Pittsburgh Steeler’s Linebacker James Harrison is upset with his role with the team recently. Harrison has only seen playing time in three games this year and doesn’t want to be “left in the garage”
Harrison told NBC’s Michelle Tafoya he would not have signed with the team if he had known how he’d be used. “Would you sit out of your profession for three-quarters of the season and then think you can step in there and do better than the person that’s been doing it?” Harrison stated.
Mike Tomlin was asked about Harrison’s lack of playing time at the LB position and he responded with this on the team’s website:
“And it’s evolved within the last decade since I’ve been here. Outside linebacker was a rush-man’s position in the early part of my tenure. Guys like LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison were defensive-end-like. They rushed the vast majority of the time. With the evolution of spread football, read-option football, RPOs as the college guys call it – run-pass options – and all the empty backfield stuff, it has become a hybrid position, where they’re asked to do a lot of things: rush, drop in zone, play man-to-man. I just think it’s part of the evolution of football, and I think (outside linebackers) are the most significant components to the adjustments that defenses have made.”
Another key reason why Harrison has seen less time is the emergence of other players around him. TJ Watt has played fantastic in his first NFL season, he has racked up38 tackles, five sacks, and a pick through 13 games.
Harrison did not seem to fall into this role due to his play, he played at a very high-level last season with the Steelers. Harrison racked up 53 tackles, five sacks, and a pick in 15 games.
The team signed him to a 2-year extension last year. Harrison was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State Harrison has played nearly his entire career in Pittsburgh but said he doesn’t see himself with the team next season in a backup role.
