In just two weeks, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison has moved out of the world of obscurity.
“The guy is a force,” said Jets FB Darian Barnes. “I just watched him on film and I’m like, 'Wow, this guy is the real deal.’ It’s going to be a challenge. This guy’s a load. He’s short, stout and he brings the thunder. So it will be fun going against a guy like that.”
The 6’0”, 242-pound Harrison broke onto the national scene with a memorable Monday night performance against the Ravens. He was the catalyst in the Steelers’ 38-7 home rout on Nov. 5, collecting 3.5 sacks, forcing three fumbles (one on special teams) and recovering one fumble. Then Harrison forced another two fumbles this past Sunday against the Browns.
“A lot of times he definitely gets his pass rush in as far as his pressures and sacks,” said LG Adrien Clarke. “He has that motor that he’s going to keep going. He’s relentless and he’s going to get to the quarterback.”
Clarke and LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson will try to slow Harrison down this weekend at the Meadowlands. Harrison, the Steelers’ ROLB in Dick LaBeau’s fearsome 3-4, has already racked up 6.5 sacks in addition to his five forced fumbles.
“He is definitely a fighting-spirit type of guy,” said Barnes, who has been active for five of the Jets’ nine games. “There is a myriad of things that the guy brings to the table. That’s why he’s starting and that’s why he has been as successful as he has.”
Harrison, a former walk-on at Kent State, is in his fourth professional season. He was released twice by the Steelers, and the Ravens even sent him to play for the Rhein Fire in Dusseldorf, Germany, in NFL Europe.
“James is a guy who is seizing the moment and taking advantage of an opportunity,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “A lot of times people like to talk about high-round draft picks and the minority of the guys in the league. James is an example of the majority, a guy who has traveled the long road, a guy who has been cut a few times, a guy who appreciates where he’s at and a guy who is blue-collar and comes to work every day.”
With Harrison stepping up, you don’t hear anyone in Pittsburgh bemoaning the loss of Joey Porter. The Steelers used both of their top draft selections — Lawrence Timmons (OLB, Florida State) and LaMarr Woodley (OLB, Michigan) — on ‘backers but it's Harrison who starts opposite Clark Haggans.
“You root for a guy like that and you’re happy when they have an opportunity to be recognized for what it is they do,” Tomlin said. “I think if you polled his teammates, there’s a level of respect for James and it’s not because he’s made plays here the last couple of weeks — he’s been well respected in that locker room for some time and it’s good to see him reap the benefits of getting some national recognition.”
There aren’t too many holes in this Steelers defense. When is the last time you’ve heard of a unit that ranked first in the NFL against the run (72.0 yards per game) and against the pass (157.4 ypg)?
“They are excellent in terms of run defense,” said Jets head coach Eric Mangini. “Their linebackers have been extremely effectively in terms of rushing the passer and they bring them all in different combinations —[the LBs] have 19 out of their 25 sacks. What these guys do well is, there's the initial attack mode, but they don't stop. So you've got to strike them and you've got to be able to stalemate them there.”
The Jets’ coaching staff has had extra time to prepare for Harrison and the Steelers. But the task won’t be easy because this might be one of the best Pittsburgh defenses ever.
“They look great, everybody looks stout and everybody’s flying to the ball,” Barnes said. “It’s just the Pittsburgh D you hear about and think of and with every play, you see it.”
