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High praise for Dwayne Harris from Rick Gosselin DMN

Defenderdawg : 4/19/2015 8:29 pm
Code:

"Simple _ the Giants stole one of the NFL’s best special-teams players away from the Cowboys.

If you honestly believe special teams constitute a third of the game, this was a titanic hit to the Cowboys. Not of the magnitude of Murray’s departure to Philadelphia _ but not far behind.

In luring Harris out of Dallas, the Giants signed the best kick returner, the best punt returner, the best kickoff coverage ace and the best gunner on the punt team away from the Cowboys.

In 2013, the Cowboys finished fourth in the NFL in special teams. The Giants ranked 28. The Cowboys ranked fourth in kickoff returns, the Giants 27. The Cowboys ranked fifth in punt returns, the Giants 26. The Cowboys ranked seventh in kickoff coverage, the Giants ninth. The Cowboys ranked 18 in punt coverage, the Giants 30.

In 2014, the Cowboys finished 13 in special teams, the Giants 25. The Cowboys ranked 13 in kickoff returns, the Giants 18. The Cowboys ranked 13th in punt returns, the Giants 18. The Cowboys ranked sixth in kickoff coverage, the Giants second. The Cowboys ranked 20 in punt coverage, the Giants 27.

The Giants clearly needed to improve on the kicking downs _ and they plan to do that at the expense of their division rival. Harris was a key figure on all four of those special-teams units.

Harris led the Cowboys in special-teams tackles in 2014 with 18 and finished second in 2013 with 13. He also finished second in the NFL in punt returns in 2012 with a 16.1 average and second in the NFL in kickoff returns in 2013 with a 30.6 average.

Harris quietly developed into one of the most explosive weapons on the team as well. But he did it in the shadows of Murray, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and even Terrance Williams. The Cowboys may not have appreciated his contributions. The Giants did."

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for all the complaints about his salary  
WeatherMan : 4/19/2015 8:39 pm : link
that's my favorite move of the offseason thus far, our STs have been a disaster for years and he's a proven ace to help fix that problem.
I like Harris  
Jay on the Island : 4/19/2015 8:40 pm : link
I think the contract was a bit too much but hopefully he remains a dangerous return man because the offense could surely use some good field position for a change. My concern is that Tom Quinn is still the special teams coach. We have seen good return men like Reynaud, Demps, Jernigan etc. post mediocre numbers after posting great numbers the year before. If Harris averages 21 yards per kick return and 6 on punt returns hopefully the front office and Coughlin will realize it isn't the personnel that's the problem.
Alright, but if this doesn't work...  
jcn56 : 4/19/2015 9:14 pm : link
can we finally agree that Quinn isn't getting the job done?
The fact that one player can fill so many holes is huge  
blueblood : 4/19/2015 9:46 pm : link
and cannot be underestimated.
Tom Quinn can turn  
SHO'NUFF : 4/19/2015 9:55 pm : link
chicken salad into chicken shit.
...  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 4/19/2015 10:14 pm : link
great find Defenderdawg....thanks for posting!
Love it!  
DavidinBMNY : 4/19/2015 10:24 pm : link
let's go!
Thanks  
illmatic : 4/19/2015 10:34 pm : link
We'll get to see how much of an impact he really has. But it has to help because we can't be much worse on special teams.
I love the Harris signing  
Joey in VA : 4/19/2015 10:42 pm : link
It's those glue guys like Tyree and way back Reyna Thompson who do the dirty work on STs and set your offense and defense up in better position. Harris routinely caused us problems, I'm all for it regardless of salary.

Great move  
RetroJint : 4/19/2015 11:05 pm : link
So happy he is a Giant. Plus he can be de-briefed on the nuances of the Cowboy offense. The Giants need lots of help there.
It seems like  
endwerc : 4/19/2015 11:32 pm : link
we have been trying to plug guys in to fix the special teams forever and yet they remain bad. Hopefully Harris gives them a shot in the arm but I'm not holding my breath.
Sometimes I find myself thinking that Gosselin is a quiet  
Ira : 4/20/2015 5:06 am : link
Giants fan.
RE: The fact that one player can fill so many holes is huge  
giants#1 : 4/20/2015 9:13 am : link
In comment 12240420 blueblood said:
Quote:
and cannot be underestimated.


This. It's rare to find one guy that excels as a returner and cover guy. Gives them a little extra flexibility with their active roster since they don't need to use 1 spot for a returner and a separate spot for a gunner.
problem with the Giants is the blocking  
Simms11 : 4/20/2015 9:42 am : link
for their returners; it sucks! I put that squarely on Quinn! We'll have to see if that changes with Harris. Could be a huge addition to our team, but we said that also about all the additions last year and contributions were fairly limited, albeit due to injuries, in most cases.I'm going to reserve judgment this year.
So hopefully Tom Quinn  
Curtis in VA : 4/20/2015 9:44 am : link
is out of excuses now.
the actual blocks that the players make or don't make  
Headhunter : 4/20/2015 9:45 am : link
you are putting on Quinn? I'm not a Quinn defender, but if you said the schemes were an issue, OK, but the execution you are putting on Quinn?
RE: the actual blocks that the players make or don't make  
Simms11 : 4/20/2015 9:50 am : link
In comment 12240789 Headhunter said:
Quote:
you are putting on Quinn? I'm not a Quinn defender, but if you said the schemes were an issue, OK, but the execution you are putting on Quinn?


Yes on Quinn. Who else takes the blame for Specials?
RE: I like Harris  
Les in TO : 4/20/2015 9:57 am : link
In comment 12240362 Jay on the Island said:
Quote:
I think the contract was a bit too much but hopefully he remains a dangerous return man because the offense could surely use some good field position for a change. My concern is that Tom Quinn is still the special teams coach. We have seen good return men like Reynaud, Demps, Jernigan etc. post mediocre numbers after posting great numbers the year before. If Harris averages 21 yards per kick return and 6 on punt returns hopefully the front office and Coughlin will realize it isn't the personnel that's the problem.


+1 - you can be the greatest returner in the world, but if you have five unblocked guys on your butt at the 20 yard line, there;s only so much you can do.

i would add the giants have not done a very good job in free agency when it comes to big bets on returners. in addition to demps and reynaud, you can go all the way back to herschel walker, chad morton and brian mitchell. the most productive giants returners relative to compensation have been bargain guys like ron dixon, delvin joyce, hixon, willie ponder or guys like toomer and barber in the earlier stages of their career.

i am hopeful that harris can be a valuable part of the offense because i'm not holding my breath on his special teams contributions.
Regarding Quinn  
NYDCBlue : 4/20/2015 10:19 am : link
I am not seeing a ton of scenarios where Quinn has a bad enough season that he ends up fired, and Coughlin is kept around.... Special teams is a critical part of the game, and unless the O and D carry us, no playoffs means no Coughlin...
RE: for all the complaints about his salary  
Section331 : 4/20/2015 10:48 am : link
In comment 12240361 WeatherMan said:
Quote:
that's my favorite move of the offseason thus far, our STs have been a disaster for years and he's a proven ace to help fix that problem.


I was one of those complainers, but I've come around. He's one guy who can significantly improve all 4 ST units, AND he substantially weakens a division rival. This could turn out to be a significant signing.
I don't get as bothered by most contracts as many do.  
Big Blue '56 : 4/20/2015 11:49 am : link
I trust Reese and Abrams to make the tight call and adjustments as necessary even if at times, they've whiffed..

The minute I found out this guy was signed, I was greatly relieved because we accomplished several things:

1-It made Dallas ostensibly weaker

2-We got ourselves a terrific gunner

3-We freed up(hopefully) OBJ from PR duties..

It was a great get imo..At least on paper..His contract meant nothing to me
tight call=right call  
Big Blue '56 : 4/20/2015 11:50 am : link
.
Oh,  
Big Blue '56 : 4/20/2015 11:51 am : link
4-We got a 4/5 receiver
RE: RE: the actual blocks that the players make or don't make  
Mike in Boston : 4/20/2015 6:55 pm : link
In comment 12240808 Simms11 said:
Quote:
In comment 12240789 Headhunter said:


Quote:


you are putting on Quinn? I'm not a Quinn defender, but if you said the schemes were an issue, OK, but the execution you are putting on Quinn?



Yes on Quinn. Who else takes the blame for Specials?


The players? I am sure they are coached to keep their lanes and to make their blocks.
Such a good move.  
Randy in CT : 4/20/2015 7:01 pm : link
The cost? Fans are overthinking/unable to actually think the numbers through with much accuracy.
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