Tag: Will Harris

Madden NFL 24 ratings for the Detroit Lions secondary

Quite a few changes in the Lions secondary and the Madden ’24 ratings seem to like the changes

The secondary for the Detroit Lions is going to look much different than it did a year ago. Players such as Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye and DeShon Elliot are now gone and have been replaced with players such as Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

It’s been no secret that the Lions secondary has been somewhat of a liability for a while now. However, they look to be better on paper now with players such as Sutton and Moseley on the roster.

Last season, Sutton had three interceptions and 15 pass deflections. It was a career year for the six-year veteran. He’ll transition his career to the Lions as one of their top cornerbacks. In Madden ’24, he earned a rating of 77 overall. That’s the same rating that was given to Emmanuel Moseley. For Moseley, he had 5 pass deflections and an interception before tearing his ACL last season. If healthy, both players should be the top options for the perimeter of the Lions’ defense.

Above is the rest of the cornerback rankings for Detroit. Surprisingly, Will Harris is rated much higher than Jerry Jacobs. For Harris, he did have the best year of his career in 2022 while earning 68% of his defensive snaps at nickel. He earned 10 starts on the season and his PFF grade of 63.7 was 66th best out of 235 corners in the NFL.

As for Jacobs, he logged 8 pass deflections and an interception last season. While his 55.8 overall grade from PFF is lower than Harris’, it’s worth noting that Jacobs tore his ACL in week 14 of the 2021 season. He spent the start of the 2022 season on the reserve/PUP list. There’s potential for Jacobs to take snaps from Harris this season, if healthy.

The fastest cornerback on the roster is a tie between Khalil Dorsey and Jarren Williams. Both players are listed with 93 speed for the video game. That could be noteworthy when you’re running a kick-off or punt and need a speedster to get down and make a tackle.

Speaking of tackling, the hardest hitter in the Lions secondary is rookie defensive back Brian Branch. He earned an 86 rating for hit power. As for the rest of the safeties, the top-rated safety is C.J. Gardner-Johnson with an 84 overall rating.

The next closest to Gardner-Johnson are free safeties Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker. It shouldn’t be surprising to see Joseph have such a rise up the rankings after posting 82 tackles, 8 pass breakups and four interceptions as a rookie.

For Walker, there’s potential for him to emerge as a starter in the video game and on the field in real life. He’s coming back from a torn Achilles and much of what we’ve seen through social media is that he looks to be 100% healthy or close to it.

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As for the rest of the safeties, it’s somewhat surprising to see Brian Branch listed as one. Especially since it seemed like the Lions drafted him to play cornerback. On my draft board for the 2023 NFL Draft, I had Branch listed as my top safety. With a 75 overall rating, Branch is the highest-rated rookie safety in Madden ’24.

Each day that passes, EA Sports releases a new set of rankings for each position group. With these rankings of the Lions secondary, there’s plenty to feel good about with how deep the Lions are at with the safety position. Meanwhile, they’ve got more consistency at cornerback this year than they have in the past. It’ll be fun to see how this group gels in Madden ’24 and for the upcoming season.

Chargers re-shuffle coaching staff ahead of 2023 NFL draft

The Chargers announced two new hires and two promotions on their coaching staff on Wednesday.

The Chargers announced two additions to their coaching staff on Wednesday as well as two promotions. The team officially hired former Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Will Harris as an assistant secondary coach and Phil Serchia as an offensive assistant.

Harris was a standout at the collegiate level, helping to guide Georgia Southern to a 6-7 record last season despite adversity within the program. Serchia, on the other hand, is far less established, having coached last at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas for the last three seasons.

In addition to the new hires, Mike Hiestand and John Timu were promoted to new positions as returning staff from last season. Hiestand will serve as the Chargers’ front-seven specialist on defense after previously coaching the team’s offense, and Timu is set to take over as an assistant defensive line coach.

These changes could prove to be critical moves as Los Angeles starts readying itself for their offseason program this spring, and should help as the team moves into the training camp and preseason processes later in the summer. How exactly each of these coaches will function within the team is, to this point, unknown, though head coach Brandon Staley certainly seems to have a clear direction for his staff as he looks to help the Chargers bounce back from a brutal end to their 2022 season.

Lions officially re-sign CB Will Harris with the veteran salary benefit

Lions officially re-sign CB Will Harris with the veteran salary benefit, which allows the team to pay him more than his salary cap hit

The Detroit Lions have made the reported news official. The team has re-signed cornerback Will Harris to a one-year deal.

The terms of the deal are a little complicated. Harris re-signed with the Lions using a contractual device known as the veteran salary benefit. Basically, it allows the Lions to pay Harris the fully guaranteed $2.58 million contract for one year, but only count $1,317,500 against the Lions’ salary cap.

