Back at Home, Lance Kendricks is Settling in With the Packers

They're no strangers off the field, but on it, Aaron Rodgers and Lance Kendricks are establishing their connection.

Lance Kendricks hasn't exactly been familiar with the winning end of the spectrum in his six-year career.

The Packers' newest tight end has spent each of his first six years in the league with the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles. They haven't finished at or above .500 since 2006.

Now making the transition to Green Bay—a city whose football culture is rich with success—Kendricks hopes to continue the tradition.

"It's easy when you have an organization that already has a tradition of winning," Kendricks said after practice on Tuesday. "For me, I kind of just hopped right in; I hit the ground running, basically."

Kendricks grew up rooting heavily for the Packers as a Milwaukee native. He also played football at the University of Wisconsin, so the opportunity of returning to America's Dairyland likely didn't cause much hesitation on his end.

The 1,700-mile trek from Los Angeles, California to Green Bay, Wisconsin was surprisingly the easy part. The looming task for Kendricks now is learning the playbook, improving his blocking both schematically in the run game and pass game and building a rapport with Aaron Rodgers.

In terms of a personal relationship, the two already have a sense of familiarity. Kendricks often worked out with Rodgers in Rodgers' home state of California well before Kendricks ever signed with the Packers.

It helps that their alliance goes beyond football, as Rodgers and Kendricks have only faced off against each other three times since 2011 -- and none of those meetings ended well for Kendricks. His Rams lost all three to a combined score of 78-33.

"I was able to get a feel for how [Aaron Rodgers] was and who he was as a person before I got here, so that helped a lot," Kendricks said. "Once I got here, the coaches and other players brought me in and helped me understand the offense as well as they could.

"I'm still learning, it's a learning process, but it's been a pretty smooth transition so far."

Kendricks is expected to play second-fiddle to his fellow tight end acquisition in Martellus Bennett, whose arrival in Green Bay has been well-documented all through the offseason.

Since 2012, Kendricks has caught an average of 66.64 percent of his targets—which was 87 in 2016, the most of his career—and 17 touchdowns. He also caught a career-high 50 passes last season. Hands were never a question for Kendricks.

The aforementioned duo along with Richard Rodgers, who has yet to miss a game in his career and handled starting duties from 2014 through 2015, provides one of the lesser-talked about positional strengths for the Packers as they gear up for minicamp.

"I think the more reps you take, the better and more familiar you get at it," Kendricks said. "Being here during OTAs definitely helps; I think you pretty much have to be. Especially in an offense like this where it's very unique and dynamic where you move around and line up everywhere."

Timing is everything in the Packers' offense, and to reiterate; building a rapport with Rodgers can't be understated. If you want to thrive in Green Bay as a pass-catcher, you need to be on the same page with your quarterback.

The same can be said for any team with any serviceable quarterback, but for the Packers, it's vital. Earning Rodgers' trust on the practice field goes far.

"His delivery of the ball is the most impressive," Kendricks praised. "Him being able to slow the ball down when you're trying to run under it or speed it up when he knows a defender is coming.

"I think that's very rare to see. It's pretty cool."

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (22)

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NickPerry's picture

June 08, 2017 at 06:26 am

Bennett and House have gotten most of the print but Kendricks and RJF could play a pretty significant role on this football team too. Kendricks and RJF are exactly the type of players many Packers fans have been hoping for every season during FA. These two are the "Mid-Level FA" types I know I've been hoping for each year opposed to two more UDFA who we hope pan out a few years from now.

I for one was really excited when the Packers signed Kendricks. McCarthy will be able to put packages together he hasn't been able to put on the field since he's been here. He's never had 2 TE's on the roster at the same time like Bennett and Kendricks. With two quality TE's and the WR group the Packers have the possibilities are endless.

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Spock's picture

June 08, 2017 at 06:39 am

NP, I couldn't agree more! One of the more interesting comments from MM was that he was planning on using the TE's more "tight" to the formation vs. split out. I assume that is because the two additions can block well (never RR's forte). Can't wait to see the new TE's in training camp.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 08, 2017 at 07:29 am

I am very excited, too. As most know, I've been screaming for a dual threat TE for some time, and now we have one, probably two of them. It's why my opinion of RR was sooo low: I viewed him as a zero threat TE. Plus I think MM and AR know what to do with some good TEs.

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NickPerry's picture

June 09, 2017 at 05:28 am

"Plus I think MM and AR know what to do with some good TEs."

I agree TGR. McCarthy knows what to do with a TE who can stretch the middle of the field as well as any coach in the NFL. Look at the times MM and AR have had a TE like Cook or even when Finley was healthy. Last season once Cook was back and healthy the difference in the offense was night and day.

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dobber's picture

June 09, 2017 at 07:55 am

I used to equate RRod to Ed West...well, he's really not quite that good because West, even though he was undersized, could block and run a little bit.

RRod is strictly a checkdown TE.

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ThxJackVainisi's picture

June 09, 2017 at 09:33 am

Nick Perry: "These two are the "Mid-Level FA" types I know I've been hoping for each year..."

I agree except I'd include House and Evans as mid-level FAs: While Bennett signed a 3yr contract for $21M, House signed a 1 yr deal for $2.8M; Jahri Evans 1 yr. $2.425M; Kendricks 2 yrs. $4M; and Ricky Jean Francois 1yr. $2M. Imagine if Thompson had signed 2-3 such players on average from 2011-2016.

