Just an excellent post from Mitchell over at the ACME Packing Company concerning the upcoming decision that awaits Coach McCarthy in regards to his corner rotation. Tramon Williams has been a mini-star in his three game stint as the starting corner opposite Charles Woodson, and it’s hard to imagine Harris stepping back into the starters role immediately. He’ll most likely play nickel back to begin with (which in the Packers personnel packages still keeps him outside, as Woodson usually lines up against the slot receiver when they go to the nickel package) But, as Mitchell accurately surmises, at some point Harris will expect his old job back. And believe it or not, that’s not good news for Packer fans.
This may sound blasphemous but I actually think that, as horrific as Harris’ injury is, it will spare him, the team, and Packer fans everywhere having to sit and watch the slow-motion train wreck that this season was setting up to be for Harris as we witnessed his play deteriorate before our eyes over the course of the year. Heresy? Go back and watch the Viking and Lions games. He is beat and beat bad on several occasions, the most shocking being a deep sideline route by Roy Williams, who Harris has owned the last several years. In years past, Harris would be able to use what minimal speed he had to stay on Williams’ hip and force him to the sideline. But last week, Williams just blew by him. Only horrible quarterback play kept the Williams play and others from being big gains for the opposing teams. Harris is as physical as ever at the line of scrimmage, but the dreaded ’step’ he couldn’t afford to lose? It’s been lost.
Add to all that the fact that Harris has now been out of his regular in-season routine for over a month and I fear the inevitable diminishment of Harris’ speed and skills will be even more apparent as soon as he takes the field again.
Look, I really, really hope I’m wrong about this. I hope Harris comes back and dominates, giving us three fantastic corners in the process. But from what we saw in the first two games of this year - Harris and the Packers could be in for a rude awakening when he returns.
dustybricks6 said in October 16th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
