Green Bay Packers Draft — Day 1

Round 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft was tonight, and the Green Bay Packers chose DT/NT Kenny Clark from UCLA with pick #27. Utilizing their “Best Available Player” (BAP) strategy that most fans and media never seem to figure out, they get a player that can hopefully make the retirement of B.J. Raji a moot point. Round 2 is tomorrow night, and they may yet get the LB that everyone seems to think they should take. Here are some more photos of Clark (who wore #97 in college — we’ll see if fellow current DT Christian Ringo surrenders that number to him), followed by his bio from the official UCLA media guide:

We also found this video highlights film on YouTube to see him in action with UCLA.

KENNY CLARK — ROUND 1 (#27 Overall)
College: UCLA
Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 310 lbs.
Year: Junior
Hometown: San Bernardino, Calif.
High School: Carter
Experience: 2 Letters

OVERVIEW: Kenny Clark, Sr., went to prison in 2005, leaving 9-year-old Kenny, Jr. to mature faster than most of the boys his age. With the help of his mother and others, Clark maintained a good relationship with this father and turned the adversity into a positive, working hard to become an excellent high school player. He started four games as a freshman in 2013 (31 tackles, four for loss, one sack), then stayed a fixture in the lineup the following year. The 2014 second-team All-Pac-12 selection (58 tackles, 5.5 for loss) graduated to all-conference first team as a junior, using his strength and agility to finish second on the Bruins in tackles (75), tackles for loss (11) and sacks (six) despite lining up in the interior. Clark also showed a knack for batting down passes, breaking up five on the year.

PRO DAY RESULTS: 3-cone: 7.73 seconds

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Former high school wrestler who can generate torque through upper body strength and leverage with power in his hips. Will hammer finesse guards and centers with initial punch and overtake the neutral zone. Quick to diagnose run direction and will race to set the edge against blocker. Low center of gravity and powerful core make him a challenging block to seal for linemen. Cranks up a nasty bull ­rush to collapse pocket when single blocked. Plays with plus instincts and football IQ. Has feel for trap blocks and double teams and is quick to read and react to screens. Can work his way through double teams and squeeze the gap.

WEAKNESSES: Short and missing arm length to be better tackle finisher. Allowed unusual amount of broken tackles (4) for an interior lineman. Not a quick twitch athlete. Needs to do a better job of bringing feet and hips through contact. Gets too anxious pursuing down line and can lose backside contain. Despite strength, lack of size will be challenging in some matchups. Straight line bull­ rusher with average lateral quickness for twists.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Round 2

SOURCES TELL US: "What bothers me about Clark is that he was so much better against weaker competition than he was against better talent. I like him, but not like everyone is hyping him up." 
—­ AFC Pac-12 scout

NFL COMPARISON: David Parry

BOTTOM LINE: Has the strength and talent to be a plug and play 4-­3 nose, but lack of size and concerns about his value on third downs could push his draft value into the second day. Clark's wrestling background gives him a huge leg up at the point of attack and he won't be 21 until October which means he's still filling out his frame. Would benefit from a year of rotational work as he continues to physically mature.
(NFL.com)

2015 — Starter in all 13 games for a total of 29 consecutive starts ... Third-team AP All-America ... First-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection (AP and coaches) ... Team co-captain ... Appeared on the Bednarik, Nagurski, Outland and Lombardi Award Watch Lists ... Recorded career bests in tackles (75-second on team and 25th in Pac-12), sacks (6.0-second on team and tied for 10th in Pac-12) and tackles for loss (11.0-second on team and tied for 14th in Pac-12) ... He had the third highest PBU total on the team with five.

2014 — Starter in all 13 games ... Made 58 tackles (sixth on the team), 5.5 for loss ... Selected to the second-team all-conference squad ... Posted a career-high eight tackles at UVa and at California (1.5 for loss) ... Registered seven stops in games at Arizona State and at Colorado ... Had at least four tackles in eight games.

2013 — Appeared in all 13 games with four starts ... Made 31 tackles, four for loss ... Had a best game of six tackles vs. Arizona State ... Credited with one forced fumble ... Had nine multiple tackle games ... Named Sun Bowl Most Valuable Lineman ... Presented the Ed Kezirian "Coach K" Award for Academic and Athletic Balance at the team banquet.

