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Harris' strategy: Don't let emotions give T.O. an edge
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 29, 2007
The last time they met at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Terrell Owens cast a spell on Al Harris that turned the already high-strung, emotion-filled cornerback into a certified basket case.
Harris, the man who will be handling the bulk of the coverage on Owens when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys meet tonight at Texas Stadium, was understandably hyped when the Packers faced his former team, the Eagles, and their dominating receiver.
Owens didn't even know it at the time, but his mere presence on the field resulted in Harris' blood boiling so hot that he lost sight of the "team" in team defense. The only opponent Harris saw that day was No. 81, and it ended up embarrassing Harris and undercutting the team in a 47-17 loss on the road.
"I was loony," Harris said of the 2004 game. "I blew some coverages. A couple times we were in Cover 2 and I'm playing man because I was so locked in. Afterwards, Coach (Mike) Sherman called me upstairs and told me I can't get involved in those individual matchups."
Three years later, Harris is trying to avoid stoking the emotional blast furnace that roared inside him that day and is approaching the rematch with Owens in much more controlled fashion. He has to play better than he did in Philadelphia.
"I think he's going to be under control this time," cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington said. "I told him to relax. When we get there (to kickoff), then get prepared. I think he's in that state."
With 64 catches for 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns, Owens comes into the game 2 yards and three touchdowns behind New England's Randy Moss for the NFL lead in those categories. Only Cincinnati's Chad Johnson with 21 catches of 20 or more yards has more than Owens' 19.
He has a touchdown in six straight games and 100 yards receiving in four of the last five. If the Packers are going to beat Dallas, they'll have to neutralize the 6-3, 218-pound Owens, which is where Harris comes in.
If Harris can be physical with him at the line of scrimmage, he'll be able to disrupt his timing with quarterback Tony Romo and make it easier for the pass rush to get home.
In that '04 game, Harris matched up against Owens and played him so physically that he drew two penalties for illegal hands to the face and another for illegal contact. The two got into a shoving match that Harris initiated and Owens seemed surprised to be in.
Owens wound up running through the Packers' zone coverage as if he were invisible. On some of the downs, Harris played Owens man-to-man when he was supposed to be playing zone, leaving the Eagles receivers wide open. Owens finished the game with eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown.
"I learned a very valuable lesson," Harris said. "You can't get like that. You can't lose your cool."
One of Harris' former Eagles teammates, safety Brian Dawkins, expects Owens to try to draw Harris into la la land again. He was Owens' teammate for a while, too, and he knows what he's capable of doing. Dawkins said in a telephone interview this week that if Harris keeps his cool, he can shut down Owens.
"T.O., he's a good receiver, but I've seen Al do it time and time again against the best receivers," Dawkins said. "He's been out there. He has confidence. When we look at the film, a lot of times we see Green Bay, and Al is one of the best press corners there is right now in this game. All Al has to do is be himself, just be patient."
Owens said this week he wasn't concerned about what Harris was going to do.
"We are not game-planning for Al Harris," Owens said in an interview on NFL Network. "He and their coaches are game-planning for me."
Dawkins said he has no doubt Owens will try to mess with Harris' head during the game and that Harris will respond verbally. But he said Harris has to know his limits.
"He'll try to get in a little talking with him," Dawkins said. "And knowing Al, he is going to talk. But in the midst of that talk he has to stay within the game plan, not forget the coverages and also be able to play his technique."
The matchup between Harris and Owens will take on greater importance if Woodson is unable to play. Woodson probably will draw some of the coverage on Owens when he is lined up in the slot, thus taking some pressure off Harris. If Woodson doesn't play, Harris may have to follow him around the field the entire game.
The Cowboys have other playmakers, so Owens doesn't have to come up with big numbers for them to win the game. But if Harris can neutralize him, it will take a lot of pressure off the rest of the defense.
"I think this is a classic matchup here," Harris said, before quickly reversing field. "I don't want to put it that way; we may end up putting someone else on him. I think it will be a good game to watch and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will probably win this game, and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will probably win the individual battle."
Let the controlled fireworks begin.
STOPPING THE COWBOYS
1. Cornerback Al Harris has to play effective bump-and-run coverage against receiver Terrell Owens so he can disrupt the timing between Owens and quarterback Tony Romo.
2. Make sure the safeties stay back and don't let Owens lull them into thinking he is covered.
"With a guy like T.O. you have to stay on top. You have to take away the deep ball."
- Packers cornerbacks coach
Lionel Washington
3. Don't make it easy on the Cowboys to decipher coverages, because Romo will exploit matchups with tight end Jason Witten and the Packers' linebackers and safeties.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=691318
Harris' strategy: Don't let emotions give T.O. an edge
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 29, 2007
The last time they met at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Terrell Owens cast a spell on Al Harris that turned the already high-strung, emotion-filled cornerback into a certified basket case.
Harris, the man who will be handling the bulk of the coverage on Owens when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys meet tonight at Texas Stadium, was understandably hyped when the Packers faced his former team, the Eagles, and their dominating receiver.
Owens didn't even know it at the time, but his mere presence on the field resulted in Harris' blood boiling so hot that he lost sight of the "team" in team defense. The only opponent Harris saw that day was No. 81, and it ended up embarrassing Harris and undercutting the team in a 47-17 loss on the road.
"I was loony," Harris said of the 2004 game. "I blew some coverages. A couple times we were in Cover 2 and I'm playing man because I was so locked in. Afterwards, Coach (Mike) Sherman called me upstairs and told me I can't get involved in those individual matchups."
Three years later, Harris is trying to avoid stoking the emotional blast furnace that roared inside him that day and is approaching the rematch with Owens in much more controlled fashion. He has to play better than he did in Philadelphia.
"I think he's going to be under control this time," cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington said. "I told him to relax. When we get there (to kickoff), then get prepared. I think he's in that state."
With 64 catches for 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns, Owens comes into the game 2 yards and three touchdowns behind New England's Randy Moss for the NFL lead in those categories. Only Cincinnati's Chad Johnson with 21 catches of 20 or more yards has more than Owens' 19.
He has a touchdown in six straight games and 100 yards receiving in four of the last five. If the Packers are going to beat Dallas, they'll have to neutralize the 6-3, 218-pound Owens, which is where Harris comes in.
If Harris can be physical with him at the line of scrimmage, he'll be able to disrupt his timing with quarterback Tony Romo and make it easier for the pass rush to get home.
In that '04 game, Harris matched up against Owens and played him so physically that he drew two penalties for illegal hands to the face and another for illegal contact. The two got into a shoving match that Harris initiated and Owens seemed surprised to be in.
Owens wound up running through the Packers' zone coverage as if he were invisible. On some of the downs, Harris played Owens man-to-man when he was supposed to be playing zone, leaving the Eagles receivers wide open. Owens finished the game with eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown.
"I learned a very valuable lesson," Harris said. "You can't get like that. You can't lose your cool."
One of Harris' former Eagles teammates, safety Brian Dawkins, expects Owens to try to draw Harris into la la land again. He was Owens' teammate for a while, too, and he knows what he's capable of doing. Dawkins said in a telephone interview this week that if Harris keeps his cool, he can shut down Owens.
"T.O., he's a good receiver, but I've seen Al do it time and time again against the best receivers," Dawkins said. "He's been out there. He has confidence. When we look at the film, a lot of times we see Green Bay, and Al is one of the best press corners there is right now in this game. All Al has to do is be himself, just be patient."
Owens said this week he wasn't concerned about what Harris was going to do.
"We are not game-planning for Al Harris," Owens said in an interview on NFL Network. "He and their coaches are game-planning for me."
Dawkins said he has no doubt Owens will try to mess with Harris' head during the game and that Harris will respond verbally. But he said Harris has to know his limits.
"He'll try to get in a little talking with him," Dawkins said. "And knowing Al, he is going to talk. But in the midst of that talk he has to stay within the game plan, not forget the coverages and also be able to play his technique."
The matchup between Harris and Owens will take on greater importance if Woodson is unable to play. Woodson probably will draw some of the coverage on Owens when he is lined up in the slot, thus taking some pressure off Harris. If Woodson doesn't play, Harris may have to follow him around the field the entire game.
The Cowboys have other playmakers, so Owens doesn't have to come up with big numbers for them to win the game. But if Harris can neutralize him, it will take a lot of pressure off the rest of the defense.
"I think this is a classic matchup here," Harris said, before quickly reversing field. "I don't want to put it that way; we may end up putting someone else on him. I think it will be a good game to watch and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will probably win this game, and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will probably win the individual battle."
Let the controlled fireworks begin.
STOPPING THE COWBOYS
1. Cornerback Al Harris has to play effective bump-and-run coverage against receiver Terrell Owens so he can disrupt the timing between Owens and quarterback Tony Romo.
2. Make sure the safeties stay back and don't let Owens lull them into thinking he is covered.
"With a guy like T.O. you have to stay on top. You have to take away the deep ball."
- Packers cornerbacks coach
Lionel Washington
3. Don't make it easy on the Cowboys to decipher coverages, because Romo will exploit matchups with tight end Jason Witten and the Packers' linebackers and safeties.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=691318
