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APC continues looking at the sophomore class of players looking to break out and make their mark. Last time the mystery of D.J. Williams was revealed. This time we look at the hope of Graham Harrell.
Sometimes cliches don't make sense.
Sometimes cliches don't fit a situation even though you think they should.
For the last....let's say 20ish years....one particular cliche of the NFL has not really existed in Green Bay: "The backup QB is the most popular guy in town." Typically this is because the team isn't playing well and everyone is itching to see what the guy on the bench can do (because it can't be worse than the bum on the field right?). Well, Brett Favre was wildly popular in Wisconsin, and everything a fan base who was thirsting for a QB for 30 years wanted him to be. After that the reigns were handed over to Aaron Rodgers who is having as good or better a career so far. Needless to say, we Packer fans are in a good spot(and have been for quite some time); so we haven't called for the backup QB much the past generation or so.
This isn't to say that the Packers haven't been developing good backup QB's. Plenty of guys who went on to have solid or pretty good careers started out in Green Bay before moving on. I could run down the names but you know them and I know them. Graham Harrell is the next name on that list. Sure there is plenty of questions from pundits who question if can play well enough to carry a talented team should the worst happen, but that's the same question set that was asked about Matt Flynn, and this staff got him to develop pretty well I'd say.
So all that said...I hope that Harrell doesn't throw over 20 or so passes this year and only sees a few series of playing time when the Pack is way up. If that's the case and he masters holding a clip board I'll be a happy man.
Harrell's depth chart in 2011 - Third string QB
Harrell's floor depth chart position in 2012 - No. 2 QB: There is a possibility that B.J. Coleman could be the dynamic mix of Favre and Peyton Manning who just won't be denied the second string position. There's also the possibility that the Packers bench Rodgers and institute the Wild Cobb offense too, but I'm not really holding my breath for either one.
Harrell's ceiling depth chart position in 2012 - No. 2 QB: Do I need to type anything else about this?
Harrell's stats in 2011 - 0 attempts 0 completions 0 yards 0 TD's 0 INT's
Harrell's floor stats in 2012 - 12 attempts 7 completions 60 yards 1 TD 1 INT's: I could put the floor as zeros across the board, but where is the fun in that? Right now I do expect the Packers to give him some mop up duty throws and give Rodgers a break here and there.
Harrell's ceiling stats in 2012 - 70 attempts 42 completions 400 yards 6 TD's 3 INT's: I'm not going to project an injury, as a result I figure Harrell sees roughly a game and a half of time at the max. If that game and a half is epic then these numbers should be about right.
Projected stats for Harrell in 2012 - 25 attempts 15 completions 160 yards 3 TD's 2 INT's. Despite the fact that I would prefer Harrell only throw 20 times, it is probably going to be a little higher than that given garbage time and anything else that could happen. If the Packers run away with it again in the regular season then Harrell may even play significant time in the last game of the year which should saturate these numbers as well.
Previous Sophomore Expectations posts
D.J. Williams | Ryan Taylor | M.D. Jennings | Randall Cobb
