Funny you mention week opponents, but fail to realize that Al Harris is good. So good, in fact, that if you really look at his play, you'll see that the opponent top receiver is usually shut down by Harris. He struggled earlier this year, but his performance against Boldin was a sign that he's back on track.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=525111
Cornerback Al Harris, as per usual, drew the assignment of covering the opponent's best wide receiver. This time it was Anquan Boldin.
Boldin entered the game having caught 44 passes for 561 yards - averages of 6.3 catches and 80.1 yards per game. Boldin finished the day with four catches for 47 yards. Harris was credited with four passes broken up, as he consistently stayed tight on Boldin and reached in as the ball arrived.
"A great job," fellow cornerback Charles Woodson said of Harris' work on Boldin. "Al is definitely one of the best corners in this game and definitely should be looked at as far as going to the Pro Bowl."
Harris made some noise during the off-season about a possible holdout because he felt he was underpaid. He reported to camp and was as culpable as anyone when the pass defense struggled in the first month.
Now he seems to be back on his game.
"It's nothing different than the past three years," Harris said. "Match me up with who you're going to match me up on. Not to take anything away from the guy. I think he's a great receiver, but that's what I do."
A week earlier he drew Miami's Chris Chambers and held him to two catches for 29 yards.
Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders was asked if it seems Harris has started to play with a chip on his shoulder of late.
"Al has always been a very good player, so I think he always plays that way," Sanders said. "He likes the challenge of being on a good guy and he accepts that challenge. He again had a good day today and hopefully he will continue to do that."
Harris had a chance for an even bigger day, but for the second time this season he dropped an interception that was right in his hands. This time the drop occurred on the fourth play of the game and it would have set the Packers up in Arizona territory.
Edit: Before people jump all over me, I know theyre ranked #1 in defensive yards, but if you can run all over a team why would you risk a pass?
