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The Shields factor

That was another shrewd game plan by Dom Capers: Pulling Charlie Peprah in base and replacing him with Shields. That allowed Charles Woodson to lock up on a tight end or play on the edge. And it took Greg Olsen, the Bears’ tight end, out of the game.

At this point, Woodson probably matches up better on a tight end than a wide receiver. Plus, when he was on the edge, he was taking on lead blockers, and other guys were making the tackle. He had a heck of a game. Shields has virtually become an every-down player. And having two good corners like Williams and Shields allows the Packers to do more one-on-one stuff and blitz more. And they’re less vulnerable when they blitz.

If Capers had to run Bush out there, it’s a different ballgame. Shields gives Capers so much more flexibility. Capers doesn’t have to worry about covering home base first. In other words, he doesn’t have to figure out where the other team’s offense can hurt his defense before installing all his special stuff. If you’re scared of putting a corner in one-on-one coverage, that’s where you have to start in your weekly preparation. You leave that guy on an island, it can be six points.

Obviously, on defense, it all starts with Clay Matthews. But it’s the corners who have allowed Capers the flexibility each week to game plan to take away the other team’s strengths and not worry first about covering up his defense’s shortcomings.

Most teams have one good corner. Having two is a real luxury. And to have three has to be a coach’s wildest dream. Plus, without Shields, Capers wouldn’t have the flexibility to do what he does with Woodson. Against the Bears, Woodson was playing the role that Brandon Chillar played early in the year, and playing it better.

By blitzing Shields, Capers also added another wrinkle to his defense that Pittsburgh is going to have to prepare for. And the beauty is Shields is so fast, he doesn’t have to tip it off that he’s coming. When he shot that window on his sack, he closed ground so quickly, it was startling.

eagle13 wrote:We've all talked about it.

Burnett & Peprah would be amazing depth at S. One of them would come in for nickel to have Wood at his preferred slot position. Woodson would probably slide to CB if either Tramon or Sam were hurt. Still need another CB for depth.

Newz wrote:Asomugha is a pipe dream, IMO.

It's not going to happen unless he takes a massive pay cut.

Turk Nowitzki wrote:

Newz wrote:Asomugha is a pipe dream, IMO.

It's not going to happen unless he takes a massive pay cut.

Yeah, he's going to have half the league offering him every dollar they have available to play corner for them. It's fun to think about though.

If he truly wants to play on a winner, I think we could get him with Woodson money.
*hoping and dreaming*

DrugBust wrote:I could see him being the highest paid defensive player in the league. Lots of people actually believe he'll be back with the Raiders if money is what he's interested in.

But I'm not so sure he wouldn't take a little less to go to a contender. You never know what the effect of playing for the Raiders for your entire career can do to you.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:There is no way he returns to Oakland.

Newz wrote:

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:There is no way he returns to Oakland.

He has already said it's a possibility he returns to Oakland.

Turk Nowitzki wrote:Another reason I don't forsee TT going after Asomugha is that we have a lot of our own players to potentially take care of. I don't know their plans for Jenkins so I guess that's a variable right there. However, the Claymaker is probably in line for a big money extension soon and while it's too soon for Shields, if he has another year like this it will be time to starting thinking about him too. That's not even considering anybody on the offense. I'm not sure how much money we have to work with, but it can only go so far.

DrugBust wrote:I'm no capologist. I don't know what the Packers situation looks like. But I do know that under the previous CBA it was possible to get incredibly creative with contracts in the form of bonuses. If the Packers wanted to keep their own guys happy and go out and get Scrabble, I don't doubt it could be done.