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dobber's picture

June 09, 2017 at 10:13 am

True...I think we all can imagine how that could've worked out, and many have been asking for it for years. But TT would've needed to sign the RIGHT guys at the right positions. I don't think he would've gone for a CB last off-season with the perceived depth returning...or for an OL/WR in 2015, for that matter. I know I'd be scratching my head if he did, but those were the positions that ended up screwing the pooch for the Packers.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 09, 2017 at 12:21 pm

I think you are very correct, DThomas. Guess I think of mid-tier FAs as more in the $3.5M to $7M area. To me, rightly or wrongly, I do think of House, Kendricks and Evans as mid-tier FAs, I just don't know how TT induced them to sign for so little. I explain House by suspecting that House is very confident that he can play well in our scheme, so GB made the most sense for him since he wanted a "prove it" year. I know I am confident that House is going show that he is a competent starting boundary CB. I am still surprised that Kendricks accepted his deal. His cap # is $148K less than RR's! I don't know as much about Evans, but I was surprised he signed for so little.

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ThxJackVainisi's picture

June 09, 2017 at 01:06 pm

Yea, of those signed I expect Bennett, House, and Evans to start and Kendricks and Francois to see quite a few snaps. IMO each is a good signing even if they would have cost a little more (even in NFL terms).

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Lphill's picture

June 08, 2017 at 06:47 am

Packers will have one of the best tight end tandems in the NFL this season , could be very dangerous and I am sure other teams have already started to plan to defend it.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 08, 2017 at 07:24 am

As I said in yesterday's Green and Bold article, I think Kendricks could have the biggest impact of the free agents. The biggest reason why is because he is going to allow a lot more flexibility in the offense and he can really change what the Packers do offensively. Packers rarely ran 2 TE sets before and now with Lance on the team that will change.

The Kendricks addition adds something the Packers haven't had in a long time. A great 1-2 punch at TE. They probably haven't had this good of a set of TE's since Chmura and Jackson. This essentially will be the Packers version of that. Bennett being Chmura and Kendricks being Jackson.

Kendricks will be able to be moved around more and we know McCarthy will be trying to create mismatches. For a while now McCarthy has been searching for the Kendricks type of TE and now he has him. Expect McCarthy to find a lot of different ways to involve him in the offense.

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Handsback's picture

June 08, 2017 at 07:32 am

Amen to what RC said. I remember the Chmura and Jackson set as TEs and was trying to figure out if Kendricks is more like Jackson or Chmura. No matter, I also think you are going to see Kendricks lining up in the backfield as a FB. If teams bring down that safety, he can swing out for a pass down the seam.
No matter....MM has new toys and has to be giddy over what they can do.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 08, 2017 at 10:11 am

Thanks Handsback.

I agree and I think we will see them moving Kendricks around a lot. FB, TE, Slot, Spread out wide. I think McCarthy is going to get really creative with how he uses him.
What I also like about having both Bennett and Kendricks is that they are good blocking TE's. It will really help the run game out.

I do wonder how much and for how long that McCarthy was begging Thompson for TE's.
I think we will see a new and improved offense.

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Savage57's picture

June 08, 2017 at 08:11 am

If given opportunities, I could see Kendricks contributing more than Bennett early on, due in part to his work with Rodgers and in part to all the hype that comes along with Bennett and the defensive attention he'll inevitably attract.

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LayingTheLawe's picture

June 08, 2017 at 01:26 pm

Cobb and Nelson get over 16 mil combined for 2017 in base salary (and another 7 mil in bonuses) but the Packers better matchup problems may come from the two tight ends getting less than 2 mil combined in base salary (plus the 4 mil or so bonuses they get). I am excited to see if they adjust the offense to really work on two tight end packages.

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Cartwright's picture

June 08, 2017 at 02:50 pm

After reading this article I'm wondering where Richard Rogers fits in, or will he get cut. He's not great on special teams so what role will he play? Never heard of a triple TE set.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 08, 2017 at 10:52 pm

Great name Donny. Here's hoping Rodgers is used sparingly. Red zone only really. Would love to see a camp body emerge as a more than a development project instead of RR. Team needs speed everywhere.

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Cartwright's picture

June 08, 2017 at 02:50 pm

After reading this article I'm wondering where Richard Rogers fits in, or will he get cut. He's not great on special teams so what role will he play? Never heard of a triple TE set.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 09, 2017 at 05:59 am

if he makes the offense, about the only spot they would probably use 3 TE sets would be goal line situations. And even then, its not like they would do it 3 downs in a row.

I wonder if Rodgers would be better off losing 20 lbs or so, to try and gain some speed. He isn't a good enough blocker to warrant keeping extra weight on.

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Spock's picture

June 09, 2017 at 09:40 am

RC, Actually, Rodgers did that last year. He lost something like 15 lbs. and was noticeably thinner in training camp. Didn't work (: as his speed was the same.

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Cartwright's picture

June 08, 2017 at 02:50 pm

After reading this article I'm wondering where Richard Rogers fits in, or will he get cut. He's not great on special teams so what role will he play? Never heard of a triple TE set.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

June 09, 2017 at 08:27 am

I am not sure he makes the cut this year, lots of talent but you know that dang injury bug thing.

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