Graham Harrell hasn’t inspired a lot of confidence as the Green Bay Packers No. 2 quarterback. Now the team is going to do something about it. Kind of. They’re giving B.J. Coleman a real shot to unseat Harrell.
Quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo says the team will split the reps behind Aaron Rodgers equally between Harrell and Coleman.
“Well, we’re going to even out the reps between Graham and B.J. and let them compete,” said McAdoo. “It’ll be interesting to see how B.J. develops with reps.”
Coleman was a seventh-round pick in 2012. He spent all of last season the Packers practice squad after not really showing much during training camp. He should be improved and have a better command of the offense in his second year in the system, though.
Coleman has a big arm and can make all the throws, but the knock on him is he’s erratic like another certain former Packers quarterback. Harrell is pretty much the opposite. He’s not going to impress anyone with his arm.
Does that give Coleman the advantage? Only if he doesn’t turn the ball over.
The Packers obviously see something in him or they would have drafted a clear-cut No. 2. They could have had Matt Barkley in the third round if they wanted him.
All that being said, the Packers aren’t writing off Harrell just yet.
“I think Graham can go in and win a game for us. There is a savviness about him where to go with the football. Fundamentally, he’s improved tremendously the last couple years.”
This will be an interesting battle to watch in training camp. But as always, we’ll be hoping neither of these guys gets into a regular season game.
About goddamn time!
Fuckin’ A!
let the competition begin!
I thought Coleman looked better last year, and I think he has the potential to develop into a formidable NFL quarterback. If that happens, will there be any doubt Mac as a quarterback guru? Or that matter the Polar Bear’s acumen and insight?
Guarded optimism here. That ‘if’ you reference looms pretty large and is a double-edged sword.
Here’s to BJ!
(Feel kindy creepy typing that…)
One of those mags, I think it was PFF, ranked Harrell the worst backup in the league last year.
Just like the coaches knew what they were doing in letting ol’ #4 walk, I will give them the benefit of the doubt on whatever decision they make here. My .02 is there’s more upside with Coleman.
I hear they’re really going to emphasize work with Harrell this year on dropping back without tripping.
You can’t win football games if you can’t successfully hand the damned ball off.
“I think Graham can go in and win a game for us.”
I’m 180 degrees from that sentiment. The kid’s a bum.
BJ, go take it.
Like just about every team in the NFL, if Rodgers goes down, we r pretty well screwed. Just the way the league is now. Your backup is typically a ‘never was’ or a ‘never will be’.
Let’s focus on true area of training camp excitement:
1. Is Nick Perry what he showed glimpses of? If so, its almost like getting two #1 draft picks on defense this year!
2. Is Eddie Lacy a steal or did most of the GMs that passed 2 times on him have it correct?
3. Sheilds or Heyward for the starting spot opposite of Tramon?
4. Will the Packers prove they knew more than ‘Joe Fan’ in cutting Dez Bishop?
So freakin giddy for the season! Let’s go!