Post by TheShadow on Dec 16, 2003 17:22:28 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
LINEBACKER'S SWITCH TO STRONG SIDE WORKS OUT
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
In physical terms, Napoleon Harris' job change meant nothing more than sliding a few feet to his right. Nothing dramatic about that.
It's just that the results have been so striking.
Two games ago, bowing to the pressure of incessant injuries, Raiders coaches moved the second-year player from middle linebacker to the strong side. That's where Bill Romanowski (before a series of concussions) and Travian Smith (before a knee injury) had been. What started as a stopgap move could very well turn into a regular gig, especially if Harris' performance Sunday against Baltimore isn't just an aberration.
Harris led the Raiders with seven tackles, and his fourth-quarter hit on Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright -- set up by Harris' slick move of quickly jumping inside Baltimore's line at the snap -- caused a fumble that ended a drive deep into Raiders territory.
That was Harris' exclamation-point play, but his ability throughout the game to fight off blocks and slow the Ravens' powerful running game stood out, Coach Bill Callahan said.
``He did that at a very high level -- better than what I had seen displayed on film prior to yesterday's game,'' Callahan said Monday.
By any reasonable measure, it was Harris' best game this season. At times, Harris, 24, has looked out of place -- missing tackles and getting crossed up on cutbacks and misdirection plays. Sunday, playing a variety of spots as the Raiders varied their formations, he showed none of that tentativeness.
Some of that could be attributed to the Raiders' scheme change of adding a third safety to the mix, Harris said.
``I think we definitely had a good plan yesterday,'' he said. ``To be honest, though, for the most part we've been having great plans all year. It's just been coming down to execution, and we haven't been executing.''
Callahan was noncommittal on the question of Harris' long-term prospects as the strong-side linebacker, saying, ``You'd have to say that he looked definitely like he could play either position. But he looked stronger at the outside position yesterday, predicated on the plays he produced.''
Harris sees attraction in both jobs.
Middle linebacker carries traditional cachet, with responsibility for making defensive calls. Harris kept those duties when he moved to the strong side and Tim Johnson took over the middle spot.
More than anything, Harris said, it comes down to circumstances. If the Raiders are walking a linebacker to a spot over the tight end, he prefers the strong side. If the linebackers stay off the line, the middle is the place to be.
``Both of them present some challenges in certain schemes,'' he said. ``I would rather play both in certain situations.''
Wherever he ends up, Harris' journey to get there will have been unexpected. It has been that kind of season for the Raiders (4-10), who had much bigger aspirations than playing for pride late in the year.
``You hate saying it, but it's probably one of the more humbling things and something I probably needed,'' Harris said of being on a Super Bowl team as a rookie and a losing team in his second year.
``Once you get this taste and you get to the top at the Super Bowl, you're thinking, `I'm going to be here every year.' ''
Fat chance. Championship seasons -- and jobs -- have a way of changing without warning.
LINEBACKER'S SWITCH TO STRONG SIDE WORKS OUT
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
In physical terms, Napoleon Harris' job change meant nothing more than sliding a few feet to his right. Nothing dramatic about that.
It's just that the results have been so striking.
Two games ago, bowing to the pressure of incessant injuries, Raiders coaches moved the second-year player from middle linebacker to the strong side. That's where Bill Romanowski (before a series of concussions) and Travian Smith (before a knee injury) had been. What started as a stopgap move could very well turn into a regular gig, especially if Harris' performance Sunday against Baltimore isn't just an aberration.
Harris led the Raiders with seven tackles, and his fourth-quarter hit on Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright -- set up by Harris' slick move of quickly jumping inside Baltimore's line at the snap -- caused a fumble that ended a drive deep into Raiders territory.
That was Harris' exclamation-point play, but his ability throughout the game to fight off blocks and slow the Ravens' powerful running game stood out, Coach Bill Callahan said.
``He did that at a very high level -- better than what I had seen displayed on film prior to yesterday's game,'' Callahan said Monday.
By any reasonable measure, it was Harris' best game this season. At times, Harris, 24, has looked out of place -- missing tackles and getting crossed up on cutbacks and misdirection plays. Sunday, playing a variety of spots as the Raiders varied their formations, he showed none of that tentativeness.
Some of that could be attributed to the Raiders' scheme change of adding a third safety to the mix, Harris said.
``I think we definitely had a good plan yesterday,'' he said. ``To be honest, though, for the most part we've been having great plans all year. It's just been coming down to execution, and we haven't been executing.''
Callahan was noncommittal on the question of Harris' long-term prospects as the strong-side linebacker, saying, ``You'd have to say that he looked definitely like he could play either position. But he looked stronger at the outside position yesterday, predicated on the plays he produced.''
Harris sees attraction in both jobs.
Middle linebacker carries traditional cachet, with responsibility for making defensive calls. Harris kept those duties when he moved to the strong side and Tim Johnson took over the middle spot.
More than anything, Harris said, it comes down to circumstances. If the Raiders are walking a linebacker to a spot over the tight end, he prefers the strong side. If the linebackers stay off the line, the middle is the place to be.
``Both of them present some challenges in certain schemes,'' he said. ``I would rather play both in certain situations.''
Wherever he ends up, Harris' journey to get there will have been unexpected. It has been that kind of season for the Raiders (4-10), who had much bigger aspirations than playing for pride late in the year.
``You hate saying it, but it's probably one of the more humbling things and something I probably needed,'' Harris said of being on a Super Bowl team as a rookie and a losing team in his second year.
``Once you get this taste and you get to the top at the Super Bowl, you're thinking, `I'm going to be here every year.' ''
Fat chance. Championship seasons -- and jobs -- have a way of changing without warning.