We can discuss whether Harrison was ever healthy, is losing his skill set, was getting stronger at the end of the year, etc until the cows come home. If, and by all estimation, Worilds is a better option based on pass rushing ability and setting the edge at this stage of his career than Harrison was when he took over for Porter, then why are the Steelers even talking to Harrison? They should cut him and never have even started negotiations, but they didn't.
I have to believe that while rushing the passer and setting the edge are the primary responsibilities the Steelers are viewing the other facets of the position more heavily than us fans are doing, otherwise, Harrison would simply be a cap casualty without even talking to him, IMO. Worilds would be able to rush the passer and set the edge nearly as well as Harrison and over time probably just as well. Since, they are still trying to resign Harrison I have to believe the front office doesn't think that Worilds is ready for a full time gig.
Pappy
The 2024 Pittsburgh Steeler draft
1.20 - Troy Fautanu, T, Washington
2.51 - Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
3.84 - Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
3.98 - Payton Wilson, LB, UNC
4.119 - Mason McCprmick, OG, S. Dakota St
7.178 - Logan Lee, DT, Iowa
7.195 -
"Football is a physical game, well, it used to be anyways" - Mel Blount
Harrison still has value to the Steelers but at their price. Harrison has unearned money in his pocket from the Rooneys...People forget that. If you were the owner of a franchise you want return on your investment. Just because it isn't money's due doesn't mean it isn't monies that needs to be earned. They aren't talking to Harrison because of lack of confidence in Worilds. They are talking to Harrison because he isn't playing to his contract and they can ask him to take a pay cut because they have leverage and his replacement.
Well I specifically meant it in how we know sacks can come in bunches, and that it doesn't mean anything unless you realize the circumstances. IOW, let's say he had four sacks in the last four games (I don't know the stats he did have). If he got them against Joe Thomas and Jake Long, that says a lot. But if he got them because it was garbage time or he got two of them because Ryan Fitzpatrick slid down at his feet... see what I mean?
I watched every quarter of every game this year. As it pertains to Harrison, I definitely noticed how slow and unathletic he seemed running around the field. Toward the end of the year, I (as someone who really watches him and hangs his hopes on Harrison) saw a SLIGHT uptick in terms of his game. Slight. I didn't see the old Harrison, or anything near. I didn't see him rocking back OT's, or dipping his shoulder. (In fact, I saw them drop him more than anything else, which says a lot in/of itself.)
Point being, I don't really know what we get with him. If you asked me straight up, I'd say that he is washed up, painful as it may be to say.
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