In Replacing Smoot, Harris Among Options By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com March 15, 2005
Last offseason, Walt Harris would stand on the sidelines during Redskins mini-camps frustrated that he could not participate in practice. The veteran cornerback was coming off of knee surgery and there was speculation that he might not be ready to play by the start of the season. His rehab had lingered late into training camp and even Harris admitted he was concerned about his NFL future. Harris, 30, managed to play all 16 games last season, starting twice. Used mostly as a nickel cornerback, Harris finished the year with 21 tackles (12 solo), six passes defended and one interception.
Due to injuries, Harris drew two starts in the last three games of the season, starting once for Shawn Springs and once for Fred Smoot, and performed well, recording 11 tackles and an interception.
Walt Harris With Fred Smoot signing in Minnesota, Harris is in line to start at cornerback alongside Springs next season. Losing Smoot was certainly a loss for the Redskins' third-ranked defense, but having an experienced veteran in Harris should help ease the transition.
When asked how the team might replace Smoot next season, head coach Joe Gibbs discussed the decision process in signing Harris in March 2004.
Said Gibbs: "The surgery that [Harris] had [in January 2004] was risky. We looked at the risks for us financially and whether he would be able to play. We felt like it was worth the risk. We made a decision to do that and thankfully for us, it worked out great for us. We were careful with how we brought him along after the surgery and we thought he played extremely well.
"What you have there is a veteran, proven starter at corner for us. Obviously we have some other excellent young football players at corner. We have those players at the current time on our roster and we have a lot of confidence in them."
The young cornerbacks Gibbs was referring to include second-year player Ade Jimoh and first-year players Garnell Wilds and Rufus Brown. It's also possible that the Redskins could acquire a top-flight cornerback in April's NFL Draft.
Although assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams alternates starters at some of his positions, Harris said he views himself as a starting-caliber cornerback and expects to compete for that role next season.
"I always foresee myself as a starting corner, no matter where I'm playing," Harris said. "Circumstances last year didn't require that I start--I was coming off of surgery and we had a lot of good players at cornerback, with Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot. So I just tried to fit into a role. This year, I'll go into it and see what happens."
Harris, 5-11 and 192 pounds, played six seasons with the Chicago Bears and two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with Washington. In 134 games, he has 115 starts, with 622 tackles (447 solo), 19 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles. He had his most productive season in 1997 when he logged five interceptions and four forced fumbles.
While Harris was able to play in all 16 games last season, he admitted to starting the season slow as he re-acclimated his knee to the rigors of the NFL.
With his knee back at full health, he has a different approach this offseason.
"I plan on doing a lot of things differently [this offseason] after coming off of knee surgery last year," he said. "I'll definitely be a lot healthier. I'll be a much better player because from the standpoint of the offseason, I'll be able to take [workouts and practices] up another notch that I couldn't reach last year. I'll be able to do more things that I wasn't able to do last year."
According to this seems like Gibbs has al ot of confidence in Harris...and it also says he has confidence in younger corners Garnell, this may alter our draft pick to maybe a wr or a DE if Brown isnt signed...you guys think Harris can pull this off?
I don't know why, but I have no confidence in this guy. I just feel like he is one of our players who lets the opposing offense take advantage. But, he hasn't proven himself yet, so I'll give him a chance. But there is NO way I'm confident with his capabilities as of yet.
He started that 49ers game...didnt do bad but I thnik thats when we dropped from number 2 to number 3 defense
" But you should've seen Joe (Gibbs) when they said he couldn't coach anymore...his chest puffed out and said..i dont care what it takes, were not leaving here without another ring." Coach Joe Bugel
yeah i feel what your sayin...big names hasnt gotten us anywhere lets play within the team
" But you should've seen Joe (Gibbs) when they said he couldn't coach anymore...his chest puffed out and said..i dont care what it takes, were not leaving here without another ring." Coach Joe Bugel
1niksder wrote:Walt is a 9 year Vet and this is the only place he hasn't been the starting corner, so it isn't like we'll just throw a body out there.
I think A. Rolle would be a nice pick at #9 in the draft, but if we don't I don't think it would have much impact.
Totally agree with the assessment and with the selection deduction.
I also think that IF he is the pick that I'm sure you will see the coaches treat him much like they did ST last year!
Until recently, Snyder & Allen have made a lot of really bad decisions - nobody with any sense believes this franchise will get better under their guidance Snyder's W/L record = 45% (80-96) - Snyder/Allen = 41% (59-84-1)
WshSkins22 wrote:yeah i feel what your sayin...big names hasnt gotten us anywhere lets play within the team
Sadly everyone hasn't learned this lesson.
I don't think a lot of people payed attention to the remarks Smoot and Peirce made when they left. I forgot which article it was in but they were both irritated at the fact that this organization continually brings in "outsiders" and pays them more than their inhouse people. Look at the talent we had last year on defense. Look at the surprise impact players. 90% of them are unknown to the world.
Lets pull guys from our benches and utilize the great talent we have before wasting more money on over hyped players.
Greg Williams is the Defensive genius...not any of us...so who cares if you don't feel comfortable with Walt Harris...You did not see him in practice...you have not watched his film every week...I trust GW...if he thinks Harris can do it.,.,.then I defer to him before any one who just watches the game in between commercials....I have one question....CAN ANYONE NAME THE OTHER CORNER WHO STARTED THE 1992 SUPERBOWL OPPOSITE DARRELL GREEN? If you can't without going to do research, then you will be like me...NOT worried about Walt Harris starting for us. By the way it was Martin Mayhew...not a big name guy.
