College Coach: “Batman and Robin” in reference to Packers CB Kalen King
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin: How did Kalen King go from being a Penn State All-American and a possible first-round draft pick to being the final cornerback chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft and a seventh-round pick?
Terry Smith, the associate head coach and coach of Penn State’s cornerbacks, told Packer Central, “It’s a good question.” It is based on a relative. Although he didn’t have the year before, he also didn’t have a terrible year because he didn’t allow a touchdown pass to be intercepted once. He didn’t allow a touchdown throw for two years.
However, he lacked the stats that everyone of us was hoping for. We desired complete control at the line of scrimmage, as well as picks and pass breakups. There is a distinction between being Batman and Robin at times.
The 2022 Batman was Joey Porter, an All-Rookie team member selected in the first round by the Steelers in 2023. King, on the other hand, was requested to transform from sidekick to superhero, but he forgot his toolbelt of devices and his cape.
“That guy carried all the responsibility, all the heat, and all the pressure.” Porter is the center of attention, Smith remarked. “And then, without warning, you find yourself in that seat, which may be challenging at times. But Kalen showed up for work each day. Just like the previous year, he turned up and was prepared. It has nothing to do with not being ready or anything. We simply couldn’t achieve the same level of consistency in our playmaking as we did the year before.
King finished third in the country in 2022 with 21 passes defensed. He had only two in 2023. He gave up a completion percentage of 45.8 percent in 2022 as opposed to 61.0 percent in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. But in just two of his 12 games, he gave up more than 45 yards. Additionally, PFF charged him with 0 completions allowed in his final three games.
“He wasn’t at all horrible. Smith claimed that “he simply didn’t produce the numbers in coverage.” He didn’t give up a touchdown, as I previously stated. That’s the most important thing in our universe, as they can’t win if they don’t score. He therefore performed admirably, if not better than he did. Kalen was still excellent for us, even though he was an All-American the previous season.
King’s narrative is comparable to that of Eric Stokes of the Packers. Stokes was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft by PFF. He was deemed deserving of the All-Rookie award after ranking first in the draft class with a 51.0 percent catch rate allowed, first with 18 forced incompletions, and second with an 18.8 percent forced-incompletion rate.
In 2022, Stokes did not break up a single pass while allowing an 84.0 percent catch rate.
It’s challenging for players, regardless of their level of mental toughness, to ignore outside criticism and self-doubt.
“We had two other corners, DaeQuan Hardy and Johnny Dixon, who had excellent seasons. When you start trying to produce plays, it may occasionally have a negative spiral effect.” Playing the corner is undoubtedly a very mental game. We have a tendency to get inside our heads and obstruct ourselves sometimes.
King was selected 255th out of 257 picks in the draft for reasons other than merely the decline in output. At the Scouting Combine, the knockout punch was a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash. If he wants to succeed in the NFL, that will need to get better, according to Smith. Everything else should fall into place if he can manage it.
Smith remarked, “He’s a man who loves football.” “He arrives between 10 and 8 and is prepared when you tell him to be there at 8. That’s how he has always been. That’s how he’s been motivated. He plays football for Cass Tech, a prestigious club in Detroit.
Kalen is therefore a fierce rival. At the line of scrimmage, he is strong. He grabs hold of men. He’s not going to lose. He’s a fantastic man-coverage artist. Great zone, man, that he is. He has good vision when he plays. He does a good job tackling. He’s a really capable cornerback overall. He is exceptionally talented in many areas.
King looked like he was holding back tears when he spoke with Packers beat reporters via a Zoom call, marking the end of his protracted draft wait. It was an emotional rollercoaster, with an agonizing wait in between the once-in-a-lifetime exhilaration. It was nearly too much for him to bear at the time, but by the time he arrived for rookie camp a week later, all of that had passed.
King declared he would have a “permanent chip” on his shoulder when he joined the NFL. Smith made the same statement.
“What a humble experience that was for him. You’re not sure if to shout or cry,” Smith remarked.
That was a while ago. It’s time to go to work now.
Smith has sent a number of defensive backs to the NFL in his ten years at Penn State. Why will King turn an opportunity into a career now that he’s a professional?
Smith predicted that Smith would succeed because he is a dependable football player who has a passion for the game. People’s desire for attention, social media, and other things is one of the problems we have in today’s game. This guy is determined to succeed, and he adores football. He has an extra chip on his shoulder and is really driven to achieve it now that the draft has happened.
