METAIRIE (AP) — Saints rookie right tackle
Bryce Harris is so grateful to have a chance to play in the NFL he isn't
about
to complain about the timing of his first career start, which is
likely to come this Sunday against a San Francisco defense
featuring some of the best pass-rushers in the NFL.
"I'm just glad to have the opportunity to start," Harris said following practice Thursday. "I'm lucky for all this to happen
to me. I've just got to take advantage of my opportunities."
Harris entered the NFL with Atlanta as an
undrafted rookie out of Fresno State and made the Falcons' practice
squad before
being signed to New Orleans' active roster in early September.
Harris did not play a down until being pressed into service
last week at Oakland, after Charles Brown went down with a right
knee injury. Brown had been playing in place of injured starter
Zach Strief, who has been sidelined since Nov. 5, when he injured
his left groin during a victory over Philadelphia.
"It was nerve racking, obviously. Not warmed at all," Harris recalled of his unplanned debut in Oakland. "My head was just
racing."
The Saints went on to win 38-17, and although Harris was beaten a few times after he first went in, he seemed to settle into
his role as the game wore on.
"Bryce did a good job last week," said
Strief, who returned to practice on a limited basis this week.
"Obviously, he gets
tossed into the fire in the middle of a two-minute drill. That's
less than ideal. I feel his pain. I've been in this situation
before. It's not easy physically. It's not easy mentally,
especially as your first reps in a live game."
Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt said Thursday that Strief looked good in practice and appears to be ahead of schedule,
but he stopped short of saying whether the veteran starter would be ready to play by Sunday.
For now, all signs point to Harris making his first start against the 49ers, whose lineup features defensive stars such as
linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith.
The 49ers allow an NFL-low 13.4 points per
game. They have allowed 277.2 yards per game, which ranks second in the
league.
Aldon Smith has 15 sacks this season. Defensive end Justin Smith
and linebacker Ahmad Brooks are also top play-makers on one
of the league's best defenses.
Harris said he doubts the 49ers would change to their already successful defensive scheme just to challenge him, but he expects
San Francisco to try to test him early, one way or another.
"I'm sure the first play Brooks is going to come off full blast and try to knock me out and just try to put that intimidation
into me," Harris said. "I'm expecting it and I'm just going to handle it accordingly."
Harris said that if he does start, he will be glad he had last week's experience, along with a full week of practice with
the first team. Coaches have also noted that there are ways to help inexperience tackles by having running backs and tight
ends deliver more "chip" blocks.
"Last week let me get all the nerves out so I
don't feel nervous," Harris said. "This week I got all the reps with
the first-team.
So I got what (the 49ers are) going to do defensively."
Harris noted that Strief has been tutoring him and that playing alongside right guard Jahri Evans, and All-Pro last season,
helps as well.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he thought Harris looked "very calm and comfortable" for a player seeing his first NFL
action. Strief echoed those comments.
"He's a really good athlete, strong player,"
Strief said. "He has picked our stuff up extremely well. We have a lot
of nuances
in our technique and he's really on top of that stuff. ... You see
so much improvement week to week and he's a good player.
He's a guy I think all of us have plenty of faith in.
NOTES: CBs Corey White (right knee) and
Elbert Mack (concussion) missed their second day of practice this week,
meaning the
Saints might have only three healthy cornerbacks Sunday: starters
Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson, and cornerback Johnny
Patrick. Vitt said Malcolm Jenkins, who was drafted as a
cornerback before moving to safety in 2010, could step in as a
cornerback
if necessary. ... Also not practicing were defensive end Junior
Galette (left ankle) and linebacker Ramon Humber (illness).
RB Darren Sproles (left hand), who has missed the last three
games, practiced fully.