May 31st, 2009

Great Minds, Al, Great Minds…

Aaron Nagler in Al Harris, Wisconsin Media

Love this from Al Harris, as reported by Rob Demovsky in the Green Bay Press Gazette.

“Just for your knowledge, when you ask these types of questions, zone is much easier to play than man. That’s the way it is. That’s why they call it man and zone.”

When asked if he isn’t suited to play zone, Harris responded: “Why, why wouldn’t it suit me? We’re not hacks here. We’re pros. Man, I’m a corner. There isn’t a technique that I haven’t played.”

Far be it from me to be accused of looking into things a little too much, but I find it interesting that Harris chose to use the phrase “We’re not hacks here” when responding to Demovsky. ;)

16 Responses to “Great Minds, Al, Great Minds…”

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I’ve been one of the leaders of the “Al Harris can’t play zone” parade. All I was going by was what I saw on the few occasions that Bob Sanders actually changed the defense for a play. Any play from last year that included zone coverage also included missed assignments, confusion and wide open receivers (usually in Al Harris’ vicinity.

The most telling part of that article are Will Blackmon’s words at the end of it:

“One thing now is we’ve got a lot of communication,” Blackmon said. “That was the main issue we had last year, communication breakdowns. So that’s what we’ve been working on this year. Communication is the key in (zone) because there are times you might pass off (a receiver). You’ve got to be on the same page, and that was our weakness last year.”

So, maybe it wasn’t Harris’ fault, or maybe he was the one that never knew where to be, causing “mis-communications”. We’ll find out in the first few games…

Jersey Al said in May 31st, 2009 at 4:12 pm

Believe Harris. He looked good after coming back from his spleen injury. I think most if not all on defense are looking forward to being ‘coached-up’ after Sanders.

I can see Harris having more opportunities for picks with more zone in 2009. 5 + ??

WoodyG said in May 31st, 2009 at 4:59 pm

I don’t live in WI. So I am always a little bit more taken back by how critical the local media is of some of the Packer players. It sure sounds like some of the players don’t like it based on Harris’ quote.

sunflower said in May 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Harris is a pro and even if zone isn’t his strength, it isn’t like we’re dealing with Ahmad Carroll here. Good on him for saying it aloud.

Now, the other shoe that has to drop for Harris isn’t the 3-4, but the fact that it appeared he just might be losing a step with age. Maybe the zone will actually help him prolong his playing days by not forcing him to play catchup all the time, but if there’s anything Harris is going to eventually get beaten by, it will be Father Time.

L.A. said in May 31st, 2009 at 7:41 pm

1. Most of the local media in Wisconsin are hacks.
2. All of the local media in Wisconsin are hacks.
Choose either statement & you’ll be close.
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Al Harris has been playing football probably since he was ten. He was probably always one of the better players at any level. Now after 20+ years of playing football, the switch from 4-3 to 3-4 suddenly makes him incapable of being a good corner?? – This logic is as ridiculous as those who believe it.

WoodyG said in May 31st, 2009 at 7:49 pm

I applaud Harris for giving back a little to a sniping press. We’ll see if he can back it up but he damned sure will give it everything he has. No one can do more, unless it’s the press.

retiredgrampa said in May 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm

I guess we now know why Kampman isn’t talking. However, three anonymous NFL executives said that GB can’t play a zone or man-to-man. Wait a minute that came from Mc Ginn, never mind.

Ron La Canne said in May 31st, 2009 at 9:39 pm

“1. Most of the local media in Wisconsin are hacks.
2. All of the local media in Wisconsin are hacks.”

Just like most coaches in the NFL don’t know what they’re doing, right? Just ask the fans, they’ll tell you that their head coach is an stupid at one point or another during the year, with a few exceptions. Just because you think you can do a better job than the media doesn’t mean you actually can. There are very few bloggers that actually measure up to what the traditional media offers, yet they all seem to think they are superior. There is a reason they are blogging for free instead of getting paid for it, and it has nothing to do with any sort of “integrity.”
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Then again, there’s a reason the Wisconsin media is in Wisconsin instead of California or New York.
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PS. CheeseheadTV is one of those few exceptional blogs. I actually check it before I check the Journal Sentinel or the Press Gazette every morning. I would just like to make sure that it’s known that I in no way intended to insult this site, just make a point about insulting large groups of professionals.

