06-02-2016, 07:14 PM
(06-01-2016, 07:13 PM)Vanilla Heat Wrote: 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.
Depends on what your definition of success is. Being a physical presence against the run is nice, but rushing the passer is Harrison's bread and butter and it does seem he could've been better utilized to take advantage of that. He did do a good job with what he was asked to do, so I don't blame him. I'd say he was a poor fit though, since we couldn't utilize perhaps his biggest strength.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
