06-01-2016, 07:13 PM
(06-01-2016, 11:26 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Except the Bengals didn't utilize Harrison's skill set properly, as they tried to slot a 3-4 rush OLB into a 4-3 SAM role. Harrison never played anything other than a 3-4 rush OLB.
While Freeney has played 3-4 OLB in recent years, a majority of his time as a Colt was as a 4-3 DE. So it's not really fair to compare Freeney to Harrison.
Harrison did exactly what the bengals signed him for. Too many fans who didn't know any better thought they brought him in to be a pass rusher. Wrong.
After guys like Manny Lawson and Lamur at the SAM spot who got pushed around and blocked by WRs, they needed someone physical who would set the edge in the run game. That's why they signed James Harrison. And he excelled at that. But lots of ignorant people thought the signing wasn't successful because he didn't rack up sacks.
