Panthers Extend SS Chris Harris

by Jaxon on Feb 14, 2008 9:26 AM EST in Panther News

The Panthers have made another solid move by extending strong safety Chris Harris’ contract for another 4 years. The three year veteran was one of the few bright spots on defense in 2007:

It did not take long for Harris to solidify the interior of the Carolina secondary, where he added a physical presence and started in 15 contests. In addition to his 97 tackles and eight forced fumbles, Harris also had one interception and five passes defensed. He has good size and decent range, is an aggressive tackler and is most effective when playing close to the line of scrimmage.

This was one of the better trades the Panthers have made in recent years, only giving up a 5th round pick to the Bears for Harris. When the Bears lost starting SS Mike Brown for the season due to injury you know they wished they still had Harris.

Harris was prone to missing tackles at times because he usually went for the big hit. Yet if the FS is doing his job I find the extra yards on some plays a small price to pay for the potential turnover he can create.

This was a good move by the Panthers.

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kris jenkins

This is a good move for the Panthers, and a good coverage safety shores up our defense for good. To be honest, all we really need on defense is a good safety in coverage. We have the LBs, DL and CBs, along with Harris. What would really help the defense is what we've mentioned many times before, help in the field position game.

I wonder if Kris Jenkins looks at this and wonders what's going with his name. He sees a lot of action and wants to know where he fits in. I'll bet we hear something soon, in the next few days. I say this because if I was Fox, I wouldn't let Jenkins sit around wondering with his house on the market if I plan to keep him.

by usana_gaines on Feb 14, 2008 10:46 AM EST reply actions

Phillip Merling

The latest Banks' mock draft I saw said we'd pick this guy from Clemson at 13. I think he's just wrong and has no idea what he's talking about. Anyone ever heard of this guy? We have three starter-quality DTs (Jenkins, Kemo and Lewis), and four quality DEs (Rucker, Peppers, McGlover, Johnson) with two of them drafted in the last two years, so why would we even consider a DL in the first round?

All these kinds of things lead to our speculation about the defense when it was the offense that needed the most help. Harris re-signed, Lewis re-signed, Jenkins is selling his house, Peppers is nowhere to be found, Morgan got cut...there's a lot going on, and I'm glad that the team is showing a sense of urgency and positioning ourselves to make moves in the draft and in free agency. Maybe we sign Alan Faneca and keep Wharton, and then maybe a defensive guy is our first rd pick - a guy like Kenny Philips.

by usana_gaines on Feb 14, 2008 3:23 PM EST reply actions

I'm not impressed with Merling

Being a GT fan, I watch Clemson play every year. I have no recollection of him being a stud player. People are in love with his size, just like Gaines Adams last season.

I'm working on a post where I address the pass rush. If there is one key thing to learn from the Giants SB run, its that a pass rush is required to beat a passing team like the Patriots. If the Panthers don't go with a OT in the firsr round then I think it should be a pass rushing specialist either at DT or DE.

by Jaxon on Feb 14, 2008 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

we'll see

Just read that we re-signed Wharton. We know Gross will be on the team next year, so we'll see if we draft an OT. Many people think Clady will be gone before we pick. If so, we may trade down and still get a OL in the 1st rd. I think we'll have a better pass rush if our offense can score points and win two key battles - ball control and field position. How many sacks can Peppers get when the other team runs the entire second half because we can't convert second downs, and we're losing? Well, the combine is around the corner, so we'll see.

by usana_gaines on Feb 14, 2008 6:56 PM EST up reply actions