The best explanation for the veteran salary benefit comes from Russell Street Report,

The Veteran Salary Benefit (VSB) rule was created by the 2020 CBA and replaced the old Minimum Salary Benefit (MSB) Rule. These rules were put in place to allow veteran players to be signed to Cap-friendly deals instead of being replaced by cheaper, more Cap-friendly, younger players. The Veteran Salary Benefit allows veteran players to be signed to 1-year contracts with the applicable minimum salary (based on the player’s service time) and a small signing bonus ($152,500 in 2022), but only have to count that player at the salary level of a player with only 2 years of service time (plus the bonus).

In effect, Harris was able to sign for nearly double the amount that will be billed to the Lions’ salary cap accounting. Had he signed with another team, he wouldn’t have been able to get that benefit.

The Lions had two free agents who were eligible for the benefit, Harris and EDGE Austin Bryant. Because the Lions used it on Harris, Bryant is ineligible to get it. Bryant remains unsigned.

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CB Will Harris is expected to return to the Lions

CB Will Harris is expected to return to the Lions on a one-year deal

The cornerback room in Detroit is quickly starting to get crowded. After agreeing to assign free agents Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, the Lions are set to bring back veteran Will Harris for another season.

Dave Birkett of the Free Press noted the Lions are expected to re-sign Harris for a one-year contract. Nothing is officially signed, but there has been no reports of Harris seeking to sign anywhere else. The 27-year-old is an unrestricted free agent after four seasons in Detroit.

Harris transitioned from safety to cornerback in 2022 and emerged as the team’s slot option late in the season. He started 10 games and notched 57 total tackles as well as picking off the first interception of his career.

Harris is eligible to return to the Lions on the Veteran Salary Benefit. It’s a relatively new feature to the NFL’s salary cap that allows veterans to re-sign with a team at a minimum level and not cost as much against the salary cap as an outside player would for the same salary. It would make sense for Detroit to use veteran’s exception with Harris.

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Report: Chargers hiring Will Harris as assistant secondary coach

Brandon Staley continues to add to his staff.

Brandon Staley continues to add to his staff.

Following the departure of Renaldo Hill, who left for a job with the Dolphins, and the promotion of defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator, the Chargers had an opening in the secondary. Tom Donatell was elevated to pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach around the same time as Ansley, but most teams employ both a pass game coordinator as well as a dedicated secondary coach.

As of Friday, the Chargers reportedly have found that secondary coach: Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Will Harris, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Zenitz initially reported that Harris would be LA’s defensive backs coach before clarifying that he is expected to become the Chargers’ assistant secondary coach.

At Georgia Southern, Harris’ defense forced 15 red zone stops, second in the country. He also coached CB Derrick Canteen, who was projected to be a mid-round pick before transferring to Virginia Tech. Prior to coordinating the Eagles’ defense, Harris was the defensive backs coach at Washington, where he coached Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie, Bears CB Kyler Gordon, Titans CB Elijah Molden, Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr., Patriots CB Myles Bryant, and Rams S Taylor Rapp.

Harris has also coached NFL defensive backs Andre Chachere during his time at San Jose State, so his reputation as a developer of talent precedes him into the NFL. A safety under Pete Carroll at USC from 2005-09, Harris had 113 tackles and six interceptions in his career as a Trojan before going undrafted in 2010.

Aidan Hutchinson among 6 Lions missing practice on Thursday

Hutchinson was one of three Lions who sat out Thursday’s session with an illness

After a relatively light injury report on Wednesday to start Week 15, the Detroit Lions added a few more names to the list of players sitting out practice on Thursday. The most prominent of those new additions is standout rookie DE Aidan Hutchinson.

Hutchinson missed the practice session with an illness, as did CB Mike Hughes and DE Michael Brockers. Last week saw an illness spread around the Lions locker room as well, but it is unknown if these are related.

The two players who sat out Wednesday’s walkthrough both remained out. OL Kayode Awosika (ankle) and LB Derrick Barnes (knee) are still out after missing all of last week as well. Fullback Jason Cabinda joined them on the sidelines with an ankle issue.

Slot CB Will Harris (hip) and C Frank Ragnow (foot) remained limited participants. Ragnow has played through the ongoing foot injury all season.

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Lions inactive players vs. Vikings: Evan Brown and Will Harris both out

Lions inactive players vs. Vikings: Evan Brown and Will Harris both out

Ford Field will be rocking for Sunday’s visit from the Minnesota Vikings. The Detroit Lions are in pretty good shape health-wise, but there are still some players who are inactive for Week 14 due to injuries.

Two players were ruled out on Friday with injuries: Guard Kayode Awosika and linebacker Derrick Barnes. Cornerback Chase Lucas was also ruled out at that time, but he has since been placed on injured reserve with his injured ankle. Evan Brown, the nominal starting right guard, is also sitting out after being listed as doubtful. Cornerback Will Harris was questionable with an injury and he too is out.

