After Week 1 Performance, I'm No Longer So Concerned About James Harrison

by Michael Bean on Sep 14, 2011 2:15 PM EDT in Steelers Injury News

Do I have access to the medical staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers? No. I have heard directly from James Harrison that he's making considerable progress regaining his strength after two offseason back surgeries limited him physically all summer? No. That's just to say that I'm speculating based on very little concrete evidence outside of what I saw with my two eyes last Sunday during the Steelers' 35-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. And what I saw was not the same dominant James Harrison that we're used to seeing terrorize the league, but nevertheless Deebo played a fairly strong game that encouraged me to believe that he's going to be just fine as the season progresses provided he doesn't suffer a setback.

Harrison had 9 tackles in Sunday's loss, many of which came well past the line of scrimmage. His lone impact play came on a 4th and 1 deep inside Pittsburgh territory when he stood up a blocker and stopped Ray Rice for no gain. Deebo obviously looked a tad less explosive than what we're used to seeing from him, but he didn't look weak or slow. Just not quite at full strength. Harrison suffered a knee contusion during the loss, but according to the team, the injury is not serious and should not bother him this coming weekend when the Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks.

We often hear that the Steelers are a completely different defense when Troy Polamalu is not playing or is not at 100 percent. But what about James Harrison? I think it may be him, not Polamalu, that is the catalyst for everything the Steelers like to do defensively. Without a healthy Harrison, there is no pass rush that opens up playmaking opportunities for the guys behind him, including Polamalu. Don't get me wrong. Without Harrison at or close to full strength, it's suddenly not quite so difficult to beat the Steelers at the point of attack and successfully rush the football. He's that strong and that fast, easily covering one-third of the field on all plays within a matter of seconds.

Of course, if LaMarr Woodley doesn't play better than he did against the Ravens, Harrison will have a hard time returning to dominant form. Michael Oher absolutely abused Woodley on Sunday, a disturbing development that I hope doesn't repeat itself when the two teams meet next in Week 9. But assuming Woodley feasts on lesser competition as he's done for all of his career, both he and Harrison should be able to play off each other more successfully and again create the kind of harassing pass rush that the Steelers fire zone blitz schemes are predicated on.

So, fear not Steeler Nation. Or at least I'm not just yet, because of the simple fact that I think Harrison is well on his way to getting back to his menacing, impossible-to-defend self based on his performance against Baltimore. He won't be fully back this weekend, or next weekend, but if he can improve just slightly each week, he's going to be just fine. And in turn, so too will the collective play of the Steelers' defense.

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Comments

Agree completely

Harrison is on his way back and already isn’t playing too far below 100%. I’m hoping the same can be said about Aaron Smith in a week or two. Having those two guys at full strength would be a huge bonus for our D.

by Billy52 on Sep 14, 2011 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

I also anticipate a better showing in the rematch

as that will be my first-ever trip to Pittsburgh. I am stoked about seeing first-hand the payback. Quite simply, they whipped our colons (pun intended).

by Larrybob8187 on Sep 14, 2011 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

Enjoy your trip to the Burgh!!!

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 14, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Harrison

I am not too concerned with. I do believe he will get back to his former self very soon and barring farther injuries he will play at a Pro Bowl level for a couple of years. The thing that concerns me is Worilds play. He doesn’t seem to be anywhere near being ready to step in and play a starters role if needed. Mike Tomlin’s “the standard is the standard” doesn’t seem to apply here. People been griping all week about some of the young players not getting more of an opportunity to play right now. Well, when they do get that opportunity they need to play at a high “standard” and not look like a rookie.

by steeler fever on Sep 14, 2011 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, we need some of the young guys to step up and show they belong.

by Billy52 on Sep 14, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It should be remembered

how long it took for Harrison to become Harrison. It certainly wasn’t overnight, or in two years. Give Worilds some time.

by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Sep 14, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Some players need a few years to blossom.

by Billy52 on Sep 14, 2011 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm glad you saw that too (Harrison)

People were firing shots back at me on the Driveby.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 14, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Shots fired

Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...

by StoneColdSteel on Sep 14, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I know

good thing you aren’t a Marine

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 14, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

You never know

I might be a master marksman.

Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...

by StoneColdSteel on Sep 15, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

could be

tou been hanging around Dallas?

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 15, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Not at all

Too hot.

Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...

by StoneColdSteel on Sep 15, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

James was fine

They should be more concerned about Aaron Smith. We can’t stop a good run offense if he gets pancaked in 1v1 on every significant play.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter

by John Stephens on Sep 14, 2011 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Agree

Also consider the fact that McKinney did a “lot” of holding. Smith, Keisel and Casey were non existent in pass rush. Also just as bad against the run.

by Allen F on Sep 14, 2011 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Our d wasnt great

but the offense was the problem. It is like every other year we want to turn into the patriots and turn Ben into Brady. We need to bust people in the mouth with our run and knock them the hell out with a nice classic Ben scramble to Ward for like 50 yards. I dont know if that was the problem last week but all I have heard this pre-season is how Ben is going to have career high this year. This will not work for this team if we want to win the North.

by lshaffer_69 on Sep 14, 2011 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

On that note

Ward had a good game.

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 14, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Better O Line protection and it could work. Ben will never be Brady but that’s ok. He just needs to be a bit better version of his current self in the passing game. Also, let’s face it….he needs to be as the game has evolved (for worse in my opinion) into a passers game. I still beleave in the run and using clock but you have to score something with each posession.

by fbrrocket on Sep 14, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I so agree. We were actually running on the Ravens for the first time in a long time, and then, when we are down 14-7, we start airing the ball out???

by John Kang on Sep 14, 2011 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

In case some forgot...

We ran the ball some early on delay type stuff. The Ravens pretty much shut that down midway through the second quarter once they saw what we were doing.

The fact is that our O-line was no match for their D-line in this game, they were overmatched. When that happens you are not running the ball a lick. I don’t get why people are saying we gave up on the run? They were shutting it down mid second quarter and on. You wanna go three and out every series? At least throwing the ball gives Ben a chance to make plays

The number one problem in this game was that we got completely pushed around on defense. We could not stop Ray Rice in any way, we could not get close to Flacco’s jersey. That was a new and disturbing development

" Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and then I think you'll finally understand"

" In America" Charlie Daniels Band

by idiscgolftexas on Sep 14, 2011 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

We could not stop Ray Rice in any way, we could not get close to Flacco’s jersey. That was a new and disturbing development

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."
- Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

by Han on Sep 14, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

The first 8 or so runs were mostly good but after that it was shut down.

by biggcat on Sep 14, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I think Smith not being Smith was a huge part of that. I think we forgot how much our run defense can suffer when he is not playing at a high level.

by steelerintexas on Sep 14, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

You should tell that to the guy that created the Run the Damn Ball fanpost

Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...

by StoneColdSteel on Sep 14, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

if being pushed around on D is #1….turnovers would have to be 1A.

by fbrrocket on Sep 14, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Offense

I am most worried about the Steeler’s offense.
In 2009 I thought Arians offensive play selections were awful. In 2010 it seemed simplified some for the rookie WRs and it seemed better.
But this season I had hoped to see a quicker, shorter style passing attack and TEs used more.
What I seen against the Ravens was not well designed.

The more I learn -The less I think I know! Just enjoy reading and sharing.

by steeler junky on Sep 14, 2011 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Woodley + I wish I could share your confidence

First, regarding some of the comments about Woodley, for better and for worse, Woodely almost always starts slow. (Harrison, by contrast has started strong and finished at least a little more slowly.) I suggested else where that 2011 would be a fine time to reverse that….

Regarding Harrison, I have mixed feelings.

Silverback certainly did not have a great game, but I don’t think he played terribely. On Sunday night I read Homer J’s post. (See Point 5.) and I began to worry. But the more I thought about it I was more of a mind to say, “well, James looked slow, flatfooted, and old — so did EVERYONE else, except for Ike Taylor.”

But my worry isn’t about where James is now, but about where he’ll be in a month. People keep saying, “as he recovers full strength.”

I don’t know, but the idea of someone making fair progress on recovery from back surgery, and then “regaining full strength” in the middle of an NFL season doesn’t sound entirely realistic to me.

But, let me just say this Michael, I hope you’re right and I hope I am wrong.

by Hombre de Acero on Sep 14, 2011 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Recovery during a football season while playing is something I have a hard believing in. Playing linebacker in the NFL is not really conducive to “regaining strength”. I just don’t see how that works, even though I hope it happens.

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Sep 15, 2011 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

*

should read “a hard TIME believing in”

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Sep 15, 2011 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions

its about the weight lifting

He wasn’t able to lift until like early July or late June. He’s a freak, he’ll be fine. He just needs those sessions in the weight room, and you better believe he’ll be putting them in especially because there’s so much less contact during practice weeks in the new CBA.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Michael Bean on Sep 15, 2011 4:37 AM EDT up reply actions

this

he has stated that the back is fine, he just wasn’t able to get back at the weight training as fiercely as he would have liked. When he says he is at 80% he is speaking of his strength, not his back.

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Sep 15, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Great post, Michael. I think everyone is getting the positive vibes back after Sunday's loss.

Harrison at less than 100% is another example of why it’s way too early to really panic regarding the Baltimore game. When a player has an injury (or surgery), we tend to have a difficult time seeing the forest for the trees because we’re right in the moment and can only see what is happening right now. However, oftentimes, we’ll look back on a period and realize that the player just needed time to get healthy. I think Polamalu is going through the same thing right now with his Achilles injury. He injured it last December, and you just never know how long it’s going to take a nagging injury like that to fully heal. I injured my foot in volleyball last September and it took a long time to get to the point where I could make quick-twitch movements without it hurting me.

by Anthony Defeo on Sep 14, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions