Harrell not inspiring much confidence

[Packers4Glory]

I hate to say it so soon, but I'm starting to smell it....He is already starting to reek of being a bust. I know he's coming back from an injury but the only positive that I've really heard about him is "he's very coachable". terrrrrrrrrific! He certainly has distinguished himself or even flashed any real ability that I've heard of yet. They practically handed him a starting role and he's slid to the back end of the rotation.

I may be jumping too quickly, but this situation smells of J Reynolds all over again.

[Partial]

Nah.

A Tennesee scout from todays game said he'll be a good player by mid-season. Here's hoping.

[Packers4Glory]

Nah.

A Tennesee scout from todays game said he'll be a good player by mid-season. Here's hoping.

I hope so. Good teams are tough on the O-line and D-line. The better our D-line the better our D. I hope its just a product of coming off an injury as opposed to the Packers overvaluing the guy.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I doubt he'll be Reynolds like bust. Reynolds was a small, speed rusher whose size limited him--and his speed wasn't all that phenomenal. His attributes didn't translate well to the pro game. Harrell will have to work hard (and I've heard he's a good kid, team leader, and hard worker), but he has the physical attributes to play in the NFL. I only watched him on a handful of plays tonight. If he played the other plays like he played the ones that I watched, he'll be alright. He at least be a good run plugger. I doubt the kid is at full strength yet. We'll revisit this in 3 years, and then we'll be able to judge him.

[gbpackfan]

Wow, I am kind of shocked that you started this post after tonights game. He wasn't Kevin Williams out there but he played his best game of the preseason. I can see the improvement. You have to remember, and I know it's hard because he is a 1st round pick, that this young man hadn't played in about a year. His conditioning is not where it will be and his strength is not where it will be. Harrell has the tools and the heart to be a real stud in this league. Give him a chance, he'll prove it. I am actually encouraged about Harrell after tonight's game. I plan on watching it again in an hour or so and I'll watch him on every play. Let me get back to you then and I'll give a final report.

[Packers4Glory]

cool. I didn't get to see the game, but I listened to a little bit on the radio and one of the plays they specifically said he got plowed and gave up some good yards. SO just hearing that and what I've read made me start to wonder.

Again I haven't made up my mind at all as I have hardly seen the guy. I'm just asking the question based on the info or lack of info coming out of camp.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Enough Of Pretending

Kind of interesting to read what an opposing scout says.

Thompson sees plenty of positives
By BOB McGINN

Nashville, Tenn. - The injury toll was more than manageable, a handful of rookies and young players showed development and there was little obvious slippage on the part of veterans.

If a month of training camp and an exhibition schedule can be labeled as promising, Packers general manager Ted Thompson is convinced that's what transpired this summer in Green Bay.

"I think we're going to be pretty good," Thompson said Thursday night shortly before the Packers lost to the Tennessee Titans, 30-14, in their exhibition finale at LP Field. "We need to win (in 2007). That's fair."

The Packers will open their 89th regular season in nine days against Philadelphia at Lambeau Field.

"We're going to be solid in both the offensive and defensive lines," Thompson said. "I think that is absolutely key to being able to play.

"I think we're going to have a good defense, and I think our offense will be good when it's all said and done. We still have some unknowns because of injury and other things."

Asked if he considered the Packers to be a playoff contender, Thompson replied, "I certainly hope to be."

Coach Mike McCarthy seemed fairly buoyant as well about the road ahead.

"I feel very good," McCarthy said. "I'm very confident with the ability of our offense to play whatever way we need to play and score points."

Green Bay, which for the sixth straight summer finished against the Titans, is 2-4 in those games. The Packers finished exhibition play at 2-2. Tennessee ended 3-1.

Brett Favre quarterbacked two series and 13 plays and directed a 69-yard touchdown from a surprisingly efficient no-huddle configuration before taking a seat. The No. 1 offensive line played another series in front of Aaron Rodgers and exited after the first quarter.

On defense, the Packers didn't even dress three starters. By the second series, they had just four starters in the lineup.

In contrast, coach Jeff Fisher played his starters through the first series of the second half. The second quarter was like matching men against boys, and as expected the Packers' shock troops took their lumps.

"It's a total dropoff in the NFL from the first unit compared to the seconds," said Blake Beddingfield, the Titans' scouting coordinator. "Green Bay has an identity. It's No. 4. We're trying to build our identity."

The Packers moved the ball with their starters even though Donald Driver and top running backs Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency didn't play because of injury.

"I thought they looked sharp," Beddingfield said. "Their offensive line did a pretty good job, although there were (two) hits on Favre, which you don't want.

"I like their receiving group. If Bubba Franks continues to do what he did tonight (two receptions, 29 yards). . . . But they must establish a running back, one they can rely on. If they can do that, their offense will go."

