Al Harris might be done for the year

[TheGhostDog]

Ghostdog-

I dont know much about the Niners teams of the 80s, but I would assume that if they were relying more on rookies, that defensively, they also were playing more aggresively. The Packers could be fine becasue they have talent on other parts of their defense, but the problem is that we dont use it appropriately. The defense could be fine if they decide to blitz more. The Packers really need a defensive coordinator or scheme similiar to what the Eagles typically do.

Another example to your argument would be the Giants secondary in the playoffs last year. They were young players, but the defense was fine because they got pressure from their front four. Either the Packers front four needs to get to the QB more or they need to blitz to acquire that pressure.

I do agree with you though that the defense could be alright. Maybe this forces Sanders to be more aggressive.

Those early '80s 49er teams didn't have to blitz much - they had Fred Dean in his prime: 12 sacks in half a season for SF in 1981, 17 sacks in 1983. I remember their defensive identity as putting up points fast and then unleashing Dean on opponents (he posted 5- and 6-sack games during this time), plus a very fast and hard-hitting (Ronnie Lott) defensive secondary.

As for the Packers, though, I wholeheartedly agree that Bob Sanders needs a more attack-oriented, unpredictable approach to calling defenses. If he gets too conservative in light of Harris' injury we'll all suffer. But to Sanders' (and/or McCarthy's) credit, switching up our coverages against the Cowboys to match Woodson on Owens and Chillar on Witten were nice surprises. Apart from a couple big plays - which you are going to get against a high-caliber offensive machine on a roll like Dallas - Marion Barber killed us, not Owens or Witten. Well, that and Dallas's getting TDs on their big-plays while we settled for field goals.

[TheGhostDog]

We should have cloned Woodson and signed the clone.

Or cloned Woodson's spleen and given it to Harris.

[Jollay]

Well, lets see, off the top of my head, Randall Gay signed for 4 million a year. He's a young player that started a superbowl just 2-3 years ago. And Dominique Foxworth is a good example of a guy who is somewhere between a starter and a reserve CB who went for what, a huge 7th round draft pick I believe from Denver?

But here we go again with the, all the corners weren't worth it angle, even though the free agent class was graded pretty highly this year.

Well then find one who is via trade.

But do something to shore up an obvious weakness. Or f it, have a 7th round draft pick back up your starting QB on a supposed playoff contender. Whatever.

Gosh Frank Walker sure didn't exactly cripple our cap situation, did he?

At least try. You don't hear me bashing TT for bringing in Walker, do you? Should have at least tried this year, with Woodson and Harris yet another year older...

[El Duderino]

Well, lets see, off the top of my head, Randall Gay signed for 4 million a year. He's a young player that started a superbowl just 2-3 years ago. And Dominique Foxworth is a good example of a guy who is somewhere between a starter and a reserve CB who went for what, a huge 7th round draft pick I believe from Denver?

But here we go again with the, all the corners weren't worth it angle, even though the free agent class was graded pretty highly this year.

Well then find one who is via trade.

But do something to shore up an obvious weakness. Or f it, have a 7th round draft pick back up your starting QB on a supposed playoff contender. Whatever.

Gosh Frank Walker sure didn't exactly cripple our cap situation, did he?

At least try. You don't hear me bashing TT for bringing in Walker, do you? Should have at least tried this year, with Woodson and Harris yet another year older...

Hey, i'll be glad to criticize Thompson is Harris misses the year and the secondary struggles quite a bit because those behind him perform poorly in their new roles. Ted had to know that having two old corners could leave him open to possible injury at cornerback, but TT chose to stand pat with youth as backups. Well, it looks likely that Harris will miss a long time or for the season.

We'll then find out how the kids play. I like Williams and think he'll be solid, how say Blackmon holds up we can't know until he actually plays as the 3rd corner.

[Rockmaninoff]

The reason that Ted Thompson is not pursuing a veteran, is that he wants to see if any of these young players will step up. Bringing in a guy now will only disrupt chemistry and put defeating thoughts in those players' heads. He is going to let this play out, so as to aquire definitive answers to his questions. This is how he works.

