ROUND 4 (108) LB Vince Biegel • 6'3" • 246 lbs. • Wisconsin This two-time all-conference pick came from a football family. His father, Rocky, played linebacker at BYU while his uncle T.D. was a fullback for the Cougars. Vince's grandfather, Ken, played Division III ball and was a Wisconsin and national high school hall of fame coach. Coming from that lineage, it was no surprise Vince was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior (172 tackles, 21 sacks) and earned a scholarship to play for the Badgers. A foot injury ended his freshman season after two games, but he came on late the following year to start twice (25 tackles, three for loss, two sacks). Biegel led the Badgers with 16.5 tackles for loss (7.5 sacks) as a starter in 2014, and earned third-team All-Big Ten notice with 66 stops, 14 for loss, and eight sacks as a junior. Despite being limited for multiple games, missing two, with a broken foot, Biegel was a second-team All-Big Ten performer in 2016 (six TFL, four sacks). Effort-based worker bee with edge-setting hands and attitude, but a lack of power that could lead to inconsistency in play. Biegel's football character is off-the-charts and he can be counted on to put the effort into improving in areas that need work. He lacks individual rush talent but could be a good fit for teams utilizing exotic rush packages. Average NFL ceiling but has the demeanor and traits of a potential special teams demon. ROUND 4 (134) RB Jamaal Williams • 6’-0” • 212 lbs. • BYU Williams led the Cougars in rushing in all four seasons in which he played, even though he has had off-field and injury issues during his time in Provo. The all-state pick from California played immediately as a true freshman, starting eight games and rushing for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns on 166 carries. He also added 315 yards and a touchdown on 27 receptions. Williams was an FBS All-Independent team pick as the full-time starter in 2013, gaining 1,233 yards and scoring seven times on 217 totes (18-125 receiving). His junior season was derailed by a knee injury and suspension for multiple team code violations, including an underage drinking citation. He rushed for 518 yards and four scores in seven games that year, still leading the team in rushing. Williams sat out the 2015 season entirely after withdrawing from school for personal reasons, always intending to return for his senior season the following fall. He carried the mail for the Cougars 234 times in 2016, accumulating 1,375 yards and scoring 12 times, though he missed three games with an ankle injury. He finished fifth in the country with 137.5 yards per game last fall, in part thanks to a 287-yard, five-touchdown effort against Toledo before the ankle injury occurred. His NFL size and physical nature give him a shot to make the back-end of the running back depth chart, but his inability to create for himself with broken tackles and elusiveness puts a ceiling on his draft value.
ROUND 5 (175) WR DeAngelo Yancey • 6’-2” • 201 lbs. • Purdue (From Broncos through Browns and Patriots) Purdue has won a total of nine games in the four years Yancey has been on campus, so he's flown a bit under the radar. The Atlanta native has been a strong part of any success the team has had since 2013, however. As a true freshman, he started five games, catching 32 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns. He was a part-time starter again in 2014 (seven starts, 12-147, three TDs) before hitting his stride as a junior. Yancey led the Boilermakers with 700 yards on 48 receptions, scoring five times in the process. For the second year in the row, he paced the squad with 951 yards on 49 catches and 10 touchdowns, earning third-team All-Big Ten accolades in the process. Four year letterman who has relied on quantity for his production totals. Yancey is a stiff-hipped vertical receiver only with good size but below average hands. A team could sniff around on him on Day 3, but he will struggle to uncover against NFL man coverage. ROUND 5 (182) RB Aaron Jones • 5’-9” • 208 lbs. • Texas-El Paso (Compensatory Selection) Aaron and his twin brother, Alvin, were El Paso kids that weren't highly rated, so staying around home made sense. It's worked out well for UTEP, as Alvin has led the team in tackles the past two years while Aaron amassed over 4,000 rushing yards during his career. Aaron led the Miners with 811 yards as a freshman, scoring four times, even though he missed three games due to a broken rib. Healthy throughout 2014, he earned second-team All-Conference USA honors with 1,321 yards (5.5 per) and 11 scores (also 30-293, three TDs receiving). The good luck didn't stay in his junior year, however, as he suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle in practice. Jones exploded in 2016 after that redshirt year, ranking fourth in the FBS with 1,773 rushing yards and scoring 17 times (28-233, three TDs receiving). He was a first-team All-Conference USA pick in his final year. ROUND 6 (212) • OL Kofi Amichia • 6’-4” • 297 lbs. • South Florida Amichia fits the Packers’ profile. He was a two-year starter at left tackle, including earning first-team all-AAC as a senior. He anchored a line that powered an offense that finished among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense, scoring offense, total offense and sacks allowed. Before moving to left tackle in 2015, he started two games at right tackle in 2014 and was a backup center in 2013. He is athletic, with a 4.99-second clocking in the 40-yard dash at USF’s pro day. Athleticism and quickness off the ball are the strengths of his game, he said. At 6-foot-3 5/8 and 302 pounds, he put up 32 reps on the bench press. He's up to 308 now, he said. That's up about 15 pounds from what he weighed as a senior. He was a superb pass protector. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the fifth-best pass-protecting tackle in this draft class.
ROUND 7 (238) RB Devante Mays • 5’-11” • 230 lbs. • Utah State (From Broncos) Built like a truck with muscular legs and a powerful, broad chest. Has a 420-pound bench press to his name. Physical runner with a penchant for finishing with a bowed neck and heavy pads. Looks to accelerate through contact and can create additional yardage with his power through contact. Patient runner willing to follow lead blockers and accelerate when the time is right. Has adequate speed to threaten to the edges and force linebackers to flow hard. Fluid hips and light feet for a back his size. Praised by teammates and coaches for attitude and work ethic. After a monstrous performance early in the season against Weber State, Mays was never able to get completely right after injuring his ankle against USC. While he may have slid off of radars after the season, his 4.5-second 40-yard dash and 40.5-inch vertical leap were likely a wake-up call for evaluators who could be intrigued by his size, power and explosiveness. Mays has the physical tools to find his way into a camp and battle for a spot at the back end of the running back depth chart.
ROUND 7 (247) WR Malachi Dupre • 6’-2” • 196 lbs. • LSU Malachi Dupre was not voted first or second-team all-conference during his career, and has not ranked among the more prolific receivers in the country due to the Tigers' inconsistent quarterback play. Dupre actually led LSU in receptions and receiving yards each of the past two seasons, even though his statistics aren't extraordinary (43-698, six TDs in 2015; 41-593, three TDs in 2016). The former five-star prospect and high school state champion triple, long, and high-jumper from New Orleans was voted to the SEC's All-Freshman team in 2014, however, by averaging 22.7 yards per reception (14-318, five TDs). Big target who has suffered from arrested development due, in part, to quarterback inconsistencies at LSU. Dupre is a developmental receiver with some upside but it could take some time before he's ready to contribute. Could be a potential third or fourth wide receiver with time and coaching. Source: NFL
ROUND 2 (33) CB Kevin King • 6’-3” • 200 lbs. • Washington King played for former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, so it's not a surprise that he has the skills to play defense at the highest level. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 pick at cornerback the past two seasons, using his length to make plays on the ball each season (39 tackles, three interceptions, five pass break-ups in 2015; 44 stops, 3.5 for loss, two interceptions team-high 13 PBUs in 2016). His one-handed interception in the end zone against Arizona State was one of the best plays in college football last fall. King began his career for the Huskies at safety, starting twice as a true freshman (17 tackles) and then 12 of 13 games in 2014 (65 tackles, one INT, three PBU). His senior year was the first time he did not miss games during the season, as he missed five games due to injury and one to illness during his first three years. Unusually tall cornerback with experience playing in the slot and as a starting safety. Showed improved instincts and ball production in 2016, but there are still concerns about whether he has the athleticism and recovery speed to utilize his length to play the football. Might be best suited to more zone coverage or off-man based on his speed limitations, but in either scheme he'll need to improve his aggressiveness as a tackler.
