I don’t think you can count him out right now, and we all remember the super spleen. But, with one of the worst knee injuries possible, is this the end for Packers Al Harris?

If you haven’t seen Al’s rehab video, watch it. It’s a great view of Al’s dedication but also a great view of how bad his knee really is.

I have faith in Al, but I have to take this from a realist’s perspective. If you watch the video you can’t be haunted by the words, “Worst injury I have seen in my 20 year career.”

Right now, no one in their right mind should be counting on Al Harris, and the Green Bay Packers should be thinking that way too. This instantly puts Tramon at number two,  with a questionable core of backups both talent and health wise. Does this move cornerback up the priority list? It’s hard to say I suppose. I will say that it certainly more important than ever.

The best case scenario, in my mind anyway, is Al is on the field by week eight. Hopefully, he is playing lights out again by week 12. That’s the best case folks. However, if you take off your rose colored glasses and really look at it… Al Harris is most likely done.

I hope I am wrong.

The injury bomb fell on Green Bay, Wisconsin this Sunday, and the fallout will surely hit Charles Woodson the hardest. Just as many Packer fans were marveling at the relative good health of this team, Aaron Kampman and Al Harris, two Packer stalwarts that have had few injuries throughout their careers, were hit hard by misfortune.

The first question that comes to mind is, ” Will these injuries have the same devastating effect on the Packers defense as Nick Barnett’s and Cullen Jenkins’ injuries did last season? With the improvement this year in personnel and scheme, I wouldn’t expect that drastic a drop-off.

What hurts as much as anything is that the two players whose seasons have just ended might have been the Packer’s two least-injured players.

When Kampman missed the Packers’ Nov. 15 win over Dallas because of a concussion, it was the first game since 2003 Aaron had missed. Harris has only missed 4 games in his entire career, all last season when he suffered a ruptured spleen. For his part, an adamant Al Harris says he’ll be back in six months.

The fallout from these injuries will affect the Packers in many ways: For one, the inexperienced Brad Jones and much-maligned Jarret Bush suddenly will see a lot more playing time and another cornerback will probably be brought in.  As I am writing this, I see that it’s already happened. On Monday, they worked out and signed Josh Bell, a former Denver Broncos backup who started five games last year.

With Dom Capers’ propensity for playing nickel, Jarret Bush will now see significant playing time as the nickel back, as Tramon Williams moves into Harris’ spot. That also means Brandon Underwood will see action when the Packers go to the dime package.

Jeremy Thompson, the OTA marvel that looked so impressive in shorts and helmets, but disappeared once the pads came on, will now be active on game day for the Packers. The Packers are unlikely to look at free agent linebackers, as they feel that is a position of depth and they also have Cyril Obiozor waiting on the practice squad.

The leadership quotient on the Packers has also taken a big hit. The veterans Kampman and Harris were fixtures on defense and in the locker room. As Nick Collins said, “Guys were ready to step up, but not hearing their voices out there, it was tough, because they’re so vocal out there and they’re leaders and everybody feeds off their passion for the game.”

This also ratchets up the pressure on the offense to score more points and be more efficient in the red zone. Few people doubt the Packers ability to chew up yardage (they are currently seventh in the league in total yardage), but they currently have scored a touchdown only 52% of the time from the Red Zone (18 of 34). That’s a lot of points left on the table that has kept some games unnecessarily close. The margin for error will now just get considerably smaller.

But the biggest impact, I fear, will be on Charles Woodson (AKA Superman). Can Dom Capers afford to let Woodson loose as he did in the Dallas game, where Woodson single-handedly ruined any plans Tony Romo had for a Cowboys victory?

For your answer, watch the replay of the 49er game. Two plays after Harris went out, Capers blitzed Underwood and Woodson. The result; touchdown to Vernon Davis over the top on a vertical route, covered man-to-man by Clay Mathews with too-late help from Jarret Bush.

After the game, Capers said he decided to stop calling for pressure packages at that point to keep Woodson exclusively on Vernon Davis. So for everyone clamoring to know why the Packers stopped blitzing, there’s your answer. Of course, with a straight four man rush and no blitz pressure, Alex Smith had the time to quickly march the 49ers down the field for a touchdown to bring the game to a one score differential. Fortunately, the offense was able to move the chains and kill the clock on their final possession.

So the question I’ll be asking myself every week is WWCD? What Would Capers Do?

Regardless of WWCD, there can be no question about one thing: the Packers defense has been at its best when they have been aggressively attacking opposing quarterbacks. A huge part of that was due to Charles Woodson. I hope this doesn’t mean we’ve lost that.

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You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: Jersey Al’s Blog, Packers Lounge, NFL Touchdown and Bleacher Report.

You can also follow Jersey Al on facebook and twitter.

I’ve tried to temper my excitement so far this pre-season. This hasn’t been easy, but tonight will go a long way in convincing me the 2009 Packers are for real.

