Surviving Sunday: Packers news, notes and links for the football deprived
By adamczech
I had a long and in-depth Surviving Sunday post saved and ready to go, but it appears to have disappeared into thin air.
Poof. Gone.
Either the blogging system here at CheeseheadTV ate it or the author made some type of silly error and forgot to save it.
My money is on the latter since I went from being a father of one little boy to a father of two little boys this week. Reginald (Reggie) Paul Czech was born at 2:04 p.m.. on Tuesday. Seven pounds, 13 ounces. 21 1/4 inches long. Mom was her usual rock star self and baby is doing great.
I don't feel like re-creating my original post because my 2 year old is throwing a fit in his crib and the newborn is awake and ready to snuggle with daddy.
Priorities.
But I do have a quick take: Bob McGinn reported in Saturday's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Packers west coast scout Sam Seale urged Ted Thompson to draft UCLA inside linebacker Myles Jack in the first round, despite concerns about the condition of Jack's knee.
Many scouts believed Jack to be a top 5 talent in this draft, but the knee caused him to plummet down many team's boards.
Instead of picking Jack, Thompson chose Kenny Clark, a young nose tackle, also from UCLA. McGinn agreed with the pick, arguing that the medical risk on Jack was too great.
Clark seems like a fine player. In baseball terms, he appears to be a solid single or a double. Jack's talent is might be transcendent and game-changing. He has the potential to be a grand slam. If I'm in the general manager's chair with Aaron Rodgers as my quarterback, I'm going to try and hit the grand slam.
Singles and doubles are nice, but I'd rather swing for the fences.
Of course, we have no idea how any draft pick is going to pan out. Clark might end up being the game-changer while Jack languishes on the injured list.
But on the surface, taking Clark over Jack looks to be another case of Thompson being too afraid of striking out instead of having the confidence an moxie to try and hit a home run.
Cancer update
Not much new to report here. The grind continues. My next round of treatment is this Thursday. I've had plenty of reasons to keep fighting these last five months, Reggie gives me yet another one.
Comments (41)
Horse
May 08, 2016 at 06:47 am
TT's still getting ripped for his picks who busted out due to injury. He's not the only GM who passed on Jack in round 1.
DrealynWilliams
May 08, 2016 at 10:55 am
Exactly. Damned if he do. Damned if he don't.
ray nichkee
May 08, 2016 at 07:24 am
Congrats on the new addition, Adam.
I'm sure he'll grow to be a proud packer fan, just get him some sunlight now and then so he don't become another basement dweller.
4thand1
May 08, 2016 at 07:41 am
Big men in the middle get no love. DT's, guards go unnoticed and they are more important than most fans realize. It all starts with the bjg guys up front. If Clark eats up blocks and gets pressure up the middle, he'll be a big plus for the defense. Congrats Adam on new little Reggie. Hope all is well with you and your family.
DrealynWilliams
May 08, 2016 at 10:59 am
Right on.
Man, I was watching some Mike Daniels mic'd up videos and immediately thought if he and Clark could have that same type of mentality that D-Line is going to be ferocious. It should only get better when Pennell gets back.
Amanofthenorth
May 08, 2016 at 09:04 pm
Clark and Daniels are going to be a ferocious pair for a long time, and surprise surprise we'll have all pro ILB's. Funny that.
NickPerry
May 08, 2016 at 07:44 am
Congrats to Adam and his new Baby Boy. Glad to hear the new addition and Mom are doing well. Keep up the fight, the grind, all of it Adam, you're always in my Prayers.
If you want to argue the Packers sould have taken Ragland, Reed, Robinson, Obgah, Butler or any "Healthy Player" that's one thing, but to risk your pick an a guy who's knee is ready to fall apart by the Players own admission is another. I have a feeling for the first time in a while Ted has hit a HR with Clark. If 30 GM's passed on Jack, 4 twice, TT sure in the hell doesn't seem THAT conservative when it came to Jack. The Packers D-Line was just as great of need as ILB was IMO. When you look at the 7 picks of the Packers draft, TT did exactly what most Packers fans could have hoped for. I'm not even a "Ted Can Do No Wrong" kind of guy but 2 D-Linemen, 2 O-Lineman, ILB, OLB, and a fast WR with good hands, what more could you want?
