The Coordinator
Cheesehead
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2009
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Harrell might move to end of the line
By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
Green Bay - Even if Justin Harrell can overcome the back injury that has plagued him for almost a year, there's a good chance he won't be playing defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers next season.
Harrell, who had two back surgeries last year and was put on injured reserve late in the season after the pain flared up again, fits the mold of a defensive end in the new 3-4 defense. At 6 feet 4 inches and 320 pounds, he doesn't quite have the size and low center of gravity of a 3-4 nose tackle.
"I'm going to have to watch more of him," defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said Tuesday during a meet-and-greet with the new defensive staff. "Now I know New England has (Vince) Wilfork and Pittsburgh has (Casey) Hampton. Those are bigger guys in there.
"So you'd probably look at him - again, it's early on it now - but you'd probably look at him as an end-type person."
Wilfork is listed at 6-2, 325 pounds but probably weighs much more. The 6-1 Hampton is listed at 325 but weighs 340, a team official said.
In the Packers’ 3-4 defense, the ends aren’t responsible for two gaps and so they can get upfield quickly. But they also often eat up blockers so the linebackers playing behind them can make tackles.
According to coach Mike McCarthy, Harrell is in town working out and rehabilitating his back. Surgery was an option but it has been ruled out for now.
"The doctors want to go the rehab route," McCarthy said.
Trgovac said he’d like to see what Harrell, a first-round pick in 2007 from Tennessee, could do in this defense.
"He’s a talented kid,” Trgovac said. "If he can stay healthy. . . . He’s had some injury problems when he was at Tennessee, but he’s a very talented player."
If Harrell could stay healthy he might have a chance to make an impact...but I have my doubts he will ever stay healthy.
By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
Green Bay - Even if Justin Harrell can overcome the back injury that has plagued him for almost a year, there's a good chance he won't be playing defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers next season.
Harrell, who had two back surgeries last year and was put on injured reserve late in the season after the pain flared up again, fits the mold of a defensive end in the new 3-4 defense. At 6 feet 4 inches and 320 pounds, he doesn't quite have the size and low center of gravity of a 3-4 nose tackle.
"I'm going to have to watch more of him," defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said Tuesday during a meet-and-greet with the new defensive staff. "Now I know New England has (Vince) Wilfork and Pittsburgh has (Casey) Hampton. Those are bigger guys in there.
"So you'd probably look at him - again, it's early on it now - but you'd probably look at him as an end-type person."
Wilfork is listed at 6-2, 325 pounds but probably weighs much more. The 6-1 Hampton is listed at 325 but weighs 340, a team official said.
In the Packers’ 3-4 defense, the ends aren’t responsible for two gaps and so they can get upfield quickly. But they also often eat up blockers so the linebackers playing behind them can make tackles.
According to coach Mike McCarthy, Harrell is in town working out and rehabilitating his back. Surgery was an option but it has been ruled out for now.
"The doctors want to go the rehab route," McCarthy said.
Trgovac said he’d like to see what Harrell, a first-round pick in 2007 from Tennessee, could do in this defense.
"He’s a talented kid,” Trgovac said. "If he can stay healthy. . . . He’s had some injury problems when he was at Tennessee, but he’s a very talented player."
If Harrell could stay healthy he might have a chance to make an impact...but I have my doubts he will ever stay healthy.
