Tommie Harris coming in for a workout | update: signed by Colts

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Don't like this idea. It makes Spikes irrelevant because of Mayo and because he play OLB. Really doesn't make alot of sense. Hopefully that present coming down the Pike gets here soon.

Mayo played both will and mike in college, and has been lining up outside in the 4-3.

It's definitely looking more and more like the shift to 4-3 is happening, and while I prefer 3-4, it would make sense on some level. Most players come into the NFL with very little 3-4 familiarity. That used to be fine because there were so few 3-4 teams that the Pats could go and get good fits for pretty cheap, but with that advantage being more or less gone, it might be easier and more reliable to get the guys that you need to run a 4-3 well. The supply-demand dynamic has shifted pretty dramatically in favor of 4-3 teams in just the last couple of years.

 

[smg93]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Given his defensive roots and knowledge, if anyone can affect philosophical change successfully it's BB. That man would have read almost every schematic NFL book known to man... then stored it in his savant-like memory.

Not to mention Ernie Adams as well.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Not sure if we will be seeing a "pure" 4-3, have felt consistently that BB is having this defense morph into something hybrid.. last year we used the "sub" packages often, and this year even more.

Solidifying the D backfield is a plus and many other things will fall into place.

 

[moosekill]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

If you get lemons, make lemon aid. Every defense has its strengths and weaknesses. But you have to take your players into account too. A 4-3 defense can be very dominant, if you have great players. A 3-4 defense can suck with the wrong players. I think the Pats players are more suited for a 4-3 defense and we will see that a lot more this year.

 

[Calciumee]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I don't see us becoming a 4-3 team, I see us becoming a team with a base defence depending on the opposition!

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I would rather have Manny Lawson as a edge rusher along the other side of cunningham... Brace needs to have a big camp....

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Tommie Harris is done. It won't be a good sign if the Pats sign him.

 

[randomk1]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Tommie Harris is done. It won't be a good sign if the Pats sign him.

Agreed. The guy has shown nothing these past years.

And no way are we completely moving away from the 3-4.

 

[patman52]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

This is just one more sub package tat he is working on. This part of cam is the teaching side. BB has been a 3-4 guy his whole career.

 

[chevss454]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

For those interested in training camp and the alignments used, perhaps these posts will help. Btw, anyone heard from Mrs. B?

Patriots Planet - New England Patriots Forums and Message Boards - View Single Post - Patriots training camp practice news thread updated daily by all

Patriots Planet - New England Patriots Forums and Message Boards - View Single Post - Patriots training camp practice news thread updated daily by all

Here is a small portion of the posts.

7/31 pm tc

92 degrees with full sun early and scattered clouds later. HOT.

The first thing I noticed after getting settled around 3 pm among a big crowd was a 4 man defensive front with Cunningham, VW, AH and Eric Moore at RDE. Fletcher was LLB, Spikes at MLB and Mayo was RLB (Will).
First play was blown up by Haynesworth crashing over Wendell on a RB who I couldn't see well but I think it was Ridley on a sweep left. That play drew a cheer from the crowd. Haynesworth was sent in sparingly after that. I agree with Reiss in that he looks like he carries his wt. well and I certainly wouldn't call him fat.

All plays in the first scrimmage showed a 4/3 D with various people coming in and out on both offense and defense. I didn't see a single 3 man front the entire time I was there but I left at 4:25. Good hustle and better play than I expected this early in camp.

Patriots Planet - New England Patriots Forums and Message Boards - View Single Post - Moving away from the 3-4?

I'd be surprised to see BB go 43 and not use the system he's used in the past. That means the 43 he used with the Jets and the one he used during his early years with the Pats. This system is much different than the 43 you think of when you think of teams like the Colts, Giants & Panthers. It has a lot more variety than those systems which tend to line up the front four with fast DEs lined up wide on TE/OTs weak, and DTs lined up as a 3 tech strong and a 2i/1 shade weak and three fast backers aligned behind the DL.

BB's system uses bigger DEs and uses 34 type OLBs who mostly line up on the line of scrimmage outside the DEs. BB's 43 requires bigger, stouter DEs than the more common 43 systems we see. These guys are not pure upfield pass rushers. They are 1 gap and 2 gap defenders who play a lot of 5 tech but with also occasionally play outside the TE in a 9 tech and will sometimes slide down to play the 3 tech in 30 Eagle fronts.

