It seems that finheaven is split 50/50 on Charles Harris. The half of us that are upset are saying that he's too slow, or that we need to get a 3 down player in the 1st, or he's just situational, among other things. I am not a fan who thinks that everything the Dolphins do is correct and I am not a "I trust this regime more than the last one" fan. I, as a lot of you, really wanted to take a chance on Reuben Foster when he dropped to us. Many of you are upset at not taking Foster as much as it is not liking Harris, which is exactly how I felt after the pick. Foster's medical re-check must have been alarming because there is no way that he would have lasted to pick 29 if not. A healthy Reuben Foster goes in the top 10. For those of you who argue about Harris being a situational player, a counter argument can be made that there is a likelihood of Foster being a 1 contract player or missing significant time each year, which would also make him a part time player. Now, not all of you are upset about it not being Foster because I think the fans who are upset that Forrest Lamp would be a starter from day 1, have a valid argument. Only time will tell whether Lamp turns out to be an impact player. I will say that a guard will potentially play more than a pass rusher but a pass rusher can effect the game on 3 or 4 plays and be just as impactful. A strip/sack is a single play that can easily alter a game. Now, if Miami does not do anything to help the offensive line later in the draft or after June cuts, it will be a potentially different story. Yesterday morning, Haasan Reddick was my player that I really hoped would fall to us but if you told me that we would draft Charles Harris, I would have been happy. I want to make a player comparison to hopefully make some of the upset fans feel a little bit better about the pick.
Charles Harris reminds me of Aldon Smith, and not just because they both went to Missouri. The both had similar production at Mizzou. Smith had 14.5 sack in 2 years and Harris had 18 in 3 years. Both have eerily similar measurables and numbers posted at the combine. The biggest difference being that Smith's arms are 3 inches longer as well as his broad jump and vert are a bit longer and higher, which is a measurement of explosion. Harris's 20 yard shuttle was slightly faster. Now, Smith led the league in sacks over his first 2 years in the NFL with 33.5, 14 and 19.5. If Harris can get 8 and 12 sacks his first 2 seasons, I think most fans would be ok with that production.
Aldon Smith was also considered a situational player because, much like Harris, was not a very good run defender. Even though they are considered situational, they can have a tremendous impact on a game.
I just hope Harris does not have the same off the field problems that Smith had, which I think would be highly unlikely.
I am not trying to look at this situation with rose colored glasses. It would be nice for some of the negativity to not exist. I completely understand being upset, I just want to also show that there is a possibility of upside with this pick.
I'd love to hear everyone's opinion on this.