Tonight’s game against the Cardinals will be in my eyes the first real test of this season’s team. It’s the first time on the road, with some weather, and the starters playing at least the first half.

Here is what I am going to be looking for to solidify my belief that the Green Bay Packers are legit.

Al Harris

Can Al Harris take on a big? Not just any big either, the best big in the game Larry Fitzgerald. I am sure Charles Woodson will get his share of Fitz too, but if not, can Al Harris hold his own and will the new defensive scheme cater or inhibit Al’s style of play.

Atari Bigby

Can we get a Bigby sighting please? So far, we haven’t seen a whole lot out of Atari. Bigby was supposed to be the hard hitting missile ala Troy Polamalu in Dom Capers defense. To date, this hasn’t been the case. Atari Bigby, please stand up.

Brady Poppinga

What Poppinga will show up tonight? Was last week’s ball hawking performance just an anomaly, or is Brady Poppinga finally for real?  I have never really been on board the Poppinga bandwagon, and tonight will go a long way in deciphering exactly what we have at outside linebacker.

Brian Brohm

The kid has taken a ton of heat this week. Tonight may be Brohm’s last stand. Can he man up in the face of adversity, or will he wilt under the pressure? Brian Brohm is playing for his future; will he show up to greet it?

Tyrell Sutton

Is Sutton the real deal? We will find out this evening as he gets time with the ones. The Packers haven’t had a solid number two for quite some time. Does the rookie have what it takes?

Swagger

Last season, I attacked the toughness of the Green Bay Packers. In 2008 we had a bunch of unemotional pansies hitting the field every week. This year, it seems we have fire, we have swagger, and we have toughness. Will that attitude continue? I hope so.

I don’t know if I have ever been more excited for a pre-season game. Are the 2009 Green Bay Packers a force to be reckoned with? Tonight will go a long way in finding out that answer.

Housecleaning

There is two weeks left to get your entry into the Packers Lounge Limerick contest. We have some great entries so far. Make sure and get yours in by posting it here.

The Packers Lounge fantasy league kicks off tomorrow night with a live draft. We have 13 teams and really would like just one more. If you are interested in playing “Lounge Ball” this season, make sure and send me an email by clicking here.

Finally, make sure to check out the in-game blog at Cheesehead TV or Railbird Central this evening. If you are looking for a more open platform, check out the Packers Lounge Gameday Chat sponsored and run by Mark at PackerHQ. I’ll make sure to make a stop at both spots… if I can drag myself away from the television.

Go Pack Go

Highlights: Defensive Backs 2008

[podcast]http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/26190/pocast.fourteen.mp3[/podcast]

Enjoy the week fourteen podcast. Talkin’ Panthers, talkin’ Texans, and talkin’ to the fans.

Subscribe with I-Tunes here. Problems? Try here.

We also have a new Podcast Hotline! Leave us a message by clicking HERE.

Is Al Harris is looking into a second career after football?

[podcast]http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/26190/podcast.nine.halloween.mp3[/podcast]

Here is the week nine podcast Halloween edition. Talkin’ Titans, talkin’ healthy, and talkin’ Halloween of course.

Problems? Click here.

Remember the Titans – not only a good movie, but something we should keep in mind for the rest of the week. Why you ask? Well simply put, come next weekend that is all they’ll have…the memories.

As the 1972 Dolphins begin their annual sweat fest, I say calm down, get the champagne on ice, and get ready to bust the cork after Green Bay’s thrashing of the 7-0 overachievers.

I didn’t see anything last night that warranted a whole lot of concern. I’m sorry, but Indy is not an elite team this year. They can’t run the ball, and Peyton Manning is a shade of what he was last year.

The Titans, although stout on defense, are simply a one trick pony. Take that pony down, and that one dimension becomes non-dimensional.

The Packers on the other hand, have never been in a better position to meet a team on what can only be described as a curious roll.

The Packers bye week came at the perfect time. On Monday, all but four players practiced, and two of those four will still be ready for the game. An injury report of fourteen now stands at four.

Let’s see – we have Al Harris returning, Bigby is back, and James Jones finally feels like he can take the field.

Let’s see what the Titans answer to eight in the box is. They don’t have a receiver that can’t be handled by Woodson, Harris, and Williams. We all know that Kerry Collins couldn’t throw the ball forty yards if he tried - so worrying about over the top help shouldn’t be a concern either.

Let’s throw our guys across the line of scrimmage and force them to beat us through the air. As we all know, that game plan doesn’t work against the Pack and I don’t expect that to change.

Get ready to break out the bubbly Don – seven weeks is all the longer you will have to wait this year.

(Comment Below)

Maybe it’s the dreads, maybe it’s something in the Green Bay water. Whatever it is, even after physicians told him he was bleeding internally, Al Harris knew he’d be back.

“That’s the last thing I thought was that it was an internal injury just from getting hit in my side, then to come in the locker room and I would be gone for six weeks, I never felt my season was over. It’s not what they say, I just believed I would not be done for the year,” Harris said.