ROUND 2 (60) S Josh Jones • 6’-1” • 220 lbs. • N.C. State Jones was not a household name outside of the Research Triangle during his time at North Carolina State, and was snubbed for all-conference honors by ACC coaches. League media recognized that he was an impact defender for the Wolfpack, however, giving him honorable mention notice in 2016 after he led the team with 109 tackles (four for loss) and three interceptions, also breaking up eight passes. Jones had started eight games as a true freshman, finishing second in the ACC with four interceptions (he also had seven pass break-ups for the year). In 2015, he was a solid starter but lacked many big plays (63 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one INT, two PBU). Jones is a height-weight-speed prospect to be sure, but he's not just a traits-based safety. Jones has the appetite for hitting that teams will want around the box and he has the speed and ball skills to range and help against vertical threats from a deep safety spot. The big area of concern will be Jones' ability to play with better discipline in coverage and as a tackler. He has the ability to become a good, long-time starter in the league.
ROUND 3 (93) DT Montravius Adams • 6’-4” • 304 lbs. • Auburn The former national top-five defensive tackle high school recruit reached his potential in 2016, earning second-team all-conference honors (8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks). Adams was a three-year starter after contributing as a true freshman (20 tackles, sack), lining up with the ones in 2014 (8.0 TFL, three sacks, INT) and earning third-team All-SEC honors as a junior (three TFL, 2.5 sacks). Adams disappointed the scouting community with a pedestrian junior season that lacked passion and production. This season, he played with greater consistency of effort and found his way into the backfield far more often. Can be disruptive off the snap but is not the type of player to recover quickly if beaten early in the rep. He is a rotational defensive tackle for gap-attack defenses, but is unlikely to offer much as a pass rusher. Source: NFL
When you pay your Lambeau Field season tickets invoice(s) every year, the Packers send you a nice thank you for your financial contribution to their football coffers. We have both Green and Gold season ticket packages, so we get double thanks. After paying those bills, it takes a few days for the heart to get back to normal. But by the time the season kicks off, it’s all worth it.
Well, it’s not a huge surprise that the Green Bay Packers moved down out of the first round in tonight’s NFL Draft. They swapped the 29th overall selection with the Cleveland Browns, and in return the Packers received pick Nos. 33 (second round) and 108 (fourth round). Their first pick of the draft will take place Friday evening — and it will be the first pick of the second round.
Tonight all of the random speculation and mock-everything ends as the NFL kicks off the annual college player selection process known as the NFL Draft. Here is the basic info you may be looking for: When does the draft start? The draft begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. (Green Bay time). How can I watch the draft on TV and online? The draft’s on ESPN, and also the NFL Network. You can stream it on WatchESPN. It’s on all of ESPN’s streaming platforms, including apps on iOS and Android, Xbox and PlayStation, Chromecast, and the like. ESPN begins its live coverage at 6:00 p.m. CT, but both ESPN and the NFL Network will be live from Philadelphia before that. ESPN’s coverage starts with a local taping of Mike & Mike at 5:00 a.m. CT and runs through the night. NFL Network will broadcast NFL Draft Kickoff from 12:00 p.m. CT until the draft formally starts seven hours later. Where is the 2017 NFL draft? It’s in Philadelphia, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the city’s Museum of Art. From 1965 through 2014, the draft was located in New York City every year. It moved to the Auditorium Theater in Chicago for the last two years. This year’s venue in Philadelphia includes a main stage that is outdoors, and it looks like the environment along the Franklin Parkway will be pretty neat. What’s going to happen on Thursday night? Of course, the logistics of the draft are secondary to the players and teams involved. The likely first overall pick is Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, a pass-rushing demon who could change the face of the Browns’ (or some other team’s) defense. It’s a difficult year to be drafting a quarterback, though that doesn’t mean it’s a bad one. The quickest route to becoming a good NFL team is to find a good quarterback, and the prospect of drafting one is always tantalizing. North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson could each be that guy for somebody, but both come with some weak points. There will be risk in picking either, but also