Shields injury could open the door.

BrainDedMember

If Shields isn't able to go next week, It's possible tonight was his last start for the Packers. Heyward is going to take the job from him and won't give it up.

The rook has some serious ball skills. Gets his head around and makes plays. Shields has been playing well, I just think this guy could be a special player.

I'm starting to think we are stacked at CB for the next few years. House, Hewyard and Williams..

10/15/121:38 AM

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bubbleboy789Member

Shields has been good this year. I wouldn't be too quick to under estimate his loss.

But I agree about Heyward, the guy is awesome. He's got some amazing man-to-man skills. I'd like to see House get out there. He's bigger and I feel like he could match up on some bigger receivers on the outside.

10/15/121:41 AM

tsr86freeMember

Ted is keeping the shelves stocked for certain....I hope House provides depth at the very least when he comes back.

10/15/123:17 AM

michiganjoeMember

Don't see Sam losing his job but I agree about Hayward. You got a glimpse of his ball awareness with the pick of Luck, but it was really on full display last night.

10/15/125:57 AM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

You simply cannot have enough competent corners out there.* Shields is more than competent.

*See Bush, Jerrett

10/15/127:23 AM

IowacheeseKeen Insight

Hayward looked really good and you have House in the bullpen warming up.

Shields has played well and not ready to bump him off the top yet.

Nice problem to have.

10/15/127:31 AM

chickenboyTic Toc

Like Elkonda said, need a stable of DBs. Plenty of snaps for 'em all!

10/15/127:32 AM

HerschelMember

One thing Shields has that Hayward doesn't is speed so I don't see the Packers jettisoning him just yet.

10/15/128:30 AM

LarseeBearMember

Can never have enough corners to keep Bush off the field. And it REALLY looks like we do.

10/15/129:51 AM

packaddictMember

Makes you wonder more why Bush got the start in the 1st game of the year.

10/15/1210:10 AM

turnip bloodMember

The reduce offseason practice time may of retarded rookie development. I wonder how much of the Packers early season troubles can be tied to the new CBA mandated reductions in practice time. If it was a factor I would suspect that as the season moves on we should see the reduced practice times effects mitigated and an improved Packers team.

10/15/1210:17 AM

Grave DiggerMember

The one thing Shields is gotten much better about is run support. Last year it was as if he was allergic to contact, this year I think he's gotten the message that he better step it up. Hayward was great in run support at Vandy and I liked some of the stuff we saw from House in preseason. Having CBs who can actually secure the edge is huge.

10/15/1210:20 AM

DH13Member

Hayward had a nice game. He always seems to be in the correct position which makes the chances for a pick increase greatly.

Was anyone able to track McMillian's play last night? I only noticed him on the tip to Hayward and saw Jennings on camera more often.

10/15/127:42 PM

packerboiI lick rainbows

From Cliff Cristl's assessment of the game from the Press Gazette:

quote:
Casey Hayward looks like a player. You have to wonder if it isn’t time to keep Woodson at safety and play Hayward as the third corner in nickel

Have heard this elsewhere as well. If Shields injury isn't something that will keep him out long (and that appears the case) then it would be Williams, Shields and Hayward as your CB's. Burnett and Woodson as your starting safeties.

MD Jennings, Davon House, and McMillon would be back ups and I assume would get some rotational time/looks depending on Capers schemes he's running.

From what I understand House is healthy. He just hasn't been able to get past Shields/Hayward at this point.

10/15/127:51 PM

FLPACKERMember

I thought the problem with House is his ability to tackle & play the ball have been restricted due to the harness he has to wear?

10/16/125:01 AM

IL_Pack_FanMember

More love for Hayward from PFF, calling him the best rookie CB they've seen this year:

quote:
There have been some impressive rookie corners this season, and some high-profile draft picks among them, but the one that has impressed me the most so far has been the 62nd overall pick out of Vanderbilt, Casey Hayward. His numbers in this game are flattered a little by a pick that was deflected into his waiting arms late in the game when T.J. Yates was throwing the ball for Houston, but his +3.6 grade does do him justice.

The rookie was thrown at four times, allowed no catches, broke up a pass, picked off two of them, and likely would have broken up another ball had the receiver not been dropping it before he got there anyway. This is as close to a perfect performance in coverage as you will see from Hayward, and his first interception in particular looked like it came out of a technical manual for great coverage. Almost immediately after breaking up a pass, Heyward found himself one-on-one in man coverage down the left sideline against fellow rookie Keyshawn Martin. Heyward got perfect position inside Martin down the sideline and was able to turn and locate the football before deflecting it up into the air, which allowed him the chance to grab it and take off running in the other direction.

Be sure to read the whole thing as this site always has great analysis.

10/16/1210:19 AM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

he should have taken a knee in the endzone and given more high fives

10/16/1212:09 PM

BrainDedMember

quote:
From what I understand House is healthy. He just hasn't been able to get past Shields/Hayward at this point.

From the stuff I read early, the injury is something that is going to limit his ability to jam all year..

