Quote:
Originally Posted by Who Dat?
Maybe so...but Harris is in the opposing backfield so much that it doesn't really matter if the others are stronger against the run from a read/recognize/get off the block type of standpoint because Harris is back there blowing up the play before it even gets to the point where he has to hold his ground like the others.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who Dat?
Maybe so...but Harris is in the opposing backfield so much that it doesn't really matter if the others are stronger against the run from a read/recognize/get off the block type of standpoint because Harris is back there blowing up the play before it even gets to the point where he has to hold his ground like the others.
|
Disagree. Thing is, Harris has been involved in so many blow-outs that he hasn't been needed to stop the run. Saying that it doesn't matter isn't true, it just has not mattered yet.
The system the Bears run is a variation of the Cover-2 developed by Dungy with the Vikes. Harris is in the Randall role. The Vikes inability to stop the run didn't matter. Until the game was close. Then Henry-Randall's upfield play hurt us. Ditto Sapp. Ditto all the high-end 1-gap pass-rushing QBs. While great at getting past the blockers, the importance of being able to stand your ground is critical from your DTs. If the DT shoots the wrong gap against a quality RB, the RB will be behind him bearing down on the RBs (Vikes saw this far-too-often; we still have nightmares about facing Alexander). Being aggressive upfield can be dangerous against the run. Guess right, you are meeting the RB behind the line. Guess wrong, you are taking yourself out of the play.
Right now, Pat Williams and Shaun Rogers are considerably better at holding their ground. On a scale of 1 to 10, they have to be around a 9 (not treestumps like Hampton or Jamal Williams, but as good as anybody else). Against the pass, they both collapse the pocket and drag two blockers with them (this frees up the edge rushers and blitzers to finish the play), while not gettign the glory themselves, they are still effective because they make the players around them better. They would rank a 6 or 7 IMO. Harris is a different animal. Against the pass, he is a 10. But against the run, he is no better than a 5 or 6. The net sum puts Harris a notch below Pat and Rogers in my book.
Now all that said, we are talking about minor differences. Pat Williams, Shaun Rogers, Kevin Williams AND Tommie Harris ALL belong among the best DTs in the league. Add in Coleman, Hampton, Jamal Williams, Stroud and Jenkins and I think you have what most would put in their list of the top-10. The NFC North just has FOUR of them.