The other inactives are healthy scratches:

  • DL Michael Brockers
  • DE Austin Bryant
  • WR Tom Kennedy

 

Lions final injury report for Week 14: 3 players ruled out

The Detroit Lions released their final injury report for their Week 14 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings and will be without 3 players.

Ahead of the Detroit Lions matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, the Lions have released their final injury report with three players ruled out.

Guard Kayode Awosika, LB Derrick Barnes, and CB Chase Lucas have been ruled out, and guard Evan Brown is listed as doubtful. With Awosika out and Brown likely not suiting up, the Lions are likely to lean on Dan Skipper, who has filled that spot in the past.

Barnes has been stepping up as out and switching time with Malcolm Rodriguez, who was also mending an injury. As Barnes cannot go this week, Chris Board may see some extended time, along with Anthony Pittman.

Lucas showed up late injury report, which put his status on alert, and his designation confirmed that suspicion. He has been a key special teamer but hasn’t seen much time on defense. The Lions may bring in AJ Parker for nickel corner depth.

QB Nate Sudfield, WR Kalif Raymond, and CB Jeff Okudah were all labeled as questionable with an illness. Okudah and Raymond each had limited practice giving their status a much-needed boost against the Vikings. Sudfield did not practice, so possible see a call-up for new addition Joshua Dobbs from the practice squad.

Harris’ status is more concerning because he went from not listed to limited practice to no practice throughout the week. We will have to wait and see, but it does not bode well for his chances of suiting up this week. Mike Hughes may be the one who gets pushed inside in his stead.

LT Taylor Decker, S DeShon Elliott, C Frank Ragnow, RB D’Andre Swift, and RB Jamaal Williams all hit the injury list in the week, but all practiced in full on Friday and should see all of them on Sunday.

Lions injury report: Fighting the sick bug entering Week 14

The Lions have had three players miss both days of practice for Week 14 with an illness, while three others also sat out Thursday’s session

After a very light injury report for Week 13, the Detroit Lions practice participation report for Thursday entering Week 14 might make fans a little sick.

Six Lions players sat out Thursday’s practice session. Three of them — CB Jeff Okudah, WR Kalif Raymond and QB Nate Sudfeld — sat out the second day in a row with an undisclosed illness.

The three other players who sat out:

  • OG Kayode Awosika (ankle)
  • LB Derrick Barnes (knee)
  • CB Chase Lucas (hamstring)

Lucas is a new addition; the rookie CB was a full participant on Wednesday. Both Barnes and Awosika sat out the prior day as well.

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Two starting offensive linemen upgraded from being out to limited status. Left tackle Taylor Decker (elbow) and center Frank Ragnow (foot) got more work in. Safety DeShon Elliott one-upped them, going from out on Wednesday to a full participant on Thursday with an ankle issue. Running backs D’Andre Swift (ankle) and Jamaal Williams (hand) were full participants.

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Few key Lions slated for free agency after the 2022 season

The Lions only have 3 players in the top 100 pending free agents for 2023

One of the more positive aspects of the Detroit Lions’ recent ascension up the NFL standings is how well-positioned the team is to keep the upward surge continuing long-term. The young Lions roster is geared to keep the core largely intact without losing hardly any key pieces heading into 2023.

The Lions have several players slated to hit free agency after this season ends. But only two of the pending free agents earned mention by PFF as one of the top five pending free agents at their respective positions. Wide receiver DJ Chark and right guard Evan Brown.

Those two are joined by running back Jamaal Williams as the only offensive starters with expiring contracts. Keep in mind that Williams shares that role with D’Andre Swift, while Brown was supposed to be the backup center instead of the starting right guard–though he’s played well enough to keep a starting gig.

On defense, there are four current starters playing out the end of their contracts:

  • LB Alex Anzalone
  • DT Isaiah Buggs
  • S DeShon Elliott
  • CB Will Harris

Cornerback Mike Hughes also plays quite a bit and started four games, though Hughes only played on special teams in the Week 13 win over Jacksonville. Kicker Michael Badgley, who has been excellent since taking over midseason, is also slated for free agency.

The Lions have contractual control over every other starter on both sides of the ball. Only Chark (53), Hughes (58) and Williams (85) earned places in the top 100 pending free agents from NFL Trade Rumors. That list probably needs to be updated with Williams as the top free agent talent in Detroit, but the broader point remains: the core of the Lions team will come back largely intact.

Even better, the Lions can augment that ample young talent with enough cap room to sign more impactful free agents than the current Lions who will be playing elsewhere in 2023. Detroit currently sits 12th in terms of available cap room entering 2023, per Over the Cap. If GM Brad Holmes wants to bring valuable players like Williams, Badgley or Elliott back — and they all very well could be — the team still has enough cap room and flexibility to bring in strong outside talent.

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