wpr
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13 years ago

Packers by position: Quarterbacks
 

Once again this April, the Press-Gazette will provide a pre-draft breakdown of the Packers roster at each position by beat writer Rob Demovsky. This will lead up to the start of Pete Doughertys annual position-by-position draft series on April 21.

Quarterbacks

What they have

Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Graham Harrell

Position analysis

The Packers have what no other NFL team can say: They have the reigning Super Bowl MVP under center. Aaron Rodgers capped a marvelous postseason with his MVP performance in leading the Packers to the Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers was nearly perfect against the Steelers to cap a postseason with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions (both of which came in the NFC championship game at Chicago). His postseason performance elevated him to elite status, if he wasnt there already.

Matt Flynn, who finished his third pro season, played well in his only start, at New England on Dec. 19, even though he came out on the losing end. He looked like he belonged in a prime-time NFL game by throwing for 251 yards, three touchdowns and a rating of 100.2. He had a costly interception, though, against the Patriots, and one the week before in a relief appearance at Detroit, where the Packers also lost. The former seventh-round pick at worst is one of the NFLs top backups and possibly a starter in the league soon, although it almost certainly wont be with the Packers given that Rodgers is entrenched.

Harrell looked like just another training camp arm early last summer but then in the preseason games showed a knack for being crafty in and out of the pocket. His arm strength was better than advertised, too. After spending most of the season on the practice squad, he was elevated to the roster the week of the New England game and stayed there the rest of the season.

The future

Rodgers two concussions last season are worrisome but as long as he remains healthy, the Packers dont have anything to worry about. However, they need to be prepared in case he takes another blow to the head and is forced to miss time.

Theyd love to keep Flynn around, but the reality is that he wants to be a starter and knows that wont happen in Green Bay any time soon. He has one year left on his contract. If the Packers dont trade him, which they probably wont, theyll lose him in free agency a year from now, so they need to find out if Harrell can be their next No. 2. Thats where the lockout hurts because ordinarily Harrell would be well into coach Mike McCarthys renowned quarterback school, which the young QB needs.

If theyre worried Harrell isnt good enough to be Rodgers backup someday, then this might be the time to pick up another quarterback in the draft. That likely wouldnt be until the later rounds, but Flynn showed that late-round quarterbacks can be developed. Its a typical year for quarterbacks in the late rounds, where about a half-dozen will be picked from the fourth to seventh rounds.


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millertime
13 years ago
Great article. I really agree with keeping Flynn around this season. If A-Rod goes down, we know Flynn can win game and give us a good chance at getting a top playoff seed and some playoff games at Lambeau. We could probably trade him now for a low 2nd or high 3rd round pick (if trades were allowed), but I believe we can get a decent compensatory pick for him next offseason (if there are compensatory picks with the new CBA).

I really hope there is a preseason so we can see if Harrell has what it takes to be a future #2.
wpr
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13 years ago

Great article. I really agree with keeping Flynn around this season. If A-Rod goes down, we know Flynn can win game and give us a good chance at getting a top playoff seed and some playoff games at Lambeau. We could probably trade him now for a low 2nd or high 3rd round pick (if trades were allowed), but I believe we can get a decent compensatory pick for him next offseason (if there are compensatory picks with the new CBA).

I really hope there is a preseason so we can see if Harrell has what it takes to be a future #2
.

"millertime" wrote:



Agreed.
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wpr
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13 years ago
Packers draft needs by position: Quarterback By Tom Silverstein  


This is the third in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.

QUARTERBACK

Need level: Low

On the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Graham Harrell

Outlook: This is easy. Keep this Rodgers kid around. Hes pretty good. Theres no genetic marker for longevity, but based on his athletic ability, Rodgers is going to be around for awhile. The only thing that could derail him is a concussion problem. Two in one season isnt that uncommon and doesnt necessarily mean hell have any this year. But its something to keep in mind. Coach Mike McCarthy has asked why would we do that? when presented with the possibility of trading Flynn this off-season. Flynn improved his stock immensely with a fine outing against New England when Rodgers was sidelined, and his stock might never be higher. Hell be an unrestricted free agent next year (if the old free agent rules apply) and would assuredly leave for a shot at a starting position in 2012. Former GM Ron Wolf dealt Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck for some nice draft choices before they became free agents, so dealing Flynn has to have crossed GM Ted Thompsons mind. It would probably take a high draft choice for Thompson to consider trading the former seventh-round pick. He and McCarthy feel like if something happens to Rodgers their season wouldnt be over if Flynn is around. Harrell is an interesting prospect and with a lot of work in the off-season improving his body, he could be the future backup. Like Flynn, hes not fazed by anything going on around him.

Eye-opening stat: Even at his impressive pace of 1.83 touchdowns per start, Rodgers, 27, would have to play 13 more seasons to top Brett Favres franchise record of 442 career touchdown passes.

Whats available: This is not a great year for mobile, West Coast-type quarterbacks. McCarthy is good at molding quarterbacks into highly efficient, productive players, but he has to have something to start with. The guy has to have quick feet, flexible hips and a reasonably strong arm. He wont take stationary passers. There arent a lot of guys who fit the Packers needs in the late rounds of this draft. An exception might be Fresno States Ryan Colburn, who played in a pro-style offense and is smart and mature. Another possibility would be UTEPs Trevor Vittatoe, whos a little short at 6-1 and very raw, but can escape the rush. Both could be had in the seventh round or as free agents.

Bottom line: Thompson has two picks in the seventh round and could wind up with more depending on how the draft goes. This is where hell probably address the quarterback position, if he does it at all. Hes got three guys signed for this season and the only thing he may really need is a camp arm. Still, he hasnt taken a quarterback since the 08 season and it wouldnt hurt to bring in someone to compete with Harrell.


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millertime
13 years ago
A guy to look out for is Greg McElroy from Alabama. A championship winning QB who is also a Rhodes Scholar. An injured wrist has prevented him from working out a lot this offseason and will probably make him drop. He's played well in some big games in his career and is a decent athlete (4.7-4.8 40yd dash). Reminds me of Flynn with a little less moxie. He'll liekly be available from round 5 to round 7.
nerdmann
13 years ago
Harrell should be working out with someone like Rich Gannon this offseason, in lieu of missing the QB School. Mike McCarthy has shown the ability to improve QBs' arm strength, which is pretty much the only question with Harrell.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (14-Feb) : Packers are hiring Luke Getsy as senior offensive assistant.
Martha Careful (12-Feb) : I would love to have them both, esp. Crosby, but either might be too expensive.
Zero2Cool (12-Feb) : Keisean Nixon is trying to get Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams lol
Mucky Tundra (11-Feb) : Yeah where did it go?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : or did you resctrict access to that topic?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : why did you remove the Playoff topic?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
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