Intel on new Saint CFL Signing Erik Harris from @scratchingpost

I caught up with Drew Edwards who is a beat writer for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Ticats for short). Think of him as the Nick Underhill equivalent for the Ticats up in Canada. He was nice enough to give us a lot of intel on the Saints’ recent pickup, former CFL player Erik Harris. Many thanks to Drew for taking the time, make sure you check him out on twitter and his website – 3DownNation.

Here’s what Drew had to say:

“Whether CFL players make the transition to the NFL is dependent on so many factors and it’s difficult to predict. Breaux was a special case because he had an NFL-calibre skill set – tall, fast, physical – who couldn’t get a look because of his injury history. He used the CFL to prove his neck was 100 per cent. 

Harris’ greatest strength in the CFL might be a hindrance in the NFL – his versatility. He’s got a tweener body type – potentially too big for the secondary, too small for linebacker – that leaves many guys in NFL no-mans-land but is perfect for the CFL’s more wide-open game. But he can run really well for a guy his size and played every special teams role under the sun for the Ticats: that may be his ticket to making the Saints as well. 

How is he in coverage: solid but not spectacular. Me might struggle against really fast guys one-on-one but he’s physical and athletic. 

Harris and Breaux are similar in one way: they are legitimately humble, hard-working guys. I’ve covered countless players in seven years on the beat and these two rank among my favourites. They have confidence without ego and are committed to the game, not the lifestyle. Both guys took their time in the CFL seriously, embraced it as legitimate opportunity: not every American player does it. Both were popular with coaches, teammates, fans and the media. 

I often say that I don’t cheer for the Ticats but I find myself wanting certain players to do well. Harris (and Breaux) fall into that category. “