HIGH SCHOOL — A four-star recruit according to both scout.com and rivals.com … Ranked No. 187 nationally by scout.com … SuperPrep All-West Region selection and the No. 24-ranked defensive tackle in the country … Ranked as the No. 20 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 34 overall prospect on the West 150 list, according to scout.com … Regarded as the nation’s No. 24 defensive tackle and the No. 39 overall prospect in the state of California by rivals.com … ESPN.com’s No. 56 recruit in California and the No. 41-ranked defensive tackle in the nation … The No. 25-rated prospect in the CA/NV/HI region according to PrepStar … CIF Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Year … Also on the wrestling team … Team went 12-1 in his senior season … Credited with 71 tackles, 11.0 sacks for 64 yards lost, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery … As a junior, had 31 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss … Coached by Alex Pierce.

PERSONAL — Full Name: Kenneth Duane Clark, Jr. … Born in San Bernardino, CA… Parents: Kenneth and Leslie Clark … Has one brother and two sisters ... Lists the NFL's Ray Lewis as the athlete he admires the most … Enjoys spending time with his family ... Interested in becoming a coach.
(UCLA PR)

2016 NFL Draft Details

2016 NFL Draft: How to watch on TV

Draft week is finally here and the Los Angeles Rams are on the clock. And for the second straight year, all the round-by-round drama will unfold in Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. Here's the schedule for Rounds 1-7, including TV coverage times and networks:

ROUND 1
Thursday, April 28: 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPN and NFL Network.
Each team has 10 minutes to submit their official pick.

• • • • • •

ROUNDS 2-3
Friday, April 29: 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN and NFL Network. ESPN's coverage moves to ESPN 2 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Each team has 7 minutes to submit their official pick.

• • • • • •

ROUNDS 4-7
Saturday, April 30: 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN and NFL Network.
Each team has 5 minutes to submit their official pick.

Pigskin Champions

On this lovely spring day our thoughts, as usual, turn to football. Of course, there’s the NFL Draft coming up this Thursday, but we found this on YouTube — the only place this side of the Packers Hall of Fame that you can view this film. It’s “Pigskin Champions,” a 1937 sports short subject documentary directed by Charles G. Clarke. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was a part of the "Pete Smith Specialties" series, and featured the then-World Champion Green Bay Packers in an exhibition of football skills.

Titletown District Construction

We spent last weekend in Green Bay at the Packerville, U.S.A. headquarters, and were able  to see that the team’s development of the Titletown District is getting started. To explain for the uninitiated, or for those who have forgotten, this is the huge new project on the 34-acre property now owned by the Packers that spreads westward along Lombardi Avenue towards Highway 41.

First, we’ll take a look at the renderings released by the Packers several months ago. Above shows how it will appear when looking east back towards Lambeau Field.

This is the view you’d get while standing on the upper concourse of Lambeau, looking west. The building at right with the “H” on it will be the new location of the Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery, which will move from their current location downtown. Not seen is the Bellin Health Sports Medicine Clinic and Lodge Kohler, a four-diamond high-end hotel.

This satellite view shows all of the area to be developed (the skinny portion to the left).

Above and below, a winter scene of the area with proposed skating pond in a 10-acre park-like setting. 

The same view of the scene from second photo at top, but in winter.

A fall scene, looking back towards Lambeau Field.

Another drawing, with Lambeau Field to the right. The top of the drawing is north.

An aerial photo of about half the site.

This is a shot that brings us to what we saw last weekend. At lower left, dirt is finally being moved at the Lodge Kohler site. This is the view from the upper Lambeau Field concourse, looking west.

Now, onto our photos. This is along Ridge Road, seen from the Lambeau Field parking lot. The construction fences are up, and so we had to scout out some position where we can take photos of the project from time to time through the next few years.

Looking westward through the fence gate. The Lodge Kohler site is to the immediate left.

Standing along the construction fence on Ridge Road.

Miron, who has been the builder through most of the Lambeau Field renovations, is apparently the main contractor for the Titletown District as well.

Looking the other direction (south) along Ridge Road.

Next time we visit the site, we should wear our Packers’ hard hat.

Above and below, looking at the site through the fence gate.

Above and below, the Kohler Company handles the construction of their facilities, so Mortensen Construction will be the contractor on their site.

Back at Lambeau Field, the refurbishment of the corporate suites continues. They were 13 years old, so a “fresh” look was due.

On a 74° day in Green Bay, the large piles of snow stubbornly hang on, but are just about gone. 

The scene on Brookwood Drive, which is the road where we normally walk to the stadium after parking. Looks like we’ll need a new route this season.

The same view, a bit closer. The construction trailer offices seen at left is where Lodge Kohler will be built.

Above and the next several shots: Views of the Lodge Kohler site as seen from Brookwood Drive.

We’ll be providing construction updates as we go along.

