Packers Daily Links: Harris Will Get Chance to Start at Running Back

Mike McCarthy shared several interesting comments on DuJuan Harris and the running game on Wednesday. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Head coach Mike McCarthy touched upon numerous topics on Wednesday at the NFL's owners meetings in Phoenix during his media availability, but among his most interesting comments were those on DuJuan Harris and the Packers' running game. McCarthy indicated Harris will get an opportunity to start but also had more to say, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Though he wouldn't be specific, McCarthy offered a few hints at what might be different, saying he wanted to play more into the strengths of the personnel and stick more with a one-two punch," writes Silverstein. "It could be inferred that he wouldn't be asking his offensive linemen to do things they aren't good at, which could mean fewer reach blocks and more in-line tight end use." It's looking inevitable that the Packers will add a power back to complement Harris' quickness. They could go multiple directions, such as a player like Ahmad Bradshaw in free agency, or players like Eddie Lacy, Stepfan Taylor or Le'Veon Bell in the NFL Draft. McCarthy's lack of commitment to James Starks and Alex Green also spoke volumes.

More on DuJuan Harris comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Blog commentary comes from Lombardi Ave. and Acme Packing Company.

Mike McCarthy also expressed the need for the left side of the Packers offensive line to improve. “If you’re breaking down the line as a whole, our left side and the center position, we need improvement there,” McCarthy is quoted as saying by Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette. “I thought (right guard) Josh Sitton probably had his best year. And frankly, (Bryan) Bulaga and (Don) Barclay at right tackle with Josh was, we felt, a good combination. We need to get the left side to play better.” T.J. Lang signed a big contract last season and seems entrenched at left guard for the time being, but it would appear that neither Marshall Newhouse nor Evan Dietrich-Smith have jobs locked up. As incumbent starters, they might get first crack at the job, but they do need to display signs of improvement.

More on the offensive line comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Linebacker Brad Jones, who is an unrestricted free agent, was spotted at Packers headquarters on Wednesday, but he didn't talk to the media, and we can only speculate about what may happen with him. "In a light blue hooded sweatshirt, Jones was inside 1265 Lombardi Ave. for about an hour," according to the Journal Sentinel. "It's possible he was meeting with defensive coaches to find out what kind of role he would play next season." Jones previously visited the Tennessee Titans, although it's unknown if he received a contract offer. He's very likely trying to decide where he'll have the best opportunity in 2013.

More on Brad Jones comes from the Press-Gazette.

It appears as if it's a foregone conclusion that the Packers will bring in competition for kicker Mason Crosby this season. “I think competition’s good,” McCarthy is quoted as saying by Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. “Definitely, I don’t think you can look past any performance throughout your team and think that competition’s (not) going to help, regardless of how they performed the year before." Whether that competition comes from a draft pick or some sort of street free agent remains to be seen.

More on Mason Crosby comes from the Press-Gazette.

Free agent running back Ahmad Bradshaw mentions the Packers' interest in him during a radio interview.

An article on Mike McCarthy's thoughts on the Packers defense appears at the Press-Gazette.

New rule changes are in effect in the NFL. The Journal Sentinel and ESPNMilwaukee.com have the details.

Mike McCarthy talked about the void at safety since the loss of Nick Collins, as noted by ESPNMilwaukee.com. Lombardi Ave. responds.

More tidbits from Mike McCarthy appear on the ESPNMilwaukee.com blog, including items on Aaron Rodgers' contract, Tramon Williams, Jeremy Ross, injuries, visiting Texas A&M and night-time training camp practices.

Packer Plus has articles on the wide receivers, Ted Thompson's frugal spending, the youthful Packer roster, the history of the Packers' "G" logo and a feature on former equipment manager Gerald Braisher.

JSOnline has blog posts on the new Pro Bowl proposals and former Packers center Frank Winters commenting on Brett Favre.

It's official. The Green Bay City Council approved a street to be named "Donald Driver Way."

Packer Report has its daily pro day tour, a look at kickers eligible for the NFL Draft and a piece on former Packer Gale Gillingham.

The annual checkup series concludes at Fox Sports Wisconsin with linebacker Frank Zombo.

