Ryan Harris is going to be the Denver Broncos starting right tackle. Mark that down!
People often make bold predictions in training camp and speculate on who might win a starting job, or which veteran might get cut, but this prediction is far from bold, and should calm some Broncos fans nerves.
For the fifth straight day, Harris has worked with the first unit at right tackle. Moreover, on a day when rookie Max Garcia worked with the starters at left guard and Matt Paradis, who spent last year on the practice squad, was your starting center, Harris, not Chris Clark continued to start right tackle.
“We just feel like he’s picked it up, he’s doing some really good stuff,” Head Coach Gary Kubiak said. “I’ve had Ryan before. I really like this Ryan that’s with us right now. I think he’s really focused.”
The chance to start in Denver, where his career began and where his family has made their off-season home, even as Harris continued playing in other cities, isn’t lost on the 8-year vet.
“I just want to make the most of my opportunities,” Harris said. “It’s a long training camp and at the same time, it’s a short time, until we’re live on the first game. I’ve had the most fun I’ve had in my whole career. It’s great to be in an offense I’m familiar with, because it’s less time learning. I can be free out there.”
If you polled a dozen Broncos fans on the street, they’d probably all agree that the offensive line is the biggest question mark heading into the 2015 season.
Once Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady was lost for season with a torn ACL in May, the only pillar the O-Line could count on was Louis Vasquez. In 2013 he was 1st Team All Pro at guard, but spent the last half of 2014 at right tackle. Not only is Vasquez more comfortable back at guard his life has been made easier by Harris presence next to him at tackle.
“It’s a big help, it takes some weight of my shoulders,” Vasquez said. “He’s been in the league a number of years, so any time he can help me out, I’m not focusing so much energy on really getting the whole offensive line going. He can take up part of it and that way I can just focus on my game as well. When I turn around, I feel him, and I can coach up the younger guys.”
Man oh man, this offensive line is full of younger guys. In addition to Garcia and Paradis getting work with the first team, rookie 2nd-round pick from Colorado State, Ty Sambrailo has worked every practice as the starting left tackle. So far in camp, Ben Garland, who’s taken 2 snaps from scrimmage in his career had worked at left guard, so Harris being back in a Broncos uniform is not only comforting to his fellow offensive lineman, but, has to ease the mind of 39-year old Peyton Manning as well.
Harris knows he has a future Hall of Famer behind him, so keeping pass rushers off him is more critical than when he was blocking for Jay Cutler or Kyle Orton here.
“Hey, you gotta keep him upright,” Harris said with a smile. “It’s great to be with a quarterback (that has) so much knowledge. It’s crazy to be at this point right now.”
In a lot of ways it his crazy for Harris to be at this point right now, considering in 2011 his career seemed to be in jeopardy after the Eagles released him following training camp because of a back issue.
Harris began his career in Denver, when Mike Shanahan selected him in the 3rd Round of the 2007 draft. He made 34 of his 54 career starts in a Broncos uniform. He wasn’t always healthy, but when he was, he was solid at right tackle. Because he wasn’t always healthy, the Broncos chose to let him walk as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season. When the Eagles released him, he was back in Denver not sure if his back would allow him to play again.
In 2012, as Head Coach of the Texans Kubiak, and Harris’ former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Rick Dennison gave him a shot in Houston. He started 5 games in 2 seasons, but his career was back on track. Last year, Harris started 15 games for the Chiefs.
When Clady went down, Kubiak and Dennison, literally, had to just look down the road to add some offensive line depth, as they signed Harris. Chris Clark began camp as the starting right tackle, but by the second day, Harris supplanted him. Although Kubiak said before camp there would be a lot of shuffling on the offensive line, Harris doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
Also, Clark had a shot to start at right tackle in 2014, after filling in admirably for Ryan Clady in 2013 at left tackle, and his time on the right side was short lived (five games to be exact). The fact is, Clark’s best role may be as the backup to both tackles.
“He’s a pro. I think he sees an opportunity and is taking advantage of it,” Kubiak said. “It’s nothing against Chris (Clark). Chris will continue to swing, but I think Ryan’s deserving of more reps right now and he’s doing a good job with it.”
Kubiak did allude to the fact that Michael Schofield, the second-year player who missed practice with a back issue, would probably get a look with the first team at some point, but Harris, who knows all too well about back issues, isn’t worried.
“They told me there was an opportunity to come in and show my abilities,” Harris said. “I always place higher expectations on myself than others place on me.”
Harris isn’t taking his second stint with The Broncos for granted, either. He knows the game can be taken away from him, and it’s clear he has a perspective that can only be gained by age.
“It’s a blessing to be here, my family’s happy that we’re staying put. Every aspect you can imagine, both personally and professionally, this is a great experience.”
If things continue down this path, Harris presence could be a blessing for the Broncos too.
