Harris shuts out Bears WRs

Al Harris defends against a pass intended for Chicago's Devin Hester Sunday in Green Bay.

As we noted last week, Al Harris entered Sunday’s game with an amazing streak: He had not allowed a completed pass to his side of the field since returning from a lacerated spleen in Week 8.

And 3irty1 continued his streak Sunday vs. Chicago, using his signature physical style of play, his speed and his smarts to help take Devin Hester, Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd completely out of their games.

In fact, Bears QB Kyle Orton did not complete a pass to a Chicago WR until the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

Chicago wideouts finished the game with a measly four receptions for 60 yards and no scores. And Al Harris extended his streak of not allowing a completed pass to four games and counting.

Afterwards, the Bears showed a healthy amount of respect for the job the Packers secondary performed. Brandon Lloyd:

“I’m a huge fan of Woodson and Harris,” said Lloyd, who was back on the field after missing five games with a sprained knee. “I think those guys are awesome. They get paid a ton of money to do what they do. So it is a lot of work to get open against them.”

And Bears GM Jerry Angelo:

“They’re very good. They’re tough to throw on. If you’re going to do it, you’ve got to execute well.”

Executing “well” is proving to be inadequate against this Packers “D”. In Al Harris’ mind, if opponents want to get anything done on offense, they must execute to perfection:

“If you get pressure when you’re playing press coverage, balls have to be perfectly thrown balls,” said Harris. “That’s the goal. For them to complete a pass, it has to be a perfect pass.

“That’s how I look at it.”

As you know, teams have learned to not throw in Al’s direction and as a result, his stats don’t look impressive on paper. Sunday’s totals: One tackle. No interceptions. But the game isn’t played on paper. It’s played on the field, and fans, coaches and opposing WRs know no stats can describe the effectiveness with which Al Harris is playing on the defensive end.

Just ask Devin Hester, Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage.

Q&A with 3irty1 after Bears game

Click to watch and listen to Al Harris chat with reporters after the Bears game.

The Wisconsin media surrounded Al Harris’ locker shortly after Sunday’s dominating 37-3 victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

Watch and listen to the Q&A session right here. Cool to see Al mixing it up with the beat writers, joking around and having a good time while making it clear he worries about nothing other than the team, the fans and his task at hand:

Al: New Orleans is the team to beat. We play them next. So we’re looking to get our game plan for New Orleans. You know, anything after that is after that.

Q: How much do you pay attention to the standings?
Al: Me, personally? Not at all. (New Orleans) has got some good wideouts, so that’s what I pay attention to. (Laughing with reporter) C’mon, dog! You know how this goes!

Q: Talk about holding Chicago to without a touchdown today.
Al: It was a good win. It was a good win for the defense. It was a good win for the team.
I mean we played well, played hard and came out with a win. That’s what you want.

Q: How does it feel to beat a team like Chicago who has kind of had your number recently?
Al: Yep, feels great, feels great. But like I said, it didn’t matter who it was, we were trying to win.

Q: Was that the best total performance of the season? Better than the Colts game?
Al: I don’t know. I wasn’t part of the Colts game. (Laughing) But, it was a good win. It was a good win. All jokes aside, it was a good win, it was an all-around great performance by everybody.

Q: How does it feel to get that winning feeling back in the lockerroom?
A: It feels good. It feels good to good win today.

Week 11: Bears brace for bump and run

The Bears are talking like they know exactly what to expect from the nasty bump-and-run coverage Al Harris and Co. are preparing to blanket the Chicago receivers with.

But knowing what’s coming and actually dealing with what’s coming are two completely different things. Every team in the NFL knows some basics about how the Packers secondary plans to cover them, but despite knowing the type of coverage they’ll face, they just can’t get any work done vs. the Green Bay secondary.

Check the Green Bay defensive numbers:

• Opponent QB rating: 58.8 (1st in NFL)
• Opponent passing yards per game: 179.1 (3rd in NFL)
• Opponent completion percentage: 51.5 (1st in NFL)

How do Harris and the Packers secondary do it? Check Bears QB Kyle Orton’s assessment:

“They’re up in your face,” Orton said. “They hold you, grab you; you’ve got to play physical with them. You’ve got to get off the coverage. They’re going to be pulling and grabbing at you all the way down the field, so the receivers have to do a great job of beating man coverage and making plays, and I’ve got to do a great job of seeing it and throwing to the open guy.”

Orton, who has been sidelined since injuring his ankle on Nov. 2, is hoping to return to the field vs. Green Bay. He’s more accurate and careful with the ball than Rex Grossman, the No. 2 QB on the Bears depth chart.

Al’s been studying tape and knows what to expect no matter which QB takes the field:

“(Orton’s) not going to take a lot of chances,” cornerback Al Harris said. “He makes a lot of good decisions. That’s all the tape I’ve been watching so far. Tonight, I’ll watch Rex. Orton is going to manage it. That’s not meant to be offensive either. I think when you say a guy manages a game, that’s a good thing. He’s going to manage the game a little better.”