the potential of a massive payout. How teams manage the risk will shape the first round. Friday’s drafting will include an even 32 picks. (There are no compensatory first-rounders, and no team this year has been docked its pick.) Entering the weekend, the Browns have two picks in the top 12, and the Titans have two in the top 18. The Saints also have two first-round picks. The Patriots, Rams and Vikings don’t have any at all, having traded them away in the last year. ESPN will broadcast the entire draft over its three days, and the NFL Network will also have live coverage. Thursday night’s festivities include a red carpet walk with players, family, and coaches, which has become a popular TV event in the last few years. The draft is a made-for-TV event and has been for years, although the advent of Twitter reporting has taken a lot of suspense out of the pick-to-pick grind. It’s hard to keep a lid on things until Roger Goodell announces them from the podium. When are the Packers picks? Keep in mind that everything seen below can and will change once the draft gets going and teams make trades to move up in the draft order: When is the rest of the Draft? Rounds 2-3 also will be held in prime time, beginning on Friday, April 28, at 6:00 p.m. CT. Rounds 4-7 will complete the draft on Saturday, April 29, starting at 11:00 a.m. CT. Teams will have 10 minutes in between selections in the first round and seven minutes between each choice for Round 2. Rounds 3-6, including compensatory picks, will allow up to five minutes in between picks and Round 7, including compensatory picks, will allow four minutes. Source: SB Nation; Green Bay Packers
The 2017 NFL schedule was released this evening, and the Packers’ schedule is seen above (click to enlarge). From Packers.com: The Packers will face a playoff nemesis in each of the first two weeks of 2017. Green Bay will begin the regular season at home against Seattle in Week 1 and travel to Atlanta to open the Falcons’ new stadium in Week 2, a powerhouse start to the season in the schedule the NFL released on Thursday. The Seahawks and Falcons are the teams who beat the Packers in their two most recent appearances in the NFC title game, in the 2014 and 2016 playoffs. The opener vs. Seattle is slated for Sept. 10 at 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX, while Week 2 in Atlanta will be Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. CT on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, the first regular-season game in new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Packers opened a new stadium on SNF in Week 2 last year as well, at Minnesota. The Week 2 new stadium visit is one of several similarities between Green Bay’s 2016 schedule and its new one. The Packers once again have an early-season Thursday night home game vs. archrival Chicago, this time in Week 4 (Sept. 28), and they’re slated for just one Monday night appearance, also at home vs. Detroit in Week 9 (Nov. 6). This will be the third straight season the Packers will host the Bears on a Thursday night, including the Thanksgiving game in 2015. For the second straight year, Green Bay also will finish the regular season with a holiday-time home game vs. the Vikings in Week 16 (Saturday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m.) and a trip to Detroit in Week 17 (Dec. 31). In all, the Packers have five prime-time games, a total that could change based on flex scheduling. Last year, Green Bay ended up with six when the Week 17 game at Detroit for the NFC North title was flexed to prime time. There are plenty of differences compared to last year’s schedule as well, though. For one, the bye week is much closer to the middle of the season, in Week 8, the last weekend in October, a full month later than last year. Also, the Packers have no stretches of more than two straight games either home or away, after a 2016 schedule that included four straight home games (with the bye week mixed in) during the first half of the year and three consecutive road trips to begin the second half. Other noteworthy tidbits: • The NFC Divisional playoff rematch at Dallas will be in Week 5 (Oct. 8) at 3:25 p.m. on FOX. • The Packers do not play on Thanksgiving, the first odd-numbered year in the Mike McCarthy era Green Bay is not on Thanksgiving. • Three of the Packers’ four games against AFC North opponents will take place in a four-week stretch from Weeks 11-14, including a Sunday night game at Pittsburgh in Week 12 (Nov. 26). That will mark the first Packers-Steelers prime-time game since 1998. • Among NFC foes, New Orleans visits Lambeau Field in Week 7 (Oct. 22) for the first time since Week 1 of 2011, the kickoff opener following the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV triumph. Tampa Bay comes to Green Bay in Week 13 (Dec. 3), also for the first time since 2011. Most importantly, now we can plan out the next nine months!
