Packers Wanted Heckendorf; Workout For Harrell; Briggs Is An All-Pro

by Brandon on May 14, 2010 11:05 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

- It was reported earlier this week that the Green Bay Packers released G Stanley Daniels. He was claimed by the Broncos. Also I had hoped they'd give WR Kole Heckendorf another chance, and apparently the Packers did put in a waiver claim for him. They must have released Daniels to open up a spot for Heckendorf. Seattle was awarded Heckendorf because they had a worse record.

- They have scheduled a workout with former Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell. I thought he was worth taking a look at after the 2009 draft, but the QB starved Cleveland Browns did and wouldn't even offer him a contract. He spent 2009 in the CFL receiving no playing time. I'd say that's enough of a look. Maybe undrafted free agent QB Noah Shepard was bad enough during the rookie orientation camp that they are looking around for a Plan B? At best the winner of this roster spot could earn a place on the 2010 practice squad.

- One last mention of the AP re-vote for Texans LB Brian Cushing. While he kept the 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, he did lose his award for second-team All-Pro to Bears LB Lance Briggs.

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geez we have a guy on our roster that wasn’t even good enough to get PT in the CFL?? Wow.

by TrevorR on May 14, 2010 11:11 PM CDT reply actions

Best

At best he’s a OTA and minicamp arm!!! LOL

The guys on the roster may not have thown enough in the past couple months to keep their arms stong enough for all the throws necessary to judge all the WR, or recievers in general.

My guess he’ll never even make it to training camp.

by Strohman on May 15, 2010 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm a fan of Graham Harrell

Obviously his play in the gimmic spread offense under Leach doesn’t help him, but I was impressed with his play in college and feel he’s worth bringing in to take a look at. It doesn’t hurt.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on May 15, 2010 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

Sure, Briggs is an All-Pro...

Call it a mental block, because I don’t think he’s THAT good…

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 15, 2010 10:10 PM CDT reply actions

He’s pretty good. He’s not a Clay Matthews type…he’s a sure tackler who’s pretty decent in coverage. Its not the first year he’s been in all pro talks though.

by TrevorR on May 16, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Briggs actually was really good this past season. He stepped up big time with Urlacher out.

by packallday555 on May 16, 2010 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

What in the world happened to Harrell?

I mean, I totally understand that some gimmicky offenses don’t transition over to the NFL very well. But gez, to go from college dominator to literally unwanted by even the CFL??? I think this must be an unprecedented drop in stock.

by Jayrome007 on May 16, 2010 7:50 AM CDT reply actions

Justin?

by Yankees10 on May 16, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Graham.

We all KNOW what happened to Justin. sigh

by TrevorR on May 16, 2010 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh yeah wow my bad

by Yankees10 on May 16, 2010 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Graham

Graham Harrell doesn’t have NFL skills. ITs that simple! He has a very weak arm and can’t make NFL throws. Running a spread offense he threw alot of WR screens and shorter routes to get the ball to playmakers quickly. IF forced to throw the ball downfield he doesn’t have the arm strength to get it there quickly enough. His accuracy running the spread was fine, with the field opened up by so many WR, he didn’t see any press coverage which makes the windows MUCH smaller to throw into…

He also never had to learn to take the ball directly from under Center. Its alot harder to try to read the defense while dropping back to pass as opposed to being in dropback and taking getting a long, shotgun type snap.

by Strohman on May 16, 2010 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions

He also never had to learn to take the ball directly from under Center.

If this really is as big of a determiner to his pro future as you say, what does that say about the futures of QBs like Bradford and Tebow who also spent every snap lined up 5 yards deep?

by Jayrome007 on May 16, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I don’t think it bodes well for them, at least early on. Taking snaps from under center is something that can be learned though. It will probably be easier fro Bradford as he had better footwork then Tebow did to start off with.

by packallday555 on May 16, 2010 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions

snaps

Taking snaps directly from under center isn’t hard, but getting the footwork down takes time. Its mostly learning to read defenses while dropping back. Reading defenses itself is a learning experience, but learning to read while driopping back just adds to the difficulty! Its not a determinant of success, but it takes time… Most young QB’s just have to learn the footwork to dropback and that in itself can take time depending on how well they were coached in college. Add reading defenses and it just adds time to the learning curve.

Its why NFL teams much prefer QB’s who have played in a Pro style offense over the spread. Bradford may start this year, but ideally he should be given the year to learn footwork, technique and reading D. Tebow will ideally be given 2 years. Remember Rodgers came from a Pro offense at Cal and he took a good 2 years before he was really ready to take over the reigns!!!

by Strohman on May 16, 2010 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions