John Neal doesn't need my help. He's sent Walter Thurmond, Jairus Byrd and Patrick Chung to the NFL, so he knows a thing or two about coaching the defensive secondary, but I hope he starts Cliff Harris at the other cornerback this year.
Not that Anthony Gildon is a slouch. The beat writers say he's the only one who regularly succeeds locked up with Jeff Maehl. Iron sharpens iron, Coach Kelly likes to say. A training camp matching skills with Oregon's glue-fingered senior receiver would sharpen anybody. Or encourage them to transfer to the NAIA.
The thing I like about Harris is, he makes plays. He plays the ball and acts like it's his when it's in the air (and he has a knack for knowing when it's in the air), that it belongs to him and it belonged to him all along. I like that. He had another pick in the scrimmage yesterday, one of several during camp, and it's his aggressive, tenacious, spiderman style that gets him to the football. Harris has great closing speed and wants the football, an unteachable fearlessness, a short memory. He's the kind of guy who will mess up the coverage and be in the wrong place but make a play anyway, just because his instincts are so good. Last season he led the team in pass breakups despite playing only eight games. Given a full season, he'd post some eye-popping numbers for deflections, breakups and picks.
I love the way he contests the ball. Last season against Washington and Stanford there were a couple of plays he got beat, but if you watch the video he's contesting the play all the way to the ground. He makes the receiver work so hard to make a catch. He may give up a few plays, but he can also get you the ball back, and that's a tremendous equalizer. Another exciting factor is how dangerous he can be if he does get his hands on it. Listed at 5' 11," 180, he's got to be smaller than that, but he plays fearless and is not afraid to make a tackle. From the outside looking in, he's the guy I'd choose for the weakside corner.
I posted this on addictedtoquack, but wanted to include it here as well...
ReplyDelete"The thing I like about Harris is, he makes plays. He plays the ball and acts like it’s his when it’s in the air (and he has a knack for knowing when it’s in the air), that it belongs to him and it belonged to him all along."
AMEN! As opposed to Talmjadge Jackson, who throws both hands straight up in the air and refuses to turn his head around. I can only assume the coaches are encouraging this or it would change, but it still irritates me. There were a bunch of INT’s he could have had last year if he’d turn around and locate the ball.
MCD--
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting that, and the plug on ATQ, one of my favorite sites. Another residual benefit of starting Harris is that the other cornerbacks get to see his play in film study, and see his technique and results get singled out by Coach Neal. That aggressive, ballhawking style is infectious and creates a kind of osmosis.
I think Jackson has a world of ability--his pick in the UCLA game sealed the win. He just needs more confidence. This may sound goofy, but he plays pass defense too defensively. Neal is no dummy. He'll improve TJIII's technique, and he'll be dramatically better in his second season as a starter.
I will take a guess that Gildon will be solid and that Harris will be the specialty nickle back guy -- and that he will sub in when the opposing offense is behind and is in a pass only offense.
ReplyDeleteRemember: cornerbacks have to do more than just cover 1 on 1. They have to fight off blocks and tackle running backs too.
Harris might be too small for every down play.
I think the coaches see him more as a specialty player.
I think with his speed and ability to change directions, he could also be a good return man.
John Neal likes Gildon, and that's a good enough reason to like him. I agree with you Harris may get to play in some nickle and dime packages, and they'll have some time to develop the depth in the secondary in these early games.
ReplyDeleteI thought Harris showed some promise last season, but reportedly he has to become more serious about assignments in the defensive scheme and in his schoolwork.
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Dale