Who isn’t loving this guy? As Packer fans we’re currently big on initial first names, and we obviously enjoy a good gun slinger. He’s impressed in camp with his arm strength, and from what we saw of him in the preseason, he had a “nice” drive at the end of the game. I’ve heard it on the radio, B.J. Coleman is better than Harrell. I’ve read it in blog comments and on twitter, “Cut Harrell, Keep B.J.!” And I’m here to say, NO WAY!

B.J. Coleman is not your number two quarterback.

Graham Harrell isn’t impressing. I’m real with that. He went 15 of 27 last Thursday and some of his passes looked “weak” at best. But let’s be real with what we’re looking for in a backup.

A backup isn’t always someone that could start on another team, he’s someone who knows your offense, who when needed can come in and hopefully not mess it all up. When I think back to the Patriots game that Flynn had to play in 2010, he looked great, but remember at the end of the game, the 2 minute drill, when he looked at the sideline like a deer in headlights? He had no idea what play to call, how to juggle the clock with the plays, and where to look. And Flynn knew the offense. When I think of what I want in a backup, I want the guy who’s not going to look scared. I never want to see that confused, blank face on the field again. Arm strength is important, flashy throws also good, but if he doesn’t know the plays or how to manage the game, those throws will never happen.

In my starting quarterback, I want a game winner; in my backup, I’d like a game manager. Graham Harrell knows the offense more than B.J. Coleman does. He knows the receivers and their patterns and given more time will only improve. Coleman has the potential; with an arm like that, he just needs to get his mind around the plays and the game. But there is no way I’m trusting B.J. Coleman over Graham Harrell with running this offense.  I’d like to see both Coleman and Harrell learn from this offense and advance; I think they both have potential. But Coleman isn’t ready to be handed the clipboard and headphones yet. He’s ready to hold a playbook and learn and hopefully end up on the practice squad so that next summer he can come in and possibly overtake Harrell.