The Packers released Al Harris on Monday. Although Lovie Smith knows the veteran cornerback well, he said he is pleased with his depth at cornerback.
"I am familiar with Al Harris," Smith said. "Al and I started together back at Tampa a long time ago. He's a good football player that will land somewhere."
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This page contains a single entry by Neil Hayes published on November 8, 2010 7:41 PM.
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I would invite Harris and Tillman out to Soldier Field along with the Bear's WR's and 1 QB. Each guy would have 2 tests. #1, the Bear's coaches would pick up each players cleats and whoever brought the longest cleats, gets the first "point". [We know Tillman would lose that contest.} Test number 2 would be 1 on 1 coverage skills. The Bears WR's would run nothing but slants, come backs, In's and Outs. The first CB to slip goes home.
All kidding aside, there's not much room for a 36 year old CB in the NFL. If it were a case of needing a new fresh start, that would be one thing, but fresh starts don't bring back years. The Bear's depth at CB is below average at best. It's probably bordering more on horrible. Zach Bowman seems to have found his place in the dog house.
Umm
we should TAKE a 35 year old DB coming off knee surgery, but pass on a 35 year old WR(Terrell Owens) having a Pro Bowl, or a 33 year old WR (Randy Moss) STILL capable of terrifying Defenses, and drawing double coverage??? People are full of shiss...
Can you imagine if teams that played against the Bears had to double T.O or Moss? Forte might run crazy. Or Bennett, Aromo or Olsen might be having monster numbers...
The only reason I would grab this guy is to pick his brain about he Packers defense, then cut him...
What would be the point of adding this CB? We have old, over exposed Tillman... DJ Moore/Jennings are more than capable of holding up against Berrian/Rice or Jennings/Jones....
Start on the O-Line and drop Tommie Harris, then we are starting a team building process.
I'd take Harris in a second! Tillman can't cover anyone, gives a 10 yard cushion, then it takes him 10 yards to bring someone down because he's trying to punch the ball out! Has Tillman ever jumped a slant route, ever?? Make him a safety and sign Harris!
I think at least half the teams in the league would be happy to have the CBs the Bears have now, with Bowman and Graham backing up Tillman and Jennings and Moore.
You have to remember that the cover 2 the Bears prefer allows those short passes to happen, and calls for more of a big physical CB who is a good tackler, will pound the ball carrier and punch the ball out on occasion, rather than a shut-down man to man type corner. Tillman, Bowman and Graham fit that bill nicely, while Jennings and Moore are smaller guys with different skills, but with a knack for making plays.
Of course, it would be great to have big physical CBs who also have great cover skills, but how many are out there? Very very few. On the other hand, I doubt those shut-down corners would hold up as well if they were asked to go pound on the ball carrier (including RBs and TEs) rather than blanket a WR.
We don't need Al Harris.