Walt Harris to the Pro Bowl

[Rexi]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

You can't overlook interceptions but you also have to consider the circumstances. I'll cite Barry Wilburn and Larry Brown.

Barry Wilburn was a beast that one year (1987 I think) with 9 interceptions and everyone was like "Oh snap, Wilburn is da bomb!" But then you say, 'Well, how is this guy getting so many interceptions" Answer: Look across the field and see who's shutting down the other side. Yeah, Darrell Green. No one is even challenging him so Wilburn is getting tons of opportunities. Good for him though on making the most of them.

Then you look at Larry Brown (the Cowboy, not the Redskin), Super Bowl MVP with two interceptions. For one thing he was helped greatly by Neil O'Donnell throwing it right at him. But secondly, a lot of it was because the Steelers wouldn't dare throw to Deion's side.

Now I'm not saying this was the case with Harris because it's not like he has a stud on the opposite side of him. But in general terms it's a factor to be considered.

Very good points. If Shawntae Spencer (I was a big fan of his coming into the season) had been shutting down the #1 receivers week in and week out and Harris had been getting burned and making the occasional INT then I wouldn't even really care that much, making INT's while being burned all the time doesn't impress me.

But Spencer was actually the one being burned, thrown on, and would usually go against the #2 receiving threat. Harris covered the #1 most of the season and was only burned a couple of times that I can remember. Most his INT's weren't that impressive though. I think Walter threw him a few against Oakland and I know Cutler did in Denver.

I thought the aging Harris would be a weakness of the secondary before the season, but that actually ended up being Spencer (to be fair, he battled hamstring injury through the season).