We need young speed at corner - keep him. Just don't let him return kicks in regular-season games...

---

If a RB like Tyrell Sutton gets claimed (and decent RBs are like a dime a dozen), then I do not see how Shields makes it to the practice squad.

Frankly, at times he's been awesome. It's like he's Woodson, the way he jumps on some passes; you'd think he was able to see the play coming.

However, it is obvious that he uses his freakish athletic ability to make it look like he saw the pass coming a mile away. He has got some real dreamy attributes to him (in the speed and quickness department), so I would not mind keeping him around.

Considering (if) Harris starts on PUP, and Bell was placed on IR, we may have room for him on the roster. But if Harris starts the season on the 53, then I am really wondering whether Shields should replace Jarret Bush - and I don't mind Bush like many others on the boards.

---

MY question is this. How does he compare with Jarrett Bush at what Jarrett Bush does.

Sounds like to me that he isn't a returner. Well, neither is Jarrett Bush. Just because he has incredible speed doesn't mean he should be expected to make the team as a return guy. Lots of guys have speed that never are return guys.

Jarrett Bush -- what does he bring to the table?

Part one: A pretty inconsistent CB (one good play every so often, and one bad play to balance each good play out. Maybe an adequate backkup DB to fill in when injuries hit, but he's never going to be great. He's been around enough now that it's pretty clear that he has a limited supply of "it". Shields, OTOH, while he's also shown the inconsistency of any rookie, has people like Woodson raving about how he has an amazing amount of "it." Did Bush ever get such raves? So, when it comes to DB potential/possibilities: Shields > Bush.

Part two: Supposedly a special teams ace. I've never seen what the Packers see in Bush in special teams, but on the other hand I'm not sure what the Packer standards are for non-returner ST players.

And on the third hand, Packer STs pretty much have sucked as a whole.

Everyone always seems to want to focus on the quality of our kickers and returners. But IMO the reason the Packers STs pretty much have sucked is not because of the kickers and returners so much as it has been because of the other men on the units. The blockers and tacklers.

Which brings us back to Shields. Frankly, what I want to know is how he's looked on STs when he's playing as something other than a return guy. Is he getting all these chances as a returner just because the coaches are drooling about the possibilities of his speed (like moron coaches). Or is it because he looks even worse in those special teams roles. I have to admit I wasn't paying attention in the Cleveland game, and I didn't see the Seattle game. (Or, obviously, any practice.)

ISTM that, not his lack of return skills which will determine whether he makes the team. What he's shown of "it" as a DB gives him a leg up, especially since Underwood/Lee have shown inconsistency, too, and no longer have the rookie excuse. So if he has shown something that shows he can be a ST starter as punter gunner, kickoff coverage, etc., I think he's made the team. If not, he won't make the team.

---

Shields will be kept on the roster.. his type of speed doesn't grow on trees and his has shown enough in practice to warrant him making this roster and seeing how he develops for a season.

Crazy Al or someone that covets speed will snap this kid fast.. if I remember he has 6 other offers as a UDFA.

---

i think he could be a good gunner and a decent develpment CB...obviously he still cannot be a returner right now...we kept bush for many years and we are still waiting for some good plays from him...he had his chances...maybe iti s time to pass on him and give the same chances to someone else

---

Couple things here...

1. If we wanna keep him on the roster as a CB, is this really the year to be experimenting with developing a guy at our weakest position? They would be better off for the short term signing another guy who has some experience..Even if he doesn't have much.

2. Yes he is a great athlete...But so is Jarret Bush. And we all know how he is panning out.
I am not comparing Shields to Bush..I'm just sayin....Great athletes maybe don't make it as football players

I just made a list of the 53 players I want on our regular season roster. Sam Shields was the 52nd guy.

---

I say who cares if he can return? ... Jennings and Jones have never been good returners even when they got their shots but they still both made the team as WRs.

All Shields has to do is beat out Bush and be one of the top 53 guys.

Shields has shown he can be a very good gunner on STs and has ton of potential at CB though he needs to work (like almost all rookies).

Bush has been making mistakes in coverage not staying in his gap. Bush is more ready to help this season but with Harris coming back and Shields and he's huge potential on top of Bushes mistakes I say get rid of Bush and keep Shields as the 5th CB until Harris gets back and then make him the 6th CB.

---

Who was #1? Rodgers? Woodson? Matthews? someone else? :thumbleft:

What order were you top 10 guys? 😛

---

Gotta cut him. I remember before the preseason started all I kept hearing was "If he makes the team it'll be as a returner."

Well...yeah, he sucks at it. And he might improve(Couldn't get worse) but we don't have room for him. If we can practice squad him and give him another looksy next year as a return specialist\9th string CB, that'd be nice.

---