Perhaps the dread effect is infectious. Atari Bigby will be back, Charles Woodson’s toe is healing, and AJ Hawk will be ready to go.

Maybe the story about a former Packer quarterback traitor might actually be a blessing in disguise. With everyone paying attention to the Motor City conspiracy, there is a good chance no one will notice that even Aaron Burr err…sorry, Rodgers is going to be one hundred percent as well.

(Stay Tuned)

I have no idea what I am going to write. Seriously, I am just going to pen this post as it comes and whatever ends up here is going to have to work.

Every other blog seems to have something to say today. Of course, ten of them say the same exact thing as usual, but I have been enjoying the blog wars between PackerGeeks and CheeseheadTV today.

Personally, I think Ryan Grant blows the big one this year. I also am sick of watching our new favorite play the first and one yard carry. One thing is for sure, I hesitate to believe a whole lot about what I here on the podium in the off-season. If you ask me, Brandon Jackson is even a bigger bust than Grant if you follow the Mike McCarthy talk. I listened to the off-season chatter about how fantastic Jackson was looking. The minions were singing Brandon this and bigger and “badder” that. All I frickin’ see is “badder.” Yes, I know he was out this week, so don’t bash my knowledge on your websites.

As far as the Hawks game goes I really don’t have an opinion. We should have won the game and we did. We also should have blown them out too and we didn’t. That in mind, the only thing I truly take from that game is the luxury of not having to listen about how much we suck for at least a week. Outside of the pass to Jennings, the most exciting thing about that game was seeing “The Glove” in the press-box.

Moving on, why don’t we ever make a move like the Cowboys did today with Roy Williams? Don’t give me any of this building from within and through the draft twaddle either. Joe Johnson bent this organization over and plugged them from behind with the longest torn pectoral you have ever seen. Get some nuts and make a move once in awhile. Yes, I know we got Woodson and so does the entire universe, so I won’t press the argument. Let’s get more guys like Charles.

Oh, the trade deadline is over? Nevermind.

I’m totally happy with the news about Harris. But, how do go from out for the season to back in four weeks like that. Who the hell is reporting this stuff? Hopefully he comes back hungry, as hungry as Tramon has been.

I need a podcast guy and I’m pissed. The other guy up and decides to quit and I can’t find a single person in the whole Packer universe with a head-set microphone. Luckily I had an awesome fill-in for week four, but if I don’t have one by tomorrow I’m going to go solo until I do. Good thing the competition is pretty light.

I like Culver’s, they make a good burger.

I am excited to have something unique to offer this week. I get so sick of reading and writing the same crap over and over again that it is nice to have a diversion for a little while. This week, we will follow perhaps one the most avid Packer and forum fan on his trip to Lambeau Field to see the Pack play the Colts. We will follow him from his home in Missouri as he travels from airport to airport and restaurant to restaurant. We will post pictures as he travels and try to live his experience, literally. So, please watch with us as we follow this faithful fan from home to heaven and back again.

That pretty much finishes my rant for the day. I don’t feel like breaking it down, I don’t feel like arguing about Ryan Grant or the offensive line or the injury situation. I want to relish in a mediocre win for a moment. I’m not convinced quite yet that the opportunity will present itself as much as I would like it to.

As a final addition, Tony Kornheiser is a total douche. I’ll guarantee you’ll hear something about his comment on PTI today. Generalizing people with handicaps as freaks is cool Tony, real cool.

It is looking like pro-bowl cornerback Al Harris could return right after the bye week. According to reports, Al is ahead of schedule in his recovery and is healing quite well.

This would certainly be a huge boost to the team as a whole. Having our veteran leader back in the secondary can produce nothing but good things.

Thanks to the National Football Post for the great news.

Multiple sources have reported that cornerback Al Harris could return in as little as three weeks. According to the Associated Press, the word on Harris is encouraging.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that Harris, who suffered a spleen injury Sunday night, could return to the team before the middle of the season.

“I would say it’s going to be at least three to four weeks,” McCarthy said of a timetable for when Harris might be ready to return to the field.

I’ll let Atari Bigby sum it up for me.

“Oh, that’s a break because Al brings so much to the defense,” Bigby said. “He’s a lockdown corner. So, anytime you have a corner like that in the game, it definitely takes the pressure off of everybody else.”

There is some hope Al Harris could see the field this year. According to the National Football Post, all is not quite lost yet.

“As of today, this is what I know:

Al has suffered a laceration of the spleen on the collision he had with AJ Hawk.

The CT scan did show some damage and bleeding.

Al is currently in the process of getting a 3rd and 4th opinion by two prominent surgeons. As of today, the time line is that Al will be re-evaluated and scanned again in a few weeks.

If there are no additional concerns from the new opinions, which I hope to receive in the next 48 hours, then Al can start “non-impact” workouts such as elliptical or pool work in one weeks time.”

You can read the article in its entirety by banging it here.

We’ll miss you.