Seahawks’ Harris Knows He’s A Target
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Corey Harris had a long discussion Monday with secondary coach Dave Brown.
The topic was coverage techniques. Last Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs receiver Chris Penn beat Harris for two touchdowns inside the Chiefs’ 10. Brown was trying to fix Harris’ glitches.
“We were just discussing basic techniques,” Harris said of the talk that occurred on the practice field. “There is chalk talk versus what really works on the field. In the two times they scored touchdowns, on one play, they had good timing, there wasn’t much I could do. The other time, there are parts of the field where we need to get our hands on the receivers.”
Regardless of the techniques, Harris knows he will be a target for the next few weeks. He has to solve his technique questions before the game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or he’s in trouble. So are the Seahawks.
“He’s been working hard, but he just needs to work smarter,” Brown said. “He didn’t play the technique properly. He wasn’t ready when the ball was snapped. Then, he has to take the receivers to the outside on the one touchdown.”
In the past couple of weeks, quarterbacks have focused their attention on Harris’ side of the field. When the Seahawks go into their nickel defense, Harris moves inside and Selwyn Jones takes the outside position. Very few quarterbacks are throwing on the side of Carlton Gray, who is considered the team’s best coverage cornerback.
“Carlton is doing well, but he’s got to work on his play against the run,” Brown said. “He’s got to be on alert this week. The minute you start relaxing and thinking the quarterback is not going to throw the ball your way, then watch out.”
With an 0-3 start that could extend into a long losing streak, a lot of Seahawks players have to “watch out” this weekend.
Decisions, decision: Coach Dennis Erickson will have to make game-day decisions whether defensive end Antonio Edwards (knee) and linebacker Terry Wooden (hamstring) will play. The team departed for Tampa on Friday and will have a light workout at Houlihan Stadium today.
If the warm weather helps, the Seahawks might have Wooden in uniform for the first time this season. Edwards, who has a sore kneecap and a sprained medial collateral ligament, is less likely to play.
Notes: The inactives for the game Sunday for the Seahawks are linebackers James Logan and Eric Unverzagt, tight end Ronnie Williams and guard Pete Kendall. The Seahawks can’t afford an injury at linebacker. If Wooden can’t play, they will only have four on the active roster.
xxxx SUNDAY At Tampa Bay, 10 a.m., NBC