IDP Spotlight: SS Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints

  Posted 8/13 by Larry Thomas - Exclusive to Footballguys.com

In 2007, Harper's second season, he finished 75-15-4 with 11 PDs, 3 INTs and a pair of forced fumbles. His 75 solos ranked 13th among DBs and his 4 sacks were tops among defensive backs. Harper's numbers tailed off in 2008 going 82-7-0 with no picks or PDs. However, much of that had to do with how he was forced to be used. Harper was hung out in coverage too often.

Many feel Harper will be the primary beneficiary of new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams aggressive/attack defense he's installing in New Orleans this year. In minicamp, Harper was seen blitzing off the edges, through the A gap, and from the second level. He had a pair of sacks in one series vs the first team offense and several more during the four-day minicamp. He was also very active in run support, playing in the box often. Last year, Harper suffered from poor play from the corners and free safety forcing him into coverage far too often. It appears that Williams will play to Harper's strengths more this season, which means less time in center field and more time up near the line of scrimmage.

The addition of four-time Pro Bowler Darren Sharper will also be a huge benefit. Sharper will be making the calls in the secondary freeing up Harper to attack the line of scrimmage. Sharper feels Harper has Pro Bowl-level talent, and last year Zach Thomas basically said the same thing about Dallas' Bradie James after minicamp and OTAs. Teammate Scott Fujita said Harper has had one of the most impressive offseasons of any teammate he has seen. Just as he was when he entered the NFL coming out of Alabama, Harper is underrated and is much better than many give him credit for.

Positives

• In 2007 showed he is capable of putting up very nice numbers across the board… 75 solos / 15 assists / 4 sacks / 3 INTs / 11 PDs / 2 FF
• Plays fast, can wrap up, and is a leader on the field.
• Has the intangibles that DC Williams looks for in a strong safety.
• Will benefit having an experienced, Pro Bowl free safety playing alongside him.
• Could have a lot of opportunities in the box if the New Orleans offense is a potent as expected.

Negatives

• Is not great in coverage, lacks good recovery speed.
• Can sometimes play out of control.
• Injuries in the secondary could force him into more coverage responsibilities.
  

Final Thoughts

Harper is a coach's son who is instinctive, very smart, and brings a linebacker mentality with his tough, physical presence. He will fit in Williams' scheme very well playing the key strong safety position. Harper is a prime candidate for a breakout season and to be a big-time playmaker in this scheme. Williams has compared Harper to Blaine Bishop, former Tennessee Titans safety who blossomed into a four-time Pro Bowler under Williams in Tennessee.

As he did in 2007, don't be surprised to see him lead the league in sacks again for defensive backs. If he plays up on the line as much as he did this spring, 90+ solos are within reach. The Saints haven't had a Pro Bowl safety since Sammy Knight (2001), but Harper certainly has the potential to break that drought. He is a very solid DB2, with DB1 upside.

Quotes from the IDP Spotlight Message Thread

To view the entire thread, click here.

Jene Bramel:
"I think Harper is a top five fantasy defensive back this year. He's proven himself a capable run support player and has flashed big play ability in the past. He'll be in a more aggressive scheme, play in the box often and should benefit from the replacement level talent the Saints have at OLB. He's averaged five solo tackles per game for his career and there's little reason to expect he won't continue that pace in 2008."

trader jake:
"I'm also drinking the Roman Harper Kool-Aid. The stars appear to be aligning for him to have a very nice 2009 season."

Aaron Rudnicki:
"Harper proved that he was capable of performing like an elite fantasy safety in 2007 when he finished the year with 75 solos, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. While his tackle numbers improved slightly in 2008, his big-play numbers fell off dramatically. The addition of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, however, should bring a much more aggressive approach to the defense and Harper figures to benefit as much as anyone else. Early reports indicate that he will see plenty of time playing up near the line of scrimmage and get frequent opportunities to contribute as a blitzer. Look for a rebound in big-play numbers and a return to DB1 status for Harper this year."

Projections

IDP Scoring System

• 1.5 pts per Solo Tackle
• 0.75 pts per Assisted Tackle
• 4 pts per Sack
• 4 pts per Forced Fumble
• 4 pts per Fumble Recovery
• 5 pts per Interception
• 1.5 pts per Pass Defensed
• 6 pts per Touchdown
• 2 pts per Safety