Fire Me Boy!
08-27-2005, 02:05 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/12489912.htm
Shields back in line
It will be his first live action since last year’s season finale
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Will Shields will play his first football game in almost eight months tonight when the Chiefs play a preseason game against Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium.
It’s the first live test for Shields, a 10-time Pro Bowl guard, who missed all of the offseason, two preseason games and most of training camp because of first a sore knee and later a nagging back injury.
Shields still admitted to no unusual amount of trepidation.
“It’s just a preseason game,” he said in his typical understated style. “It is what it always is. It’s a chance to get your body ready and into shape for the regular season.”
The Chiefs don’t see it quite that way. Shields’ return is cause for celebration, even in a minor way.
“You know what he’s all about,” quarterback Trent Green said. “You know what he’s going to bring to the huddle. Run game, pass game, everything. It’s going to be good for him to go at it again.”
Shields is a significant element of an offensive line that dealt this summer with more than its normal share of issues. Shields didn’t practice. Left tackle Willie Roaf worked part time at training camp. Right tackle Kevin Simpson’s toe injury has given Jordan Black a chance to play.
That’s why the return of Shields, a foundation of the offensive line since he was a rookie in 1993, is no small event.
“It’s tremendous,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. “He’s a 10-time Pro Bowler, so that generates a lot of positives for us. We’ve got a great player back in the fold and one with tremendous experience.
“The bigger picture is that Will Shields has to be in his best form on Sept. 11. He’s missed quite a bit of time because of the injury, and it wouldn’t be prudent to put him in a position where he aggravates that again. We still have two weeks of practice and another preseason game after this, so we’re going to use him judiciously, and we’ll make sure he’s able to continue to build the strength he needs to be ready for Sept. 11.”
The Chiefs are planning to limit Shields to about 20 plays, or fewer than the other starters, who are scheduled to play the first half and perhaps into the third quarter.
Even so, his impact will be felt in other ways. The Chiefs are breaking in a new right tackle, who lines up next to Shields.
It appears unlikely Sampson will return in time for the regular-season opener against the Jets at Arrowhead on Sept. 11. Whether it’s Sampson or Black, the Chiefs will be using an inexperienced player.
Sampson, in his second NFL season, has never started a regular-season game. Black, in his third year, opened four late last season.
Playing next to Shields should make life simpler for either of them.
“When you play next to Will Shields, it’s like playing next to a coach, almost,” Black said. “He knows every assignment, every technique. All I’ve got to do is turn to my left and ask him something and he’s got the answer.”
Shields, if healthy and playing the way he always has, solves the right-guard spot and helps at right tackle. That gives the Chiefs reason to believe their line will be as solid as ever.
Many were the moments at training camp when the Chiefs didn’t feel that way, mainly because of uncertainty over Shields.
“One of the reasons we’ve been able to have some offensive success with our system is we’ve had basically the same guys playing offensive line every year for the last four years except for right tackle,” Saunders said. “They know the each other’s idiosyncrasies, and they communicate with each other real well. As soon as you put a new ingredient in there, it’s just like if you’re making a cake. If you put in a new ingredient, the result is going to be different.
“Continuity is always a major concern there. The less they play together, the less success they’re going to have. The thing that tempers that in our case is they’ve had such a long background of playing together. They can call on their past experience. Had those guys not played together for so long, we’d be facing a season opener with a dysfunctional offensive line and we’d be really concerned.”
Shields back in line
It will be his first live action since last year’s season finale
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Will Shields will play his first football game in almost eight months tonight when the Chiefs play a preseason game against Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium.
It’s the first live test for Shields, a 10-time Pro Bowl guard, who missed all of the offseason, two preseason games and most of training camp because of first a sore knee and later a nagging back injury.
Shields still admitted to no unusual amount of trepidation.
“It’s just a preseason game,” he said in his typical understated style. “It is what it always is. It’s a chance to get your body ready and into shape for the regular season.”
The Chiefs don’t see it quite that way. Shields’ return is cause for celebration, even in a minor way.
“You know what he’s all about,” quarterback Trent Green said. “You know what he’s going to bring to the huddle. Run game, pass game, everything. It’s going to be good for him to go at it again.”
Shields is a significant element of an offensive line that dealt this summer with more than its normal share of issues. Shields didn’t practice. Left tackle Willie Roaf worked part time at training camp. Right tackle Kevin Simpson’s toe injury has given Jordan Black a chance to play.
That’s why the return of Shields, a foundation of the offensive line since he was a rookie in 1993, is no small event.
“It’s tremendous,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. “He’s a 10-time Pro Bowler, so that generates a lot of positives for us. We’ve got a great player back in the fold and one with tremendous experience.
“The bigger picture is that Will Shields has to be in his best form on Sept. 11. He’s missed quite a bit of time because of the injury, and it wouldn’t be prudent to put him in a position where he aggravates that again. We still have two weeks of practice and another preseason game after this, so we’re going to use him judiciously, and we’ll make sure he’s able to continue to build the strength he needs to be ready for Sept. 11.”
The Chiefs are planning to limit Shields to about 20 plays, or fewer than the other starters, who are scheduled to play the first half and perhaps into the third quarter.
Even so, his impact will be felt in other ways. The Chiefs are breaking in a new right tackle, who lines up next to Shields.
It appears unlikely Sampson will return in time for the regular-season opener against the Jets at Arrowhead on Sept. 11. Whether it’s Sampson or Black, the Chiefs will be using an inexperienced player.
Sampson, in his second NFL season, has never started a regular-season game. Black, in his third year, opened four late last season.
Playing next to Shields should make life simpler for either of them.
“When you play next to Will Shields, it’s like playing next to a coach, almost,” Black said. “He knows every assignment, every technique. All I’ve got to do is turn to my left and ask him something and he’s got the answer.”
Shields, if healthy and playing the way he always has, solves the right-guard spot and helps at right tackle. That gives the Chiefs reason to believe their line will be as solid as ever.
Many were the moments at training camp when the Chiefs didn’t feel that way, mainly because of uncertainty over Shields.
“One of the reasons we’ve been able to have some offensive success with our system is we’ve had basically the same guys playing offensive line every year for the last four years except for right tackle,” Saunders said. “They know the each other’s idiosyncrasies, and they communicate with each other real well. As soon as you put a new ingredient in there, it’s just like if you’re making a cake. If you put in a new ingredient, the result is going to be different.
“Continuity is always a major concern there. The less they play together, the less success they’re going to have. The thing that tempers that in our case is they’ve had such a long background of playing together. They can call on their past experience. Had those guys not played together for so long, we’d be facing a season opener with a dysfunctional offensive line and we’d be really concerned.”