Harrison knows Thunder players share the blame

Vindicator staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — If they’re going to play as a unit, they’d better think like a unit.

That’s why Larry Harrison doesn’t want the defensive backs to look like the bad guys — the guys who are taking the heat for giving up 441 points for the Mahoning Valley Thunder, which is scoring only 269.

The anemic offense deserves some of the blame, too, but observers tend to look at the higher number and dwell on it.

Harrison, the noseman who eventually took after Carlos Spinner broke his leg, has started the last three games.

The 6-3, 310 Harrison showed some life in the Thunder’s last game on May 8 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when he sacked Ryan Vena for a 6-yard loss in the first quarter, then ran down Jacob Hobbs from behind after the 6-4, 315 tight end caught a pass for a 7-yard gain in the game at the Covelli Centre.

But victory eluded Mahoning Valley again as the Thunder lost, 73-37.

It was the sixth straight loss for the af2 team, which had a bye last weekend.

“Fans always want to have a winning team,” Harrison said of the Thunder’s one-win season so far. “Once we eliminate the mistakes and play mistake-free football, we’ll win a lot more games.”

Mistakes were rampant early in the Wilkes-Barre game, and Mahoning Valley trailed, 14-0, after the first two minutes.

The Thunder gets another shot at victory this week when Mahoning Valley plays at Manchester, N.H. on Friday.

Harrison, a former NAIA Texas College player with no previous af2 experience, delineated the indoor game.

“Compared to outdoors, the indoor game is slightly different,” Harrison said of pressure delivered from a defensive lineman such as himself.

“You have to make a move so much quicker. You only have a certain amount of time to get to the ball. The majority of quarterbacks in arena are three-step ... 1-2-3 boom! and the ball is gone. We have to do a better job of getting our hands up and knocking down passes, as well as getting a rush on the quarterback.

“Outdoors, you have a little more time to get in a quarterback’s face and hit him. In this game, it’s more getting in the passing lane, getting hands up and deflecting passes.”

Harrison’s contribution against Wilkes-Barre was a good sign.

“We’re doing a better job creating pressure, so it’s going to make the DBs look a lot better.”

Larry Harrison — no relation to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison — said he’s still adjusting to his position.

He’s used to shading an opposing player instead of lining up head-on.

“When you’re playing nose-up, it’s a slightly different game, but I’m starting to make adaptations to it and play better.”

Harrison did not start until the fifth game of the season. He was inactive the previous two games and he wasn’t on the team for the first two.

He commented on some of the opponents he’s faced so far.

“The toughest I played against would probably be Tulsa. I’m not a fan of offensive linemen, so it’s hard for me to give them credit.”

If Tuesday’s practice session was more spirited than usual, it’s because the Thunder is hungry for a win.

“We don’t have a lot of team rivalries,” said Harrison, meaning the team doesn’t have a lot of bickering. “We want it. We’ve been working for it.”

Recently, James Harrison, the NFL defensive player of the year, said he’d skip an invitation to the White House to honor the Super Bowl champion Steelers.

It’s doubtful Larry Harrison would turn down the invitation.