Other project details:

Bellin Health, official healthcare partner of the Packers, will operate the nearly 30,000 square-foot sports medicine facility. It will be geared toward injury prevention, performance improvement, injury treatment and therapy — and will include lab, x-ray and MRI; sports nutrition; sports psychology services.

Hinterland’s 20,000 square-foot facility will be nearly four times larger than their current Green Bay restaurant and brewery. The main floor brew pub and restaurant experience will pair farm-to-table culinary experiences. The brewery will produce 20,000 bottles annually and offer tours and tasting rooms for guests.

Lodge Kohler will be Kohler Co. Hospitality & Real Estate Group’s fourth hotel, adding to The American Club and Inn on Woodlake in Kohler, Wis., and The Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Future tenants
Approximately 16 acres will be available for further development — retail, commercial and residential. Up to 70 townhouse homes may be constructed along Brookwood Drive.

Targeted completion is the fall of 2017 for the three initial components described above.

Development consultants
• Sterling Project Development, a real estate advisory firm
• ROSSETTI, a global architectural design and planning firm
• Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, a firm that creates, redevelops, and operates parks, public spaces and neighborhood streetscapes

Investment
The Packers plan to invest approximately $65 million in the Titletown District. Cumulative initial investment by all parties between $120-130 million.

2016 Schedule Released

The 2016 NFL schedule has been released, eight days earlier than last year. Seen above, and by clicking on the link at right, you will see the Packers’ opponents and dates of battle. Some notable aspects of the schedule:

• They start with two road games, one of which will most likely be in high heat & humidity.

• They will be the Vikings’ first opponent in their new stadium.

* The Lions are the home opener opponent.

• Their Bye is in week four, the first eligible week.

• Including the Bye, they are home five weeks in a row.

• The October Bears’ game will be the “Color Rush” uniform game.

• They have three road games in November.

• The Seahawks come to Lambeau again.

• And most inconveniently, they play on Christmas Eve.

Minutes after the release of the schedule, we received this from the team:

You’re welcome.

Packers Draft Parties

 

There will be two “official“ 2016 NFL Draft parties held by the Green Bay Packers.  Since the draft is again being held in Chicago, a pep rally will be held at a local “Packers bar,” Will’s Northwoods Inn. The Chicago rally will begin at 7:30 p.m., and will include special guests — Packers alumni Gary Ellerson, Mark Chmura, Mark Tauscher and Frank Winters. The event will feature raffles, giveaways and specials from the venue.

        

The second party will be held at the 1919 Kitchen & Tap, which is located on the first floor of the Lambeau Field Atrium. This party will be on Saturday, April 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m., with a program at 11:00 a.m. Team President and CEO Mark Murphy and Packers alumni Jerry Kramer and Dave Robinson will participate. Giveaways, raffles and special menu items will be included.

Each event will include draft coverage on TVs throughout the venues and Wi-Fi Internet access.

Round one of the NFL draft begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. The second day of the draft, featuring rounds two and three, begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 29. Rounds four through seven will be conducted beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30.

Speaking Up for Football

These days, there’s a constant negative barrage against football. This isn’t Packers-related, but it’s time someone stood up for football.

Playing The Game

Undoubtedly, there are long-term physical effects of playing football. Everybody involved knows that going into it. No one can say that they had no idea they could receive a concussion while playing the game. While the doom-sayers predict the death of football, we keep reading quotes from long-time players who say they would definitely do it all over again if they could. From an ESPN article on former Packers G Marco Rivera:

“It was all worth it. Without question,” Rivera said. “Why? I was able to provide not only for my family but for my extended family a better way of life. And I got to the point where my kids are going to have a really good and bright future because of the things I did in the past. And that’s what it’s all about.”

Rivera has had more than his share of post-football pain. Read the article.

A NASCAR driver cannot say, “Gee, I had no idea that I might die on the track.” It’s risk vs. reward, and there will always be men who accept the risk to chase the reward. One thing that may very well change is the length of players’ careers. We don’t know if B.J. Raji will return to the game, but we may see more like him. Get in, make a large amount of money in X number of years, and get out.

And changes to the way the game is played, or the equipment it is played with, are certain to change in the league’s new reality of hyper-critical media and public. Sometimes things need to evolve to survive, and football is definitely on that list. Your children’s NFL will not be the NFL you grew up with. That is one fact we are all going to have to accept, like it or not.

Packerville, U.S.A. in the Desert

The Packerville, U.S.A. staff is enjoying some time in the Arizona desert during this offseason. Posts will continue when we have returned refreshed.