I understand a lot of people not being sure about Harris but I think the key to this is what he said himself. Because of surgery he wasn`t able to give it 100% last season. Hopefully, he`ll be able to go up a notch this year after a full pre-season. Certainly if he stays healthy he is going to be useful to us either as a starter or a nickle. A lot seems to be hoped for Garnell Wilds - wasn`t he an undrafted free agent? Just the sort of player Joe Gibbs likes to bring on. I don`t see us using our No.9 pick on a CB. Two top 10 picks on your secondary , in successive years , seems a bit overloaded. I think the offence must have it this time.
The Hogster wrote:Greg Williams is the Defensive genius...not any of us...so who cares if you don't feel comfortable with Walt Harris...You did not see him in practice...you have not watched his film every week...I trust GW...if he thinks Harris can do it.,.,.then I defer to him before any one who just watches the game in between commercials....I have one question....CAN ANYONE NAME THE OTHER CORNER WHO STARTED THE 1992 SUPERBOWL OPPOSITE DARRELL GREEN? If you can't without going to do research, then you will be like me...NOT worried about Walt Harris starting for us. By the way it was Martin Mayhew...not a big name guy.
Calm down....The coaches should be able to handle the CB situation accordingly like you said. But before you go quoting Smoot and Pierce. They both left...because what? Money!!! So all those excuses they come up with as to why they left is to hide the fact...Money is the root of it all, not those "excuses"! Sad but true.
"It's almost like, you play a kid's game for a king's ransom," he said. "And if you don't take it serious enough, eventually one day you're going to say, 'Oh, I could have done this, I could have done that."
Sean Taylor
I have no problem with Harris starting, just as I never had any trouble with Martin Mayhew, Barry Wilburn or Vernon Dean. We don't need two superstar cornerbacks, but I'd still like the 1st round pick to be CB this year. In two years time, Springs and Harris could both be done, and we'll be needing two new starters.
It seems that some of are forgetting that he was a starting corner for eight years! He knows the position. ANd it also seems that some of you are forgetting the big plays that he made last year. Anyone remember him blocking a punt?
The Hogster wrote:Greg Williams is the Defensive genius...not any of us...so who cares if you don't feel comfortable with Walt Harris...You did not see him in practice...you have not watched his film every week...I trust GW...if he thinks Harris can do it.,.,.then I defer to him before any one who just watches the game in between commercials....I have one question....CAN ANYONE NAME THE OTHER CORNER WHO STARTED THE 1992 SUPERBOWL OPPOSITE DARRELL GREEN? If you can't without going to do research, then you will be like me...NOT worried about Walt Harris starting for us. By the way it was Martin Mayhew...not a big name guy.
WOW man i gotta tell you this is what ive been thniking for the last few weeks...you guys dont know what GW knows...we will NOT draft a corner, because if JG and GW were planning that....we wouldnt hav e let smoot go...GW is confident with our corners and I want to be quoted on this and we will find out April 23...WE WILL NOT DRAFT A CORNER
" But you should've seen Joe (Gibbs) when they said he couldn't coach anymore...his chest puffed out and said..i dont care what it takes, were not leaving here without another ring." Coach Joe Bugel
I say get one of those shut down corners with the #9 pick (Rolle or Jones) and let the draftee and Harris duke it out for the starting spot opposite Springs, with the runner-up coming off the bench as the "nickel" back.
stwasm wrote:I say get one of those shut down corners with the #9 pick (Rolle or Jones) and let the draftee and Harris duke it out for the starting spot opposite Springs, with the runner-up coming off the bench as the "nickel" back.
I see what your sayin...but theres a big problem wit that...Y we gona use a number 9 pick on a guy and spend all dat money...for him to compete with harris...lets say Harris wins the nwe havea 9 pick not starting...I would understand if a 2nd or 3rd ronder got opportunity to compete...but a 9 pick needs to contibute a lot
" But you should've seen Joe (Gibbs) when they said he couldn't coach anymore...his chest puffed out and said..i dont care what it takes, were not leaving here without another ring." Coach Joe Bugel
Skinna Mob wrote:Calm down....The coaches should be able to handle the CB situation accordingly like you said. But before you go quoting Smoot and Pierce. They both left...because what? Money!!! So all those excuses they come up with as to why they left is to hide the fact...Money is the root of it all, not those "excuses"! Sad but true.
Money is a big deal but you're seriously downplaying the role this organization has had in the release of these two players. Its crazy to believe that they left just because of this offseasons turmoil...
Peirce has been sitting at the bottom of our depth chart for seasons. People on this board and Skins fans abroad have been crying for him to get playing time. We've brought in superstar after superstar to play a role he played best for us, he showed us that he was the real deal. We haven't played him, we've wasted his time and we haven't been a playoff contender. This man has been getting a base salary for all this time. Can you blame him for wanting more moeny? Can you blame him for wanting to go to a team that he he feels can go to the superbowl? Yeah we look at the Giants and turn our nose up but who are we to turn our nose up at them? When was the last time we did anything great? These men went to win rings. People come to the RedSkins to get a paycheck and end their careers. He was here and wasn't getting paid so y be here? He surely wasn't going to win a super bowl ring.
Sadly everyone hasn't learned this lesson.
