Roman Harper to lb?
 

Someone mentioned this in another thread but could it work?.. Bulk him up a bit and move him to LB...good tackler and as a LB he would be pretty good in coverage...as a Safety he is lacking...could we solve 2 problems with 1 move?...just a question to ponder as we watch another team claim our lombardi trophy

Bulking him up and moving him to LB'er would make him incredibly slow. The reason why he's such an effective blitzer is because it's from the secondary. He's a strong safety and as far as I'm concerned, he's playing like one... and at a Pro Bowl level for several years already.

"Bulking up" isn't easy for everyone. Harper may be maxed out at his current weight. Also, we all know that Harper is a speedster, but does he maintain that speed if he puts on the necessary weight? I don't know.

I like Harper, but I'm not sure he fits the scheme. It's up to the coaches and scouts to decide. If we could get, say, a third round pick and use that to bring in a quality replacement (Mark Barron or Markelle Martin).

I think it's time to move past the old labels of FS and SS. Coverage is so important now that it shouldn't be crazy to consider running with two "FSs."

pass happy league means we need lots of coverage guys,,,just sayin

That's actually very good point... can't believe I never thought about it like that.

With that said, does that mean neither Harper nor Jenkins would fit the scheme? Looking back at the '11 season, we're starting two SS's... not just Harper.

Bulking him up I would say no, but in this new DC scheme Harper is the one I am having a hard time with trying to figure out how the new DC is going to play him can anyone help and explain this to me? All I come up with is a rover style and that doesn't fit!

Why take a pro-bowl SS and try to move him to another position?

Lance Moore can't play TE anymore than Harper can play LB.

The only defense that Roman Harper could truly excel in and not be a liability because of his very poor coverage skills would be a 46 defense (Bears/Ryan)...

Problem is we don't have the lineman to make the whole thing work...

Harper is like having a Corvette that can pull a heavy trailer or can run offroad but can beat an eCar in the 1/4 mile...

He wasn't a liability in this defense.

stupid move...

He was good because they would sneak him up to the line. He looked good because everyone sucked.

And when he is up at the line... our weakness... GIVING UP BIG PLAYS deep.

He is fine right wear he is just need retooling the D.

Thanks, Papz. I'm choosing to believe that Jenkins will excel in a new system.

I'm weary of Jenkins right now, he's looked slow to me and lost alot this year, I do want our #1 pick to succeed, it would be nice, but unless he gets his head out of the clouds and produces I'm starting to get the feeling our #1 pick wasn't worth a #5 pick. We'll see this year for sure, hope he makes me eat my words!!!

The best thing G.Williams did while he was here was make a very very average SS in Harper a Pro Bowler. Only reason Harper seems good is because we blitz 9999999999999999 times a game. Harper thrived in GW's schemes. Not sure he is a fit for Spags' defense.

Ever since we got Spags I've been trying to figure out how Harper fits into his system and I can't. Jenkins was a CB in college and a first round pick, I have to think that he can cover from the safety position with some coaching. Harper is a pro bowler because he blitzes and gets a lot of tackles for loss, not for his coverage skills. I don't think Spags uses safeties at the line a lot. I guess we'll wait and see, but I have confidence in the new DC to be able to evaluate our players and put guys in a position where they can succeed.

Harper does just fine where he is. Would I like him to cover better? Yes. But he does seem to get better each year at coverage.

its so easy to say "bulk him up and move him" when in reality it affects alot of his play. put it this way...he could play weakside lb at his current weight better than Shanle... Just sayin...

he hits like he is 20-3o lbs heavier than he is.

You guys do realize that Harper is 6ft 200 lbs right? That's 10-20 pounds less than most safeties. He makes tackles in the run game because LBs and DEs are taking on the blocks.

If you guys think Harper is bad, you obviously know little about football.

We know very little, enlighten us. Im not saying he's the worst Safety in the League put repeatedly tourched in coverage would be the phrase i would use. But, in his defense no one on this defense in it's current form is a game changer. Hopefully, Spags luhas a sotion for that.

If HARPER can't cover a tight end now, how could he do it totin around any extra weight????

Yeah I agree with this, Jenkins needs to step his game up and produce. Hopefully the new system will put him in position to make the plays, but he has to catch the ball when it comes near to him, those dropped picks drive me mad.
He has to show he was worthy, the dude is a physical beast and can hit like a train but we need players that have some instincts at FS aswell.
If Jenkins doesn't produce in Spags new D, don't be shocked if Quddus gets put in there, that dude can play

How many TE's exposed him this year?

i think you mean because our LBs and DEs are GETTING BLOCKED...please spags help the front 7

We're going to have to do a lot of tweaking with this team to keep them Playoff Viable, Brees seems to want a new Contract "RIGHT NOW" rather than later and we have Colston and Nicks to also deal with, im sure we're not keeping both if neither of them which is going to break some hearts.

I am not starting any crap with anyone....

buuuut..

Roman Harper is our only consistant pass rusher. I don't know what happened to the days of LB's getting to the QB and driving him into the soil but the Saints are carring the flag for the movement. I really hope Spags changes this concept of thinking/coaching.

I look at the Giants on "D" and see 4 DE's with the WLB and SLB coming after the QB like they are wolves and the QB is covered in raw meat!

I love HARD HITTING, HITTING THE QB so HARD he turns into the letter "C", QB having to take a timeout after a hit; DEFENSES!

So just kinda take it easy on Harper.

Couldn't agree more with Boutte
http://blackandgold.com/members/halo...r-facepalm.jpg

Agree with Danno here.

I agree with Mardigras9 who agrees with Danno.

I also agree with Halo who agrees with Boutte.

http://images4.cpcache.com/product_z...quare-true.jpg

Improve the Dline and LB's and Harper is fine. yes I know it's easier said than done.

... and I agree with 'saintfan' :mrgreen: ... Cliff Avril's a F/A guys, I will trade you Cliff Avril for Roman Harper or Carl Nicks ...

DeAndre Levy is a FA also, so maybe the Saints take a look at him to fill one of the OLB spots?

Call him what you want for me he is not a pro bowl safety without even one interception. In reality may not be all his fault. The truth is defenses have to change and adapt as the rules, and players change. Heard Jerry Glanville on the radio on the way home from work talking with Bobby and his position is the tightend plays a bigger role because they are not allowed to hit him off the line of scrimmage as in the old days which would keep him out of most pass plays and close to the line of scrimmage because he knew he was going to get hit in the mouth. They are now protected. He said he would have two outside guys both left and right to account for the tight end. I guess that would make for a bit of a unusual alignment to then have one free safety as the playmaker over the top and I am guessing two inside linebackers. But He said although this is somewhat unorthodox something has to be done to account for the tightend now. We see now how the tightend has really changed the game and contributing a lot more in the passing game. Harper could be good here but does not have the anticipation to be a great safety and gets fooled to easily. If someone heard this and can clarify pitch in. I wish we could have got this guy as our D.C.

It may have been two guys on whichever side the tight end was lined up although I don't think so but at any rate it is something that is not now being done. As I said if anyone heard this also let me know I may try and call to get the details of that conversation. I thought it may have been both sides because it would be a totally new scheme according to what I heard.

I`ve seen Harper shed a block from an O-Lineman if Moore can block out a LB or puts a good chip block on a DE then that may be a possibility.

Harpers tackling ability is because of his speed and momentum not his explosive power. Bulk him up and you will probably end up some where in the middle....

A slow player that cant hit hard due to lack of momentum.

Oh did I say this already? It it aint broke don't fix it.