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James Harrison has no shortage of memorable moments in his career. His 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl 43 causes Pittsburgh Steelers fans to yearn for the big-play, big-time defense that won them that Super Bowl. Now, at 37 years old, the undrafted free agent affectionately known as “Deebo” is preparing for his 11th NFL season. His career has been marked by a pair of Super Bowl victories and a Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2009.
Harrison has slowed down in recent years, returning to the Steelers for the 2014 season with the understanding that he would have a reduced role. That reduced role was increased when fellow outside linebacker Jarvis Jones injured his wrist and failed to find the field again in 2014.
The Steelers brought Harrison back for this upcoming season with the understanding that he will take a reduced role of about 25 snaps per game. If you’re a believer in Jones, for whatever reason, you might believe that Harrison will only play 25 snaps per game.
While Jones has the potential to be a difference-maker, he hasn’t been able to find the field. The jury is still out on whether he can stay healthy, so having Harrison there to take some of the workload off of him will be important. Arthur Moats and Jordan Zumwalt will have the opportunity to contribute as well.
However, if Jones puts it all together this year and first-round draft pick Bud Dupree steps into the starting role that management thinks he can, Harrison will indeed be playing 25 snaps per game. This is certainly the best-case scenario, and not just because the Steelers invested a pair of first-round picks in Dupree and Jones.
A decreased snap count will mean a season-long healthy and effective Harrison. Steelers fans were quick to block last year’s playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, though in that game Harrison was about a half-second away from Joe Flacco a half-dozen times. Would a healthy, rested Harrison have gotten there? We might just find out this year.
