my point is that there is no such thing as a predetermined expectation.
each player is an individual, and needs to be treated as such.

At the time, I wanted Leon Hall or Dwayne Bowe. But with the Williams trade, I'm glad we took Harrell, he's def. been better than the next highest ranking DT, Alan Branch. I give him a break for his rookie year. He'll need to step up this year in the absence of Williams and if/when Jolly get suspended.

"zombieslayer"

"bozz_2006"Aaron Rodgers was a first round pick, and he's had three years of no contributions, yet we're giving him more time.

Justin Harrell didn't have Brett Lorenzo Favre starting in front of him.

The other thing is - positional differences.
1st round DTs should contribute right away.
QBs take a little bit of time.

Just to play Devil's advocate, Harrell did have Jolly, Pickett, Cole, and Williams starting in front of him.
And AJ started his first year for a team that was coming off a 4-12 season.

Harrell's was coming off a 8-8 season.

"pack_in_black"


Just to play Devil's advocate, Harrell did have Jolly, Pickett, Cole, and Williams starting in front of him.
And AJ started his first year for a team that was coming off a 4-12 season.

Harrell's was coming off a 8-8 season.

True dat.
Good argument.

However, now we need him healthy.
I was very much against getting rid of Corey Williams.
That guy is solid.
Now he's gone and Harrell's hurt again.

The other thing is, in GB, we use all our DTs.
We rotate them all in, making sure we keep them fresh for 4 quarters of football.
His not contributing is hurting the rotation.
So I'm sticking to "heading towards bust status" until he proves me wrong.

I sincerely hope he proves me wrong, starts getting 7 1/2 sacks from the middle every year and clogs the middle and becomes a perennial Pro Bowler.
As it's looking though, he may spend more of his career on the bench than on the field unfortunately.

"PackerTraxx"WhenTed Thompsondrafted Harrell he had the chance to trade down to Clevland's second, which wasn't too much lower, and then pick up Clevland's first this year.
Harell is a bust so far, we may have been able to get him with that second rd pick, and we could have gotten Rashard Mendenhall(or whoever) this year's with the first. But that's all hindsight.

What seems to contradict TT's value of drafts choice is that he didn't make the trade to pick up an extra pick that was also a high pick. Especially being in a building mode.

I wish we would have made that trade. What really hurts is the Cowgirls did. This has been on my mind since then and I'm just curious what others would have done. What do you think?

I wish TT drafted Greg Olsen instead of Harrell

"dhpackr"I wish TT drafted Greg Olsen instead of Harrell

I'm starting to think that too, but I'll give Harrell another half season or so before I jump ship.

"dhpackr"

I wishTed Thompsondrafted Greg Olsen instead of Harrell

I do too.
That would have made more sense.

if we'd have drafted olsen, i doubt we'd have drafted jermichael finley this year.
he won't get much, if any, playing time until he learns how to block, but he's only 21, so he has time to learn.
plus, he is a freak as a receiving TE.
I am so excited to see what he can contribute once he develops a bit.
he's gonna be a stud, i think.
and if we drafted olsen, who is just ok IMO, we'd not have taken finley.

off topic a bit, but Jermichael Finley is a stud on Madden '09 lol

"zombieslayer"The other thing is - positional differences.
1st round DTs should contribute right away.
QBs take a little bit of time.

"zombieslayer"The other thing is - positional differences.
1st round DTs should contribute right away.

Not necessarily. I believe it was Mike Shanahan that stated last year that anything you get out of a d-linemen in the first year is a bonus, they need time to adjust to the pro-level. (I believe he said this in reference to Harrell, actually)

Considering that statement, I do not think anyone can really call Harrell a bust. It is still too darn early, and even with his injury set back I look for Harrell to step up in to the DT rotation before the half way point of the season.

One thing that is really telling is that when Colin Cole went out, Harrell replaced him as one of the gunners. That shows a heck of a lot of versatility.

Personally, I think the Packers have the makings of adding a 3-4 to their scheme on certain situations, if and only if Harrell gets healthy. Harrell , Jolly, Jenkins/Montgomery to anchor the D-front might be passable if used once in a while.