lemonej
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Posts posted by lemonej
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I would even generalize the cover 2 a little more by saying that the Bears play a 4-3 one gap defense which wasn't much different from what Wannnstedt was trying to install here because his philosophy was for his D-line to get penetration also he just didn't have guys like Russell Maryland and Leon Lett here to execute his scheme perfectly. We had a guy like Jim Flanigan who was undersized excell at DT under Wannie but his success was based on his quickness off the ball which was one of the same things that was said about William Perry who played the same position at over 300 pounds.The last 4 coaching staffs have played a version of the 4-3 here with mixed results with 2 of the staffs preferring big D-lines and the other 2 preferring smaller quicker D-linemen. The only difference has been the coverage. Lovie's version of this defense has played more zone than the other three staffs. Ryan liked to gamble and play mostly man as did Tobin who liked a zone blitzing scheme we all remember those Vestee Jackson blitzes off the corner. Wannie liked man coverage as did Blache and Jauron. The other difference was how the DT's lined up. Whether they were over the center or between the guard and tackle. The original version of this Cover 2 defense was played with both the tackles angled toward the center a signature of Bud Carson who used the alignment again with the New York Jets with Gastineu and Klecko on his line. All these different versions have evolved from the original form that was developed by Tom Landry when he was the DC for the New York Giants back before he became the Cowboys coach. This basically was a mano y mano formation with a big nasty MLB in the middle. Carson and the Steelers tweeked more by utilizing smaller quick LBs that were just as tough.
With all this being said I will always be a 4-3 guy because no matter how teams align themselves there are usually atleast 4 guys coming on mostly every down.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville.
The incident happened near 2nd South & Lea Avenue. A female victim was also found dead.
According to Don Aaron with the Metro Nashville Police Department, no suspects have been taken into custody. Several people were being taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Stay with NewsChannel5.com for more information as it becomes available.
If the details that are starting to come are true with him dating the deceased young lady while married with 4 sons, then he put himself in harms way.
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What WR would not benefit from going to a team with a QB upgrade?
What CB would not benefit from better Safety backup?
Thigpen Is a #1 QB?
You were that impressed with TE M Bennett?
DJ Williams hasn't been able to showcase his talent in a 3-4 defense? How much time has he played in a 3-4?
I am not going to go any further. A waste of time, as was my time reading this article.
Must have been up against a deadline and had to write something. I figure that as a slow news article.
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I had no idea Bowman was all the way up to the 3rd corner position, that's awesome. I know the Bears' 3rd CB is more like the 4th CB on other teams, since Manning is entrenched at nickel back, but that's still great news for Bowman. I feel really good about him and DJ Moore from a talent perspective: if those two pan out and Bowman can stop getting injured, we'll be set at corner for a long, long time.
Bowman actaually showed in the only game he played last year that he could make a play and the fact that Corey Graham was moved to another position opened up an opportunity for him. He still has leap frogged McBride and Hamilton.
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AZ54 great post! All of us long time Bear fans have grown increasingly tired of this organization putting just a temporary bandage on things.This was the first bold move JA has made since trading for Ogunleye and giving up Marty Booker. Count me as one of the fans that felt that it was time for Mike Brown to go. In fact I thought he should have been gone sooner because of his injuries. This team and sometimes us fans hold on to players past glory a little too long. Mike Brown was one of the most exciting play makers at the position in Bears' history so he can take his place along side the likes of Whitsell, Pettibone,Plank, Fencik and Todd Bell in our minds as hard hitting turnover creating safeties.
