Jerome Harrison traded to the Eagles

[Inspecta]

I know I'm late chiming in on this one, because I've been torn on whether or not I like the move.

On one hand it pisses me off because I've always been a huge fan of Harrison, and he ran really hard for us at the end of last year, and as one article pointed out, Harrison single handedly saved Eric Mangini's job, so it's a fucked up slap in the face.

However as others have pointed out, we tendered him to a 2 round pick and nobody wanted him. That is a red flag right there. If this kid is the next Brian Westbrook then we'd of had a suitor for him.

Perhaps it does come down to work ethic, and Jerome just wasn't getting it done in practice, and if that's the case then there ain't shit you can do about that. As a coach if you have a player that gives you shit all week you can't insert him into the game on Sundays. It's just that simple.

It was definitely a weird situation for the simple fact it seems Harrison was never given the chance to be a starter at the beginning of the year, they seem to go out of their way to play anybody but him.

I wish him the best, and at least we do still have a nice stable of ponies in the backfield.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

I know I'm late chiming in on this one, because I've been torn on whether or not I like the move.

On one hand it pisses me off because I've always been a huge fan of Harrison, and he ran really hard for us at the end of last year, and as one article pointed out, Harrison single handedly saved Eric Mangini's job, so it's a fucked up slap in the face.

However as others have pointed out, we tendered him to a 2 round pick and nobody wanted him. That is a red flag right there. If this kid is the next Brian Westbrook then we'd of had a suitor for him.

Perhaps it does come down to work ethic, and Jerome just wasn't getting it done in practice, and if that's the case then there ain't shit you can do about that. As a coach if you have a player that gives you shit all week you can't insert him into the game on Sundays. It's just that simple.

It was definitely a weird situation for the simple fact it seems Harrison was never given the chance to be a starter at the beginning of the year, they seem to go out of their way to play anybody but him.

I wish him the best, and at least we do still have a nice stable of ponies in the backfield.

I think what is getting lost in all this is the emergence of Hillis, this guy is a friggen BADASS. Just think about it, we got him for a bag of Doritos and Brady Queen (plus we got more late round picks).

Hillis has to prove he can do it for a year, but the fact remains that he looks like one of the best all around backs in football right now and brings a devastating power to the mix. He has third pick in the draft type value and we basically got him for nothing, nor is he making that much.

And to Mik, we will have to agree to disagree here, Harrison may not have developed a Tiki Barber/Peterson type fumbling issue, but it was an issue with the coaching staff, you will never be able to convince me of that. Again, not the primary issue, but an issue nonetheless. And he put it on the ground during the season too, they just were not all recovered by the defense. Combine it with the other issues that have been seen by two coaching staffs and it was a no brainer to let him go while they could still get something in return for him. I like Bell too, he's a pretty decent back.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

I know I'm late chiming in on this one, because I've been torn on whether or not I like the move.

On one hand it pisses me off because I've always been a huge fan of Harrison, and he ran really hard for us at the end of last year, and as one article pointed out, Harrison single handedly saved Eric Mangini's job, so it's a fucked up slap in the face.

However as others have pointed out, we tendered him to a 2 round pick and nobody wanted him. That is a red flag right there. If this kid is the next Brian Westbrook then we'd of had a suitor for him.

Perhaps it does come down to work ethic, and Jerome just wasn't getting it done in practice, and if that's the case then there ain't shit you can do about that. As a coach if you have a player that gives you shit all week you can't insert him into the game on Sundays. It's just that simple.

It was definitely a weird situation for the simple fact it seems Harrison was never given the chance to be a starter at the beginning of the year, they seem to go out of their way to play anybody but him.

I wish him the best, and at least we do still have a nice stable of ponies in the backfield.

I think SOMETIMES we forget about what happens during the week of preparation leading up to game days. Inspecta, I understand you've been coaching football to kids. So what do you do with the kid that doesn't really work hard in practice vrs the kid that works his butt off and knocks LBers on their fannies? You know what kids you want to see more of and exactly why that is. Mangini isn't as stupid as many want to make him. He inherited a nightmare that required roster turnover in so many key places.

I've seen Harrison when he's looked dialed up and I've seen him ALL those other weeks that didn't include the final 3 weeks of 2009. I'm not sure Mangini is the problem with Harrison as much as Harrison is the problem with Harrison. The staff before Mangini was just as reluctant to use Harrison; and it was his 80 yard TD run that beat Buffalo as well as Trent Edwards 4 INTs in the 1st half. The point is coaching staffs here are seeing things on the practice field the newspapers don't print.

I like what Riff is saying about his lack of focus just carrying the football during the part of the year it was time to show the staff why HE is the guy they should want on the field instead of Hillis. Harrison's biggest problem IMO is that he isn't always dialed up when it's not utopian circumstances like the banged up defense KC gave him in 2009. As Masters said fumbling wasn't always a problem with Harrison; so I'm offering up a 3rd side of the arguement. Harrison isn't always dialed up (focused). What coach wants to rely on a guy that's only dialed up for the easy matchups?

Didn't we used to get pissed at Butch when he'd tell everyone they needed to be blowing high intensity snot bubbles if they wanted to start ONLY to start the sand bagging Gerrard Warren? You see the 1st round draft pick was SUPPOSED to be the superstar so Butch crammed his GM decision ahead of what he needed to do as a head Coach. Hence, that beame a conflict of interest. Anyway, you can't sit the guy that's impresssing teammates and coaches over a guy that shows everyone he isn't feeling it today. Doesn't work that way.

Here's a very relevant situtation to Hillis & Harrison. Back when we didn't have football in Cleveland for a few years; I lived in Clearwater and caught alot of Bucs games. Hillis even wears Alstotts number. Alstott FUMBLED alot more in Tampa than he did at Purdue interestingly enough. I think it had alot to do with humidity + extra effort + plus the puffy forearms (stop laughing - I see ya). Steve Young thought his hands were too tiny for success because he read it so often in Tampa (me thinks it was humidity + bad surroundings). The tiny hands syndrome is in his book so don't just take my word for it. ANYWAY, Tampa used alot of 1 back formations that limited the reps of Warrick Dunn even the year he made Rookie of the Year in 1997. Do you think the Bucs fans had to say "well, if they just sat Alstott so Dunn could get 25 carries - he'd be Barry Sanders Jr?" No, they didn't have to. When he got in - he was dialed up and focused to make big plays and did so. They never had him in to get 25 carries a game when he shared the load with Alstott. Understanding that reality, he sure made sure he warranted his share of the workload. Has anyone REALLY seen this from Harrison this year? So who has better chemisty with our offense? It's pretty obvious IMO.

For whatever the reason in Cleveland, I've seen William Green finish a rookie season strong only to lose focus after 2 early 100 yard games the next season. Then this re-occured with Rueben Droughns with a good 1st year followed up by a slew of questions the next and a wife full of bruises I might add. Then it re-occured with Jamal Lewis (and the complaints of work days almost going 3 hours for millionaires hit the newspapers). Life can be tough for those contemplating a strike when the economy is so wonderful.

Sometimes things don't unfold the way we hope they do when we bring players here(ie: Montario Hardesty, LeCharles Bentley & Brady Quinn). That's why you gotta celebrate the home runs like a Hillis as Riff is pointing out in exchange value.
- Tom F. (Trying to get my mind off the ugly potential of tomorrow. Can't lose sight of revenge + rookie QB facing zone blitz mind games coming)

[Masters]

Riff, it may have been an issue to the staff. Neither you or I know what the staff's issues were or were not with JH. As to putting the rock on the ground in the regular season, this year once (which should have been over turned), and last year 2 total in 194 carries (both also lost, and recovered by CLE). For his entire NFL career Harrison has put the rock on the ground 4 times in 302 carries. By comparison Hillis has put the rock on the ground 3 times in 157 carries. All 3 of those coming this year on only 76 carries. I think the wrong guy might be getting labeled with a fumbling issue.

[pl4tinum]

Great post Flugel. You nailed it, as usual.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Masters

Riff, it may have been an issue to the staff. Neither you or I know what the staff's issues were or were not with JH. As to putting the rock on the ground in the regular season, this year once (which should have been over turned), and last year 2 total in 194 carries (both also lost, and recovered by CLE). For his entire NFL career Harrison has put the rock on the ground 4 times in 302 carries. By comparison Hillis has put the rock on the ground 3 times in 157 carries. All 3 of those coming this year on only 76 carries. I think the wrong guy might be getting labeled with a fumbling issue.

You don't recall Mangini having a hissy after the Rams preseason game? There have been enough references by Mangini and the media regarding the team turning the ball over, and it all started when Harrison was considered the number one back going into the Rams preseason game and he dished it on the ground twice in about 5 minutes. If you don't think that is a concern with a coach and staff like Mangini's I don't know what to tell you, especially with the style this team needs to play.

Also, I am curious where those numbers come from because he has put the ball on the ground this regular season more than just once.

[Inspecta]

Great reply Flugs, and I agree.

You could tell that he was pissed about his role in the offense, and acted accordingly when he got the ball. Instead of running mad he ran like he was defeated and you can't do that in this league no matter what your position. He didn't hit the holes and just lacked effort all around. Some were saying it's cause Dabs used him the wrong way (runs up the middle) and while I'm no fan of Dabs, I gotta say that's bullshit. Go back and watch the KC game, he had absolutely no problem running between the tackles in that game, so what changed?

Hopefully we have a good backup in Bell and he'll run with a chip on his shoulder.

I'd also like to see Davis get more carries to lighten the load on Hillis. We can't run him into the ground before the bye week.

Go Browns (Yes tomorrow could be ugly, but that could also mean ugly for the Steelers)

[YtownBacker]

What is lost in some of this is the fact that guys who run like Hillis don't stay healthy for an entire year and don't have long careers. Dell is sort of a necessity since Hardesty went down.

If Hardesty comes back next year and can get healthy enough to perform on the field and they can reduce Hillis's touches so he can be that badass over a longer period then we really got something.

I just don't think you can design an offense around Hillis as your featured offensive weapon because of his playing style. He's hest getting beat on way too much. I would love to see him healthy over an extended period but that asking a lot..........................I love the guy though.

[Masters]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

You don't recall Mangini having a hissy after the Rams preseason game? There have been enough references by Mangini and the media regarding the team turning the ball over, and it all started when Harrison was considered the number one back going into the Rams preseason game and he dished it on the ground twice in about 5 minutes. If you don't think that is a concern with a coach and staff like Mangini's I don't know what to tell you, especially with the style this team needs to play.

Also, I am curious where those numbers come from because he has put the ball on the ground this regular season more than just once.

You keep going back to pre-season. Those aren't real games. They don't count for anything. I worry about what the guy does when the games matter. So I go back to when the games are real, JH hasn't put the rock on the ground. It may have been a concern to EM and staff. But that is a difference between me and them. Of course I disagree with a lot of their decision making.

As to where the numbers come from JH career stats Jerome Harrison - Philadelphia Eagles - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

JH put the rock on the ground once in regular season this year, and that play should have been over turned. Of course he had all of 31 carries this season in 3 games.

[Shep]

I gotta think Hillis is the Browns most popular player by miles. The guy was just born to be the poster child of this franchise. I hope he can stay healthy and be That Guy when we're able to win.

(NOTE: NO MENTION OF QBs IN THIS POST.)

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Shep

I gotta think Hillis is the Browns most popular player by miles. The guy was just born to be the poster child of this franchise. I hope he can stay healthy and be That Guy when we're able to win.

(NOTE: NO MENTION OF QBs IN THIS POST.)

Hey, we are able to win know. Hard luck with injuries and we need to get one of those "you know whats" to to get this team finished off.

[Shep]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

Hey, we are able to win know. Hard luck with injuries and we need to get one of those "you know whats" to to get this team finished off.

Yeah, we're in every game, as we all keep saying... but we need to learn to actually win. And yeah... when people ask what we're missing, I say it's pretty obviously a You Know What. Those are the guys who finish and get the stats about four quarter wins... for a reason. They touch the ball every down.