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bill Anderson, who played on two NFL championship teams with the Green Bay Packers as part of an eight-year NFL career, has died. He was 80. Adam Starkey, funeral director at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel, said Wednesday that Anderson died Tuesday at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Anderson played for the Washington Redskins from 1958-63 and Green Bay from 1965-66.He caught 178 passes for 3,048 yards and 15 touchdowns. The 1965 Green Bay team won an NFL title and the 1966 squad won the first Super Bowl. Anderson was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1959 and 1960. After his NFL career, Anderson spent three decades as part of Tennessee football's radio broadcast team. Anderson played for Tennessee from 1955-57 and was a co-captain in 1957.
The Green Bay Packers begin their offseason workout program today, the first step for the players in the 2017 football season. Below is the team as it stands, prior to the NFL Draft April 27-29.
PACKERS OFFSEASON ROSTER: Quarterbacks (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan Running backs (5) – Ty Mongtomery, Christine Michael, Don Jackson, Aaron Ripkowski, Joe Kerridge Wide receivers (8) – Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, Max McCaffrey, Antwan Goodley Offensive linemen (10) – David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, Corey Linsley, Lane Taylor, Jason Spriggs, Don Barclay, Kyle Murphy, Justin McCray, Jacob Flores, Lucas Patrick Tight ends (4) – Richard Rodgers, Martellus Bennett, Lance Kendricks, Beau Sandland Defensive linemen (7) – Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Ricky Jean Louis, Christian Ringo, Brian Price Linebackers (10) – Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Kyler Fackrell, Jayrone Elliott, Reggie Gilbert, Joe Thomas, Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, Derrick Matthews, Jordan Tripp Defensive backs (12) – Davon House, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins. LaDarius Gunter, Demetri Goodson, Josh Hawkins, Herb Waters, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Morgan Burnett, Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans, Jermaine Whitehead Specialists (4) – Mason Crosby, Jake Schum, Taybor Pepper, Derek Hart Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette
The Green Bay Packers’ 2017 preseason schedule was released yesterday, although the specific dates will not be finalized until the release of the regular season schedule. The slate announced yesterday: Aug. 10-13, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Aug. 17-21, at Washington Redskins Aug. 24-27, at Denver Broncos Aug. 31, LOS ANGELES RAMS Home games in Bold The 2017 season ticket payments were due on March 31st, so we’re paid up and awaiting to see what the schedule will look like. Last year, the schedule was released on April 15th. Once that is out, we can plan out the rest of our year.
Here’s some more vintage Green Bay Packers video, this time from the 1965 Western Division Playoff vs. the Baltimore Colts. The game was played on December 26, 1965 in newly-named Lambeau Field. QB Bart Starr gets injured at the very start of the game, but the team is led capably by back-up QB Zeke Bratkowski. The soundtrack is only classic music from the NFL Films library.
KEY OFFSEASON DATES: • First day of offseason program: April 18. • Organized Team Activities (OTA’s): — May 22-24 — May 31, June 1-2 — June 6-9 • Mandatory minicamp: June 13-15. • Summer vacation: June 16 until start of training camp in late July.
Some more vintage Packers-related football film for your offseason enjoyment. Haven’t had much time to work on things here lately, but it’s the slow time of year, so I guess that’s O.K.
