2010 Player Breakdown: James Harrison
Stats stats stats
Since getting his starting role in 2007, Harrison has only missed one game out of 64 and has made the most of his numbers. Last season, Harrison recorded 70 solo tackles (his second highest since ’07) and 30 assisted for a total of 100 tackles (only one less than his career high in ’08). He had 10.5 sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. During the Steelers’ Super Bowl run, Harrison recorded 14 tackles and three sacks. Those three sacks came against Baltimore and were instrumental in helping the Steelers come from behind to beat the Ratbirds…. again. However, as with most of the key play makers on the Steelers’ D during the Super Bowl, he all but disappeared recording one tackle that being a sack.
Play maker
Harrison is another major cog in the machine that is the Steelers defense and core of game changing play makers. Like teammate, Troy Polamalu, Harrison is versatile – he can stuff the run with blitzes to the outside and in the middle. His pass rush is incredible. Harrison is explosive off the snap of the ball and is able to get around the edge with his quick feet and shorter frame to stay low. He is one of the hardest hitting players in the NFL, which makes him dangerous for jaring the football free at key moments or completely stopping momentum of a ball carrier. His hard hits have also gotten him into trouble this past season with the NFL cracking down on ‘illegal’ hits.
Breakin’ the law
No, I’m not talking about Harrison’s previous off the field troubles from 2008. I’m talking about Harrison becoming the target of a crackdown from Sheriff Goodell and the Helmet to Helmet Deputies. Much to the chagrin of many fans and many defensive players, the league suddenly began policing ‘illegal’ helmet to helmet or leading with the helmet hits. Harrison was fined a total of $125,000 for illegal contact hits in the 2010 season. Many Steelers and Citizens of the Nation feel that Harrison was becoming the example, the scape goat, for a rule with many gray and seedy areas of interpretation. After his fine from a helmet to sternum hit on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick I said to myself that the illegal contact rule is now officially the James Harrison Rule. His fines were consistently higher than other players whose hits could be seen as just as bad.
This will be a continued problem for Harrison unless he changes how he instinctively tackles a player. And if you just read correctly, trying to change something that is as instinctive an action as tackling is like asking a football player not to breathe. In a game against the Miami Dolphins (after his fine for knocking Cleveland Browns’ Josh Cribbs into next season), Harrison nearly side steps the running back by two feet to avoid a potential helmet to helmet hit, effectively taking him out of the play. I think this is where his and everyone else’s beef derives from – fearing the fine (or now suspension) and overcompensating for it.
Tackling is taught, or not taught, very early on in players career – either in backyard ball or in pee wee leagues. If the NFL is going to enforce rules such as this then I suggest they use some money to help Jr. High’s and High Schools teach the true fundamentals of tackling. Otherwise this will be a problem gone unsolved in the NFL for years to come. Hopefully, Harrison won’t truly retire over something like this if he gets fined and suspended next season for ‘illegal’ hits.
Awards
#92 was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week back in September with a big game against the Titans. He would be selected for his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and finish 3rd behind teammate Troy Polamalu (winner) and Clay Matthews in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The Future
Harrison just turned 33 at the beginning of May. He is part of the aging veteran core that the team is trying to hold onto – for good reasons. Like Polamalu, he will be entering his 9th season in the league and his 5th as a starter with the Steelers. Harrison has four years left on his contract he signed with team back in April of 2009. When that contract expires he will be 36, and I’m pretty sure he will be done as a Steeler (and more than likely with the NFL). He’s threatened over the course of this past season to retire due to the enforcement of the newer tackling policies, but I really don’t see that happening. It is a big adjustment for him in the game, but it would be like Ben Roethlisberger threatening to retire if the league said he couldn’t run out of the pocket anymore. Not going to happen. #92 loves the game too much (you can tell with the intensity that he plays with) and will miss the game too much to just walk away. You can teach an old dog new tricks. I think Harrison will stick it out and make the adjustments he needs to continue being successful for the Steelers and one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL.