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

[The Boston Patriot]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

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

The Reverend Belichick will bring him into the fold and give him some of that
ol' time football religion! Have faith my brothers, a miracle is about to happen
right before your eyes.

 

[jefmblrd]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Bring Harris in for a look-it's always better to explore every avenue.

As for the 4-3 discussion, it's very interesting but doesn't BB move them into so many different looks that too much is being made of it? Added to that the amount of time that teams spend in sub-packages-nickels, dimes, etc. that we end up playing multiple defenses in essence.

 

[Gwedd]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

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

Absolutely. Folks said the same thing about Moss, Dillon and Ridney and look how that turned out. If he can still play like he used to, and I believe he can, then it's a good signing. We'll see how it all plays out. He's just coming in for a visit, though, and in the end, this just might be another BB headfake to get other team's attention away from someone else we'd really like to sign.

 

[IllegalContact]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I think you're going to see completely new schemes.......

BB had some extra time to conjure up a new defense that will baffle some....even if only for awhile

 

[patchick]

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.

That's my take, too. The "base" 3-4 has represented an ever-shrinking percentage of plays, so that tailoring the roster to it doesn't make sense any more. Perhaps that now becomes the changeup look for specific opponents.

That should make players like Deaderick, who IMO is a classic 5-tech and nothing else, very nervous.

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?

IIRC Fletcher's reps and role increased steadily as the season progressed last year, and camp reports suggest he's leapfrogged Guyton on the depth chart. I suspect we're going to see a lot more of Fletcher. He seems to be a more instinctive football player than Gutyon, and he's no slouch as a natural athlete, either -- he definitely has the frame and athleticism for 4-3 OLB.

The one 4-3 spot that really seems up for grabs is DE opposite Cunningham. I'm a much bigger Ninkovich fan than most, but I think 3-4 OLB is where he belongs. Moore is a nice find for depth, but I definitely understand where all the Osi dreaming comes from.

 

[fester]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Would it be crazy to have Mayo and Jermaine on the outside Spikes in the middle, Harris Wilfork Fat Albert Brace DL. I remember Mayo being able to play outside coming out of college anyone know if he has taking any reps this training camp?

In a 4-3, I think it makes sense to move the 3-4 OLB to down DE positions (mainly Cunningham on the right side, Nink or Mooren on the left for most situations, perhaps move Wright to LDE if the Pats want a "power" 4-3 DE on the field) and then move the inside linebackers outside. At that point moving Mayo and Guyton to 4-3 OLB with Spikes as the middle thumper makes a good amount of sense as the outside guys are big, fast and can cover reasonbly well, esp. if Mayo stays on the weakside.

 

[Froob]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I'll be surprised if they sign him but, I'd love to see the old Tommie Harris on this team.

 

[Isaac]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

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

BB's system uses bigger DEs and uses 34 type OLBs who mostly line up on the line of scrimmage outside the DEs.

... interesting, but isn't that 6 guys on the line of scrimmage (two OLBs plus 4 DL) and 1 guy back (MLB)? That doesn't seem like a look you could use for a very high percentage of plays.

 

[patman12]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Attached is what happened to Harris. For a short while, the guy was a monster.


The Real Tommie Harris | Yardbarker.com

That seemed more like a hatchet job on Harris than it did an informative piece of investigative journalism. None of the accusations is ever backed up with any actual proof. Harris may not be a choir boy on or off the field but throwing unproven gossip out as fact is a dangerous and misguided move on the author's part.

 

[JSn]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Everyone knows, by now, that 4-3 DE's are the very same guys Bill looks for to play OLB in the 3-4, right? So it makes the math fairly simple. Cunningham and Moore are the front-runners for DE, IMO and everyone seems to forget that Guyton is good in coverage and our fastest LB. I'd be pretty surprised to see anyone replace him as a go to option for starting OLB in a 4-3 set.

