http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...806020484/1058/PKR01

If he wants it that bad, Bush is probably gone.

Good for him. I like him, and think he's got some real ability. If he's hungry, that's good for the team.

Bush was gone in my book after that "dance" during Packers Family Night Scrimmage.

He wants a starting job because he wants to get paid eventually, just like everyone else.

quote:

Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He wants a starting job because he wants to get paid eventually, just like everyone else.

It wouldn't bother me to see Al Harris get cut and the job handed to Williams. Harris is very near, or already across, the dreaded "diminishing skills" threshold.

I like Williams. He's not Al Harris in his prime but he's not too bad. I guess the free safety will have to shade over to that side because Woodson still can handle his guy.

Can't wait to see if car jumping is the greatest skill possessed by Patrick Lee, or if he can actually play. I'm just thankful we aren't having to debate the merits of starting Ahmad Carroll and Michael Hawthorne.

quote:

Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He wants a starting job because he wants to get paid eventually, just like everyone else.

And why not? If I was going to put my body through such horrible punishment, I would want to be paid for it too. Good for Tramon.

As far as Harris, he was playing through several injuries at the end of the year and clearly wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the season. It gets harder to stay healthy as you get older (I know first-hand), but I hope Harris can do it next season, because we'll need at least 3 healthy corners to make a strong playoff push.

quote:

Originally posted by Change of Possession:

I like Williams. He's not Al Harris in his prime but he's not too bad.

Harris was a nickel back on the Eagles in his prime.

Parallel???

quote:

Originally posted by CJS:

quote:

Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He wants a starting job because he wants to get paid eventually, just like everyone else.

And why not? If I was going to put my body through such horrible punishment, I would want to be paid for it too. Good for Tramon.

As far as Harris, he was playing through several injuries at the end of the year and clearly wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the season. It gets harder to stay healthy as you get older (I know first-hand), but I hope Harris can do it next season, because we'll need at least 3 healthy corners to make a strong playoff push.

I rewatched the Packers @ Cowboys game last night, and Harris was awful. If someone watched that game, and then watched the playoff game against the Giants back to back they'd think Al Harris is finished. He was frighteningly bad in both games. Hopefully injuries were the major reason for the subpar play, but I somehow doubt that.

quote:

Originally posted by grbaypack:
As far as Harris, he was playing through several injuries at the end of the year and clearly wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the season. It gets harder to stay healthy as you get older (I know first-hand), but I hope Harris can do it next season, because we'll need at least 3 healthy corners to make a strong playoff push.

I rewatched the Packers @ Cowboys game last night, and Harris was awful. If someone watched that game, and then watched the playoff game against the Giants back to back they'd think Al Harris is finished. He was frighteningly bad in both games. Hopefully injuries were the major reason for the subpar play, but I somehow doubt that.[/QUOTE]

This is my opinion of Harris also. He's a good guy it seems and has been a good Packer but I think his skills have diminished A LOT. He was a major weakness IMO. If Williams can play better than Harris, then I think Williams should be the starter...I guess Harris makes a little too much for that to happen though!

Williams was very impressive against Calvin Johnson last year. I sure hope Pat Lee can play because it will be very nice to finally have 2 good young corners.

Seriously, if Jarrett Bush can work on his technique and strength, he will be a decent player IMO. He clearly has the athletic ability and a good attitude, he's just raw.

quote:

Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He wants a starting job because he wants to get paid eventually, just like everyone else.

Including us. The NFL is such a pyramid scheme.

quote:

Originally posted by Grave Digger:

quote:

Originally posted by grbaypack:
As far as Harris, he was playing through several injuries at the end of the year and clearly wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the season. It gets harder to stay healthy as you get older (I know first-hand), but I hope Harris can do it next season, because we'll need at least 3 healthy corners to make a strong playoff push.

I rewatched the Packers @ Cowboys game last night, and Harris was awful. If someone watched that game, and then watched the playoff game against the Giants back to back they'd think Al Harris is finished. He was frighteningly bad in both games. Hopefully injuries were the major reason for the subpar play, but I somehow doubt that.

This is my opinion of Harris also. He's a good guy it seems and has been a good Packer but I think his skills have diminished A LOT. He was a major weakness IMO. If Williams can play better than Harris, then I think Williams should be the starter...I guess Harris makes a little too much for that to happen though!

Williams was very impressive against Calvin Johnson last year. I sure hope Pat Lee can play because it will be very nice to finally have 2 good young corners.

Seriously, if Jarrett Bush can work on his technique and strength, he will be a decent player IMO. He clearly has the athletic ability and a good attitude, he's just raw.[/QUOTE]

Trade Al to the Vikings or straight up for Jason Taylor. That's a joke.

I'm surprised nobody has uttered the old "convert him to safety" talk. I don't know many CB's that have successfully made that transition so I doubt a slow and broke down Al Harris could do so.

At this point, Tramon, Lee, or Blackmon could be possible Al Harris replacements.

The only question/worry I have is will TT and MM demote their Pro Bowl corner?

quote:

Originally posted by Change of Possession:
Trade Al to the Vikings or straight up for Jason Taylor. That's a joke.

I'm surprised nobody has uttered the old "convert him to safety" talk. I don't know many CB's that have successfully made that transition so I doubt a slow and broke down Al Harris could do so.

I wouldn't advocate converting him...that's not a good idea.