Big Daddy you never waste an opportunity to promote your dump Lovie dialogue which is entertaining on slow news days but realistically thinking that the Bears would go after Shanahan and outbid the Cowboys who are rumored to be a player for his services if Wade Phillips fails. The Redskins,Chargers and Jaguars may all be on a short list to need a new coach if their seasons are not up to par. In this economy do you think this family owned team would get into a bidding war for a coach? Shanahan and Bill Cowher will be the top two candidates teams will seek with Holmgren following closely. Since Papa Bear retired as coach, this organization has never brought in a former NFL head coach to run the team and have predominately pick defensive assistants to run the team with the only two exceptions being Abe Gibron and Mike Ditka. Jim Dooley,Jack Pardee, Neil Armstrong, Wannie, Jauron and now Lovie all defensive assistants and all the candidates on their first head coaching jobs. The top candidates would probably want final say over personnel which would be JA's job and that wouldn't fly unless he is gone also. The type of candidates we would be picking from would be headed up by guys like Les Frazier, Ron Rivera and Russ Grimm. If the family had any influence in the process Jim Harbaugh would be a surprise candidate. Do you really want to go through another botched interview process? I can remember vividly the Dave McGinnis fiasco netting us Jauron and Nick Saban turning us down netting us Lovie. I'm sorry but I don't want to see nothing but success for this group because I dont want to chance another rebuilding process.
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Your right, that he doesn't practice a ton. At the same time, it doesn't seem like that matters as much to teamates as it does us. His own teamates still really like him and wanted him back. Also, you have to believe our players know the shit he pulls, and yet they seem to want him.
I am still not sure I would want him. I just think his transgressions seem less than either TO or Marshall. His only legit legal issues is a joke in most areas other than NY. Not excusing what he did, but just saying it isn't that bad compared to many others, and not even close when compared to Marshall. And as for locker room, it seems w/o question he is not the problem child (w/ other players) that TO is.
NFO you and I both are not sure we would add him to the team. Where we don't agree is about transgressions. Marshall is a habitual domestic abuse offender we agree about him. Buress has a gun charge against him that carries a mandatory minimum 3year sentence but he seems to be trying to plea that out and TO has never committed a crime and he is being grouped with these two because of how he is perceived in the lockerroom? TO is guilty of craving attention like a lot of WRs do. Have you been paying attention to Chad Johnson(I refues to call him the other name) latelry trying to let everyone who will listen know that he is working hard this offseason? I believe that he is in the same category as TO in terms of lockerroom termoil.
You are in Texas and I am in Illinois and there is a slight difference in gun laws here that have been in place for quite some time so of course you may think that what he did is not a bad thing in your neck of the woods but Tank Johnson can attest to what goes on here in Illinois. So if Plaxico came here to the Bears he would have to live by the gun laws here in Illinois and would be hard pressed to be a legal gun owner here given the fact that he will have a gun conviction on his record. With all this being said none of these WRs should be desirable candidates to be acquired by the Bears.
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Have to disagree with this one part. I think the Jets are likely to have an excellent defense this year. They've got a sick group of 3-4 LBs with the addition of Bart Scott, and Lito Sheppard-Darrelle Revis is a great corner tandem. Their d-line might not have one individual player on Haloti Ngata's level, but they're a good unit. Kris Jenkins is no slouch and Shaun Ellis is a beast. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Jets had a top-10 defense under Rex Ryan. Probably not top-5, but they should be a lock for the top 10.
DFG I'm basing my point on the fact that Ryan is shooting his mouth off similar to his dad during press conferences. And since we are talking about what they have on defense lets talk about there offense. Kellen Clemons or Mark Sanchez at QB 2 disgruntled RBs and who at WR. Unless that D is going to lead the league in defensive scoring they may have some problems.
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I think the fact we were in the running for a playoff spot figured into the equation for letting the vets play. Looking back, as bad as our WRs were, how could he not get a chance to show his stuff. The coaching choices on this team amaze me sometimes.
I'm not sure I can agree with that since the starters were decided in TC and there was very low exoectations coming out of camp. The playoff spot developed during the season but Turner's penchant for not putting young WRs on the field recently has been a regular occurence.
