Harrell knows he must rise
His first two years marked by injury
By Todd Rosiak of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: May. 28, 2009
Green Bay - The bar has definitely been lowered for Justin Harrell.
Not that the Green Bay Packers necessarily think anything less of their 2007 first-round draft choice, but after two consecutive years of major back problems and minimal production, just keeping him on the field for a full season in 2009 appears to be priority No. 1.
"Really, my expectations for Justin are to stay healthy," coach Mike McCarthy said after his team's first open offseason practice Thursday.
It was a sentiment echoed by Harrell, who is penciled in as the starting right end in the Packers' new 3-4 defensive scheme. Considering he's accounted for 37 tackles in 13 games since being selected 16th overall out of Tennessee, it's rapidly becoming put-up-or-shut-up time for Harrell - a fact he willingly acknowledges.
"A huge year," he said. "This is my third year here. I haven't really did anything since I've been here, so I look at it as this is one of the biggest years of my life."
Injuries have plagued the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder from the outset of his career in Green Bay.
He was drafted by the Packers despite missing almost his entire senior season at Tennessee after tearing a biceps tendon, and has battled ankle and hip injuries in addition to his back issue, which required multiple surgeries after his rookie year.
Billed as a physically dominant tackle, Harrell managed 24 tackles in 2007 and spent the first seven games of 2008 on the physically unable to perform list while his back continued to heal. He wound up being activated on Nov. 1 but managed just 13 tackles before missing the final three games with the hip issue.
Anytime youre missing practices and missing games, and youre not able to go out there and show what youre capable of doing, being a draft pick and not being able to show it, its definitely frustrating, he said.
But youve just got to continue to work and know one day itll be healed, and just move on.
Harrell said he has no physical limitations placed on him with regard to his offseason work in the weight room and on the field.
I feel 100 percent. Its a big relief, he said. Its been a long time since the backs felt like its feeling right now. It feels like I never really hurt it. It took a long time, Ive seen a lot of doctors and we finally got it corrected and Im trying to move on now.
Harrell, who played on the inside in the 4-3, seems to have found a new lease on life with his return to health and the Packers switch to the 3-4. With Harrell possessing the requisite size, quickness and skill, Green Bays coaching staff appears anxious to see what he can bring to the table in the new scheme.
Justin has been impressive so far in my opinion, said defensive line coach Mike Trgovac. Hes a very bright kid. He certainly has the athletic ability and the size to do what were asking him to do and Ive been very pleased with not only his effort, but you can tell that it means something to him. Hes been very determined.
I never saw his game face or whatever you want to call it before, but hes a very determined young man.
Well aware of the doubters, Harrell is more concerned at this point with simply remaining healthy to be able to prove to the Packers hes still the player they believed he was when they selected him.
I want to stay healthy this whole year and play in every game, he said. If I do that, I feel my ability will produce on its own. The main goal for me is just to try and make it through the year healthy and see what happens from there.
Roll call: Linebacker Clay Matthews, the second of Green Bay's two first-round draft picks last month, was held out of practice after straining his hamstring in practice Wednesday and is considered day-to-day.
Seventh-round draft pick Brad Jones, also a linebacker, was held out with groin strain, and free-agent wide receiver Lorne Sam with an abdominal strain.
A number of veterans also sat out practice with various ailments. Safety Atari Bigby (ankle), center Scott Wells (shoulder), tackles Breno Giacomini (ankle) and Chad Clifton (shoulders, knees) and defensive end Cullen Jenkins (ankle) were in attendance in the Don Hutson Center, but spent practice rehabilitating.
Linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) was excused for personal reasons, according to McCarthy.
Cornerback Charles Woodson, safety Nick Collins and wide receiver Donald Driver - all veterans - also weren't in attendance for the voluntary practice.
"As far as the guys that are not here, Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, no different than what we have done in the past," McCarthy said. "I know everybody here understands that, whether it's personal reasons, business reasons, whatever they are, I'm not going to discuss those."
Cornerback Brandon Underwood, a sixth-round draft pick, and free-agent running back Tyrell Sutton are finishing their course work at Cincinnati and Northwestern, respectively. Tight end Travis Dekker, a rookie free agent out of Air Force, was placed on the reserve/military list Wednesday.
Musical chairs: The multitude of injuries on the offensive line has led to some major shuffling.
Replacing Clifton at left tackle was Tony Moll, and with Jason Spitz now at center, second-year man Josh Sitton was running with the No. 1 unit at right guard. Third-year man Allen Barbre was at right tackle, where he'll eventually have competition from Giacomini as the two audition to replace longtime starter Mark Tauscher.
"I think as a coach you kind of take things as they come, and it is what it is," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. "Mark's done an excellent job here as a player, but we're going to see what we have."
Rookie fifth-rounder Jamon Meredith stayed at left tackle with the No. 2 unit, while rookie third-rounder T.J. Lang played both right guard and right tackle.
In the fold: Cornerback Tramon Williams, an exclusive rights free agent who'd been practicing despite the lack of a contract, signed a one-year deal with the team Thursday. According to nationalfootballpost.com, the deal is worth a total of $900,000 and includes a $375,000 signing bonus. Williams started nine games and had five interceptions last season.