If you want to knock Ted, knock him for not taking Jerrell Adams in the 5th instead of Davis. Otherwise this was a solid draft for the present and future.
Gumbydoc
May 08, 2016 at 08:16 am
Congratulations Adam on the arrival of Reggie.
Since'61
May 08, 2016 at 09:02 am
Adam - congrats on the new arrival. Enjoy every minute. Stay positive and never give up. Best wishes for a full recovery. Thanks, Since '61
Tundraboy
May 08, 2016 at 09:33 am
Congrats. Two sons!!!!!!
jeremyjjbrown
May 08, 2016 at 10:02 am
Congrats Adam!
"Singles and doubles are nice, but I'd rather swing for the fences."
I'd rather swing for doubles, avoid strike outs and double plays and put men on base for the big hitters already in the lineup (Rodgers and Matthews) to hit the Grand Slams. There are only 2 number 3 and 4 spots in the lineup.
This is exactly what the Patriots do.
croatpackfan
May 08, 2016 at 10:26 am
I think Packers should do their way, not Cheatriots way.... It is much better way!
jeremyjjbrown
May 08, 2016 at 08:15 pm
I'm talking about personell, not deflating balls and video tape. Sheesh.
croatpackfan
May 08, 2016 at 10:27 am
Congratulation. I'm sure now that you'll win in your most important battle in your life... You have to many right reasons to win!
EdsLaces
May 08, 2016 at 10:37 am
Congrats on the kiddo. Maybe Um getting old but I like the conservative pick of Clark....
Ferrari Driver
May 08, 2016 at 11:03 am
I like Clark who is just what was most needed at that time and I like him over the Alabama guys. He is the type of person who I like to pull for as well; upstanding citizen and a good person.
Solid draft by Thompson, especially considering he is picking in the Packers usual position in the bottom third of the draft.
Point-Packer
May 08, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I couldn't agree more with your take on the Clark pick. GB drafted a one dimensional run stuffer in the first round with zero pass rushing ability. In a passing league, it's akin to taking a center in that slot. A low valued position in which you can find sufficient talent in the mid and even late rounds. Combine that with TTs less than stellar history of drafting D-lineman in the first round and its a suspect pick. Why waste draft value on a player whose upside is so low based on both the position he plays and his skill set? Especially when you have the ability to draft a possibley transcending player at a position of need? Would there be risk? Yes. Worth the gamble? Completely.
NitschkeFan
May 08, 2016 at 12:10 pm
It is a very cautious pick. I can't understand fans being excited by the Clark pick. He may be develop into a long term starter, and that would be nice but for what it is worth the other scouting opinions on him were that he was not first round worthy.
I too would have preferred TT gamble on the possible star prospect. Maybe I'm tired of watching the team be so close but not close enough to another SB. All of those regular season wins have been fun but the last few years of playoff losses have really been painful. Maybe that's why some fans are looking for the homerun swing?
dobber
May 08, 2016 at 09:00 pm
"...and that would be nice but for what it is worth the other scouting opinions on him were that he was not first round worthy."
And the scouting reports on Jerran Reed, A'Shawn Robinson, Billings and others that had them as early-to-mid first-rounders? That really worked out, eh? And just like Myles Jack, everyone passed on each of those guys at least once.
In order for those sure-thing first rounders to move into rounds 2 and beyond, lots of guys deemed unworthy of first round picks got picked in the first round.
In the end, the scouting reports we see are primarily by draftniks and internet pundits. And what's more, those guys don't work for NFL teams and, to summarize the arguments we've had here, none of those are fitting picks to teams, schemes, or long-term roster-building strategies.
How's about we let Mr. Clark show us what he can do over the course of 2-3 years before we decide whether or not he was a good pick?
tm_inter
May 08, 2016 at 12:37 pm
I disagree that TT was to be blamed for not picking Myles Jack. After all Jack was the 36th pick in the draft, meaning that GMs of every team passed on Jack before the Jaguars picked him at the 36th pick.
Whoever said that Jack has the potential to be a grand slam should have also said that he also has the potential to be a strike-out at the same time. His injury made him a risky pick.