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On Stallworth, I'd like to see a link to a story noting the pedestrian ran out in the street. I hadn't heard that. Regardless, it all goes back to "Nothing good happens outside your home at 2 AM."
On Edwards and Marshall, we don't have ammo. Pass.
On Plax, do it if you can. His suspension will be 4 games, tops. And will likely be bargained down from there. I'd sign him to a long term deal with a big bonus but have "good citizen" clauses in the contract which would allow you to recapture the signing bonus if he continued to be a douche. His jail time, if any, will be in the off-season. It will be minimal.
On the current roster of receivers, I think they're almost all better than they've shown and a good/great QB will prove that out. However, I'm not sold that Hester will ever be anything more than he is simply because he's a stupid bastard. But, I hope I'm wrong. If I'm not, we need a #1 and I doubt any of the kids can get there in Cutler's first year. With our D aging, we can't wait and wish...
So, sign Plax, deal with the fallout and git'er done in the Superbowl.
Oh, and if Turner turns Cutler into Orton, his NFL coaching career is over. I hope he's got it in him to design and call a high-powered gameplan. Of course, he'll need to balance the attack because of the winter months in Chicago, but I seem to recall Denver gets a little snow too. Turner is on the hotseat with Lovie.
CD you say Hester is a stupid FATHERLESS CHILD but you want to sign a guy who shot himself in the leg with his own gun. How does that sound to you?
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First and foremost Buress wants to avoid jail time. Raheem Morris didn't dismiss the teams interest but what he said was basically company line and he quickly shifted the subject to something else. Mike Vick wants to play in the NFL again but that may not happen either. This is all the crap that we have to read and listen to until TC starts and we can focus on the team we follow and not who we can add.
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Cutler is saying and doing all the right things since coming to the Bears. He has worked his ass off in meetings with Turner and in private workouts with many of the receivers. I had to laugh my ass off when I read an article (I can't remember which site it was on) where they said round one went to Orton because he has worked so hard in Denver picking up the new system. They obviously missed the fact that Cutler has not been vacationing in the Bahamas.
I suspect Cutler would love it if we went after Burress but he knows that is not his decision and by suggesting the same it would show a lack of trust in his current WR group. At least that is my guess. Hopefully I am wrong and he means exactly what he is quoted in saying.
I have heard a lot of positive remarks made about Bennett, Knox, Hester, & Rideau. The few things I have heard about Iglasias & Kinder seems to be an "after the fact" statement. I have yet to hear any glowing reports on Kinder. My guess is going into camp on July 31st Bennett, Knox, Hester, & Rideau are our top 4 WRs with the remaining spots up for grabs. Kinder will probably come up with a mysterious injury and wind up with a patented JA "Red-Shirt". Iglasias & Davis will probably round out the roster.
Now, if we pick up a "Burress" type of WR, I am guessing Davis is toast.
Pix I'm right there with you and lets address that maturity issue after he gives answers to questions like he has the last couple of days. He personally said he was going to get Bennett up to speed and it seems so far that he has followed that up. When you speak about someone being a leader this is what you envision. BTW Oklahoma WRs are starting to resemble Texas WRs in the NFL and are not measuring up to their hype.
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Lemon,
(a) Not sure it is fair to criticize Rivera for SD's defense. Rivera was the inside LB coach under Ted Cottrell after leaving Chicago. Last year, SD fired Cottrell, and Rivera was promoted, I believe around the bye week, which for them was midseason. The perception is that their defense was improved under Rivera. It wasn't great, but improved. So I am not sure it is fair to criticize Rivera for SD's defensive struggles when he was not in charge of the defense, and it did imporve once he took over.