 

[Don Kipines]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

BB has run a 4-3 at times, most notably in 2001.

It makes sense to run one with these players. A defense built around VW-Haynesworth up front, Mayo and Spikes on the second level, and Bodden and McCourty outside is pretty tough.

They need someone to emerge as a legit 4-3 type end, though. Hopefully Moore can handle it. The change might help him, too, since he's more a classic strong-side end, and this cuts down on his coverage responsibilities.

 

[borg]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Who on the D roster is ready to be a playmaker? A disrupter?

The way I see it, BB did some offseason reflection, and realized that Mayo was ready to become the playmaker of the LB corp. Let Spikes assume the role of vacuum....tackling machine and allow Mayo to penetrate through the chaos that hopefully Big Vince and Fat Albert will create. With 700 lbs of talent clogging the middle, teams will likely attack on the ground more diagonally toward the T/TE. So BB may be sliding the LB he has the most faith in, into the zone he believes will be the new battlefield. On passing downs, BB may let Mayo freelance. The kid has been effective identifying and clogging holes in the past, maybe now he will be asked to identify the open gap and attack the QB.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Report: Patriots interested in former Bears DT Tommie Harris

If Albert Haynesworth wasn't enough of a reclamation project, the New England Patriots might be setting their sights on former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

The Boston Herald is reporting that the team has flown Harris to Foxboro for a workout on Monday, citing a source close to the 28-year-old, who made three Pro Bowls during his seven seasons with Chicago but was cut by the Bears last year after just two sacks and 15 tackles in 15 games.

Last week, New England traded a low draft pick to Washington for disgruntled defensive lineman Haynesworth, who clashed with Redskins coach Mike Shanahan after signing a seven-year, $100 million contract in 2009.


Not sure if this was posted yet/ Excuse my post if it has.

full link: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...s-interested-in-former-bears-dt-tommie-harris

 

[Bostonian1962]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I'm admittedly a huge OU homer, but when this guy plays he is a beast. He has been hurt for the past couple years which is why his production has been down. If he can be healthy he is a beast. That's a big if, AND I'm a homer for OU so it is what it is.

I remember one of the SIRIUS talking heads last year discussing Harris, saying he was completely done, and should retire. Worth a look though.

 

[Calciumee]

Re: Report: Patriots interested in former Bears DT Tommie Harris

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/782465-tommie-harris-coming-workout.html

Here the main thread

 

[Kid~Brady]

Re: Report: Patriots interested in former Bears DT Tommie Harris

Sorry about that. my bad.

 

[Isaac]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Yup, Tommy Harris is definitely a 4-3 style defender. I don't think we'll take him unless he comes on the cheap but if Harris still has something in the tank he could certainly supplant some of the mediocre youngsters we have waiting on the wings - love, deadrick, etc.



I've got that flipped. Mayo - Will, Spikes - Mike, and Cunningham - Sam. I think Mayo has the best sideline to sideline speed of all the linebackers we have. Your scenario could work too but that's how I see it. Either way a 4-3 alignment will help cover for our lack of LB depth and will keep Haynesworth happy, dominating the OL next to his new pal Wilfork who will do the dirty work. Both will command double teams, making it easier for the rest of the defense to do their jobs.

Edit: Reading the above it looks like BB has Cunningham slated for a DE slot. Hmm this could mean that Ninkovich takes an OLB slot instead of Cunningham.

Enjoying this chatter. It seems that Guyton is not being discussed much as an option for the third 4-3 LB (in addition to Spikes and Mayo). Why is that?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I remember one of the SIRIUS talking heads last year discussing Harris, saying he was completely done, and should retire. Worth a look though.

I agree, worth a look.

I wouldn't put too much stock into what most of the talking heads say. A lot of guys have been written off prematurely, only to come back and have huge seasons. Not saying Harris will do that, just that most of the talking heads know about as much as I do, which isn't saying much.

 

[QB12]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Schottenheimer said same thing about Rodney after the 2002 season.

 

[ausbacker]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Tommie Harris is done. It won't be a good sign if the Pats sign him.

He's 28. There's difference between often injured and a lack of production to being done.