wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Packers' pick Elmore gets molded by 'Big Clay' 

Ricky Elmore knew that if he was going to make it in the NFL, it would be at outside linebacker and not defensive end.

So he went to one of the best names in the business: Matthews.

Clay Matthews Jr., the father of Green Bay outside linebacker Clay Matthews III, knows a thing or two about the position, having played 19 years in the NFL.

And Clay Jr. - or "Big Clay" as he's known - was already training his other son, Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews, when Elmore asked for the guidance. Big Clay agreed to help Elmore as well.

The three trained together for five weeks leading up to the combine, and Elmore hopes the effort pays off so that he can make the Packers roster as a sixth-round rookie draft pick out of Arizona.

"He just really tried to get me ready, so I'm not just going in there not knowing anything," said Elmore.

Going to the Matthews family for guidance made all the sense in the world.

Elmore lives in Simi Valley, Calif., just 20 minutes from the Matthews family. He played high school ball in California against Casey Matthews. And, of course, Clay Matthews III is off to a ferocious start in the NFL.

Under the elder Matthews' guidance, Elmore found himself with long workout days at Proactive Sports Performance, a training facility in Westlake Village, Calif. Clay Matthews III practically lives there in the off-season; Big Clay is available on a consultant basis before the combine, and Casey Matthews works out there as well.

Big Clay put both Casey and Elmore, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound collegiate defensive end out of the 4-3 defensive system, to work.

They started on the different movement patterns first, said Proactive's owner and executive director, Ryan Capretta, since Elmore has to get used to Green Bay's 3-4 defense a step back from the defensive line.

"In college, Ricky was just used to coming off the edge," said Capretta. "It was a little unnatural at first and that's where Big Clay was great. He was able to give a lot of points very specific to that position. Clay spent a lot of time teaching him movement pattern and how to react, where to place the weight of his body when he's moving. He's a technician. You talk to anyone who knows him, NFL coach or anyone, they'll tell you he's at the top of his game. He's very sharp."

Elmore also had to learn how to move more efficiently whether he was dropping or accelerating.

"Great work ethic, really great work ethic, very coachable," said Capretta. "He really excels in the weight room. Strong kid. He just needs to keep continuing to progress on the field with his movement. That's one area he needs to get better at and he knows that. And he's going to work on it."

At the draft, Green Bay linebackers coach Kevin Greene really raved about Elmore's work ethic even if his 40-yard dash time (4.78) wasn't in line with other Green Bay linebackers.

"I'd much rather have people with heart with a little less athletic ability or athletic talent," said Greene, "as opposed to having a whole room full of sheer athleticism, but they don't have passion for the game and don't have a heart."

A starter for the last three years at Arizona, Elmore led the Pac-10 Conference in sacks as a senior with 11. Still, he was often in the shadow of Brooks Reed, another defensive end for the Wildcats who was drafted in the second round by Houston. The two pushed each other in college.

"He's probably one of my best friends on the team," said Elmore. "It always was a friendly rivalry. I think that's helped us be successful over the last few years. It was always a healthy competition. We pushed each other in practice and the games and I think when you have something like that, that's what gets your game to excel to a higher level."

They both worked out for Green Bay's staff for about 45 minutes on the pro day.

"They just wanted to see if we could rush standing up," said Elmore. "They said, 'Don't really worry about dropping back right now. We'll work with you on that.' They wanted to see if we could be explosive standing up out of a two-point stance."

But Elmore took the initiative to work with Clay Matthew Jr. to get a head start. With so much production - 25.5 college sacks total, 21.5 in the last two years - Elmore believes he has the explosiveness for the NFL.

"It's the difference between getting a sack and not getting a sack," said Elmore. "If you can't be explosive off the line, that offensive tackle is going to beat you back and you're already one step behind. The more explosive you are, the quicker you are off the ball. So being explosive is probably the No. 1 most important thing to play outside linebacker."

Funny enough, Elmore has yet to meet Green Bay's Matthews. Elmore did most of his training with Clay Matthew Jr. in January and February leading up to the combine and his pro day. Clay Matthews III was in a win-or-go-home playoff hunt that ended with a Super Bowl victory in Dallas. By the time Clay Matthews III took a little time off and returned to Proactive to begin his workouts, Elmore was on to the draft.

But Elmore is expected to return to Proactive for his workouts - even more so as this NFL lockout drags on - to resume his workouts there with Casey. And he'll find Clay Matthews III eventually.

Clay Matthews III trains at Proactive 11 times a week - twice a day Monday through Friday and once on Saturday.


UserPostedImage
nerdmann
14 years ago
Dude's cone drill was second fastest after only Reed, so I'm not writing him off. Straight line speed may be a little slow, but they said that about Dez Bishop too.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
gbguy20
14 years ago
Hoping this dude ends up a steal after reading that. love it.
BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.
Blank402
14 years ago

Clay Matthews III trains at Proactive 11 times a week - twice a day Monday through Friday and once on Saturday.



Holy crap
blank
RajiRoar
14 years ago
que the viking/bear fans "b-b-but steroids...."

MintBaconDrivel
Dec, 11, 2012 - FOREVER!
Dulak
14 years ago
Damn ... we almost have too many OLBers now ... wonder whom will get the job.

Rather we have this competition then not enough thou. Wondering how our DL will turn out in the end.
Chutzpah515
14 years ago

que the viking/bear fans "b-b-but steroids...."

"RajiRoar" wrote:



Mentioning Julius Peppers seems to quiet down the Bear fans a bit...
UserPostedImage
Chutzpah515
14 years ago
I really loved this article. Requesting help from Clay Matthews II on his own is very impressive. It speaks volumes about the kind of player Elmore is and the player he wants to become. I am so happy the Packers draft the high character players they do.
UserPostedImage
14 years ago

Clay Matthews III trains at Proactive 11 times a week - twice a day Monday through Friday and once on Saturday.

"Blank402" wrote:



Holy crap



That was my reaction too.

I have to admit, I'm excited about this pick. I'm not as high on Zombo as a lot of you are. I like Walden but he still seems raw to me, and more of a speed guy. Jones is completely unpredictable coming back from injury. I don't think Elmore will be ready to go in '11 but '12 would be fine with me.
UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Hoping this dude ends up a steal after reading that. love it.

"gbguy20" wrote:




I really loved this article. Requesting help from Clay Matthews II on his own is very impressive. It speaks volumes about the kind of player Elmore is and the player he wants to become. I am so happy the Packers draft the high character players they do.

"Chutzpah515" wrote:



I agree with both of you. I was amazed to see Elmore go back to Big Daddy for help.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (2h) : And James Flanigan is the grandson of Packers Super Bowl winner Jim Flanigan Sr.
Mucky Tundra (2h) : Jerome Bettis and Jim Flanigans sons as well!
Zero2Cool (9h) : Thomas Davis Jr is OLB, not WR. Oops.
Zero2Cool (9h) : Larry Fitzgeral and Thomas Davis sons too. WR's as well.
Mucky Tundra (23h) : Kaydon Finley, son of Jermichael Finley, commits to Notre Dame
dfosterf (3-Jul) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (3-Jul) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (3-Jul) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
12h / Random Babble / Martha Careful

4-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

2-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

2-Jul / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

1-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Jun / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

23-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Jun / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

16-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

15-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

14-Jun / Around The NFL / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.