Sam Shields: The Comeback Kid

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

Written off by the majority of Canes fans just a few short weeks ago, Sam Shields has become a powerful symbol of the sudden turnaround in Miami's ACC fortunes the past few weekends.

Canes fans often forget that in an otherwise lamentable 2006 season, Shields caught 37 passes, several of them bombs, including the winning TD in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Last season, despite being suspended several times, Shields caught 27 passes, giving him a respectable 54 over a two year period.

Shields had to come through in 2006 and 2007. This was because under Larry Coker's strategy of recruiting blue chip athletes instead of solidifying Miami's local recruiting base, Shields was the only WR signed after the 2005 season when Sincorce Moss graduated. Akeem Jolla transferred and both Terrell Walden and Rashaun Jones didn't pan out.

In other words, Shields had to replace four WRs.

After a disastrous early season punctuated by dropped passes and a penalty that arguably cost the Hurricanes the game against Florida State, Shields' UM career appeared over. It seemed Shields would go the way of Charlie Jones, Tyrone Moss, Lance Leggett, and Andrew Johnson -- offensive skill players signed by Larry Coker who got progressively worse during their UM careers and, in some cases, didn't hang around for a final senior season (in the case of Jones and Johnson. Moss went from all ACC as a junior to overweight third- or fourth-teamer as a senior).

Instead, Sam Shields has reinvented himself as a key figure in a revitalized Miami special teams unit. Shields has been outstanding on kick coverage the last three weeks, recovering a fumble that sealed the win against UCF and limiting the ability of big play return men in each of the three games.

Shields also took a reverse on the opening kickoff of the second half Saturday to set up UM's only TD in the game. In fact, Miami's last two TDs at home have been set up by exceptional Shields plays on special teams.

Shields rebirth speaks very highly of Randy Shannon and his coaching staff.

Instead of throwing the kid to the wolves, as many seemingly blood thirsty UM fans wanted after the FSU loss, they found something he could do well: kick coverage.

If UM does finish this season successfully, either with an ACC title or a nice bowl bid, remember the role Sam Shields' turnaround made in Miami's improvement.

Shields Back into the Starting Lineup

I am greatly relieved to learn that Randy Shannon today announced the return of Sam Sheilds, for my money the only potential game breaker currently on the Miami roster to the starting lineup, for the first time this season. Shields has been in the doghouse all year, having been suspended for the Marshall game for undisclosed reasons and then having been relegated to the scout team versus Duke due to not practicing hard enough. My hope is that Shields has learned his lesson about goofing off and is ready to try and make Miami bowl eligible down the stretch this season. Shields caught 37 passes for over 500 yards as a true freshman last year, but has not featured much this season thus far.

Shields Will be Back for Oklahoma

Good news as WR Sam Shields will be reinstated for the game in Norman on Saturday. Shields was suspended for undisclosed reasons last week and given the poor performance yet again from Miami's WRs, Shields will be counted on right away. Khalil Jones started in Shields place, but once again Jones who is now in his fourth year in the program showed he doesn't run his routes well and when he does get open he cannot hang on to the ball. Darnell Jenkins, granted a fifth year by the NCAA dropped three passes, which prior to his injury last year was uncharacteristic for him. While Lance Leggett didn't drop a pass, his record of dropping big passes on the road, whether at UVA in 2004, in Tallahassee in 2005 or last season at Louisville is unmatched among starting receivers in the country.

Leonard Hankerson, the true freshman from Fort Lauderdale did provide a rare bright spot among the receivers, but Shields who caught 30 plus balls as a true frosh last year is badly needed. I'm a little amused by the criticism Kirby Freeman has been getting from Canes fans since Saturday. Those of us who have watched this program the past few years know Freeman is limited: consider he didn't play in a passing offense in High School and is basically an option oriented QB, which is something you notice even in his dropback and when he hands the ball off to the backs. But with a poor receiving corps and a failed big time recruit as his backup, Miami fans have to accept Freeman is what he is and trust Patrick Nix and the offensive staff to understand his limitations and work around it with good game planning the rest of the season.