Dawgbeat 05/29/2007
"THE GHOST", A GHOST NO MORE ???
by Eric Brown
The player most anxious to get the 2007 season underway?
Try Jerome Harrison.
Harrison, who was determined to prove NFL scouts wrong after not being selected until the 5th round of the 2006 NFL Draft never had a ghost of a chance in the 2006 campaign. With Romeo Crennel's (for the most part) insistence on not playing rookies, and an offense that continually ran itself into a brick wall, Harrison's talents went unnoticed last season and most NFL prognosticators felt vindicated in their assessment of Harrison.
Enter Rob Chudzinski, thirteen pounds of muscle, and not being identified as a rookie any longer and Harrison's future is looking bright. Harrison, Washington State University's all-time single season rushing leader is looking to show that he can be an NFL calibur running back. Chudzinski, hired in the off-season as the new Offensive Coordinator is looking to blend Harrison's talents in with Jamal Lewis' power style. Chudzinski will have to look no further than his former team, the San Diego Chargers for a model for Harrison, LaDainian Tomlinson. At 5 feet 10 inches and 220 pounds, Tomlinson is the NFL's elite running back coming into the 2007 season, and may end up as the best ever. Harrison would do well to attempt to emulate him as their talents and stature are comparable. Harrison is 5 feet 9 inches and 212 pounds. Harrison, stereotyped as a change-of-pace back, wants to change the league's idea about him and prove he can play every down. Gaining thirteen pounds of muscle this off-season could go a long way to making that a reality. Harrison was solid physically in 2006 and the added muscle will only make him harder to bring down. Chudzinski, who has stated that he will build the offense around the talents of the players on the roster may have a key cog in his offensive wheel in Harrison.
Harrison felt that he should have been ranked side by side with Reggie Bush coming into the 2006 draft. He may now get the opportunity to prove that he deserved that type of ranking. If he does have a "breakout" 2007 season, his old college nickname, "The Ghost" just might have to be changed.