10/16/1212:15 PM

BrainDedMember

quote:
Have heard this elsewhere as well. If Shields injury isn't something that will keep him out long (and that appears the case) then it would be Williams, Shields and Hayward as your CB's. Burnett and Woodson as your starting safeties.

I like this idea.. McMillan has played well, but this gets your best 5 on the field and gets Wood out of a position where he can get called for holding 4 times a game.

When you go to dime, you can insert McMillan back at safety with Wood going back to CB.

10/16/1212:20 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

House has been listed as a FULL participant on the injury list for the past week+ of practices. I don't remember if he was even listed on the injury report for the game Sunday night. I'm guessing McCarthy is only being cautious with bringing him back to full contact.

10/16/1212:34 PM

BrainDedMember

quote:
House has been listed as a FULL participant on the injury list for the past week+ of practices.

I'm sure he has, but that does not speak to the issue of how the harness / injury affects his play.

10/16/1212:49 PM

packerboiI lick rainbows

As the injury heals, the harness becomes less and less restrictive. House's biggest challenges with it would have actually been several weeks ago where they thought they would have needed him. But then Shields starts the season and plays well and Hayward plays better then arguably any other rookie CB in the NFL this season.

It wouldn't surprise me if the main reason that House isn't getting time is because the players ahead of him are just better and not because of a harness. Now that could change if Shields is out but Im guessing even then he may not see the field. They would just activate him in case he's needed in STL. Haywards still ahead of him and Woodson slides to full-time safety.

10/16/121:14 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

Vote for Wk6 Rookies of the Week

10/16/121:34 PM

BrainDedMember

quote:
It wouldn't surprise me if the main reason that House isn't getting time is because the players ahead of him are just better and not because of a harness.

The way he was playing in pre-season when fully healthy, I take issue with this. I think Shields is the 3rd best in that group and the only thing keeping him ahead of House is the limitations he is dealing with.

Sam has the experience and has been playing better as of late, but not better than Heyward.

I doubt we will ever get a direct answer to this from the coaches. They wouldn't come out and put their starting CB down by saying his backup would be starting if not for the injury.

10/16/121:44 PM

fightphoe93Member

quote:
Originally posted by packaddict:
Makes you wonder more why Bush got the start in the 1st game of the year.

Yep, that was extremely befuddling.

Sometimes, I think coaches can like a guy personally so much, they stop being objective anymore and make decisions based on emotion. Apparently Bush is one of those guys in practice that goes all out, does everything he can to please the coaches and has enough athletic ability to tease in practice.

I think those of us that don't have an emotional tie to Bush saw him for what he really is, a fine special teams player that at best is nothing more than a dime or nickelback. Even as a dime or nickelback, you hold your breath that he won't make some major penalty or mistake in coverage.

The coaches gave Bush a shot based on emotion, but the thrashing the Packers received by the 49ers sort of pulled the blinders off and they immediately corrected a bad mistake.

10/16/121:54 PM

CUPackFanMember

Hayward is the anti-Bush. I think it was 3 passes that Hayward played perfectly; running stride for stride and turning his head around to make a play. Bush hasn't had 3 plays his entire career where he's done that. Bush is a great special teams player, but he just isn't a DB.

10/16/122:23 PM

GoallineLarge Antenna

From Bubbleboy's link,

...

Watt ended the day with another pair of sacks — retaking the NFL lead despite being an interior lineman — another quarterback knockdown and one more pressure. Every time he made a tackle in the game it was a defensive stop, and about the only thing you could say negatively about him is that he somehow neglected to bat down a pass in the game, though he came within inches on more than one occasion. Watt is already better than Justin Smith, the golden standard for 3-4 DEs for the past few years, and it’s taken him just a year to get there. You are witnessing something special right now.

Imagine if he had played the 4-3. Reggie White's marks would be in trouble.

10/16/123:14 PM

bubbleboy789Member

Someone may or may not have posted this already.

Secret Superstar article from PFF:

quote:
After missing out on making our Secret Superstars feature last week despite playing well, Packers’ cornerback Casey Hayward (+3.6) caught our attention again with another impressive showing, this time against the Houston Texans. The second-round draft pick from April’s NFL Draft has yet to have a negatively graded game in his career, and is currently our second-highest graded player at his position.

Sunday’s game against the Texans was his best to date, as he did not allow a single reception from the four passes thrown into his coverage by Matt Schaub. More impressive is the fact that from those four passes he came away with two interceptions and a pass breakup. The second of those interceptions came from a tipped pass, however the first was all about Hayward. Covering Keshawn Martin on the outside on a go route he was able to tip the ball at the goal line before pulling it down for the interception in the end zone. For the season he now has three interceptions and three pass breakups from the 19 passes thrown at him, and you have to wonder when Sam Shields will have to start looking over his shoulder as the rookie pushes for more snaps.

10/18/128:50 PM

DH13Member

It is really remarkable to see the kid always turning for the ball when it's about to get there. I know that's what DBs are supposed to do yet you see so few actually do it on a regular basis. Hope he keeps developing and can take on greater responsibilities if he's bumped up from nickel.

10/18/128:54 PM

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