Montravius Adams, Vince Biegel's Stunted Rookie Seasons Were Expected

It's safe to say the Green Bay Packers haven't gotten as much of a pay-out from some of their 2017 rookie class members, but that was expected.

93rd overall pick Montravius Adams has played just 56 snaps on defense this season after missing all of training camp and all of the preseason with a stress fracture in his foot that would later require surgery. Even Ricky Jean Francois, released twice by the Packers this season and now making his stay in New England for a contending team, has played more snaps (60) in Green Bay than Adams.

The storyline is similar, but not much better for Vince Biegel, who came 15 picks later (108th) in the same draft. 

The Wisconsin native suffered a fracture in his foot in May and was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the end of the month, only to be activated to the roster by early November.

In the eight games since—half a season's worth—Biegel has played just 111 defensive snaps. Only Chris Odom has played fewer snaps at that position this season. Reggie Gilbert has 46 to his merit, however, he was on the practice squad for virtually the entire season before being elevated to the 53-man roster for Saturday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Disappointing? Hardly. Many could've seen this stunning lack of production coming from a mile away.

"I think it's clearly obvious when players don't go through camp," said coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday. "It blows me away sometimes. [Vince] Biegel has been here every day through the summer just putting so much into it, comes off of PUP and there's an expectation that he's going to come out there and make plays.

"It's nonsense, it's not practical."

The same could be sad for Adams, although his services haven't been necessarily needed along the interior of the defensive line with Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels there, depth is always welcomed in every facet.

Between the two, where the need was truly dire was on the edge where the Packers have struggled to register any semblance of pass rush this season. They have yet to even record a single sack in the red zone in 2017, but they'll still have one more chance to right that against the Lions on Sunday -- because that's downright embarrassing.

"I think both of those young guys are going to be really good players, but it takes time," McCarthy said. "There's a reason you go to training camp."

Biegel could've given the Packers an explosive body to pair with an opposite rusher, whether it be in situational circumstances or eventually becoming a full-fledged starter. His pending emergence could decrease the urgency the Packers have in beefing up that outside linebacker position this offseason.

There's still hope that he could be that player next season, however, that would require him getting through a full offseason, healthy and determined for a steadily increasing workload without the burdens of foot surgery weighing him down.

"[Training camp] is a process that's necessary and needed for everybody. When you miss that in your first year, it's a challenge."

__________________________

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].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (29)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Bearmeat's picture

December 27, 2017 at 12:45 pm

Yep. Not unexpected. Don't blame Adams and Biegel. Blame Ted and Dom for not getting the pieces in place to succeed, and not putting those pieces we actually have in a position to succeed.

0 points
0
0
Big_Mel_75's picture

December 27, 2017 at 01:02 pm

Not like TJ Watt was sitting there to be picked or anything....

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

December 27, 2017 at 01:25 pm

Too early to decide that. King has a TON of upside. His shoulder injury is upsetting, yes. But we needed help at OLB and CB - desperately. If Biegel ends up being an average starter or good role player and King becomes an average CB1, we've "won" that trade, unless Watt becomes Von Miller.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

December 27, 2017 at 02:06 pm

El mísmo, amigo.

0 points
0
0
sonomaca's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:11 pm

Did we win if Watt becomes almost as good as JJ?

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

December 27, 2017 at 06:01 pm

Obviously not - unless King becomes as good as Revis in his prime too.

0 points
0
0
NickPerry's picture

December 28, 2017 at 07:01 am

That would mean Ted Nailed his first pick. Since hitting on Clark (I think he did) hoping for 2 in a row is asking for a bit too much.

0 points
0
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:18 pm

The Packers need a scheme they can succeed in as well.

0 points
0
0
pooch's picture

December 29, 2017 at 08:08 am

I dont care how good your conerback is,you cant let qb stand back rhere for 8 seconds and go thru his reads 2-3 times with out pressure,

0 points
0
0
Turophile's picture

December 27, 2017 at 04:39 pm

mnklitzke. If you are making the Watt/King comparison, just remember the Packers got both King AND Biegel for Watt, since they traded down at pick one.

0 points
0
0
stockholder's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:49 pm

Thats one way to look at it. But lets try this. Watt becomes an All- pro. King does not. Jones becomes a starter. Adams becomes a bust. Biegel could have been taken in the third rd. instead of Adams. You just fixed the OLBs with 1 becoming an All-pro. It's about getting the best player you can. Not the extra player.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

December 27, 2017 at 06:02 pm

Yes, as long as you are SURE that you are getting the best player. If King's shoulder keeps him from being a CB1 - yeah, we whiffed. If not, we didn't. It's too early to tell.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

December 28, 2017 at 04:40 pm

You and I could be NFL GMs if we could make our draft picks in December.

0 points
0
0
pooch's picture

December 29, 2017 at 08:12 am

How good are those 2 picks working? So your saying with King pick Biegel was a guarantee pick for Green Bay,your smokkng wacky tobbaco if you think if foot problems are done

0 points
0
0
pooch's picture

December 29, 2017 at 08:05 am

How in the world could anyone dislike mnk post??? Major screw up by Ted bypassing Watt

0 points
0
0
Kevin Carpenter's picture

December 27, 2017 at 07:39 pm

I'm really sick and tired of hearing about the fact that T.J. Watt was there. He wasn't when we drafted. The Steelers picked him 2 picks before we had a chance to draft him. We could've traded up to get him but who foresaw him being taken by Pittsburgh? And the real question was, was he worth it? After he was taken it was obvious the Packers never saw any other talent worth taking at their spot so they moved back into the second round. Hindsight, yes Watt would've been a great pick. But he also had very little defensive experience under his belt and we didn't exactly need someone with raw talent as opposed to someone who was experienced in the fields.