In my opinion, TT made the right decision to pick Kenny Clark, as well as the other six picks of this year's draft. Whoever wants to find fault with TT for not picking Jack should also find fault with the GMs of every football team for doing the same thing as TT in passing on Jack.
4thand1
May 08, 2016 at 01:33 pm
1st of all Clark is not one dimensional. Also he and most other d-linemen were all rated about the same over all. The d-line needed the most help right now with Raji gone, and Pennel suhspended. A whole season is a long time , especially to take a 50/50 chance on a guy. The Packers 1st 2 picks were really good, and if Jack or Smith were there in the 3rd, fine. Dallas and Jacksonville reached IMO.
Oppy
May 08, 2016 at 05:27 pm
NT is arguably the single most important position for a 3-4 defense.
Regardless of the fact that the packers play so much sub, if Kenny Clark can occupy two OL at the line of scrimmage, the improved returns from the untouched LB's playing behind him more than negates any perceived lack of pass rush from Clark.
There's a reason guys like Vince Wilfork make the big bucks. It's because a true NT who does the job the way it's supposed to be played is hard to find and immensely valuable to a defense, primarily a 3-4. Conceptually, You have to be immovable up the middle before you can even start getting what you want from those highly paid show pony edge rushers at OLB. NT is valuable.
NickPerry
May 09, 2016 at 05:46 am
^^^^^^ This By Oppy ^^^^^^ Or Haloti Ngata with Baltimore was another great example.
Amanofthenorth
May 08, 2016 at 09:07 pm
He definitely can bull rush. Ask A Rod about bull rushers.
NickPerry
May 09, 2016 at 05:49 am
...So can Daniels so imagine what happens to that pocket on several passing downs, they'll be in the QB's face in about 1.5 seconds.
Rossonero
May 08, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Congrats on the new arrival Adam! I'd say Ted has tried to swing for the fences before, but with mixed results.
He drafted Justin Harrell in 2007 despite a torn biceps he suffered in college. As we all know, he was a massive bust.
In 2006, LB AJ Hawk seemed like a slam dunk pick. While he was a solid starter until his latter years, he wasn't a game changing player like a Clay Matthews.
In 2008, I'm sure a lot of Packers fans were pissed when Thompson traded down and out of the 1st round to draft a white WR named Jordy Nelson in the second round.
My point is, Ted has in fact tried to hit home runs before. Sometimes he's missed badly, and other times he's done extremely well. Usually us fans do not understand why a certain player was taken, especially unsexy picks like linemen.
Last year I was one of many wanting an ILB in the first round, then Ted took Demarious Randall, a guy who probably wasn't in anyone's Packers mock drafts because he shot up draft boards late. Clay Matthews was another guy who wasn't a beast in college, but was an ascending player that Ted saw something and traded up for.
Only time will tell if Sam Seale is right or not, but for now, I'm gonna trust in the scouting department and Ted Thompson.
Spock
May 08, 2016 at 02:47 pm
I would up vote your post if you hadn't felt the need to say, "white WR"; aren't we past that?!
Rossonero
May 08, 2016 at 04:45 pm
My bad. I don't perceive him that way. However, I felt when he was drafted that was the stigma he had to fight. He explained that he had to fight that in college as well in a Sports Illustrated feature article a few years ago too.
I agree that the stigma is plain wrong, but even Jordy acknowledges that it unfortunately exists.
WKUPackFan
May 08, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!
Bearmeat
May 08, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Congrats Adam!!
TT is conservative. We know this. He risked a 1st rounder on Harrell in 07 and has been verrrry cautious since. This was a classic TT pick.
For my money, I'm with Nagler and Seale. Jack was the home run hitter. Why not go with the higher risk? I wish Raji hadn't retired and Pennell hadn't smoked weed. Then the hole at ILB would finally become a plus. It's been AWFUL except for in 2010. For the last 10 years. Awful.
Granted, the DL has been marginal too. And that is more important. But it's not like TT's draft record anywhere on the front 7 is any good at all. So why not go down swinging if you're going to go down? Because TT is a risk averse dude. Always has been. Always will be. As Adam says above - Clark is a single or double. I want a home run. We ALL know GB is going to get into the playoffs. They'll almost surely win the division too.
Yawn.
I want titles. I want them now. ARod is 31. His window is another 6-7 years max. 2 more Lombardis would be great. 1 would be nice. 0 would be a tragedy.
Spock
May 08, 2016 at 03:04 pm
"They'll almost surely win the division too.
Yawn." Seriously? After everyone basically has crucified Ted for the Harrell pick this is what your say? My gosh, I actually have to give Cow (Cow, not sure what is going on with your life, but you seem like a completely different person this year; I hope that stays with you!!) points over your comment. Winning the division is a YAWN!!! Sorry, I spent many a (miserable) year watching the Packers in the 70's. If you can yawn at todays Packers, I feel sorry for you. Normally, I enjoy your posts but this one is WAY off. I am so happy to be a Packer fan today. One of the lowest points of my life was watching the (let's be brutally honest) thugs that Forrest Gregg put on the field! Ted has put a really good draft class together. Let's wait until the pads are on before we pass judgment!!
Spock
May 08, 2016 at 03:07 pm
edit: "you say"
Bearmeat
May 08, 2016 at 03:08 pm
I only say "yawn" because I expect them to win the division. They have the best QB in the NFL. They have a HUGE advantage over almost every team they play on a weekly basis. They have more talent than any other team in the division.
They SHOULD win the division. That's the baseline. Winning the superbowl is what I'm after.
Spock
May 08, 2016 at 05:33 pm
Okay,
I agree with your expectations, still, I think trying to "go for the fences" isn't needed. this team has enough talent to go all the way, wasting a draft pick on a "might be medically okay" is, to me a risk they don't need to assume. Again, Bearmeat, I find your posts some of the most interesting on this site, so please don't take offense on this one comment! It says a lot that we now EXPECT the Pack to win the division!!!
MarkinMadison
May 08, 2016 at 04:25 pm
Stay strong!
Oppy
May 08, 2016 at 06:11 pm
Hey, this kinda sneaked in.
Mike Daniels made #95 on NFL's Top 100 of 2016.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-top100-2016/0ap3000000660059/Top-100-Playe...
DrealynWilliams
May 08, 2016 at 06:35 pm
Have you seen/heard his Mic'd up game highlights against the Vikings? It's good.
Handsback
May 08, 2016 at 08:22 pm
Adam
Stay strong brother, you have a great ride ahead.
lucky953
May 08, 2016 at 10:57 pm
A roster has to be tended to, like a garden. You have to fertilize and mulch, not just for the tomatoes you plant this week, but for the corn you'll want to plant next year or the strawberries you're hoping to put in the year after. Prepare for the future. That's what Ted does. If anyone thinks the Packers are just "one more superstar" away from winning Super Bowl after Super Bowl, you are living in an illusory world. You win by developing young talent, preparing as best you can and then hope you find some chemistry and some luck when you need it most. Teds doing his job, now the coaches need to do theirs. This team is as set up to win a Championship as any other in the league, and more than most. Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Clark and Spriggs will help us win. McCarthy has said over and over again, "There are only so many big, athletic men made."' He means it. They are not easy to come by. Go Pack!
PETER MAIZ
May 09, 2016 at 12:07 am
Adam, I hope everything goes well and congrats to your wife and you on the new baby!!!!
On the issue of TT on this one, I would go with the TT decision. Knees are very tricky. And you do know what they do to horses one they break a leg, right?
We have a superstar already and some, brave, hardworking stars. But it takes so many players starting and most won't be superstar material. It seems TT does not place great value on ILB's.
WKUPackFan
May 09, 2016 at 08:07 am
Re: The west coast scout: Brady Poppinga mentioned this same scout as the person who recommended that the Packers draft BP.
BP is simply excellent on Fox Sports Radio. He's usually co-hosting a 3-4 hour weekend show. Interesting, funny guy. Very astute analysis, and fluid in Spanish. Always has some great Packers stories. Very much a fan of TT.
Also, Poppinga mentioned yesterday that he was a "position switch" player coming to GB. According to BP he wasn't a scheme fit player when drafted.