Victor Harris versus Jerraud Powers

by LukeM on Apr 27, 2009 3:31 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

In Bamock's excellent review of the Colts' picks, he questions why the Colts picked Jerraud Powers when another cornerback, Victor Harris, was still available. Harris is two inches taller (5'11" compared to 5'9") although one pound lighter (187lbs to 188lbs). Without having ever heard either player speak, I thought the Colts may have been attracted to Powers' intelligence. It seems like they prioritize intelligence, and Colts' draftpicks sound similar to each other when they speak. So if there is an important difference that makes up for Powers' disadvantage in height, maybe it was that. I was kicking myself for never having heard Donald Brown speak, because he sounds just like a typical Colt, and I could have looked smart by predicting him as the Colts' pick. Anthony Gonzalez was the same way.

So I looked for video of Powers and Harris speaking. I expected that Harris might be less articulate but there really isn't enough apples to apples video to draw that conclusion, and Harris presents himself well in the few clips that I could find. Still, Powers sounds like a Colt, and I think that watching the video below will help convince people that he was a good pick.

Here is Powers talking at length to reporters after practice at Auburn. In this clip he is very relaxed and not watching his words as closely as Brown or Gonzalez in their first interviews as Colts, but as it goes on he reveals how hard he works, how smart he is, and how well he gets along with his coaches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydBSOIp1JHI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Djerraud%2520powers%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26tab%3Dwv&feature=player_embedded

Here is Powers talking about Dean Chizik being hired as the new coach at Auburn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7JsPHWWeTg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Djerraud%2520powers%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26tab%3Dwv&feature=player_embedded

Here is Victor Harris talking to Philly radio after being picked by the Eagles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VduH9DHXSm8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dvictor%2520harris%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26tab%3Dwv&feature=player_embedded

Like I said, he speaks well, demonstrates a nice personality, and says all the right things. There's no ground for questioning his intelligence or character.

He appears early in this video recapping a big win:

http://hokies.fandome.com/video/107073/Virginia-Tech-vs-UVA-2008-Recap/

He's sounds still excited about the game, but he reminds me of Bob Sanders with his enthusiasm for the younger players on the team.

So Victor sounds like a smart guy who enjoys playing and would fit in well, but I would say Powers' personality is clearly suited to the Colts, even if Victor would have been a good fit as well. I expected a bigger difference before I found the videos, but that's based only on the fact that the Colts picked one over the other. Maybe it was a tough choice for them. At the very least, we shouldn't be surprised or disappointed that Powers is a Colt.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

1 recs | Comment 9 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

You're right

I mentioned several times awhile back about how much I liked Donald Brown after I heard him in an interview on Sirius. That’s actually about the time where I thought the Colts may target him. I wasn’t surprised by the pick at all.

I do think that the Colts were targetting Hood in the second, and if they were in the same situation with Moala off the board and Hood still there, I think they would’ve done the exact same trade to get him. I think they were a little shocked the Steelers would take Hood over Moala. Moala actually played the 5 tech in a 3-4 at USC, so I think they figured the Steelers would target him over Hood. After the Steelers took Hood, I think that’s when the decision to try to move up to get Moala (who’s also a very well spoken player and a community activist) was made.

I think you’re 100% right when you think the Colts take articulation as a sign of intelligence, and intelligence as a requirement to become a Colt.

Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.

by monstersbox on Apr 27, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Excellent Post LukeM

I like that you look at the character/mental aspect of each players and considered that in the opinion. The links are interesting to take a look at to see if there’s a difference between the two players personalities or intelligence based upon how they speak. I would give Powers the nod on intelligence, but it seems both players are high character. I would also give Powers the not as a speaker, though Harris isn’t close to being a bad speaker for his team either. Nice angle, way to take it a step deeper! Rec’d!

by bamock on Apr 27, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Victor Harris or Jerraud Powers...

WE DECIDE!

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 27, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

Here is an article with a couple of quotes from Powers

http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042609aaa.html

Apparently, the Colts showed a lot of interest in him before the draft.

by LukeM on Apr 27, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

Colts plan to makeover defense?

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090427/ARTICLES/904275021/1142?Title=Powers-answers-Colts-call

The Colts told Powers that his ability to play both man and zone, as well as his physical play made him an obvious choice. In the wake of coach Tony Dungy’s retirement, Indianapolis plans to makeover its Cover 2 defense and switch to more man-to-man.

This shocking passage is not substantiated in the article with quotations from the Colts, and so it seems like this is something that Powers passed on to the writer after talking with the Colts.

by LukeM on Apr 27, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

it's pretty easy to run more man than Indy has in the past

Indy’s lack of variation in defensive scheme was unusual it looks like Coyer will mix it up a bit more. I don’t think there are radical changes coming, but it looks like the days of Indy having 2 looks (Tampa-2 and Cover-3/BSBD) are over.

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 27, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point

I think “makeover” is the author’s word and not Powers’ or the Colts’.

by LukeM on Apr 27, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

More on the switch to man-to-man coverage

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1240823712215150.xml&coll=3

“I think I fit in well,” Powers said. “They run a cover-2-type scheme and they’re trying to go back to playing a lot of man, and what they liked about me is that I can play both. I have the toughness. They liked that I was physical as a corner, and they liked that I can play zone or can line up and play man-on-man coverage.”

The author of the article I linked to previously must have paraphrased this comment, which is quoted in this article. I know the Colts don’t always play zone in coverage, but I wonder just how big of a “tweak” Coyer is really planning.

by LukeM on Apr 27, 2009 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

I like both of those guys

was a big fan of Macho Harris especially after seeing a piece about his upbringing and family situation while watching draft coverage either on ESPN or NFL Network.

I like what I see of Powers too from this stuff. I hope he can contribute right away.

I would like to see Chad Ocho Cinco traded to a team that already has a #85 on the roster. Then, I would like to see #85 refuse to give up his jersey number to Chad Ocho Cinco. That would make my day....

by AceOfSpades on Apr 27, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions