Lions Acquire Orien Harris from Rams for Ronald Curry

by Sean Yuille on Jul 22, 2009 5:13 PM EDT in Roster Comment 15 comments

For the second time in the last month or so, the Lions have made a trade involving a wide receiver, this time sending Ronald Curry to the Rams in exchange for defensive tackle Orien Harris. At the end of last month, the Lions acquired Dennis Northcutt from the Jaguars, adding more depth to the wide receiver position. It is now becoming apparent that that move was made because the Lions weren't completely happy with the slot WR position. Curry was signed earlier in the offseason to shore up depth at WR and play the slot. By trading for Northcutt, Curry then became expendable, and the Lions decided that it was time to start shoring up depth on the defensive line.

Orien Harris is only entering his fifth season in the league and the Lions are already his seventh different team. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2006 but finished the year with the Browns. He then went to the Bills in 2007 but finished the year with the Saints. In 2008, he had 14 tackles for the Bengals, the only team he played for last season. Harris was traded back in May to the Rams, the team that dealt him to the Lions today.

It doesn't appear that Harris will suddenly become a starter or anything like that, but the Lions have an enormous need for depth at defensive tackle, and that is what he will provide -- depth. Considering the Lions no longer had a need for Ronald Curry after picking up Dennis Northcutt, this move was made to shore things up at DT. The defensive line in general is hurting for depth, so this trade was definitely made to add a big man (Harris is 6-3, 300 lbs.) to the D-line.

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I like it

Need more fat guys on the DL. Even if he is only another 1 year stopgap, he can spell Grady on the passing downs.

by JazzyBBP on Jul 22, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Job

Front office, keep up the hard work. There are still diamonds in the rough out there that can help our team.

by Brefstink on Jul 22, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Depth is good

I expect him to see at least some time on the line this season, especially with Grady’s suspension.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 22, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

excellent

more fat guys!! lol!!

i like the new front office getting something for players that wont make the team or are expendable, rather than keeping them around for a year, cutting them, and getting nothing for them, or worse, getting inferior players for pro-bowlers. this was an even trade that addressed a need for both teams.

im a little surprised that curry was let go, i auctually thought bryant johnson was expendable. kudos for the trade!!

by big smoove on Jul 22, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

This makes the Northcutt-Alexander trade make a little more sense. I think that it had more to do with Curry and D.Williams not impressing in the slot than anything else. At least this time they went for a much needed position. I guess we’ll see in a few weeks if Harris is worth anything. Don’t really know anything about him. Looks like he’s got decent size, though.

by DrewsLions on Jul 23, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why do you guys think he is a 'big guy'?

After listening to people on this site whine about how ‘undersized’ Raiola [296 pounds] and Backus [305 pounds] are we are going to turn around a call Harris [300 pounds] big?
David Thornton apparently did not want to sign with Detroit because he was being pressured to bulk up and add weight if he did. He was listed at 297 pounds. People applauded the Lions stance then. Where is the consistency?

Three hundred pounds is pretty much a minimum for a DT anymore unless you are some kind of athletic, super strong monster.

by NorthLeft12 on Jul 23, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

I initially wrote him off as another undersized guy, but this scouting report from FOXsports is really insightful: http://foxsports.foxnews.com/other/story/5528180/Orien-Harris-Draft-Profile

Basically, he’s got the perfect frame—shorter, wider, huge wingspan, big hands. He’s built like a two-gap tackle, he’s just played at too lean of a weight to play that role. At Miami, his natural strength allowed him sack the quarterback 11 times while he played there; I think he might have been a run-stuffer being forced into a pass-rusher’s role.

Assuming he’s willing to be gain the weight John Thornton wouldn’t, Harris could end up being a factor. I no longer like Landon Cohen’s chance of making the roster.

Peace
Ty

http://thelionsinwinter.blogspot.com

by ty@thelionsinwinter on Jul 23, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I said "decent" size... not huge or big

My point was that he’s not a 280 lb DT

by DrewsLions on Jul 23, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Drew, I was not being specific to you.

The main story body, Beef99’s FanPost, and numerous comments on both kept referring to him as a big man/run stuffer/fat guy etc. . I guess I got tired of hearing about this great find/trade by the Lions. I would be willing to bet that he does not make our final roster.
It is worth a shot though, as Curry was probably not making the team and we are desperate for DTs.

by NorthLeft12 on Jul 23, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whos Got The Right Stats On Him???

i look everytime at different articles covering the trade and everyone is either wrong or misinterpreted or something ….one article has him at 5 years pro with 7 diff teams then we have 3 year pro with 5 diff teams i hoping for an article to say 4 years pro 6 diff teams …lol

is it that no one can keep stats correctly ?

or that they dont really give a crap that the TRADE involves the lions?
“what trade with the LIONS?You hear that Bob?….What!?What?..Pigs in a Blanket? Yeah i Heard that right ….Pigs in a Blanket Trade with Lions -todays headlines….pass it on”

LOL what a joke and everyone will still write about it because they all read and copy the article they just read

by phil_165 on Jul 23, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Check my blog

I’m pretty sure I’ve got the timeline right:

http://thelionsinwinter.blogspot.com/2009/07/martin-mayhew-mercantile.html

Peace
Ty

http://thelionsinwinter.blogspot.com

by ty@thelionsinwinter on Jul 23, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The differences are probably due to the fact that he never actually played in games for a few of his teams

The Steelers, Bills, and Rams were his teams in the offseason only.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Jul 23, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For example, NFL.com only lists him as playing for 4 teams

http://www.nfl.com/players/orienharris/careerstats?id=HAR502375

They don’t have him recording stats for the Bills or Rams. They also list his experience as “2nd season” even though they have stats going back to 2006. His profile seems all messed up.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Jul 23, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs