After four weeks of NFL football, it’s obvious the Las Vegas Raiders still need to address the safety position. Defensive captain Erik Harris might be a leader but he is not the long-term answer.Â
Harris was chosen as one of the Silver and Black’s captains after a solid 2019 campaign. His memorable game against the Los Angeles Chargers left a shocking impression on both coaches and fans alike. In that contest, he recorded two interceptions and returned one for a score. Tack on three passes defensed and Harris had a near-perfect game. Combined with his belief in this defense and good guy mentality, Harris was naturally a captain from the outset, the ‘C’ on his chest made it official. Sadly, some fans feel the letter stands for Harris not being able to guard anything in the backfield.
Positive attitude and high character is something you want from all of your players, though others yearn for the Raiders of old, Jack Tatum or George Atkinson perhaps? For Harris it’s more than his character, he simply can’t hold down the safety position. Prior to the Bills game, the safety had already given up 162 yards through the air while surrendering a touchdown. Pro Football Focus’ grade of 47.8 for his coverage in 2020 doesn’t help to paint a better picture.
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Can the Raiders realistically replace Harris this year?
Erik Harris was a nice story but the position must be addressed.
— #BounceBeatBaby (@NFLMaliik) October 4, 2020
As much as fans or writers might be clamoring for some sort of change, it might not be feasible. The Raiders have been decimated by injuries which limits who they can throw out there. The only option the Raiders really have right now is to stick with Harris. It will be interesting to see as the season progresses if Harris can play better or whether Guenther can put him in a better position so as not to be such a coverage liability. General manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden will need to do something drastic at next year’s draft or perhaps there’s a certain free agent they can look to.
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*Top Photo: Associated Press/Eric Risberg
How disappointing is this predicament? We add players and our performance suffers. The same issues abide. Injuries in the defensive backfield. Acknowledged, yet still, why with this team does the the back seven, Linebackers and D-backs continue to look lost, miss key tackles, and even when in position, fail to make plays? This is a big one for Harris! The defense rarely seems to be on the same page, play correct gaps, have eye discipline (as Del Rio) used to opine, game after game.
Where is Littleton? I thought he was supposed to be great in coverage. Is this a scheme thing? Even if the scheme is wrong, players have to execute. Our defense has to cause turnovers as well. Marinelli has arrived. It looks like our Defensive line has regressed. Ferrell needs to step up. Where is Hurst? The Refs jammed us, twice or thrice, but we all know as Raider Nation, that is a given. Offense is doing what they need to do, especially considering the injury plagued Offensive Line. Waller and Jacobs can’t be expected to carry every game. Abrams is a bright spot. Yes. How long can he stay healthy?
Hey! I’m not giving up. Far from it. I just want to see our Defense play up to potential. That game was at the Death Star. I don’t see discipline or will to win on the Defense. Is it a leadership issue? I don’t know. Frustrating. Carr, despite his challenges, is in the fight. If the Defense plays to capacity, I think we can be in every game against every opponent. We got to find a way to get this recipe right!
Not only Haris nobody can tackle
It would be nice to have Karl Joseph right about now.