WR Michael Clark Venturing Into Foreign Territory
What unfolded at Lambeau Field last Saturday night was an old-fashioned beating administered at the hands of one of the Green Bay Packers' greatest rivals. Hidden in the patchwork of that troubling ordeal, however, was the experience young players were gifted with just by playing in -- for some -- their first NFL game.
One of those players was Packers wide receiver Michael Clark, who was well-documented during the offseason and training camp just for the sake of his size -- 6-6, 217 pounds -- and raw ability.
The potential is one of the many reasons why Packers receivers coach Luke Getsy -- born in the same state of Pennsylvania that Clark earned a basketball scholarship in -- very well may have advocated to keep Clark around. That would've been the smart thing to do because Clark allegedly had offers with other teams waiting for him had he not chosen to remain in Green Bay's crowded receivers room.
After being a surprise addition to the Packers' practice squad and making his home there for the next three months, Clark was promoted to the active roster on Dec. 1 but would be inactive for the following three games.
When he finally got his shot to play -- after the Packers were eliminated from playoff contention -- he impressed, which is just what he was doing behind closed practice doors every week, according to coach Mike McCarthy.
There probably hasn't been a Thursday practice where he hasn't made a catch that's been impressive," he said on Wednesday.
Clark caught three of his nine targets against the Minnesota Vikings in his first glimpse of regular season NFL action and tied for the team-high in yards with 36. He likely would've had a touchdown as well on a fantastic back-shoulder throw from quarterback Brett Hundley, but he alligator-armed the catch at the last second.
He had a similar blunder in the first quarter on another back-shoulder pass that many believed was overthrown. That wasn't the case; Hundley put the ball where only Clark could transition around and grab it, but he couldn't make the catch.
It's these types of miscues that are to be expected from someone with one year of college football under his belt.
"All this is new to me," Clark said after Wednesday's practice. "I haven't played a lot of football, so every day is something new that I'm trying to learn and improve. It's finally transitioned to the field and I finally have the opportunity to win games."
Clark abandoned a basketball scholarship at St. Francis before pursuing his dream of playing football and venturing to West Virginia to suit up as a wide receiver for the Marshall Thundering Herd.
He didn't play until his second -- and final -- season with the program when he led the team in receiving yards and was tied for the team-lead in touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch in the process. It was enough for the Packers to sign him as a college free agent just last May.
As most undrafted free agents do in Green Bay, Clark ended up seeing the field after all in his rookie season. It's just that nobody expected an undrafted receiver to accomplish that feat on a team loaded with receiving talent. Now, he'll get another shot to showcase his rare skillset this Sunday in Detroit.
"There's no experience like game experience, being out there is priceless. I'll be more prepared coming into the next game and up to speed with everything that goes into the game."
Clark's opportunities may come tenfold against the Lions on Sunday. Three key receivers didn't practice for the Packers on Wednesday: Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison, dealing with a shoulder, concussion and illness, respectively.
In what will be the Packers' regular-season finale, the purpose is to just lace the field with young talent and see what the lower-dwelling portions of your roster have to offer. The no-name, diamond-in-the-rough kind of players who may be contributing pieces to the hopefully re-energized machine that will be the Packers in 2018.
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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].
Comments (25)
NickPerry
December 28, 2017 at 05:44 am
Clark has a long, long ways to go before he'll be a well rounded WR in the Packers offense if ever. It took guys like Nelson and Adams 3 years before they really started to break out, Nelson until SB 45 really and they'd been playing the position all their lives. Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling for Clark in a big way and nothing would make me happier if all of a sudden next year he's a huge threat in the offense. But the reality of it is I'd settle for the type of impact Spencer Havner had in 2009.....When all he did was catch TD's!
thebeast431
December 28, 2017 at 06:36 am
Put on 30lbs and you'll, unfortunately, be our best TE on the roster. Even if you can't block. A Bubba Franks 2.0. Just catch TD's. Solve our Redzone issue.
dobber
December 28, 2017 at 09:42 am
I seem to recall Bubba Franks actually being a pretty good blocker...
stockholder
December 28, 2017 at 07:31 am
Cool down. Way to much hype. We need speed and hands of glue. He's still a long shot. I think the packers would be better off at playing him at TE too. It would be easier for him to learn how to block. Route trees, and speed are for naturally gifted WRs. We still want to put that square block in a round hole.
Packer_Fan
December 28, 2017 at 08:11 am
Perhaps some physical abilities, but on the potential touchdown pass, he didn't fight through defender to get his hands on the pass. His arms never extended. Same thing happened on another pass. Good defense or lacking ability. I don'tknow.
mrtundra
December 28, 2017 at 08:29 am
When I watched that missed catch at the goal line, I thought I saw Clark's arms were extended, at first, and then he pulled them back, causing him to miss catching the ball.
Tundraboy
December 28, 2017 at 08:50 am
I thought the same but the defender pulled him back,so could have been the defender who caused it. Either way he needs to fight more for the ball. All the same he showed something last game. He also showed what we need more of at WR. Speed and length.
Must draft some pass rushers, WRs and a TE. Biggest needs and positional improvements that will have the greatest impact next year.
