Is Rodney Harrison best safety ever?

[Aqua4Ever04]

The fact that Harrison isn't top 5 in the league right now at this point in his career doesn't mean he isn't one of the best ever. I'm not saying he is, just that at his age, with his recent injuries, of course these younger players will be better.

Emmitt Smith was middle of the road when he finally retired. Jerry Rice was very forgettable at the end of his career. Warren Moon finished up as the #3 in Seattle.

Again, I'm not saying Harrison is the best ever, just that he's winding down his career so obviously he's not going to be the top safety in the NFL.

Yeah I kind of figured that as I was typing my post but I'm a younger fan so I really wouldn't be able to shed the light as well as some of the elders around here. I do know that Ronnie Lott was insane though. You're point is well taken though.

 

[maverick4]

IMO Rodney is the best safety of the last 15 years. His career statistics, his nasty reputation, his playoff performances (6 INTs in 6 games) support my argument. He is a HOF player. IMO the reason the Pats did not win the SB last season was his injury vs. Tennessee. The reason I believe this is that Rodney (1) has the knack for the big play (2) is the best safety blitzer of all time (3) has elite run stuffing instincts (4) has elite ability to jam at the LOS (5) has an intimidation factor. The combination of these elements would have had a similar effect on the Pats D that Bob Sanders presence had for the Colts.

I agree. Ronnie Lott was the best of his era, and Rodney Harrison is the best safety of his era. Just like Montana and Brady at their positions. There are just so many 49ers-Patriots connections I keep seeing.

 

[mgcolby]

Roy Williams is not a top safety. He gets burnt more than an albino at the beach.

Nice.

I agree Roy Williams shouldn't be mentioned with top safeties. Now is that because he was misused? I'm not sure, but he can't cover to save his life.

 

[Isaac]

As a biased Pats fan that loves to watch #37 make guys like Marvin Harrison crap their pants and be non-factors, I with you thinking he should, but in the end, I don't think he will make it as a 1st time HOF.

Perhaps not, but I hold out hope because his stats are remarkable and that's huge for HOF voters. Then again, it would be much more Rodney's style to have to wait a few years--cue the No Respect speech!

 

[godef]

The fact that Harrison isn't top 5 in the league right now at this point in his career doesn't mean he isn't one of the best ever. I'm not saying he is, just that at his age, with his recent injuries, of course these younger players will be better.

Emmitt Smith was middle of the road when he finally retired. Jerry Rice was very forgettable at the end of his career. Warren Moon finished up as the #3 in Seattle.

Again, I'm not saying Harrison is the best ever, just that he's winding down his career so obviously he's not going to be the top safety in the NFL.

Not too mention Joe Namath at the end of his career.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Well I responded in this thread to someone who labeled him top ten right now. So I changed from all time to present day. (check the post right before mine). So as you saw I used last years stats to rank among modern day safeties hence why there is a least of stats from last year. Aqua responded in the same context as me. I obviously would not put Dawkins, Wilson, Reed, Williams, Taylor, Sharper in the top ten safeties all time.

*Pic changed for Manliness

Oh yea, right, I forgot you're not troll. **** YOU!

 

[AdamJT13]

I agree Roy Williams shouldn't be mentioned with top safeties. Now is that because he was misused? I'm not sure, but he can't cover to save his life.

According to STATS LLC, Roy Williams allowed one of the lowest completion rates in the NFL last season -- 39.7 percent. Out of the 66 safeties targeted 30 times or more (approximately two starters per team, plus two more), Roy finished No. 5 in completion percentage allowed, No. 1 in takeaways, No. 2 in interceptions, No. 3 in passes defended, No. 4 in ratio of passes defended to completions allowed and No. 8 in passes defended per target. Those are awfully impressive numbers for a guy who "can't cover to save his life."

 

[Mainefan]

I think Rodney may be the best man ever to play safety, even if he isn't--fractionally--actually the best safety. He's a team spokesman, a team leader and a man who truly understands what like is all about. He's also ferocious on the field. He never gives less than everything he has, on the field or off. I think Meriweather is enormously lucky to have him around. Rodney will give him all of the help the kid is able to absorb. The fact that Rodney hasn't gotten Pro Bowl recognition is a reflection of the league's attitudes, and not an admirable one.

