Biegel focused on breaking through for Packers
July 12, 2018 | Football, Mike Lucas
Former Badgers linebacker looking forward to Green Bay’s training camp
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Vince Biegel hasn't felt this good about himself, or an offseason, since rocking his signature mullet in the face of Big Ten quarterbacks as one of the "Chevy Bad Boys."
"The Packers are expecting big things from me and I'm expecting big things from myself," said Biegel, who will be entering his second year in Green Bay. "But you can't make it bigger than what it is."
In this context, he's trying to avoid falling into the trap of "I have to do this, this and this …" — expectations that are personally driven, unreasonably high and typically end with undue pressure.
"At the end of the day, I know the Green Bay Packers drafted me for a reason," said Biegel, a fourth-round pick (the 108th selection overall) in 2017. "I believe in my talents.
"If I put the best Vince Biegel out there that I can, I know that it's going to be a great product. But I have to continue to push myself and keep myself focused …
"The rotation (at outside linebacker) and the playing time will take care of itself … as long as I focus on being the best I can be … take it one day at a time and have fun with the process."
There has been a Biegel-Vue quality to the process — his post-high school football journey — something which he was more than comfortable talking about recently at the end of mini-camp.Without reaching for a "coming of age" cliché (Biegel did turn 25 on July 2), he admitted, "There are a lot of similarities between my transition to Wisconsin and my first year in the NFL."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, @VinceBiegel! 🎉
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 2, 2018
As a Badger …
Coming out of Wisconsin Rapids High School, Biegel was a highly-touted recruit who picked his home-state program over his dad's and uncle's alma mater, BYU.
Bret Bielema, then the UW head coach, was confident that Biegel could make an immediate impact with his energy on special teams and potentially, with some seasoning, as a pass rusher.
As a true freshman, Biegel appeared in games against Utah State and UTEP before he was shut down for the remainder of the 2012 season with a foot injury. He didn't have any tackles.
As a Packer …
Coming out of Wisconsin, after a fourth season of eligibility and a fifth year, Biegel was projected as a complementary edge rusher to Clay Matthews and Nick Perry.
As an NFL rookie, Biegel didn't make it out of the team's post-draft orientation camp before re-aggravating the Jones fracture that he had cost him playing time as a UW senior.
Biegel had surgery on his damaged right foot and pro-actively on his left one; a screw was inserted as a preventive measure. It was most costly from an offseason preparation standpoint.
In 2017, Biegel opened the season on the physically unable to perform list. He didn't get on the field until November and played in nine games, mostly special teams. He had 13 tackles, zero sacks.
On his two abortive Year 1 chapters, he repeated, "There have definitely been a lot of parallels."
What about Year 2 in Madison?
In 2013, Biegel played in 13 games with two starts. He had his first career sack against Purdue in late September. Twice, he had four tackles and finished with 25 overall and two sacks.
That set the stage for Year 3 — Biegel's breakthrough year at Wisconsin.
Starting 13 of 14 games, he led the defense with 16.5 tackles for loss and was second in sacks with 7.5, including 3 against Purdue. He was second-team All-Big Ten in 2014.
Biegel and Joe Schobert were the outside linebackers. Marcus Trotter and Derek Landisch were the inside linebackers. As a group, they answered to the "Chevy Bad Boys."
Trotter came up with the nickname out of deference to their small-town Wisconsin roots. They prided themselves on reliability with an allegiance to Chevrolets, country music and flannel shirts.
At one point during the season, Biegel went so far as to have a Chevy logo shaved into the side of his head — balancing the "W" that he had shaved on the other side of his mullet.
Fast-forward. What would a breakthrough year for Biegel look like in Green Bay? Is it relative to staying healthy, playing time, the defense's success, all of the above?
"I had great OTA's (organized team activities for player development) and I felt I had a very strong camp for spring ball," Biegel said. "I want to continue to do what I laid out in the spring and stay on top of my playbook this summer.
"I want to stay sharp mentally and sharpen my sword physically as well. A big emphasis will be strengthening the ligaments in my lower body so there's no strains or pulls in camp."
Back to work! Day ✌️ of OTAs. #GoPackGo
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 22, 2018
Biegel has pushed his weight above 250 pounds for the first time.
"A lot of the guys go back to their respective homes and training facilities," he said. "But Wisconsin is home for me and I'm excited to stay here until the start of fall camp."
Does Biegel believe that he's a better player now than when he left Wisconsin? And this was asked knowing that his playing time and practice repetitions have been limited in Green Bay.
"Without question," he replied. "More important, I'm not just a better player, but I also feel like I've gone through some trials now. To battle through that and to now have that mental fortitude, if you will, to press forward and have a clear conscience and healthy body has given me a leg up sometimes.
"I definitely feel I'm a better player today having gone against a high level of competition. Anytime you're going against No. 12 (Aaron Rodgers) in practice, it's making you a better player."
Anytime you're playing with No. 52 — Matthews — it can make you better, too. Biegel has previously trained with Matthews in California along with Rodgers, David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark and Lance Kendricks.
"He (Matthews) took me under his wing my rookie year," Biegel said, "and tried to teach me the ropes on how things are done and how to conduct yourself as a professional — how to be a Packer."
Biegel is in the unique position where he's playing for his fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons, a list that includes Dave Aranda, Justin Wilcox, Dom Capers and now Mike Pettine.
"He (Pettine) is all business," Biegel said, "with a ton of football knowledge."
During a trip to Madison, Biegel ran into UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who played for Pettine in Buffalo and Cleveland. Leonhard schooled him on what to expect out of Pettine's defense.
In fact, they even watched some film together with Leonhard handling the narration.
"Coach Pettine has asked me to do a lot of things that I was doing at Wisconsin," said Biegel. "Like line up on a wide receiver and reroute him. Like cover wheel routes on running backs.
"Versatility is very important at outside linebacker. Dave Aranda asked me to do those things early-on for him and Coach Pettine has asked me to do the same."
Rookies and veterans will report on July 25 to the Packers training camp.
"Emotionally, I'm getting prepared for the length of the season," Biegel said. "Once July 25 hits, it's full-go basically — and hopefully — until February when we're playing for a championship."
His source of optimism extends beyond the QB to the oft-maligned defense.
"Coach Pettine brings a level of energy and urgency that is going to pay off for us this season," Biegel promised. "Packer fans have always seen the offense outshine the defense.
"The urgency now is to bring that caliber of play to the defense. And not to just hold up our end of the bargain, but to win games on the defensive side of the ball."
Biegel figures that statement can stand on its own two feet. And so can he now, without concerns.