Over at Lombardi Ave., it's noted that Clay Matthews has advanced to the second round of Madden cover voting and there's another blog post on Charles Woodson.

A job fair is being held Thursday at Lambeau Field.

Video: NBC 26 takes a look at the advertisement Greg Jennings took out in Green Bay...

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (23)

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Evan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 09:24 am

Is Ahmad Bradshaw really a "power back"?

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Brian Carriveau's picture

March 21, 2013 at 09:35 am

More so than DuJuan Harris, but point taken.

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Evan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 09:41 am

I was honestly just asking. I knew Bradshaw was basically the exact same size as Harris. Not that height/weight tells the whole story. Ray Rice is the same size as Harris and I'd call him a power back.

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Stroh's picture

March 21, 2013 at 11:33 am

Rice us more like 215 lbs not 205 or so. Bith Rice and Bradshaw run w more power than I've seen from Harris.

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Evan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 11:35 am

Harris is listed at 208. Rice at 212. That's ESPN and who knows what they actually are at come game day. But as I said earlier, height/weight don't tell the whole story.

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RC Packer Fan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 12:56 pm

Pardon the pun, but don't sell DuJuan Harris Short. He has alot of power. He showed alot of ability to run between the tackles. He isn't Steven Jackson for running with power, but he isn't just a scat back either.

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Stroh's picture

March 21, 2013 at 03:59 pm

I did say Bradshaw and Rice run w more power than I've seen from Harris. Ht and wt aside... They are similar i size but both shiw much more power compared to Harris.

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markinmontana's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:05 am

It will be interesting to see how Harris develops with a full off-season program under the Packers, specifically with blitz pick-up. I honestly didn't watch closely enough to see if he was good or bad at this, but it seemed for the most part he was kept out of those situations.

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Derek in CO's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:05 am

have to agree with MM on the left side of the OL. At least they realize they need to get better over there. And I'd love to see a undrafted RFA compete with Crosby and even take the job from him. Time to improve at K.

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PackerBacker's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:38 am

Can anyone here explain to my why I still periodically read the comments on stories over at JSonline? What a waste of space. Hope other people don't think that that vitriolic crap represents all Packer fandom. Yikes.

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Evan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:48 am

I read them from time to time for fun. Seriously, an absolute cesspool.

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Denver's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:58 am

I FINALLY broke my habit about a year ago after quite a few years of addiction starting with the Summer of Favre in '08. Blood pressure has certainly dropped, that's for sure.

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markinmontana's picture

March 21, 2013 at 11:59 am

That's why I appreciate this site- even the "trolls" here at least stay mostly on-topic.

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cow42's picture

March 21, 2013 at 12:37 pm

thanks?

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Stroh's picture

March 21, 2013 at 04:19 pm

Quite commenting there over 5yrs ago. Its always been a dump. Dont waste your time.

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 10:43 am

I liked what I saw from Stepfan Taylor when I watched him (although in admittedly limited amounts)

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Derek in CO's picture

March 21, 2013 at 11:36 am

Just read Urlacher would have taken 3.5 mil for one year from the Bears. Would he make any sense at all in Green and Gold? I would say no, but might be worth just picking his brain on how they ran their tampa 2.

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markinmontana's picture

March 21, 2013 at 12:03 pm

The problem with Urlacher is that there doesn't seem to be much brain there to pick. In the past he has been a physical player with great speed and reaction time, but kind of a dim bulb. Now that he's getting older and diminishing physically, I don't see a lot of benefit to signing him.

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cow42's picture

March 21, 2013 at 12:37 pm

yeah - let's get slower.

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RC Packer Fan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm

And people want to complain about AJ Hawk. Urlacher this year lost 2-3 steps. He is done...

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Derek in CO's picture

March 21, 2013 at 02:17 pm

Agreed, just trying to gauge thoughts on him. He might bring a mean/tough attitude that might help the D, and maybe wants payback on Chi and Cutler, but he's probably not a starter anywhere anymore, unless of injuries of course.

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Evan's picture

March 21, 2013 at 02:21 pm

I don't want Mr. Jenny McCarthy anywhere near the green and gold.

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Derek in CO's picture

March 21, 2013 at 04:17 pm

Don't forget Paris Hilton. Not a very good taste in women....

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