 

[ClevTrev]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

As for the 4-3 discussion, it's very interesting but doesn't BB move them into so many different looks that too much is being made of it? Added to that the amount of time that teams spend in sub-packages-nickels, dimes, etc. that we end up playing multiple defenses in essence.

Agreed, and that's exactly what the Pats have been doing over the past few years. They frequently move in and out of a 4-man front. Given the personnel, this is the time of year to get the team familiar with any formations out of their current comfort zones. BB has done this in past TCs. It doesn't necessarily mean we'll see this in the first regular season game, but he's acclimating the team to being flexible when it counts. The more the team can operate instinctively in multiple formations, the more BB is at his best in adjusting to the opponent during the game.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Agreed, and that's exactly what the Pats have been doing over the past few years. They frequently move in and out of a 4-man front. Given the personnel, this is the time of year to get the team familiar with any formations out of their current comfort zones. BB has done this in past TCs. It doesn't necessarily mean we'll see this in the first regular season game, but he's acclimating the team to being flexible when it counts. The more the team can operate instinctively in multiple formations, the more BB is at his best in adjusting to the opponent during the game.

It's yet to be seen where he goes with this, of course, but the defensive linemen BB is bringing in have specific 4-3 skill sets.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I for one think going to the 4-3 is a great idea. Alot of teams run the 3-4 now a days and that makes it difficult to get the players you need. With the release of Warren, TBC, and Stroud and the addition of Fat Albert and bringing in Tommie Harris and maybe even Osi? It makes me excited.

Teams are going to be looking at a whole new Patriots defense, that they havent seen in over a decade. All the old film on us will be outdated. We would definitley have the advantage early in the season on the defensive side of the ball....especially if Harris signs and him and Fat Albert dominate like they once did. Mayo would also beast in a 4-3 MLB playing behind Wilfork and Haynesworth and become an elite NFL LB.

 

[jczxohn1]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

That's my take, too. The "base" 3-4 has represented an ever-shrinking percentage of plays, so that tailoring the roster to it doesn't make sense any more. Perhaps that now becomes the changeup look for specific opponents.

That should make players like Deaderick, who IMO is a classic 5-tech and nothing else, very nervous.



IIRC Fletcher's reps and role increased steadily as the season progressed last year, and camp reports suggest he's leapfrogged Guyton on the depth chart. I suspect we're going to see a lot more of Fletcher. He seems to be a more instinctive football player than Gutyon, and he's no slouch as a natural athlete, either -- he definitely has the frame and athleticism for 4-3 OLB.

The one 4-3 spot that really seems up for grabs is DE opposite Cunningham. I'm a much bigger Ninkovich fan than most, but I think 3-4 OLB is where he belongs. Moore is a nice find for depth, but I definitely understand where all the Osi dreaming comes from.

Most of Fletcher's time last year was at ILB, while Spikes was out for the last 4 games.
Played well and looks like he's put on upper body weight this year. He and Arrington are going to be the big surprises this year,IMO.

 

[Dfresh429]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

2 pt stance or 3 pt stance?

3 point. cunningham will be a DE this year.

 

[D-Money]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Tommie Harris?Go get Osi!!!!!

 

[asfpnepRefugee]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Would it be crazy to have Mayo and Jermaine on the outside Spikes in the middle, Harris Wilfork Fat Albert Brace DL. I remember Mayo being able to play outside coming out of college anyone know if he has taking any reps this training camp?

This has probably been answered already, but Cuningham isn't really suited to being a 4-3 OLB

 

[Froob]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

Tommie Harris?Go get Osi!!!!!

Yea use some those picks we stock piled. Offer a 2nd and a 5th.

 

[D-Money]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

I would still give them the pats first round pick for him.Its a high pick and they will probably trade that pick next year.The guy has a motor.

 

[billdog3484]

Re: Tommie Harris coming in for a workout

. Mayo would also beast in a 4-3 MLB playing behind Wilfork and Haynesworth and become an elite NFL LB.

i think if we went to a 4-3 Mayo would play OLB. In my opinion thats his natural position. he played there in college and dominated