Harris and Clements: Together at last

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, August 23, 2007  |  Comments( 16 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Together, they had 150 tackles, 11 interceptions, seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 39 passes defended and a sack in 2006. And Saturday night, for the first time, San Francisco 49er cornerbacks Nate Clements and Walt Harris will be on the field at the same time.

Harris missed the first two preseason games with a strained calf, but he expects to play at least a quarter -- possibly a half -- against the Chicago Bears, the team that originally drafted him.

One might expect Harris to feel some resentment at the publicity storm surrounding Clements' $80 million contract -- after all, Harris arguably had a better season statistically last season -- but the 12-year veteran from Mississippi State doesn't see it that way.

For Harris, the arrival of Clements means that opposing quarterbacks won't react to his Pro Bowl season by trying to avoid his section of the field.

"When you have a guy of Nate's caliber coming in, that just confirms your mindset, to be ready," Harris told the San Jose Mercury News. "And I know the ball is definitely going to be coming to my side."

But teams will avoid Clements at their peril. Harris has had his moments over the years as he put in time with the Bears, Colts and Redskins -- as a Bear rookie in 1996, he had 113 tackles and 18 passes defensed -- but injuries and other factors kept him from consistent excellence. Until last year.

In 2006, even on a San Francisco defense that struggled, Harris dominated.

That shouldn't be the case this year, because Clements is a dominant corner in his own right. The 49ers haven't had two All-Pros at that position since 1994, when Deion Sanders and Eric Davis were the starting cornerbacks on a squad that went on to win the Super Bowl.

Clements, an ex-Buffalo Bill, has been battling his own wide receivers during two-a-days, especially fellow newcomer Darrell Jackson. And Harris has been pacing the sidelines, eager to join in on the fun.

During the offseason, Harris worked out with the Redskins' Shawn Springs.

"He (Harris) had more interceptions than our whole team," Springs said. "Whatever he's doing, I've got to start doing it, too."
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