This summer was a testimony of sorts for quarterback Graham Harrell . Each practice and each game, he takes the stand. The former Texas Tech star is out to prove that a quarterback bred in Mike Leach’s pass-happy system can, indeed, succeed in the NFL.
After setting the NCAA record for passing touchdowns and completions at Texas Tech (2005-08), he was unwanted in two leagues — the NFL and the CFL. Last year, the Packers gave Harrell a shot on the practice squad and he’s been improving since.
This Thursday is probably the last Green Bay sees of Harrell for a while. Expect plenty of the 26-year-old at Lambeau Field against Kansas City. It's another chance for him to make a new name for himself.
Heck yes, he’s sick of the “system quarterback” label.
“Absolutely. It gets old,” Harrell said. “Anybody that plays the game is a product of their system in some way. A running back could get 1,000 yards with a ton of carries and a good offensive line and you could say he’s a product of his system.”
Through three exhibition games, Harrell has completed 30 of 52 passes for 266 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Last week, he survived a painful-to-watch four-drive stretch — a trio of three-and-outs and a pick deep in his own end — to lead the Packers to a comeback win over Indianapolis. Harrell is no stranger to pressure situations. He was at the epicenter of one of the Big 12's wildest seasons in recent history in 2008 when Texas Tech went 11-2.
But at this level, that manic finish at Lucas Oil Stadium was something new.
"It was a frustrating second half offensively, let's be honest," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "It was a little frightening there for a while but the whole unit, you have to tip your hat to them for hanging in there and making some plays when they had to."
We'll have some more in Packer Plus, but Harrell has taken some clear steps forward in areas quarterbacks coach Tom Clements pinpointed at this year's camp. The fourth-down touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Taylor , a play made outside of the pocket, is something Clements needed to see out of Harrell this summer.
Clements didn’t evaluate Harrell out of college. He said Green Bay coaches “liked him from the get-go.” But Texas Tech quarterbacks that put up video-game numbers in Leach’s innovative spread offense have traditionally struggled in the pros. Kliff Klingsbury, B.J. Symons and Cody Hodges and Sonny Cumbie are not household names.
“I don’t know much about the system but it’s probably a quarterback-friendly system,” Clements said. “It’s a spread offense. You probably have to do more things at the pro level than you do in that system. It’s a great system in college but there’s a period of adaptation.”
This summer, Harrell took a baby step toward breaking the stigma. He's adapting.
Matt Flynn, a pending free agent, is likely starting for another team in 2012. For now, it's worth hanging onto Harrell, it's worth continuing to develop him. Another strong outing against the Chiefs certainly would not hurt his chances -- as a No. 3 now and possible No. 2 down the road.
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