The Real Justin Harrell

by Brandon on Aug 4, 2009 1:00 AM CDT Comment 11 comments

If you're wondering what ever happened to former 1st round pick DT Justin Harrell, you're probably not alone. In his first two NFL seasons he's only played in 13 games and recorded 28 tackles. Lori Nichol has a good recap of his injury history:

2006 (college) torn biceps tendon.
2007 ankle injury.
2008 back injury, which led to two back surgeries, but they didn't work:

Then he spent the offseason planning to rehabilitate and strengthen the back. But the pain wouldn't subside and that alarmed him heading into summer workouts. So Rob Davis, the former long snapper and current director of player development with the team, suggested Harrell try acupuncture. And go figure - a half-hour session with Green Bay chiropractor Dennis Plansky relieved Harrell of his pain. He is fine.

So we might have not seen the real Harrell play in either of the last two seasons. Now he's fine, and instead of playing at defensive tackle in a 4-3, he'll now be playing right defensive end in a 3-4.

It appeared he was stuck playing behind DE Cullen Jenkins at right defensive end, until today when he got to play at left end, and on one play ran over RT Allen Barbre, because DT B.J. Raji is unsigned and DT Johnny Jolly is out for a week with a walking boot on. Although his opportunities should be limited during the season because he'll only play during likely rushing situations.

There hasn't been a lot of production from the former 1st round pick, but two seasons later, he's finally healthy and at least will provide depth on the defensive line.

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bout time

I am just happy that Harrell is healthy and getting a chance to show if he is the player Thompson thought he was… Harrell as we all know has NEVER been healthy since his arrival. That he is even on the field, participating and giving his best effort seems like a near miracle. Seems his back was ALOT worse than anyone knew…

I would like to see him end up at RDE for the Packers, as I don’t see him beating Jenkins out. Raji will get time at RDE too, but next year Raji will likely become a full time NT. We could really use a good RDE to step forward and start to dominate.

With a little luck, maybe Harrell can be that guy!!! Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and see ON THE FIELD what he can do for us…

by Strohman on Aug 4, 2009 9:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jenkins

is the RDE so I am guessing your referring to the LDE? Cause I sure dont want Harrell to be playing instead of Jenks

by bizzle4 on Aug 5, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His pain might be gone but the problem isn't

This comes from a skeptic of acupuncture, so you can take that for what you will, but my guess is his back will flair up again. And, again, with his injury history that’s not much of a statement to make.

battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm

by Michael M on Aug 4, 2009 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

come on now...

it wont be the same injury.. It will be something new of course that wont make sense to anyone like a toe or a finger or something and keep him out all season again!

by bizzle4 on Aug 5, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Raji signs his contract, I want to see him as the starting NT. Ryan Pickett is the most overrated player on our roster. If he couldn’t push the line in a 4-3, there is no possible way he’s going to have any success pushing the line in a 3-4. Pickett would be valuable to play all 3 of the defensive line positions in a solid rotation. Hopefully the Packers recognize this soon, before it’s too late. I am getting impatient with Raji holding out. As for Harrell, I would like to see him start at LE. I remember scouts saying he was a better fit for the 3-4 DE position during his draft. Personally, I prefer to see Cullen Jenkins at LE and Justin Harrell at RE, with Raji at NT. Johny Jolly and Ryan Pickett will be there for a solid rotation.

by Jabooty on Aug 4, 2009 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If he couldn’t push the line in a 4-3, there is no possible way he’s going to have any success pushing the line in a 3-4.

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong (it could happen), but my understanding is that his role as a NT in the 3-4 isn’t to ‘push the offensive line’ so much as it is to draw a double team, making it more likely that somebody else will be able to get through.

Also, you call Pickett

the most overrated player on our roster

and then you turn around and say that he

would be valuable to play all 3 of the defensive line positions.

Again, I could be wrong, but, Pickett is probably one of the few 4-3 tackles on the Packers’ roster that won’t be switching between tackle and end in the 3-4.
He will most likely be coming out when Raji plays tackle in the base formation and/or playing side by side with Raji in the middle when the defense is in other formations, with four down linemen.
In case you have not been keeping up, the coaches have said that the Packers will not be in the 3-4 base more than about half the time.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Aug 5, 2009 2:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry....Harrell at LE, Jenkins at RE

by Jabooty on Aug 4, 2009 2:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Harrell

If he stays healthy—which he should; if the acupuncture was and is being done correctly; then we will see Pro-Bowl caliber play from this guy—Guaranteed.

by Buddyruff on Aug 4, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Whose fault is it?

Harrell hurt his back last year while working out in the Green Bay gym. I’ve never read exactly what happened. My understanding is that the players follow a lifting schedule developed with the trainers. So, was Harrell screwing around? Was he pushing too hard and no one noticed? Did the trainer ask him to lift more weight than he was ready for? Was he using poor technique? If it was technique, why didn’t a trainer catch it before he got hurt. Most of the scenarios I come up with include some failure by the trainers.

Which brings me to my second question: Did we change trainers because the last one damaged a first round pick?

by 50 years and Counting on Aug 5, 2009 9:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Harrell and weights

Since Harrell’s already established himself as an injury prone player, I’d lean towards believing he just got hurt; it wasn’t anything the trainers could have prevented.

Was Rock Gullickson (the previous trainer) fired because he failed to monitor Harrell? That is an interesting question. I was surprised when McCarthy fired Gullickson because he had so much praise for him when he was hired. For what it’s worth; McCarthy said Gullickson was let go because it was about “making progress” and “growth and improvement.”

by Brandon on Aug 5, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs