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