Canes coach proud of former pupil, the Dolphins’ top pick
DAVIE — Craig Kuligowski is considering why exactly i t i s t h a t d e f e n s i v e e n d Charles Harris, snap after snap, seems to be the first man moving on the Missouri defensive line.
Kuligowski is assistant head coach and coaches the defensive line at the University of Miami now. But he coached Harris and many other NFL defensive linemen who had a similar knack for sacking the quarterback at Mizzou.
Kuligowski realizes that Harris, the first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, explodes off the ball and works diligently on his craft and studies the opposing center’s snap count.
But what Kuligowski comes up with, in the end, is more telling. “It’s important to him,” Kuligowski said Friday afternoon as he drove around looking for another Harris one who might wear orange and green.
Then Kulogowski begins to gush. He is proud of Harris. And proud to put his neck out on the line for him.
“C h a r l e s Ha r r i s i s t h e hardest-working and one of the smartest guys I’ve ever coached,” he said. “A fierce competitor. He plays with great desire. He is a guy I expect to be very successful. He’s been successful at everything. Nothing has been given to him. A 2-star out of high school. Behind a lot of good players at Missouri. Great get-off. Can really lean. A great spin move.”
How good c an thi s late bloomer be? After all, Harris didn’t even play football until his junior year of high school.
“I think his ceiling is high,” Explosive first step Effective spin move High character and self-motivation Persistent motor Late-bloomer; not fully formed Kuligowski said. “I think that he is the kind of guy you get on a football team and he’s going to work every single day. He’s going to give the ownership everything he’s got. He took a leadership role at Missouri at an early age.”
When Kuligowski was at Missouri, another assistant named Andy Hill helped identify Harris, who was also a well - re g a rd e d baske t bal l recruit.
“And said, ‘I have this guy and he looks right and he’s got a good frame,’ ” Kuligowski recalled. “We had a need to sign a tight end or defensive end kind of guy. We weren’t sure exactly what he would play but had good potential. He just worked himself to
Lacks ideal size (6-feet-3, 253 pounds)
Must improve against the run
Must continue to add overall strength
Needs to add to passrush toolbox
Saw decrease in production in 2016 with new scheme death.”
Makes sense that a hoopster was also considered for tight end.
And Kul i gowski s ays i t makes sense Miami believes Harris can even play inside on rushing downs even though Harris is only 6-feet-3, 253 pounds.
“He is a tough player,” he said. “When I was at Missouri we moved him inside on third down. He is capable of doing that. He definitely can set the edge against the run. Has a great first step. He’s got a lot of confidence and he plays with a lot of confidence. People will love him in Miami. Because it’s important to him.”