Doug Niemczynski
December 28, 2017 at 01:27 pm
He said the lights were in his eyes remember not making excuses for the guy but our receivers are 6 foot to 6 foot 2 you're talking about a six foot six guy. Also, the Packers did not use Michael Clark to his strength His strength is where the ball is put up in the air high and he comes down with it. Why was this not done Mike McCarthy?
fthisJack
December 28, 2017 at 08:24 am
wow....tough crowd...give the guy a chance.
Marklindy62
December 28, 2017 at 08:27 am
I think maybe the comments are aimed at TT, not this kid. I for one am tired of TT drafting "non" football players. This team doesn't need another basketball player.
rdent
December 28, 2017 at 09:09 am
If M. Clark doesn't pan out as a WR they can switch him to OLB.
Arthur.Jackson
December 28, 2017 at 10:17 am
He wasn't drafted.
Marklindy62
December 28, 2017 at 08:25 am
Another TT long shot - a guy that played basketball and wants to play football. When are the Packers going to move on from TT?
dobber
December 28, 2017 at 09:46 am
"Another TT long shot"
Holy cow...he's a practice squad body who is only getting looks when there's nothing to lose and the WR room is getting thinned due to injury. It's not like they put him on the 53 in September and cut Nelson or Adams. People seem to be calling for talent evaluation at the bottom of the roster? That's what this is.
OrganLeroy
December 28, 2017 at 02:14 pm
Antonio Gates played basketball, how's that been working out...oh yeah, future 1st ballot HOF'er. (BTW, i'd love to see TT go away)
Pack88
December 28, 2017 at 10:19 am
Let's give Clark a chance!! How many remember Donald Drivers first start in the last game of the season many years ago. One catch- 4 yards!! So maybe Clark is out of his league and will soon be selling wallboard at Home Depot or maybe he is DD and needs a little time!!!
Pack 88
RCPackerFan
December 28, 2017 at 10:51 am
I really like Clark. I see a lot of potential with him. While he is really raw, having a year on the PS was a great thing for him. But getting some live game action these last couple of weeks will be one of the best things for him to go into the offseason.
I have seen this brought up a lot. A lot of people want to move him to TE. For what reasons, I don't know. For a guy who now has played 2 years of football since highschool, why would asking him to gain 30+ lbs and having him do things he has never done before, be a good idea? If he gains 30+ lbs he will lose his speed which is really good for his size. Keep him at WR, the one position he is still learning how to play. Why complicate his growth more?
Clark is raw, he has a ways to go. But his size and basketball background will allow him to do things that virtually no other WR on the Packers team can do. I'm really looking forward to see what kind of player he can be next year.
Packer_Fan
December 28, 2017 at 08:12 pm
The Pack should keep him around. But he is raw talent. Lots of work for him to improve. Maybe in 2019. Perhaps it is time to jettison Janis. He only played gunner on punt team until last weekend.
So the WR's this weekend are Cobb, Davis, Janis and Clark. With Hundley throwing to them. I hope they do well, but it doesn't look good. At least they will be on the road. Hundley seems to do better on the road. And we will see how young talent delivers.
carlos
December 29, 2017 at 08:13 am
You took the words right out of my mouth RC. I look at it the same way you do. Nothing to lose at this point. I think he can be a good player once he develops.
ShanghaiKid
December 28, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Nobody is expecting him to turn into AJ Greeen or Megatron overnight, but his body type and measurable are exactly what this team needs. I understand the frustration of trying to turn a basketball player into a WR. He’s an UDFA so it’s not like it came at a high price, his upside alone makes the time well spent developing this young man. People need to give him a chance.
Doug Niemczynski
December 29, 2017 at 03:44 am
A Packer Megatron would be awesome!!
Doug Niemczynski
December 28, 2017 at 01:32 pm
You see the good news about the whole thing about putting Gilbert in and byrd and Michael Clark is that we at least get to talk about it and discuss things if these guys were never put in we wouldn't be talking about it this is why Joe Callahan needs to play.
I mean Reggie Gilbert showed us some things Michael Clarke showed us some things and I would like to see what this byrd guy can do since we have no decent tight ends. So, let's see what you'll Callahan can do maybe he's the backup quarterback maybe he's not we can't even discuss it because Mike won't play him. There is some type of pride issue going on with Mike McCarthy and I don't know why. I mean the season's over.
Packer_Pete
December 28, 2017 at 07:37 pm
Clarke has a long long way to go, but I think he will have a chance. Made some pretty big mistakes his first game, with the potential TD pass not caught and not even fought for it, but hey, he's a PS rookie so let's all chill out. There aren't any all-pros for this season hidden on the PS of any team in the NFL. Maybe some will become good players, but most of those guys are long shots to begin with. so if someone can contribute (and he did more than most other WRs on the roster) then that's a positive.
Doug Niemczynski
December 29, 2017 at 03:41 am
He is only 22, but anyone who saw that diving catch tells you he has the talent.
cheesycowboy
December 29, 2017 at 12:28 pm
At 6'6 and a frame that could handle some weight,
Maybe not the greatest blocker but a Findley type
of TE comes to mind with another year under his belt.