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I don't recall Rivera ever being Lovie's choice. As I recall, after not being allowed to interview Marinelli, Lovie wanted Babich, but Lovie was not allowed him either. Can't recall whether it was Angelo, Phillips, or both, but Babich was considered too green, and the team wanted more of a name, which Rivera obviously was in Chicago. Rivera was never a Lovie choice, but at the time, Lovie didn't have the power to really fight for who/what he wanted.Nfo that whole situation is sketchy for me especially when it comes to Rivera. I believe the fact that he did his volunteer coaching(unpaid) here made him a favorite of the family and we know in most cases the ownership can have some influence on some hirings. This might be what the issue is between Lovie and Rivera. I think I remember that Rivera was hired as an assistant by Angelo and then he got the DC job by default. Either way my comparison with him and Lovie versus Ditka/Ryan ended with me saying he hasn't had the same success since he left here and Lovie hasn't had the same success since he left the Bears. So saying there is a perception is like saying there is a rumor. The fact is that team was 8-8 and under acheived. So maybe it was Cottrells defense but Rivera was on the SD staff for 2 years and he should have been able to know how to better utilize the personnel. I believe that Rivera who has been given HC interviews may be starting to cool off in the eyes of the rest of the league. If that wasn't the case why would all these young guys be getting opportunities to be head coaches before him when he was a Super Bowl DC? This debate about how good coaches are based on players they coached on another team is getting old and watching Rex Ryan shoot his mouth off when he is not going to have Ray Lewis to translate what he is scheming to the players is going to be a big difference. I just look at guys likie Marvin Lewis and Romeo Crennell who made their reputations in this manner as good examples as to why its hard to project how well someone can do until they get the ideal personnel for their particular scheme. What is Rivera's philosphy? He played in the 46 and a 4-3 under Ditka/Ryan and a zone blitzing scheme under Tobin. He coached in a exotic 4-3 blitzing scheme under Jimmy Johnson in Philadelphia and here coached in the Tampa 2 4-3 scheme. Now at SD that is a 3-4 scheme which he never played in and now he is coaching. What is something you can connect Chico with in terms of scheme? I think Les Frasier is a better DC than Rivera right now but I never here anyone mentioning him and I wanted Lovie to hire him.
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I look at this whole Lovie/Rivera debate as similar to Ryan and Ditka. In each case neither has achieved the same success that they enjoyed when they were together. Since Rivera has been gone how successful has he been as San Diego's DC? They have a lot of talent on that defense but seem to come up short of being dominating. I remember Lovie chose Rivera himself and then realized they had philosophical differences. Lovie got a late start at assembling a staff as is the case whenever the Bears hire a new coach they rarely get their first choice and tend to drag their feet in the process. Lovie originally wanted Marinelli to run his defense but Tampa wouldn't let him go out of his contract. So he had an OC that didn't get off the bus running and a DC who came from a totally different scheme calling defensive signals. It seems he is content with Turner and now that Marinelli is here he should have what he thinks he needs to be succesful.
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it was said that under Shanny he was a great teammate and that he was the first to show up and last to leave, just like he is doing for the Bears!!
No one will really know what went on between Cutler and McDouche. I CANT wait until Cutler tears it up and all the naysayers can suck a big fat one!
Lets compare how Mike Tomlin handled himself when he got to Pittsburgh following a legendary coach versus Mc Danials.
Tomlin a Tony Dungy disciple ran a 4-3 scheme with a variation of the Cover 2. So he arrives in Steelers camp and sticks with their current 3-4 format that fits most of his personnel that happens to include a couple of pro bowlers and what do you know he has a Super Bowl win a couple of years later.
McDanials OTOH seems to think he was responsible for the development of Tom Brady and Matt Cassell. Isn't there a coach in South Bend Indiana that was credited with Brady's development too? All Denver needed was a running back. They signed 2 guys and drafted Moreno. Add that 2 that WR corp of Marshall, Royal and TE Schefler and you got the makings of a potent offense. I'm not sure why you would mess with that with a castoff QB and a guy who may not have much upside. Orton may be what he is going to be now and nothing more. Sims has never lived up to the hype of his last name. I believe McDanials will follow Crennel, Mangini and Weis as having no success after leaving the real reason New Englands franchise and thats Bill Belechick.