Jayme said in June 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am

What are you talking about? Al Harris has nothing but respect for the media.
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From GBPG: Al Harris was in midseason form, yelling at reporters during stretching, “Y’all better not be asking dumbass questions today.”"

Shootz said in June 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am

Way to go Al!

Ron La Canne said in June 1st, 2009 at 10:59 am

@ Jayme

Go ahead. Give the media another ‘free pass.’
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You have no idea the background of many fans who post on forums or blogs. Maybe many opt for the better & higher paying job as opposed to being a hack as a sportwriter in Wisconsin. Many may actually be as capable or more than you may think. Maybe your capabilities fall short. This hardly means all fall short.
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Being a sportwriter in Wisconsin is not ‘rocket science’. Don’t make it out to be a profession of intellectuals. It isn’t & never has been nor will it ever be.

WoodyG said in June 1st, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Woody – you have no idea what you’re talking about. Cheers.

packeraaron said in June 1st, 2009 at 1:32 pm

Aaron,

All I do is express an opinion. It’s not important that anyone agrees with me. However, as a blogger searching for recognition, you have to stay in the good graces of at least some in order for your enterprise to continue to exist. These ‘chains’ must make it difficult for you to be completely forthright & honest at all times. That’s your albatross, not mine.
_____
After this post, I’m sure the posse will now show up.

WoodyG said in June 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm

Woody – how many newspaper reporting jobs have you held, in the state of WI or otherwise?

packeraaron said in June 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

I have to say I agree with Woody as I am reading most of the drivel that has been reported the past couple of years around the state of Wisconsin.

But I find it isn’t just this state that the quality of the journalist’s writings or accuracy of their reporting is sliding into the abyss..

The race to be first or have a headline story trumps the quality or accuracy hands down these days.. actually quiet sad in a country as fine as this.

So in conclusion.. to coin them as hacks isn’t that far off the base.. not all should be covered in that blanket… but few deserve to be uncovered.

Pack93z said in June 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 am

Sounds like the Camp is in 50/50 agreement (about Hacks, that is) I was going to blog about this little issue on another thread, but it is better laid out here.
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1) The difference for MANY bloggers and those who get paid – is the ones who get paid usually have a degree. That doesn’t make them that much better, automatically. THAT and the fact they have all day to do research whereas you and I have to have real jobs, which takeaway our ability to keep up.

2) Has anyone seriously critiqued how often Game Announcers focus on complimenting the other Team – whomever the Pack is playing that week? My friend up in Burlington comments all the time how Baseball announcers just can’t seem to be complimentary to the Brewers, whatsoever. It’s the same for Green Bay. And, I do speak out about it during games. Nowadays, quite a few in the Club have a tendency to speak out before I have a chance to.
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I would have to search, but someone remind me — hasn’t Aaron mentioned that JSonline has some very bad habits, with exception of Bedard? Some have high regard for Cliff Christl …. I guess I don’t see it. Of all three major online publications, I still prefer Packer Report/Scout Magazine. PackersNews used to have some great coverage, but then the Regime changed, as well as the website, and it’s gotten very cheap. The last two (no make that three) seasons, JS Online has also gotten what I call mainstream-media-addicted, not unlike the four-letter.
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It’s increasingly hard to find Reporters who actually will come out with HARD questions, especially to the Media Darlings, no matter what Team they are affiliated with. Out of all the Articles I read last summer, only one (can’t find it now) actually sat down and discussed WHY NO ONE WAS ASKING FAVRE THE HARD QUESTIONS. I wish I could find it. It’s a perfect example – Favre might as well have been the Dem’s choice for POTUS prior to November, 2008. Oh, but they had plenty of suspicious questions for Ted Thompson and Green Bay Mgmt. THAT, they had time for.
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I would prefer the fans speak out more often in defense of their teams as opposed to laying back like it’s always someone else’s job to fight for something. At least here on CHTV, we can spend a few lines venting without being denegrated too awful much. And, the chatter is of a higher level. I match it with the Premium side of Packer Report where you have to pay for that access. Huber has a CHAT every two weeks in the offseason for those of us who have spent a couple of beers to deal WITHOUT the profanity-laced tirades of the cheaper people over on PR.
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I would say all of us appreciate the more adult version of blogging right here, too! Just wish it were that way in more places. As far as the Media goes, all we can do is blog for now. If the Editors don’t want their Writers to display a higher talent, then it won’t happen. For the most part, I don’t spend all that much time on most of them. So, in the end, they get what they wanted, after all.

IPBprez said in June 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 pm

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