Rodney Harrison has always been known to speak his mind, and with his jump to NBC Sports, he has no qualms about criticizing anything he doesn't agree with. No team has immunity from Harrison's sharp opinions, not even the Patriots.
Harrison spoke about his dissatisfaction with the defense during an interview with Mutt and Merloni on WEEI Thursday afternoon.
"At times, I'm very disappointed at the secondary," Harrison said. "It's not like they have such an exotic scheme where it's so difficult. It's not a difficult system to play in. They're playing base coverages — Cover 1, some Cover 4, some Cover 3 and Cover 2. It's not very difficult to play in that system. At times, I saw lack of concentration. Things that you learn at the beginning of training camp, things that you learn in minicamp, things that you learn throughout the week."
Harrison also said that while he had seen improvement in the playoffs, the defense still had missed coverages, and the Patriots' defense might not be as lucky against Eli Manning.
The former Patriots safety was also asked about Devin McCourty taking snaps at Harrison's old position. Harrison isn't sold that the second year cornerback has what it takes to be an upper echelon safety.
"He's not going to be a great safety," said Harrison. "He can be a serviceable safety. He has some versatility, a lot of athletic ability. And I think moving him around is a good idea, because now it keeps him interested, it keeps him intrigued."
Earlier this season, Vince Wilfork made the comment that he wasn't happy that Harrison had been making critical comments. Harrison responded to those claims by stating one simple fact: It's what he’s being paid to do.
"It's our job. It wouldn't be fair to the fans, it wouldn't be fair to us or the people that employ us if we couldn't come out and speak the truth about the Patriots like we do 31 other teams," said Harrison. "It's just a matter of them not worrying about what people outside that locker room talk about. Because it really doesn't matter what we say. And I had the same approach when I was inside that locker room."
