially has given Jarrett Bush the opportunity for expanded playing time on the Green Bay Packers' defense.

Joe Whitt, who coaches the team's cornerbacks, is not pleased at all by Shields' inability to tackle.

"He hasn't made the big play or anything, but he's covered really well," Whitt said Friday. "He's just got to tackle. If he doesn't tackle we've got to look at something."

The Journal Sentinel has Shields down for six missed tackles, three more than anyone on defense. Whitt suggested that he has charged Shields with more than seven.

"You can't have three missed tackles a game," said Whitt. "It hurts the structure of the defense. Our corners have to tackle. Period.

"Is he ever going to tackle like ( Charles) Woodson? No. But this kid has a special skill set. He has to get them on the ground. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. He understands. We've talked."

A year ago, Shields missed 11 tackles, fifth most on the team. Whitt said his tackling wasn't acceptable early in his rookie season, but he was more than physical enough down the stretch.

Shields said he realizes that Whitt is trying to develop him into a complete cornerback.

"He's so worried about the tackling part of it," said Shields. "I don't understand, but I do have to tackle. That's a part of the game.

"It's not that I'm scared. It's just that, hey, I missed tackles. It's not just me missing tackles. It's something I do have to work on."

Shields readily acknowledged how tough Woodson plays, saying, "I get it. I get it. I'll start tackling this Sunday."

Bush, the dime back, had an exceptional sack against the Bears in which he beat double-team blocking. Whitt was asked if Bush's pressure ability might lead Dom Capers to play more dime.

"We're hoping so," said Whitt. "Because he (Bush) has played more consistently than probably anybody back there right now. In the pass game and the rush game.

"He's adding pressure to Sam because this kid is playing well. He really is. Either we get him on the field that way (more dime) or he becomes the third guy. One of the two."

Shields allowed a 29-yard touchdown pass to New Orleans' Devery Henderson and a 32-yard jump ball to Carolina's Brandon LaFell.

Bush already has been used to rush nine times, second in the secondary behind Woodson's 13.

Asked if he'd really consider playing Bush outside in nickel, Whitt said, "It's my job to make sure he's in the right position to be impactful. How we've used him this year, he's been impactful."

[Lurker64]

The thing is, Cornerbacks are there to cover. You want them to tackle, but you can play guys who don't tackle well if they can cover (Deion Sanders is in the hall of fame, and there is no evidence of him ever tackling anybody.)

So if your choice is "play Bush, who can tackle but not cover" or "play Shields, who can cover but not tackle"... you pick the latter option 10 times out of 10.

You just hope you can teach/convince/cajole Shields to tackle.

[MJZiggy]

I think this is more about motivating Shields to tackle than to teach him. If he was doing it at the end of last season, then he can do it. Maybe he just needs to have something to prove.

[Guiness]

Shields may never be a great tackler, but Whitt is putting some heat on him to step it up. I'm not sure I like Shields' defensive and dismissive response. "I don't understand it." he says, "Other guys are missing tackles too." ... If this kid can stay out of his own way he'll be great some day.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...130898228.html

It's the other line I worry about - "I get it. I get it. I'll start tackling this Sunday."
Sounds belligerent. I hope that reads worse than it was. Quite possible for this kid to get a swelled head, starting at CB on an SB winning team as a rookie.

Have to laugh at the dime comment though. We're already playing nickle on first down. Now they're talking about more dime? Is our base D going to be 2-3-6???

[pbmax]

I have grown to like Jarret Bush quite a bit. But I never imagined there would be a day where the coaches were quoted as saying:

"We have to find ways to get Jarret Bush on the field for his defense."

[3irty1]

Sam Shields is a real puzzle to me. Its EASY to see why he went undrafted. When you listen to him talk he sounds like Hester or Pat Williams AKA one of the stupidest MFers on the planet. Yet he learned his position at an incredible rate and has become a solid starter. I used to think he had a serious ceiling in the form of his mental capacity. Seems I was wrong, some people just can't talk I guess.

[pbmax]

Sam Shields is a real puzzle to me. Its EASY to see why he went undrafted. When you listen to him talk he sounds like Hester or Pat Williams AKA one of the stupidest MFers on the planet. Yet he learned his position at an incredible rate and has become a solid starter. I used to think he had a serious ceiling in the form of his mental capacity. Seems I was wrong, some people just can't talk I guess.

Any idea on his wonderlic score?

[rbaloha1]

I have grown to like Jarret Bush quite a bit. But I never imagined there would be a day where the coaches were quoted as saying:

"We have to find ways to get Jarret Bush on the field for his defense."

Amazing isn't it -- Bush replaces Shields.