I like Vilma as much as the next JETS fan. Along with his toughness on the field, mobility in the 4-3, and leadership on and off the field, he had a great rookie season. But Harris is proving that he is an ideal 3-4 LB. He has the strength to shed blocks and make tackles close to the line of scrimmage, he possesses a keen sense of where the ball is, and he covers the field regardless of where the play is going. I think Harris is having an astounding start for a D that we've been crushing on this forum since Day 1.
Vilma is a specialized player that is very productive when the pieces are in place and he is free to roam, but in my mind a 'dominant' linebacker doesn't require all the pieces to be in place to be effective. They stand out and make the players around them better, as we see Harris doing. Vilma had a standout rookie year but people saying he had a great supporting cast are right. The line in front of him was superior that season.
Harris is a much better player for the Jets, but Vilma dominated and won DROY, we don't necessarily know that Harris will win that award...
Harris. Vilma was a rookie LB behind a sick front 4 that dominated ALOT of games. it was very easy from him to use his speed to make plays at or behind the LOS. Harris is producing beyond what Vilma did, basically w/ a misfit 3 man line that does not protect the backers very well at all.
I voted for Harris because you told me I had to. Why have a poll? "...you have to vote for Harris though."
I think everyone who says Vilma wasn't dominate is very misguided. In his first two years he made the play when we needed it. i remember him getting an interception to seal a game. Force a fumble to do the same, and made tackles everywhere, to lead the league . Just because his numers dropped due to the system he plays in does not mean he is not an excellent player and yes, dominate. I'm voting for Harris. This guy has been mind blowing.
Harris is playing very well for a rookie in a tough situation, but, like I said before, our defense was top 5 against the run Vilma's rookie year... I think you have to attribute a lot of that to the team's leading tackler that year, Vilma... Add to that how badly our D sucks this year, and how much better Vilma is in pass coverage, and I thought the choice was easy.... The comparison really isn't fair though, considering a few things... #1) Although it may seem like they play the same position, they really don't. 4-3 MLB and 3-4 ILB are very different positions. #2) The defense was a lot better in 2004 than in 2007. Those who argue for Harris in this thread, obviously site that as support for their argument, using the 'he has done more with less,' angle. Those who argue for Vilma, like myself, also use it in support of their argument, considering that Vilma was a very big part of that 2004 defense. #3) Tackle numbers are always going to be higher for players on a bad defense. This makes the statistical analysis, as far as tackles go, null and void. #4) The Vilma freshest in Jet fans memories is the average, undersized playing in the wrong scheme, 3-4 ILB Vilma. The Harris freshest in Jets fans memories is the very good LB who was drafted to play in the 3-4, and is proving he fits the scheme. If the roles were reversed, I'd assume the vote would look exactly the same, only inverted. Either way, it's never a bad thing to draft two excellent LBs in 4 years
Where did you get those numbers from? According to NFL.com and a couple other sports sites, he's had 52 tackles over his last 3 starts.
He has 52 solo, and 25 assists for a total of 77 according to ESPN. That's for the year though. In the last 3 games he's had 52 total. Still amazing though. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8301
I'm sorry, but after reading all the comments in this thread, I've come to the conclusion that this thread is fucking bullshit. All of you who are saying Harris, get the hell out of here... Vilma in a 4-3 defense is the generally the best player on the field. He is and was a top 5 LB in the NFL. Don't give me that shit that he didn't dominate and make big plays, Vilma was a fucking beast. I've seen comments saying not to judge Vilma based on his large tackle amounts, and then other's defending Harris...with his large tackle amounts. You people (who chose Harris) have a really bad memory, all you care about is now, and what a piece of shit Vilma is for us now, compared to Harris, but if we were playing a 4-3 defense we would never be having this discussion, you know why, because Vilma would continue to be a dominating force. I mean I bet if I asked who's the better Jets QB, KC or Chad, you'd all say chad...forgetting that despite a miserable year this year, Chad is the ALL-TIME LEADER IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, and led us to many great victorious streaks and play-off runs that no one thought we could do. Vilma's not the reason our defense sucks...don't take it out on him. Vilma is the only possible answer to this question, and it's ABSURD if you think otherwise...at this point at least. Vilma WON DROY and by far, Harris is simply a candidate...you can't compare the two..
Have you NOT read this board recently? There were a lot of people screaming for Chad's head, and even now, people still maintain Kellen's the better QB. Regardless, back to the Harris/Vilma debate. If you compare Harris and Vilma based on what defense we play now, Harris appears to get the edge because he's a better fit for this defense. As far as rookie seasons? I'd like to see how Harris does in his because I refuse to base it only on a few games. I want to see him for the whole year before I vote.
You ruined your argument with your closing statement, which is absolutely right... you can't compare the two. In the context of our defense, Harris is the better player. Vilma is a better play in the 4-3. Very simple. Of course people are going to favor Harris, because the 3-4 is going nowhere, where as Vilma might be going somewhere (as in not the Jets).
Harris gets my vote. The guy looks like he'll be a sorely needed play maker on this defense for years. Vilma looked good to but it's hard for me to recall to many impact plays where you got the feeling you had a superstar on your hands. I get the feeling we've not seen the best of Harris so far, and thats why I think everyone is so optimistic about the guy.
Harris is much better because he is great for the 3-4. He is like one of the steelers linebackers who constantly blitz up the middle and make sacks and cause interceptions
Hey, tell us how you really feel! And btw, you are wrong. Vilma is not the all-star you think he is. In his rookie season he had a great DLine to play behind. The next year, Jason Ferguson went to the 'Boys and JV and our run D sucked. I seem to remember our opener that year. We played KC at home. They had a TD drive where they never passed. They ran the ball down our throats on every play. And scored. Dominant players should not collapse because one, supposedly average DT leaves the team. But please, don't burst an artery.
Actually the personnel is as strong, if not stronger, but we aren't playing the ideal scheme for the supporting cast.