Either way, you know 3ity1 is going to make the Bears work for every inch they get:

“If you do complete a pass, like a big pass for an explosive gain, it’s going to have to be a perfect pass. They’re going to have to work (for it).”

Indeed, in the two games since his return from a ruptured spleen, Al has not allowed a completed pass.

Let me repeat that.

Al Harris has not allowed a completion in two full weeks since returning from a career-threatening spleen injury.

And we know 3irty1 typically gets the assignment of locking down the opponent’s top receiver. In the Bears’ case, that top receiver could either be Rashied Davis (28 rec, 338 yards, 2 TDs) or Devin Hester (25 rec, 311 yards, 2 TDs).

Whether it’s Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman under center, look for the Bears to try and establish their running game with Rookie Matt Forte, and to establish a passing game to their two tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark as well as with RB Forte, who actually leads the team in receptions (37).

Either way, all of the Chicago receivers are in for a long day Sunday in Green Bay.

Berrian comes up blank vs. 3irty1

3irty1 breaks up a pass intended for Bernard Berrian Sunday in the Metrodome.

Minnesota’s top wideout – Bernard Berrian – entered Sunday’s game on a hot streak.

The fifth-year receiver from Fresno St. had caught a touchdown pass in four consecutive games entering Sunday’s contest with Green Bay. But Al Harris and the Packers secondary made sure Berrian exited Sunday’s game with a lot to think about: Zero touchdowns. Zero catches. And zero yards.

Harris harassed Berrian all over the field Sunday and the result was impressive, and almost unbelievable: The Vikings completed just four (4!!!) passes to their wide receivers Sunday: Four receptions for a measly 27 yards.

Yes, the Minnesota passing attack began using its backfield and its tight end as the game progressed, realizing they weren’t going to get any business done vs. Harris and Company. And the Vikings ultimately won the game, 28-27, in what was actually a defensive battle by both teams.

But despite the loss, it’s hard to overlook the phenomenal job Harris did in shutting out one of the speediest wideouts in the game.

Nick Collins, the Packers DB who returned an interception 59-yards for a score Sunday, said there was no secret to shutting out Berrian:

“We didn’t change a thing,” he said. “[Cornerbacks] Al Harris and Charles Woodson play physical at the line of scrimmage.”

Indeed, the famous bump-and-run coverage employed by Harris and Woodson even impressed Fox announcer Troy Aikman:

“Getting Al Harris back has been really big for this unit,” Aikman said. “I think you can make the argument they are the best pass defense in the NFL when you look at what they have done to opposing quarterbacks.”

And lest you forget: Sunday’s game was just the second for Harris since he was sidelined with a lacerated spleen in September.

SOMETIMES, WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM

If you watched Sunday’s game, you know Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon had his ankle broken in a grotesque manner while returning a punt. The injury was so hard to watch the Fox cameras decided not to show a replay of Gordon’s foot basically being turned completely around.

But which Packer was the first to approach Gordon and check on his status? The photo below tells it all:

Al Harris shows concern for the health of his Vikings counterpart.

DOING YOUR HOMEWORK

We talked with Al last Thursday night during the Browns/Broncos game. Figuring all NFL players would be glued to the TV, we asked him if he was watching the game, hoping to pick his brain about Brady Quinn’s first start and more.

“Nah,” Al responded. “I’m studying, then I have to go to bed.”

Wow, we thought. He’s studying for Sunday’s game, and he’s talking about going to bed at 10pm?!? That’s some impressive discipline.

“So that’s how you become a Pro Bowler, huh?” we asked.

Al’s response?

“That’s right, dog.”

PRO BOWL VOTING IS UNDERWAY!

Did we mention you can vote for the 2009 Pro Bowl team right now?

Cast your vote for Al and the rest of the Packers here.

Al was a Pro Bowler for the first time last year. He represented the Packers along with Chad Clifton, Brett Favre, Donald Driver and Aaron Kampman.

And don’t forget, you can vote every day until voting closes on Tuesday, December 9th at 12:00 p.m. (ET).

McCarthy: Harris played at a high level

Packers heach coach Mike McCarthy held his weekly press conference on Monday, and in it he was asked about Al Harris’ performance vs. Tennessee:

I thought Al played very well. I thought Al coming off his injury had an excellent week of practice, and wasn’t tested pretty much at all during the course of the game. I thought both Charles and Al played at a high level yesterday.

How high of a level did Harris and the Green Bay secondary play?

If you look closely at the box score, you’ll notice the Titans completed 18 passes on the day for 180 yards, but only 8 of those receptions and 82 of those yards were credited to Titan wideouts. 10 receptions and 98 yards went to the Tennessee running back and tight end, which tells us the Green Bay secondary did its usual outstanding job of smothering opposing wideouts and not giving them an inch of room to work with.

3irty1 is back!

Al Harris threw this body all over the field Sunday vs. the Titans.

Just as he predicted, Al Harris made his improbable return to the field Sunday, six weeks after suffering a potential career-ending injury vs. Dallas on September 16.

More photos and reaction to 3irty1’s return coming soon…

Will Al start on Sunday?