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 28, 2017 at 02:16 am

KC: your post is a reverse code, right? Everything you wrote is meant to be read as the opposite of the thought you actually expressed? Watt was there when we were on the clock and we traded back. Everyone foresaw that Pittsburgh would pick Watt. Lots of talent left: Watt, Foster, Ramczyk, King, Lamp, McDowell, Baker, Cook all would have worked. Even Nyoku would have worked, though at the time we thought Bennett/Kendricks had fixed TE.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

December 27, 2017 at 01:03 pm

“Biegel could’ve given the Packers an explosive body”...I think GB has had lots of those this season: knees, collarbones, feet, heads, shoulders, backs, hamstrings...Bodies exploding all over tarnation!

0 points
0
0
billybobton's picture

December 27, 2017 at 01:28 pm

Seems to be no shortage of blame to go around but it starts with acknowledging he was a 4th round pick and not a 1st rounder. How many 4th round impact picks are there in total?

the point is the media and packer organization totally over sell and fans just buy.....until another year of Rodgers has come and gone.

0 points
0
0
Houndog's picture

December 27, 2017 at 03:08 pm

I've got to agree with Bearmeat here; Blame Albino Ted for not getting the pieces and Dom (DeLuise) for not using what he did have properly, Hyde and Hayward are two perfect examples. I won't even get into my TT mode, the picture of him in the sky-box on Saturday night says more than any words could say!

But then, McPuffy is also at fault. Two years ago he could have had Jim Schwartz as a DC, and a year ago he could have had Wade Philips. Both were sitting at home drinking beer following their old teams cleaning house, and both have taken their new teams' defenses to new heights. But McPuffy chose instead to stayed married to Capers while the Packers' defense faltered deeper into the abyss.
Fire the whole $hit, including Murphy, and let's move on!

0 points
0
0
Rebecca's picture

December 27, 2017 at 03:45 pm

Your comments point to the exact problem, the team leadership. With the same clowns driving this clown car year in and year out no significant improvements can be expected. I think most of us have grown tired of this broke down circus. Can this team be rebuilt before Rodgers is gone? If not, kiss any thoughts of a Super Bowl or even a winning season next year.

0 points
0
0
FAN24583's picture

December 27, 2017 at 04:19 pm

I actually have hope that this is the year we get a complete overhaul from TT to MM to DC. I hope the BOD reads these blogs because not 1 person is defending the current regime.

0 points
0
0
sonomaca's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:08 pm

Every Packer fan wanted Watt. Guess what, every Packer fan was right.

0 points
0
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:17 pm

The Packers not taking Watt was my biggest WTF? Moment since Justin Harrell.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

December 27, 2017 at 06:05 pm

No, not every Packer fan wanted Watt. Don't let the Badger colored glasses skew your vision. King is a very good prospect whose injury was frustrating for all involved. Remember, he reinjured it during training camp.

As was Watt - who in true non-Packer fashion, stayed healthy. But look at his older brother. How has his last 4 years been health wise? Great genetics there.... (sarcasm)

We will find out what was the right thing to do by 2019. No sooner.

0 points
0
0
MB8830's picture

December 28, 2017 at 12:50 pm

Hey Bearmeat, see my post regards the Packers' "helath" as a franchise below. I will agree with you that not everyone wanted Watt, but really, regardless of who the player/pick is, availability is the issue, and Green Bay's culture of lingering, frequent and recurring "ouchies" must come to an end. I would submit that TJ Watt is available for Pittsburgh mostly because he is a Steeler.....and they simply do not put up with soft players where Green Bay seems to welcome them. How many "hamstring injuries" did Casey Heyward have when he was a Packer?? How many various and nagging "injuries" did Will Blackmon have during his stint in Green Bay?? Notice that neither of these players continued on with this legacy of BS when they wound up on other teams....and that cannot be ignored. Bottom line.....the Packers have a severe and endemic problem with their program when it comes to injuries.....and it is way past time that the strength & conditioning and medical staff were held accountable for that. I have not doubt that if Watt were in Green Bay, he would be Vince Biegel version two.

0 points
0
0
pooch's picture

December 29, 2017 at 08:17 am

You talking about JJ Watt?? Kind of like C Matthews

0 points
0
0
ShanghaiKid's picture

December 27, 2017 at 05:59 pm

0 sacks in the RZ is absurd. It truly is unbelievable, just how believable that stat is watching this team play.

0 points
0
0
MB8830's picture

December 28, 2017 at 12:39 pm

After reading numerous postings about the Packers' recent woes, I am stunned to see no one is addressing THE real issue with the Packers. While there are many good and legitimate comments here, which I completely agree with, the fact is that Green Bay's main problem is injuries; and the fact is, this team has not been near "healthy" since forever. If and when "changes" are made, they should start with that cast of characters who pass themselves off as a strength and conditioning staff, as well as the overly conservative medical staff. Bottom line....the Packers are continually among the league leaders in soft-tissue injuries and routinely allow oft-injured players to leave and suddenly find NFL-caliber health elsewhere. The volume and type of injuries sustained by the Packer franchise since (and including) 2010 simply cannot be "bad luck".....something is wrong with their entire strength, conditioning and medical approach. While I agree with many of the suggested changes noted here, I believe that the number one change needs to occur with the strength & conditioning staff.....they all need to go and go immediately....they have proven themselves utterly incompetent.

0 points
0
0