In a league where the physical talent and skill is so evenly matched, TTBoy judges these guys on all the little things that make up character and intangibles. That is what wins in the end.

I'm sure that HE isn't sure that there is a player there, but he is going to find out, wins and losses be damned.

[xTitan]

The nickel back and dime CB are supposed to be young players you are grooming to take over for your aging vets. I think it is stupid to pick up a Frank Walker type, as far as Gay goes, if he was a player he would still be in NE, they allowed a young star in Samuel to go, so they needed CB help. I am much more worried about stopping the run and generating a pass rush......a gifted aggressive D-Coord would mix up the defense and throw some zone blitz looks in every once in awhile.

[El Duderino]

a gifted aggressive D-Coord would mix up the defense and throw some zone blitz looks in every once in awhile.

Come on Titan, i heard Sanders added a 4th blitz package to his scheme this offseason besides his three others of, blitz Barnett up the gut, blitz Hawk up the gut, or go crazy and send both up the gut. I'm sure by week 7 or 8 we'll see this new innovative package.

[MickeyDavis]

This is an Al Harris thread, not a Brett Favre thread. Keep it on topic. I've deleted Favre posts from this thread.

[MajorDad]

that's my biggest problem with TT. we have plenty of cap money available. but he'd rather look to the future and see how our guys develop rather than going ourt and spending some of that money to acquire a quick fix. he never makes moves as if this is the year we are super bowl bound. he's always looking to the future.

The rams just cut their starting Cb as a scapegoat measure.. he was a pro bowler two years ago. Would TT consider signing him? I would bet the farm against it.

if the packers are 10-3, and woodson goes down for the season, would Tt find a veteran replacement?


i keep seeing people saying the price of acquiring a free agent or trading for one is too ridiculously high. but nobody says what that price is. is trading a first or second round pick for a guy like ed reed or champ bailey too high? is trading a 4th round pick for a veteran too high? it sure would have been nice if sherman had drafted Gamble rather than the loser db he did draft.

[bucks59]

TT might do what he did last year with the running back situation: assess what the Packers have and potentially make a trade in the future. Last year, the Packers started the season with Jackson as the starting running back, and later made a trade for Grant. He might do something similiar this year. He could look at Williams and Blackman, see if they are adaquate. If they are, he doesn't need to acquire another CB at a position of depth. If they are not, he will probably make a move, even if it is considered a smaller move by fans (like the Grant trade).

[MajorDad]

as you stated, the grant trade was supposedly made to ensure depth at the rb position rather than tt trading for a starter at that position to replace green. Tt could make another similar trade of acquiring a Cb real cheap hoping to strike lighting in a bottle a second time. TT does make a few moves. but none seem to be as big as I ( a fan) would like to see him make.

[MajorDad]

as you stated, the grant trade was supposedly made to ensure depth at the rb position rather than tt trading for a starter at that position to replace green. Tt could make another similar trade of acquiring a Cb real cheap hoping to strike lighting in a bottle a second time. TT does make a few moves. but none seem to be as big as I ( a fan) would like to see him make.

[bucks59]

Thats not what I said. Last year, TT determined that the Packers needed a better running back and went out and got Grant. After watching Williams and Blackman play, he might do something similar. I think he wants to wait before he does a major move. If Williams and Blackman are able to play CB, then there is no need to use an asset on a position of little need.

Additionally, even if TT does a depth trade, he might hit "lightning in a bottle" again given his ability to assess talent that other GM's miss. Last year, he was highly criticized before the season started for a lack of talent at the WR and RB positions. Those positions turned out to be strengths for the Packers. Even if TT does a small move by your standards, that does not mean it will be an unsuccessful one. Trading a high draft pick for a big name player is not necessarily always the answer.

[emunney]

I would think that if TT thought there was an available corner as good as Ryan Grant was a running back, and the price tag was similar, he'd already be a Packer. I think the chances of striking gold on a cheap corner pickup are very small, but I'd still rather do that than give up a high pick for an unideal fit.