More good news for Al Harris, the Packers and fans everywhere: 3irty1 returned to practice this week after being sidelined for over a month with a lacerated spleen.

It was just weeks ago when we were all wondering if Al’s season, or even his career, was over.

Now we learn he’s targeting a return this Sunday vs. the unbeaten Titans, and Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy says Al could possibly return as a starter:

“We’ll answer that question at the end of the week. It’s an option, though. Hey, it would be great to have Al out there starting, but I’m only going to put him out there when he’s ready.”

Of course, getting back on the field and being in playing shape are two different things, a fact McCarthy acknowledges:

“It’s important to get Al back on the practice field just to see where he is and get him back to football shape, and there’s no substitute for that,” McCarthy said. “Every player goes through it. You can condition with the best of them, and you still have to get out there and tug and pull and do the things that are required to get you in football shape.”

Whether he returns as a starter or not isn’t as important as the fact he’s feeling 100% healthy after a devastating injury.  And now he’s ready to put in all on the line for his team, just like he has done his whole career.

What a soldier.

Im ready to go

One month ago many of us didn’t think it was possible, but Packers cornerback Al Harris has been given medical clearance to return to the playing field when the Packers battle the Titans on Nov. 2nd, less than two months removed from lacerating his spleen:

“I’m ready to go,” Harris said before he and most of his Packers teammates departed Tuesday afternoon for their five days off for the bye week. “It’s totally up to them, however they want to use me.”

What does Al mean when he says ‘however they want to use me’?

Given how well Tramon Williams has played in his place, the Packers might be inclined to ease Harris into the rotation perhaps by putting him in Williams’ old role as the nickel or No. 3 cornerback.

How did 3irty1 spend his time recovering?

Immediately after the injury, he could do nothing — “absolutely nothing,” he said — for one week.

“There’s no treatment for it,” Harris said. “Your body has to heal on its own when it comes to an injury like that.”

After a week, he began some lightweight lifting and conditioning on stationary equipment but he could not run because he said he “couldn’t do anything to shake up your insides.”

Al adds he “just concentrated on my family and my kids just to keep my mind off it.”

Will he need to play it safe, wear protective gear or do anything different than he did before the injury?

He figures he’ll wear some protective device or padding, but said the rib cage should provide enough protection.

“You see a lot of spleen injuries in car accidents, so I think it was more of the impact and I was turned a weird way,” Harris said. “This was really like a freak thing. Maybe it was just time to sit down for a little bit.”

Harris: Im playing in the Tennesse game

Just got off the phone with Al, who is in great spirits and is itching to get back on the field.

He said if it were up to him, he’d be playing this weekend vs. Indy because he feels “great.” But the doctors have not cleared him for a return in Week 7.

However, he said he’ll be back the week after the Oct. 26 bye week. When I asked him how sure he was that he’d return on Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee he said:

“100% sure. Tennessee game, I’m playing.”

Earlier in the week, Harris spoke with the Wisconsin State Journal, telling them how he has been spending his off-time, what his mindset is and more:

“The first week, I couldn’t do anything. It was just rest. And I suck at that,” said Harris, who’d last sat out a game in 1997, when he was on the Buccaneers’ practice squad. “But I had to do it, so I did. I sat home and rested. I’m just thankful they didn’t have to take my spleen out or anything like that.”

Harris was cleared to do light workouts — small weights and cardio on the elliptical trainer — after that, which wasn’t enough for him, either. (Hence the restaurant search.)

“It’s been hard, not being able to prepare every week (for a game). You’re so used to preparing and used to doing one thing every day, my whole day, I’ve had to literally make up a different schedule to keep my days (tolerable),” Harris said. “Because I’ve been having the same schedule for so long: Go to practice, workout, go home, eat, maybe get another workout in, study and then go to sleep.”

Harris said he’s been impressed with the way nickelback Tramon Williams has played in his stead — he’s had an interception in each of his three starts in Harris’ place — but said his return would give the Packers’ defense a boost.

“I’m definitely anxious to get back out there. I think I can help,” Harris said, singling out the play of Williams and veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, who continues to play with a broken toe on his right foot. “The guys are doing a great job, but I’m anxious.”

Anxious, but not without concerns, Harris confessed.

“I’m still scared, right now. But the odds of it happening again are unlikely,” Harris said. “I may be wrong. But I’m going to give it a shot once the doctors clear me.”

BTW, Al adds he’s discovered a new restaurant while he’d been sidelined. He’s been a customer at The Urban Frog Deli almost every day since his injury!

Harris could return after bye week

Great news for Al Harris and Packers fans: The National Football Post reports Harris received a CT scan today which revealed his injured spleen is healing “amazingly well.”

The report goes on to say Harris is awating word from the Packers medical staff on today’s test results, and if all goes as planned, 3irty1 could return to the field in Week 9, after the team’s bye week.

Here’s Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on the timeline for Al’s return:

“Obviously we are moving in the right direction,” McCarthy said. “So, we’ll see what the other doctors’ opinions (are). That’s just one doctor’s opinion. We’ll send his results out and get back more information. I think he will be hard-pressed to make it this week, but I think after the bye is realistic.”