I guess if he declines even more he should be demoted (if someone better can step in of course) and if he doesn't accept a demotion then cut him. Hate to cut a guy like that but it's a business. Gotta do whats best for the team.

Harris still has value, but he can't be expected to cover premier receivers one-on-one. Our defensive coordinator's inability or unwillingness to adjust against Dallas and New York is something that concerns me a lot more than Harris' ability to play adequately for another season.

Plax and TO give ANY corner a hard time in a physical matchup. Lester Hayes in his prime would have had issues banging witth those two. Harris is physical enough but he was too short in the two matchups mentioned. I hate to say it, but a younger Darren Sharper and Mike McKenzie (3 inches taller) were the weapons they used to use against those types of guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Herschel:
Plax and TO give ANY corner a hard time in a physical matchup. Lester Hayes in his prime would have had issues banging witth those two. Harris is physical enough but he was too short in the two matchups mentioned. I hate to say it, but a younger Darren Sharper and Mike McKenzie (3 inches taller) were the weapons they used to use against those types of guys.

Rouse is 6'4 and he wasn't out there vs. either of them.

Al Harris is 6'1". That's taller than a good deal of CB's in the league and taller than McKenzie by an inch. I don't think height is the problem with Al Harris. Declining health and skills probably played a part in his sub-par play but his mental focus when playing guys like T.O. has to be questioned as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Herschel:
Plax and TO give ANY corner a hard time in a physical matchup. Lester Hayes in his prime would have had issues banging witth those two. Harris is physical enough but he was too short in the two matchups mentioned. I hate to say it, but a younger Darren Sharper and Mike McKenzie (3 inches taller) were the weapons they used to use against those types of guys.

He didn't just have issues, he got whooped...bad. TO made him look like a college corner and he just couldn't handle Plax's size.

Now, as heyward said, part of the blame falls on Bob Sanders for not seeing that weakness and giving him help. I will definitely concede that point.

Harris isn't a small guy...he's 6'1". Does that mean he should be able to handle a 6'4" receiver? No, but he shouldn't be manhandled like he was. He lacks speed, always has, but supposedly he has incredible strength and his physical style of play is supposed to compensate for his lack of speed. Yet, whenever he locks up with a reciever just as physical, he's powerless.

quote:

Originally posted by Grave Digger:

quote:

Originally posted by Herschel:
Plax and TO give ANY corner a hard time in a physical matchup. Lester Hayes in his prime would have had issues banging witth those two. Harris is physical enough but he was too short in the two matchups mentioned. I hate to say it, but a younger Darren Sharper and Mike McKenzie (3 inches taller) were the weapons they used to use against those types of guys.

He didn't just have issues, he got whooped...bad. TO made him look like a college corner and he just couldn't handle Plax's size.

Now, as heyward said, part of the blame falls on Bob Sanders for not seeing that weakness and giving him help. I will definitely concede that point.

Harris isn't a small guy...he's 6'1". Does that mean he should be able to handle a 6'4" receiver? No, but he shouldn't be manhandled like he was. He lacks speed, always has, but supposedly he has incredible strength and his physical style of play is supposed to compensate for his lack of speed. Yet, whenever he locks up with a reciever just as physical, he's powerless.

He needs to be put out to pasture. I doubt he will but that's what needs to happen. He's proven in big games to fall flat on his face. I will say Eli Manning had an incredible performance and I'm not sure Deion Sanders at his peak could've shut down Burress the way Manning was throwing that day. Still, AL wasn't even close. You know when a great WR is locking up with Harris, Al's going to lose that matchup.

I, too, find it troubling that Sanders and McCarthy watched Al get toasted and did nothing to change the scheme. That is poor coaching. Very poor.

I wouldn't be surprised if Harris is a TC Casualty...

but TT and MM would only cut him if they thought he couldn't contribute and kept younger guys from getting needed reps.

Put out to pasture? TC casualty?? He was a PRO BOWL CB last year!! Worst case, he's still in the top 20% of all corners in the league. Yeah Plax ate his lunch, but he WAS injured in that game and Sanders should have had someone else on him.

quote:

Originally posted by CJS:
Put out to pasture? TC casualty?? He was a PRO BOWL CB last year!! Worst case, he's still in the top 20% of all corners in the league. Yeah Plax ate his lunch, but he WAS injured in that game and Sanders should have had someone else on him.

Yes. He's paid pretty well and if TT can save a buck you know he's going to. Why wasn't Al here? Was he in a Florida Strip Club causing trouble, again? At least he can stick close to strippers.

Plaxico Burress was also injured going into that game. Very injured.

Al Harris got to the ProBowl based on past reputation and shutting down Chicago's and Minnesota's less than stellar WR corps.

I thought it was interesting that Vandermause would love to get a straight answer from TT on whether he thought Harris was done at age 33? Many are thinking this because there's reason to think it. A man who didn't have great speed to begin with who is 33 is just the kind of guy you want to watch for diminishing skills.

Personally, on paper, I love the sound of Al Harris and Charles Woodson. That is the Viking fan way...love the paper. Realize, that Darren Sharper is a potential cut in Minnesota as he is aged also. He was in the ProBowl last season like Harris.

First Nick Collins, then Brady Poppinga, now Al Harris. I think it's great that our defense is so terrific that we'll be able to just outright cut starters from a year ago.