Why Harris over Neal at RB?

[vince]

Draft pick

Packers don't want anyone quick or dynamic at running back, like a Sproles

I guess every defense looks like an anvil to Stubby, so he wants sledgehammers.

Neal is neither quick nor dynamic.

[Joemailman]

Neal is neither quick nor dynamic.

If he was quick, he would have been drafted. That said, I thought he had a chance to be a Brandon Jackson type: Pick up the blitz and execute screen passes. I guess TT went with the guy who he felt had more upside. No surprise there. My concern is that every scouting report I've read on Harris is that he is a poor receiver. I want Arod to have confidence that his backs can catch the ball. I want him willing to dump the ball off to his backs instead of holding onto the ball and taking hits.

[smuggler]

Some aspects of receiving can be improved upon. Nothing is going to change Neal's (lack of) size.

That said, I agree that Neal would probably have been more battle-ready for 2015...

[Guiness]

I happen to like what Harris brings (good size, good feet and very good power), but I think this says as much about Neal as it does Harris.

I don't think Neal brings anything unique to the table. Not shifty or fast, his best attributes are his hands. That's not a good thing to say about a running back.

Give Harris a year to learn the scheme, become a complete back, and perhaps add another 10 lbs. of good weight as the scouting report projects, and I think he fits real nice as a 1-2 punch with Lacy after Starks exists stage right. With Cobb and Montgomery also able to motion into backfield sets, a receiving-oriented scat-back (who can really run unlike Neal) is secondary.

Does he have much fat to lose? I'm not sure they want him gaining 10lbs!

[Fritz]

Before he broke his hand, was Harris the front runner? I don't remember.

I really liked what Neal did the last few weeks. Different than Lacy and Starks. I liked the way he looked as a receiver, and he looked like a reasonable option as a kickoff returner.

Did pass protection enter into it to a great degree?

No, but his dating Edgar Bennett's daughter factored in.

[vince]

Does he have much fat to lose? I'm not sure they want him gaining 10lbs!

Good point. As long as it's good weight it wouldn't hurt though. He's obviously not in the NFL because of his speed and a bit more muscle may accentuate his strengths. His big frame seems to have room for growth. Brandon Jacobs was a 256 lb. beast of a back who carved out a nice career. Anything even remotely resembling that as a combo with Lacy would work well I think.

[Fritz]

Good point. As long as it's good weight it wouldn't hurt though. He's obviously not in the NFL because of his speed and a bit more muscle may accentuate his strengths. His big frame seems to have room for growth. Brandon Jacobs was a 256 lb. beast of a back who carved out a nice career. Anything even remotely resembling that as a combo with Lacy would work well I think.

What's puzzling is that because Packer RB's who are third stringers get so few carries they'd keep a guy who was not to my recollection mentioned as excelling either in ST or pass pro.

[vince]

What's puzzling is that because Packer RB's who are third stringers get so few carries they'd keep a guy who was not to my recollection mentioned as excelling either in ST or pass pro.

Because the 3rd guy gets so few carries, this choice is as much about next year and beyond. Harris is a future #2. I don't want to see Neal carrying the ball with any regularity in any year.

[Brandon494]

Has to be because he was a better pass blocker than Neal, the coaches might also liked his toughness. I honestly thought Neal would make it but I'm not losing sleep over it. I didn't really take notice but maybe he was a more complete special teams player as well.

[Harlan Huckleby]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-keep-veteran-fullback-john-kuhn-rookie-fullback-aaron-ripkowski-b99570658z1-324857791.html

Surprisingly, Neal, Crockett and Harris all had similar 40 times, Harris just slightly slower.

I heard several guys who saw practices say Harris was the best of three, Silverstein among them. He is very powerful. (Harris, not Silverstein.)

I thought Harris had excellent agility for big man, nifty feet.

This is a littly polyannish, but Harris said he is an excellent pass catcher, the preseason drops were out of character for him. I don't think a guy with hands-of-stone would say that.

Neal certainly looked excellent in preseason, but it is hard to judge with the backup competition.

[Fritz]

In TT I trust on this one.

[pbmax]

Crockett is back baby.

Tubbs is next.

[Joemailman]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...324857791.html

Surprisingly, Neal, Crockett and Harris all had similar 40 times, Harris just slightly slower.

I heard several guys who saw practices say Harris was the best of three, Silverstein among them. He is very powerful. (Harris, not Silverstein.)

I thought Harris had excellent agility for big man, nifty feet.

This is a littly polyannish, but Harris said he is an excellent pass catcher, the preseason drops were out of character for him. I don't think a guy with hands-of-stone would say that.

Neal certainly looked excellent in preseason, but it is hard to judge with the backup competition.

What would he say? "I have hands of stone"?

[Harlan Huckleby]

What would he say? "I have hands of stone"?

He would say little or nothing, not claim that he has soft hands.

Believe what you will. We'll see over his GB career. (Which could end as soon as tomorrow. )

If you hint to the girl that you are well-endowed, there will be a moment of reckoning. No point in making it any worse than it has to be.

[red]

i'm awesome in the sack BTW