During the 2002 Draft, the scouts were in love with him, saying that he was the closest player to a "sure thing" in the draft that year. They were saying that he definitely had the athleticism and the brains to be a good NFL QB. So why has he never been that good?
2007-04-05 17:32:30 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Football (American)
Well first off...most of the time draft "sure things" don't pan out.
Second, he was drafted by Detroit. Enough said.
Next, Harrington is the type of QB who would have benefited from spending a good 2-3 years with a clipboard and backing someone up on a half-way good team, build his strength, and study the game. I'm a firm believer that very very few QBs are ready from day one to start. It's a completely different speed -- not as much nowadays especially with the speed on defense at the bigger schools, but it still takes a while to get used to.
With football being such a mental game, I don't know that perhaps by now enough damage has been done to where he won't be anything more than a good backup. That said, I thought considering the Fins situation last year with Culpepper, that Harrington did an okay job and better than I would have thought.
I'd give him a couple more years, but I don't think he's going to pan out as a starter unless he really gets some good quarterback coaching.
2007-04-05 23:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by icequeen_ah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He never had the chance to prosper in the right system...Most QBs dont get the chance since they are rated highly therefore the go to bad teams..and it seems most of the time they perform miserably.
There are exceptions of course a la Young. But Harrington would definetly play better if he was on a team with a decent offensive line and he didnt have to continually dodge tacklers. However i think harrington will never be that player that scouts thought he'd be during the 2002 draft.
2007-04-05 17:42:55 · answer #2 · answered by Kayne C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Decent O-line? Harrington led the league in fewest sacks while in Detroit. The guy just does NOT have the QB intelligence to run a team. You can give him freakish recievers, a great o-line, and a great back but Joey Blueskies will always let you down. The guy has the size and arm strength of many great player but he just does not have it where it counts most, the brain. He will not fit into ANY system because he can't learn ANY system at all. Joey is a bum, a loser, an underachiever, and an idiot. Hey, Ryan Leaf knew when to walk away....whats Joey's excuse?
2007-04-05 20:09:01 · answer #3 · answered by Roland T. Fackfizer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Lions fan i will somewhat say that Joey Harrington sucks and being in Atlanta will basically teach each physique precisely what I mean. Detroit, Miami and now Atlanta will fall on the arms of the Piano guy a.ok.a. Joey Harrington.
2016-11-26 22:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was pulling into the wrong system at the wrong time. Much like David Carr. Any QB can be good if they have a solid O-line. Doesn't have to be great, just solid. Unfortunately for both of them where ever they went, they didn't have a good supporting cast, like in Detroit where their skilled positions were loaded with talent but with minimal experience. Or in Carr's case, Houston where the O-line couldn't block a two man rush even if the game depended on it. Another proof is the fact that you have all these backup QB's that do great coming in for the injured starter who had a great O-line, like Garcia replacing McNabb in Philly last year.
2007-04-05 18:06:29 · answer #5 · answered by Kraca 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly? He was drafted by Matt Millen. That guy has absolutely no idea what he's supposed to do as a GM. I would think that if you were to put a decent offensive line in front of Harrington and give him the right QB coach, he'd turn out okay.
I really don't think that he'd ever be a Hall of Famer though.
2007-04-05 17:39:02 · answer #6 · answered by Asche4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Part of the reason was being drafted by a really shi**y team that has a horribly incompetent front office and worthless coaching. In addition Joey isn't all that good, definitely not a "sure thing", as he's proven.
2007-04-06 05:03:46 · answer #7 · answered by stan l 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because first,drafted by Detriot Lions(who couldn't draft if the franchise depended on it to survive).He then went to Dolphins and was put in as a backup.Honestly u can say starting for Lions is just as good as a backup in Miami.He lacks good expierence with a good team.All he needs is a good offensive line and 2 good receivers and can make Pro Bowl that year.
2007-04-05 18:55:54 · answer #8 · answered by Topher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joey Harrington simply does not have the necessary tools to be an impact QB in the NFL. He is, however, an ideal back up and a guy you could put in and just have him not lose the game. He just is not a gamebreaking quarterback. period.
2007-04-06 00:52:10 · answer #9 · answered by Zeppfan35 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having watching him for too many years in Detroit, I'd say his biggest problem was happy feet. At any sign of pressure (real or imagined) he would get jittery in the pocket, and throw way too many passes off his back foot, while running sideways. He needs to stay in the pocket, and put some force behind his throws. He might have taken more sacks that way, but would have completed a lot more passes, too.
2007-04-06 01:38:29 · answer #10 · answered by Wolverine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