 

[mgcolby]

According to STATS LLC, Roy Williams allowed one of the lowest completion rates in the NFL last season -- 39.7 percent. Out of the 66 safeties targeted 30 times or more (approximately two starters per team, plus two more), Roy finished No. 5 in completion percentage allowed, No. 1 in takeaways, No. 2 in interceptions, No. 3 in passes defended, No. 4 in ratio of passes defended to completions allowed and No. 8 in passes defended per target. Those are awfully impressive numbers for a guy who "can't cover to save his life."

Well those numbers are in a glaring contrast to what I saw last season when I watched Cowboys games.

How did you access those?

Edit: I found the STATS LLC fantasy pay site. Pretty neat place and here is 3 of the 4 write ups (the fourth one was about his contract extension) in the News section under his player profile.

1/1/2007 - Williams was defenseless as Dallas fell 39-31 to Detroit on Sunday. He was beaten time and time again by namesake Roy Williams of the Lions in another pathetic display.

12/26/2006 - Williams came up with one tackle in a 23-7 loss to Philadelphia on Monday.

12/11/2006 - Williams was beaten badly on two key plays in a 42-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. He failed to make a tackle on a 27-yard touchdown by Jamal Jones in the second quarter and was beaten badly in the third quarter on a 42-yard catch by Devery Henderson.

 

[AdamJT13]

Well those numbers are in a glaring contrast to what I saw last season when I watched Cowboys games.

That's for two reasons. One is that while Roy didn't allow a lot of completions or a high percentage of completions, he did allow some big plays that people seem to remember, and that helps skew the perception of him. The other reason is that he often got blamed for what the free safeties allowed because he'd be seen chasing down the receivers after a big play. The two free safeties Dallas used, Keith Davis and rookie Pat Watkins, finished 102nd and 101st out of 102 safeties in yards allowed per attempt, according to STATS. Davis allowed 18.85 yards per ATTEMPT (not completion), which ranked dead last. Watkins allowed 16.35, which was next-to-last. Roy allowed only 7.75, which ranked 41st out of those 102 (and 27th out of the 66).

How did you access those?

I found a source that gave me copies of all of their premium stats for 2006, certain stats for each season going back to 1995, plus some other stuff.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I vote this as the most homeristic thread of the week. I love Rodney too but come on guys. :lol:

 

[mgcolby]

That's for two reasons. One is that while Roy didn't allow a lot of completions or a high percentage of completions, he did allow some big plays that people seem to remember, and that helps skew the perception of him. The other reason is that he often got blamed for what the free safeties allowed because he'd be seen chasing down the receivers after a big play. The two free safeties Dallas used, Keith Davis and rookie Pat Watkins, finished 102nd and 101st out of 102 safeties in yards allowed per attempt, according to STATS. Davis allowed 18.85 yards per ATTEMPT (not completion), which ranked dead last. Watkins allowed 16.35, which was next-to-last. Roy allowed only 7.75, which ranked 41st out of those 102 (and 27th out of the 66).



I found a source that gave me copies of all of their premium stats for 2006, certain stats for each season going back to 1995, plus some other stuff.

Good info and response. The fantasy site only allows sortable stats for offense. It gives some decent individual stats for each player on their page but nothing as indepth as what you just provided.

 

[Born_a_Patriot]

Yes .........

 

[stinkypete]

Kerry Rhodes Thank You, also I like guys like Dawkins, Wilson, Reed, Williams, Taylor, Sharper

The question was best ever, not best on the Jets.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Lott.

Regards,
Chris

 

[zippo59]

Lott is still king, but Rodney should go into the Hall of Fame.

 

[bronk37]

I forgot about Ronnie Lott he is definitely the man. I think ED Reed is up there as most have said I just think he needs longevity. Rodney is definitely one of the best to have played the position and he has done it for a long time at a high level.

 

[zippo59]

I forgot about Ronnie Lott he is definitely the man. I think ED Reed is up there as most have said I just think he needs longevity. Rodney is definitely one of the best to have played the position and he has done it for a long time at a high level.

His rep as a dirty player has hurt him and the fact that he played for such crappy teams with the Chargers.

 

[drew4008]

Let's not forget that Harrison should have been able to add Super Bowl MVP to his resume as well, but was snubbed in favor of Branch.

Let's not try and pretend as if Branch didn't have an amazing game. He tied a Super Bowl record. He earned it.

 

[zippo59]

Let's not try and pretend as if Branch didn't have an amazing game. He tied a Super Bowl record. He earned it.

Branch had a great game, but Rodney should have gotten it.