Pittsburgh Sports N'at

[Art2Gecko]

Harrison fifth Steelers player named defensive man of year
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

James Harrison, seen here celebrating after a successful interception, has carved a new model for outside linebackers in the NFL.NFL scouts have a new model for outside linebackers to consider when they scrutinize prospects on the college level.

"Six-foot tall and 255 pounds," James Harrison proclaimed yesterday. "That is the new prototype outside linebacker."

Harrison's unique stature grew immeasurably yesterday when he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in a vote conducted by The Associated Press. Four other Steelers have won it; three are in the Hall of Fame: Joe Greene (1972, 1974), Mel Blount (1975) and Jack Lambert (1976), and Rod Woodson (1993) should be elected on his first try Jan. 31.

Harrison finds himself in good company, although as a two-year starter at age 30, he says he does not belong with the rest.

"No, I do not because they did it for a long time at a high level," Harrison said. "I have done pretty well for the last two years. That doesn't compare to what they have done."

Nevertheless, Harrison has become an overnight sensation the past two seasons, the classic rags-to-riches story, a relative nobody who went from no job to two-time Pro Bowl player and voted the best in the league.

At the same time, his story is as unique as his size for his position. The previous Steelers winners of this award were high draft picks: Greene and Woodson each in the first round, Lambert in the second and Blount in the third. Harrison, who shares Lambert's alma mater of Kent State, was not drafted.

The Steelers signed him as a rookie free agent in 2002 and then cut him three times over the next two seasons, although he played briefly as a rookie. Baltimore also signed him and sent him to NFL Europe before cutting him.

Probably the only reason Harrison is here today, besides his persistence, was the broken hand starting left outside linebacker Clark Haggans sustained 10 days before the 2004 training camp opened. The Steelers needed another linebacker and dialed Harrison's number.

"If he doesn't break his hand, I am not here," Harrison said.

Harrison's demeanor was so menacing that even one of his former position coaches, Mike Archer, was quoted as saying he could not wait for him to be cut. Harrison matured and focused his menacing nature on opponents rather than his own coaches and teammates.

When Mike Tomlin came in as coach last year, the Steelers released another Pro Bowl linebacker, Joey Porter (who led the AFC with 17 1/2 sacks this season in Miami), to make room for Harrison to start on the right side. He led the Steelers his first year as a starter with 8 1/2 sacks, then set a team record this season with 16 sacks to go with seven forced fumbles -- one causing a key safety in an 11-10 victory against San Diego -- and an interception. His 34 quarterback pressures led No. 2 LaMarr Woodley by 14.

NFL scouts often quickly dismiss 6-footers as candidates for outside linebacker, especially in a 3-4 defense, because they are not tall enough. Harrison, though, uses his height combined with his strength and speed to his advantage.

"He automatically has a leverage advantage on guys," said Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks, who, at 6 feet 8, should know. "Then you add strength and speed to that, it's a deadly combination.

"He's either going to fake a guy out or he's going to just outmuscle him because of leverage. You get under a taller guy, you get under his shoulder pads and you just push him back."

Harrison earned 22 of 50 votes of a nationwide media panel compiled by the AP, nine more than Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

First published on January 6, 2009 at 12:00 am