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I think you're just putting TO in there so you can marvel at your own writing!
I think putting up Matt Jones would have added more value to the discussion. Since he is out there and had has his share of off-field issues.
I do agree w/ your assessment. If I had to choose between Burress or Marshall, I'd take Burress. I think his time here would be limited and by then, I'd hope one of our younger guys would be ready to be an all pro. Marshall has the greater up-side and longevity, but I just get the feeling, I think like you do, that he is a douchebag. (No offense to douche bags...) He seems like a bad seed. Now, if you said, would you take Marshall or nothing...I'd take marshall and hope that maybe he has matured. Although, I just have a general issue w/ d-heads that insist on hitting women.
In all honesty, I think Matt Jones is the best one to take a chance on. He'll serve no suspention, no potential jail time, and his crime was a personal one where he was his own victim. I'm sure he's not the first NFL player to get caught w/ blow. The cops now bust these guys instead of whisking them off and asking for signed jerseys once they drop them off at home.
Mad L I'm with you on Matt Jones and it will cost you nothing in return. The one thing Nfo left out about Burress is that he doesn't do much practicing and that has been a issue with him throughout his career. There are too many guys on the Bears current roster now who habitually do not practice and I believe we don't need that when trying to create chemistry with a new QB and receiving corp.BTW the courts just refused to overturn Chicago's hand gun ban so that would basically make it difficult for Plaxico to enjoy any night life in the Chi since he thinks he needs a gun with him to enjoy himself.
As for Marshall history tells me that the McCaskeys would veto a domestic abuse offender with Paul Grasmanis being the one publicized case from Bears history being shown the door after he hit his girlfriend in a domestic dispute. I could put up with publicity hungry media darlings but a woman beater is just as bad as a dog fighter IMO.
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The starting QB on our SB winner mooned a helicopter after being in the league for 3 years and he was called a character. All I can say is that the 2 QBs taken before him in the draft have much more questionable maturity than he does. Hows Vince Young and Matt Leinart doing?
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All I have to say on this subject is the two previous coaching staffs made a total off 2 playoff appearances period and some fans are not happy with a guy who has made two in 5 years. This is not to say that he shouldn't improve on some of his decision making especially when it comes to staff.He turns over defensive staff almost every other year which has to hurt some of the continuity and chemistry in subtle ways. In that regard he is similar to Cowher who didn't win the SB until he kept the same offensive and defensive coordinators for a couple of years. This is Lovie's year to put up or shut up. With some of the pick ups on offense I think Turner should on notice also.
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I can remember a at least 2 teams in Chicago The Fire coached by Jim Spavital and the Chicago Winds coached by Abe Gibron.
The Winds sucked and maybe lasted one year but the Fire had former Bear and Cincinatti Bengal QB Virg ( Chicken Bleep)Carter as their QB and at WR former NFLers James Scott, Jack Dolbin and Trumaine Hawkins. At RB they had Cyril Pinder and Tim Spencer(Bears RB Coach).
This league was in the 70's and netted the Bears coach Jack Pardee and quite a few players like James Scott, Greg Latta, Dan Peiffer, Jeff Sevy and Fast Eddie Sheats. This was so long ago that my memory sometimes confuses this league with the USFL that was in the mid 80's if yo got some World Football league memories please share them with us.
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Very reasonable expectations.
In his first year as a WR (2002) after being primarily a return guy in 2001 Steve Smith had R Peete throwing to him and he caught 54 passes for 872 yds and 3 TDs. In his 2nd year as a WR (2003) he caught 88 passes for 1110 yds and 7 TDs after Carolina brought in an upgrade at QB in J Delhomme.
In Hesters 1st year as WR with Orton he made 51 catches for 665 yds and 3 TDs. Now I have to believe Cutler is a better QB than Delhomme and I see no reason why in his 2nd year he can not match S Smith's 2nd year production.
S Smith was lost do to injury in 2004 but in his 3rd year as a full time WR he caught 103 passes for 1563 yds and 12 TDs.
If Hester can come close to the progression S Smith made in his 2nd & 3rd years, I would be very excited.
Pix I like your thinking and believe that if he could get back to the form he had on returns in the Super Bowl season he will get his condifdence back up and become ven more deadly on offense.
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My all time greats are Morris, Ditka and Waddle. Ditka would lay the lumber on folks after the catch and Waddle, well, what can you say?
Hey Chile reread my post where I took Johnny Morris out of the equation. I hope you have noticed there are a lot of guys being mentioned are from the 90's and you and I are talking about a Flanker Back. I made no mention of Bo Rather, Ricky Watts, Marcus Anderson, Charlie Wade, George Farmer and James Scott.
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I was a huge MRob fan, but I am not sure how much he was "burried".
As I recall, he was very raw to begin with, and was shipped out to NFL Europe, where he was impressive.
His first season on the bears roster, we had Engram and Conway, and played a very run oriented system, often using two TE formations. It was in only his 2nd NFL season he put up 1,400 yards.
But after that season, he began to suffer injuries. On top of that, we moved to QBs who didn't have the arm, and were looking to make shorter passes. Again, as I recall, while MRob was a terror on go routes, the knock on him was he was afraid to go over the middle, limiting what he could do in a less explosive system.
I loved MRob, and would agree that he was among the best talented WRs for the bears. At the same time, he himself was a huge reason (injuries, beginning very raw and lack of developing a rounded game) for his lack of long term success.
NFO thats my point exactly why was he raw? He did not get a look until a new coaching staff came in. At that time our most reliable receiver was Engram because Conway was not a polished receiver either.. Who was the TEs, I remember Keith Jennings and Chris Gedney and a guy who wore number 86 who's name I can't place that was split out wide most of the time.(Help me out on the name he came from Stanford I believe) Robinson was drafted in 97 in the 4th round out of South Carolina State. He was basically a track man playing football there. So most of his early time under John Shoop he did nothing and then under Crowton he Booker and Conway all did pretty well stats wise.
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One other giuy never mentioned is Wendell Davis. He played only briefly due to injury, but when he played, he looked darn good.
Any Gentry love?
I like Wendell but he along with Brad Muster are pushing Grossman and Haynes as the worst two first round picks in Bears history when the team had two first rounders. Of course the best is Butkus and Sayers. The debate for second best is in 79 Hampton and Al Harris and in 83 Covert and Gault. The 3/4th best would be Trace Armstrong and Donnell Woolford.
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I think that's the main reason why we are having him shed weight to move back to DE. When he packed on the pounds to play inside, he lost some of the speed that made him so deadly on kickoffs.
Plus, he's good at blocking kicks with his extremely long arms.
Your last statement is what he is very underrated at doing blocking kicks. If he can get 2 or 3 a year thats a good stat for a special teammer. I think the Bears are waiting for Anderson or Ogunleye to have a banner year with the other one being shown the door.
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That is completely BS, hopefully the suspensions stand.
I agree but hope that the media backlash that will come as a result of this will have a negative affect on that lockerrom.Interviews with teammates about the situation should be similar to when Tank was going through his legal troubles here. Since we have a couple of people who like to make predictions on this board, I'm going to predict that Jared Allen is going to be suspended for a hit on a QB below the knees that gets a lot of media attention.Tha would be just as good as the Williamses going down.
Not Convinced
in Bearstalk
Posted
I'm sure you meant Adams and Harrison because Scott was not on the team last season. I'm not as optimistic about Harris as you are since IMO he is entering Mike Brown territory as far as injuries are concerned. I can't tie his poor play to Dusty because Dusty was gone early and Harris had some weird behavior going on to the point that the team suspended him for a game. His head was not 100% on the field last season and he had some off the field issues that contributed to that.