Chris Harris Jr. knows a thing or two about quarterbacks.
He’s studied them every week in game preparation. He’s always kept an eye on them in practices, so he’s seen the peak of Peyton Manning and the valley of the Broncos’ infamous QB carousel. In Denver, he saw the Broncos go through 10 different starting quarterbacks in nine seasons, from the last five games of Kyle Orton in orange and blue to the first five contests of Drew Lock.
When the Los Angeles Chargers signed Harris in March, their quarterback plan was unsettled. A month later, they picked Herbert, and when they were finally permitted to convene for training camp after COVID-19 canceled in-person practices, it did not take long for Herbert to catch Harris’ savvy eyes.
“From Day One, I knew in training camp that he had all the talent, all the capabilities to be great in this league for a long time, and he’s very poised in the pocket, he’s very smart, he can take a hit, he can run, he can make all the throws,” Harris said. “This kid is the total package in what you want. And great leadership, guys feed off him. We try to rally around him and we want to win for him.”
Leadership was a critique of Herbert during the pre-draft process after his matriculation at the University of Oregon, but it has vanished over the course of a season in which the rookie has made the Chargers his team and his play has allowed him to make a viable push for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
The exact moment that Harris knew Herbert had something special? It was during a two-minute drill practice period.
“He just successfully walked the offense all the way down the field and made some great throws,” Harris said. “I remember that drill of him just casually walking the offense down the field, just making the simple throws, taking what the defense gives him, and from there, I’m like, ‘This kid definitely has the future, he has the talent.'”
Then Harris had to convince his teammates of what he saw on the first glimpse.
“I knew what he could do, for sure. I was his No. 1 fan from Day One,” he said with a smile and a laugh. “I was trying to convince everybody else how nice he was.”
Now, the Chargers, the NFL and the AFC West have learned what Harris knew — and that could be a massive problem for the Broncos in the years to come.
“Guys love him here, and we expect to see great things from Justin every week now,” he said.
Harris’ sentiments on Drew Lock aren’t quite as decisive from seeing him in practice and games last year.
“He’s definitely up and down,” Harris said.
Harris knows what the Broncos know — that for Lock to succeed, he must turn his flashes into consistent bursts of brilliance.
“I think this year has been a little bit more rough for Drew compared to his five starts last year when he came in,” Harris said. ” … He’s had a little bit more turnovers, I would say, with the fumbles and the interceptions. But he can still get hot and still make those throws and still tear you apart, so you’ve go to be ready.
“You can’t ever sleep on Drew. He can get hot real fast, and he can still make all the throws, he just had a turnover issue earlier in the season, which he knows he probably has to clean that up.”
LIFE AS A CHARGER
The on-field results were not what Harris wanted. A foot injury led to the longest regular-season absence of his career, as he missed seven games, including his expected return to Denver for the Broncos-Chargers game on Nov. 1.
Harris “definitely thought” at this time last year he could remain a Bronco.
“But the way it happened, man, I guess it was just time for me to have a new, fresh start somewhere else,” Harris said. “The situation then definitely was up and down. It was just time, I guess, for something new for me. I’m definitely happy with the choice that I’ve made. We haven’t had the success; I’ve been hurt this year, but just moving here, they’ve definitely welcomed me with open arms.”
The move to Southern California hasn’t been all bad for the 10-year veteran — even though a perk of being there banished due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris, a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan, hoped to hop on the freeway and head north to watch some games at Staples Center. Alas, that will have to wait.
Lakers games are out, but time at the beach remains in play. Harris noted that was one aspect of what his family loves about their Orange County existence.
Harris also likes having “great people to help me” in the Chargers organization — but added that was “just like Denver.” However, the Broncos had something the Chargers do not yet have — a top-of-the-line headquarters.
“It’s definitely smaller,” Harris said of his weekday workplace. “Denver, they’ve got the state-of-the-art facilities there.”
At the moment, the Chargers work in temporary headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif. Their neighborhood is primarily commercial, with business offices, a large postal-service facility and an Ikea sitting nearby. No plans for a permanent facility have been finalized, although that might be beyond Harris’ time as a Charger, since he is on a two-year contract.
Sure, Harris is a Charger now, and he’s all in on Herbert and his hopes for the rookie quarterback. But whenever his playing journey ends, he will likely be remembered as a Bronco. That won’t change, no matter what happens Sunday.
