Roman Harper (1 Viewer)

[Rozelle]

KFFL

Saints | Harper expects to be 100 percent by training camp

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:11:44 -0700

Dave Lawrence, of NewOrleansSaints.com, reports New Orleans Saints S Roman Harper (knee) feels he is almost all the way back to where he needs to be after tearing the ACL in his left knee. "I think I'll be 100 percent by (training camp). Everything has been coming along really well and I'm a little bit ahead of schedule. If I just keep continuing to work out and (Head Athletic Trainer) Scottie (Patton) and everybody keeps getting on me everyday, I'll continue to improve."

http://neworleanssaints.com/newsroomarticl...?articleid=3387

 

[pyite76]

This is very nice to hear. This kid looked really good before the injury last year.

 

[dahboys]

I picked him up as a sleeper last season was doing great until... What are his chances of getting back to starting, I mean doesn’t it usually take two years to fully recover from that type of injury? Running straight is no problem but trying to change direction and react is another.

 

[Rozelle]

Dr. Jene can give you a better assesment than I.

But here's my take:

Players are returning much faster than they did in years past, I suppose due to the advancement in medical tech and rehabbing. In many cases, physically your fine, but not quite ready mentally.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Players are returning much faster than they did in years past, I suppose due to the advancement in medical tech and rehabbing. In many cases, physically your fine, but not quite ready mentally.

The physical recovery period is now around 8 months. The neurologic recovery, both mental and retraining the knee to behave and respond as it once did remains variable. It's case dependent and position dependent. A player at a position not as dependent on quick cuts and change of direction may "recover" more quickly.In Harper's case, he should be okay if physically healthy. Maybe a step slow in recovery speed in coverage but should be fine in run support, which will provide the bulk of his IDP value anyway.

 

[houndirish]

Keep in mind too that Harper got injured pretty early in the season. It wasn't like his knee blew up in late December or anything.

This news thrills me. I had Harper a year ago and really missed him after he got hurt. I also had Josh Bullocks but never felt that Bullocks, the higher rated prospect of the two, performed nearly as well.

Fortunately I was able to scoop Harper back up this offseason for cheap. I'm expecting big things.

 

[Rozelle]

Harper should be able to regain his starting SS spot.

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.ssf?/....xml&coll=1