Rex Ryan calls David Harris Most Underrated Player in the NFL

Submitted by Marley Nowell on

http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/07/21/new-york-jets-rex-ryan-david-harris-un…

“David Harris is the most underrated player in the league,” Ryan told the New York Daily News. “It ain't close! It ain’t close! You could have a top 100... and he’s not even mentioned. And I’m like, ‘What?!’”

 

Normally I tune about 99.9% of what Rex says but he has a point here.  In 7 NFL seasons he has 761 Tackles, 24.5 Sacks (from an ILB position) and 6 interceptions while playing in 107 out of 112 possible games.  Glad to see his Michigan success has translated so well into his NFL Career.

Tyrone Biggums

July 21st, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

I think he was pretty well respected on the '06 defense. He was team co-MVP with Mike Hart. He was first team All B10 his senior year and second team All American as well. Defensively that team was just loaded. Branch, Harris, Woodley all went in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL draft in that order. Leon Hall was the only player drafted higher (1st rd) that year.

Eastside Maize

July 21st, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^

I remember like yesterday when we played ND in 06. Harris read the TE screen perfectly and blew his ass up. You could hear a collective ooohhhhh from the crowd in S Bend.

maize-blue

July 21st, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

Did you hear the story of when Drew Brees was on his way out of San Diego? I guess he had high interest in coming to Detroit. When some of the staff approached Millen about this he shot them down, saying they were all set at QB with Joey Harrington and Drew Stanton(EDIT: **Stanton wasn't on the roster at that time, but it was someone equally non-heralded).

Classic Lions.

maize-blue

July 21st, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^

Yeah, Garcia, that's who it was! I completly forgot about him. The weird thing is, Garcia actually had some good years with other teams right around that time but Detroit tended to be a cesspool for QBs in those days.

bronxblue

July 21st, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^

He's a very good LB, and probably gets overlooked a bit because he doesn't excel at one single element of the position, just is solid across the board in coverage, rushing the passer, and rush defense.  Glad to see someone pointing out how solid he is as a player.

Hagen

July 21st, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^

And a huge fan of David Harris as well.  I was hoping the Jets took Leon Hall that year, but was disappointed when they drafted this guy named Darelle Revis...

Well, round two came alone and we drafted Harris, allowing me to get my Michigan player jersey on the Jets.

I'd say a couple of years ago he would be considered undderrated, but he has absolutely lost a step.  He's still very good in run support, but he has trouble dropping into any coverage against the new crop of crazy athletic TEs.  High tackle counts come from the DLine in the past allowing the opposing RBs to often reach the second level.  

Overall, still a great veteran presence and solid leader of our defense.  With an ever improving DLine, he should be able to keep putting the pouding on other RBs.  Hopefully his coverage abilities don't decline much further.

maineandblue

July 21st, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^

He's one of my favorite players (Michigan and the Jets, and I love it when those two worlds overlap), but you're totally right that he's lost a step in the last 1-2 years. Everyone saw him (appropriately) as a beast, and he was rewarded quite handsomely with his last contract.

But in the last 1-2 years he's been popping up towards the top of many "most overpaid" players lists, both nationally and within the Jets org. I'm hoping he has a huge year and proves some folks wrong. 

gwkrlghl

July 21st, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^

IIRC Harris was similarly unheralded in his time here but the early days of the UFR showed him to be one of the best players on the defense. I think Brian has said previously that that's how he knew he was on to something with the UFR

mrduckworthb

July 21st, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^

I think David Harris is as bad ass as the next guy on this board, but underrated?

 

He has an awesome contract, and every year in Madden he is like a 93+ rating.

NewYorkWolverine

July 21st, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^

I knew Harris was underrated on that '06 UM defense; even moreso in the NFL. Reads his keys better than anyone since Mike Singletary (yes, I'd say better than Ray Lewis), always puts himself in position to make plays, wraps up very well when he tackles, and delivers a wallop. Can drop into coverage, will occasionally make the big interception and return (Remember the 2010 playoffs, Tom Brady) and run with tight ends. Lacks top end speed, but that's not too big a factor at ILB.

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July 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^

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