James Jones, the third-round pick from San Jose State, caught five passes for 37 yards, enabling him to finish with a team-high 21 grabs for 233 yards (11.1-yard average) and two touchdowns.

"Green Bay did an excellent job personnel-wise getting a player that fits their system," Beddingfield said. "He's doing the short stuff, the curls and digs, and looks good doing it."

Another rookie, running back DeShawn Wynn, replaced injured Noah Herron (knee) after two series. Wynn's exhibition debut came with the Packers' backup line getting overwhelmed time and again by the Titans' starting defensive front.

"I think he looked just average," Beddingfield said. "He dropped the ball out of the backfield. He's a backup guy you'll need to develop. He has ability. He's a heavy runner, and he can catch the ball."

Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders insisted that his defense would be ready despite being on the field for just five possessions. The Packers expect to be outstanding, just as they were in the final month of '06.

"Their defensive line is a big, heavy group," Beddingfield said. "(Justin) Harrell should contribute inside by maybe the middle of the season. They should be able to stop the run, and they've got two physical corners."

The lone new starter, Atari Bigby, made his second start at Marquand Manuel's old strong-safety position and played until the 4-minute mark of the second quarter.

On the first play from scrimmage, Bigby delivered a punishing shot to wide receiver Brandon Jones as he ran a slant on Jarrett Bush. Later in the first quarter, Jones beat Patrick Dendy across the middle on a short crossing pattern before Bigby shot up from the middle of the field and made a sure, hard tackle.

"Nick Collins will play center field," Beddingfield said. "Bigby will be that eight-in-a-box kind of guy. He will play the run and thump guys when they come across the middle. If he can do that without showing a liability in coverage, he'll be a nice little player."

A major issue to be determined in the next 48 hours is selecting a kicker. Rookie Mason Crosby was given the first kickoff and the first and only field-goal attempt, possibly a sign that he entered the night ahead of incumbent Dave Rayner.

From 52 yards, Crosby crushed a kick that might have been good up to 65 yards. Instead, it missed to the left.

"He's got a leg," Beddingfield said. "Now can he harness it? Can he make the 40 and in, the 45 and in, that you've absolutely got to make? With him, at some point they'll be able to launch from 54, 55."
New areas of concern were the lousy punting of Jon Ryan and the inability of the No. 2 defense to be competitive against running backs LenDale White and Chris Brown. Time after time defensive end Jason Hunter and Harrell had problems at the point of attack, and middle linebacker Desmond Bishop kept missing tackles or overrunning plays.

Bishop gave up a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jones in the second quarter. Then Vince Young scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown.

[gbpackfan]

The scouts comments are encouraging. Man I hope we get that running game going soon.

[RashanGary]

FB, TE and SS have all stepped up and looked liek they may have solutions to the problems heading into the off season. RB and the running game is the last question mark. With the way we've ran our scheme during the preseason with the no cut preseason courtesy; it's still up in the air. The first 4 games of the season are going to really tell us where the running game is. I think they'll be OK early but it's a part of our team that will get better and better as the year goes on and the Oline becomes more in sync.

[Packers4Glory]

FB, TE and SS have all stepped up and looked liek they may have solutions to the problems heading into the off season. RB and the running game is the last question mark. With the way we've ran our scheme during the preseason with the no cut preseason courtesy; it's still up in the air. The first 4 games of the season are going to really tell us where the running game is. I think they'll be OK early but it's a part of our team that will get better and better as the year goes on and the Oline becomes more in sync.

well at least the running game has no where to go but UP

[Freak Out]

It is waaaaaayyyy to soon to call JH a bust. If he does not improve in play and strength throughout the season and then gets his ass handed to him next year then yes...call him a bust.

[Lurker64]

I can't think of a single great defensive tackle who was great in his first season, let alone in his first preseason. He's clearly not awful like Jamal Reynolds was, as he has been making plays (the play he scored the TD on, where he pushed the OL back 5 yards, was against first teamers). He just needs to work on consistency and conditioning, the same thing a lot of college athletes need to do in order to transition to the pro game.

[The Leaper]

My concern is Jon Ryan, not Justin Harrell. Ryan is going to kill us with his inability to get hangtime and outkicking the coverage.

[Packnut]

Ryan

My concern is Jon Ryan, not Justin Harrell. Ryan is going to kill us with his inability to get hangtime and outkicking the coverage.

Yep. Way to inconsistent. He's gonna hurt us AGAIN this season.

[Freak Out]

Re: Ryan

My concern is Jon Ryan, not Justin Harrell. Ryan is going to kill us with his inability to get hangtime and outkicking the coverage.

If he is going to consistently kick line drives then at least coach him to kick them out of bounds for fucks sake. If we give up big punt returns every game were screwed.