5 Guys That Have to be Good: Kevin King
By Ross Uglem
5 guys that have to be good is a series that I've been running for a number of years. It focuses on five Packers players that need to have good seasons for Green Bay to return to Super Bowl glory. You won't see Aaron Rodgers or even Davante Adams on this list. It's not a list of obvious guys that make a ton of money that have to play well for the team to succeed. These are "X" Factors, like Desmond Bishop and Bryan Bulaga in 2010 that could mean another run at the Super Bowl.
Stay tuned to PackersTalk.com and of course CHTV the next few Fridays and Mondays for the rest of this series.
Here are the first two entries for 2018:
Ted Thompson drew the ire of Packers fans across the state of Wisconsin in 2018 when he passed on Badger legend TJ Watt. Watt finished 46th in the NFL at outside linebacker per PFF and shows upside while posessing tremendous athletic potiential. Thompson instead chose to collect the first pick of the fourth round and flipped the pick that could've been Watt into Kevin King and Vince Biegel. We talked about Biegel last week.
King lost most of his rookie season both in playing time and production to a shoulder injury. The snaps he was able to play were clearly hindered by not being able to use both arms. They weren't without promise, though.
King will eventually be a good LCB or CB1, depending on the next defensive coordinators preference. pic.twitter.com/t0OXduTYBB
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) November 9, 2017
Jump ball to Josh Bellamy against Kevin King is not great self scout. pic.twitter.com/p93Bjw6KPb
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) November 13, 2017
King is legimately one of the best athletes to ever get drafted at the cornerback position in the NFL. From a testing standpoint he is virtually unmatcbed.
Another CB who ranked near the top for #RAS, #Packers rookie Kevin King had an inconsistent rookie campaign that saw him graded very low by PFF, but the hope is he can develop into a starter quickly for Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/wZdb94Ay7W
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 11, 2018
What Kent says there is true. Pro Football Focus didn't think much of King's play snap to snap. it was inconsistent and as I said earlier clear he wasn't playing up to his full potential.
Potential is the key word with King. He's a legitimate 6'3" with elite speed, meaning he should never get beat over the top. Intermediate routes and crossing routes are another story. He phyiscally posseses the agility numbers to be able to guard the short stuff but it doesn't show up on tape quite yet. Fortunately the Packers have an excellent cornerbacks coach.
Joe Whitt, Jr. developed undrafted corners Tramon Williams and Sam Shields into Pro Bowlers. He helped resurrect Charles Woodson's career, coaching Woodson in 2008 and during CWood's DPOY season in 2009.
Kevin King has to be good. Davon House and Tramon Williams just might help the Packers in a big way this season. They might even tip the scales to the point that Green Bay makes it back to the Super Bowl. Even if that happens though, they aren't part of the long term future of the position. You need at least three good corners in this league and if you believe Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson can play, then you need King to succeed. He has the athletic tools to dominate, it's up to him and the coaching staff to unlock that potential.
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Ross Uglem is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @RossUglem
Comments (7)
Bearmeat
July 23, 2018 at 01:39 pm
Yep. King absolutely MUST be good for GB to be good on defense. And IMHO, he's got the skills and intelligence to make a big jump this year. Let's keep in mind that last year's draft was supposedly the best CB draft in the past 15 years. In literally ANY other draft, he'd have been gone in the top 10. GB went to the CB well at the right time in 2017 - unlike 2015. But that's another story.
If Tramon and King can be good, (and I think they should be) the secondary WILL be good, and has potential to be elite by the end of the year with the development of the rookies.
Let's hope the pass rush can hold up its end of the bargain.
Handsback
July 23, 2018 at 04:45 pm
I had the same issue as King, and let me tell you....you aren't pushing people around with any strength. The fact he performed as well as he did tells me that his future is bright. This also bugs me in why Green Bay didn't take Watts, but King and Biegel who both had hidden injuries. I think Green Bay did the right thing, (two players for one) but again they drafted players with physical issues.....
Point-Packer
July 23, 2018 at 04:58 pm
Didn't agree with Biegel piece in the series, but I'm 100% with you on this one. GB can't afford another high draft selection DB to be a bust (Rollins, Randall, Dix). Ted handed Gut a dumpster fire in the defensive backfield.
holmesmd
July 23, 2018 at 09:42 pm
Let’s not call a Pro Bowler a bust, right? I realize you are almost never optimistic but come on man. HHCD is a good player that played in a car wreck of a scheme. Check back with me in 3 months, you’ll see.:P Lol
Lare
July 23, 2018 at 06:41 pm
I think King can be a very good CB in the NFL if he can stay healthy. He certainly has the size, speed and physical abilities to do so. Injuries are usually the determining factor in the NFL between the great players and the ones that end up being "if he could have stayed healthy" types.
Hopefully King can stay healthy. If not, I think Gutekunst has done a pretty good job at providing adequate starting CB options.
holmesmd
July 23, 2018 at 09:45 pm
If KK can stay healthy and continue to grow under TW’s tutelage, he can be the prototypical shutdown corner in today’s NFL. He has the metrics, the mentor ship, AND IMO, the talent. All he has to do is execute. Should be fun to watch!
PatrickGB
July 24, 2018 at 09:31 am
I think that he will do well. I don’t see him as shutdown yet. That will take time. But his future is bright. It’s good to be the King...dilly dilly!