What To Expect From Damien Harris Rookie Season?

[supafly]

I'm curious if anybody has any idea for that. Maybe Harris fumbles? Not sure. Because when looking at him and Bolden he looks like the far more talented runner.

I would assume it to be Bolden’s special team presence + the fact that (normally) they have Michel, Burkhead, White, and Devlin as active running backs. That’s five.

Like Deus said, pass protection and familiarity are key, so that part isn’t likely to help his cause when there are better options ahead of him. Of course, now that Burkhead is hurt, we may finally see him tomorrow.

 

[Wax Frog]

You could reply to any post in any thread with that.

I've dodged that particular bullet - I usually get away with 3 or 4 laughing faces and 1 wrench...

 

[pats_premi]

I’m more interested in seeing JoeJuans apparent debut and see if he is part of the replacement for Chung.

I agree. More importantly it would decreases the chance Jordan Richards being used on defense.

 

[Mack Herron]

I would assume it to be Bolden’s special team presence + the fact that (normally) they have Michel, Burkhead, White, and Devlin as active running backs. That’s five.

Like Deus said, pass protection and familiarity are key, so that part isn’t likely to help his cause when there are better options ahead of him. Of course, now that Burkhead is hurt, we may finally see him tomorrow.

Harris is more talented than all our backs in running the ball. But he is a rookie behind a bunch of guys who are pretty good and know what they’re doing. He will get a chance sooner or later. Every week I say this could be the week. Eventually I’ll be right.

 

[FCB02062]

I'm guessing we can expect about 12-14 inactives

 

[moosekill]

Harris is more talented than all our backs in running the ball. But he is a rookie behind a bunch of guys who are pretty good and know what they’re doing. He will get a chance sooner or later. Every week I say this could be the week. Eventually I’ll be right.

I don't think this is true.

 

[Triumph]

How can anyone determine that Bolden is slow?

Bolden in only 4 games.

Rushed 4 times all season for 1 first down and 1 TD.
Caught 2 of 3 passes for 2 first downs.
Returned 4 kickoffs for a 19.5 yard average.

Tyler Lockets average is 25 yards a return. OK, Bolden is not Tyler Lockett or Tyrek Hill. Goofy.

 

[Gwedd]

Harris is more talented than all our backs in running the ball. But he is a rookie behind a bunch of guys who are pretty good and know what they’re doing. He will get a chance sooner or later. Every week I say this could be the week. Eventually I’ll be right.

Word. He was a frikkin' bowling ball at Alabama when he got reps. I have one of his autographed 'Bama jerseys. I'm currently trying to find a Hightower 'Bama jersey to go along with my Patriots one.

 

[SBLIII]

Harris is more talented than all our backs in running the ball. But he is a rookie behind a bunch of guys who are pretty good and know what they’re doing. He will get a chance sooner or later. Every week I say this could be the week. Eventually I’ll be right.

Michel is far more talented than Harris...

 

[Bradyking12]

Word. He was a frikkin' bowling ball at Alabama when he got reps. I have one of his autographed 'Bama jerseys. I'm currently trying to find a Hightower 'Bama jersey to go along with my Patriots one.

He was also bowling in pre season I think we are saving him for the 2nd half of the season

 

[Mack Herron]

Michel is far more talented than Harris...

How do you know? In college, Sony was a very good back who had a breakout senior year. In the NFL, he has been solid but hasn’t shown the explosiveness he did in his senior year at Georgia. He looks like he did his first 3 years in college. Harris had a dip in production his senior year. Which guy is which? Overall, Sony averaged 6.1 ypc in college, while Harris averaged 6.4 ypc.

The running game has been awful this year. Certainly it isn’t all on Sony. But until Wynn returns, this is the line. Harris is a weapon they haven’t tried. He will have to learn to protect Brady, but he will. Sony has really struggled breaking tackles and forcing missed tackles. Harris is a stronger runner who might run through some trash at the line that Sony cannot. When Harris gets a chance, we’ll have more of a basis to compare them directly.

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm curious if anybody has any idea for that. Maybe Harris fumbles? Not sure. Because when looking at him and Bolden he looks like the far more talented runner.

Pass protection

 

[micronin127]

I expect a billion yards and a million touchdowns. No pressure kid.

 

[zydecochris]

Word. He was a frikkin' bowling ball at Alabama when he got reps. I have one of his autographed 'Bama jerseys. I'm currently trying to find a Hightower 'Bama jersey to go along with my Patriots one.

I'm mystified as to why he hasn't been used more. As I've pointed out before, at Alabama Saban gave Harris significantly more snaps than Josh Jacobs, the #1 pick who is ranked third in offensive rookie of the year voting by many services. Why? At Alabama he was known for doing all of the little things right and not making mistakes, he usually would hit the right hole, normally burrowed down for extra yardage on short yardage, very good blocker, good receiver, and NEVER fumbled in his college career, and Saban was the type to really appreciate that type of thing. Well, I figured BB would also value that type of player, so I thought he would play tons. Plus, in preseason he looked pretty good to me. What give?

The only thing I can think of is either, despite being a very good blocker in college, he hasn't been able to pick up the Patriots sophisticated blocking schemes yet. Or, with the OL playing so badly they want to get Sony established first (by the way, I'm very excited Sony finally got involved in the passing game a bit).

Again, it is a mystery to me why Harris hasn't played more.

 

[zydecochris]

Pass protection

Are there indications he is having problems with pass protection with the Pats?

He was a really good blocker in college at Alabama (it is one of his strengths), although the Patriots offense is one of the most sophisticated in the league, so maybe there is a bigger transition from college to the pros than on most teams.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Michel is far more talented than Harris...

How can we even assess this at this point?

Plus Michel has a bum knee... Need to manage him

 

[SBLIII]

How can we even assess this at this point?

Plus Michel has a bum knee... Need to manage him

we can assess it because Michel was starting as soon as he was somewhat healthy last year and had one of the best postseasons of any rookie RB in NFL history. Harris can't crack the 46 in his rookie season.

And as we see with Michel if the OL is somewhat competent he will easily get his 4ypc and 80+ ypg consistently.

 

[DarrylS]

It is a long season marked by a whole lot of attrition, better to have someone in the wings who knows the offense and has grown with the team than to just have a JAG come in with high/low expectations..

My predictable rant about why have 53 players on your team and only be allowed to dress 46???.. that makes no sense to me, not only could a team use more "rotations", but allow for "specialists" as well... never understood the value for this or for IR which also makes no sense, if you pay a player he gets injured, recovers and could come back, let him come back, not all that complicated.. maybe it is my frugal roots, but why pay these guys a lot of money not to play or be ready to play???

 

[RobertWeathers]

It is a long season marked by a whole lot of attrition, better to have someone in the wings who knows the offense and has grown with the team than to just have a JAG come in with high/low expectations..

My predictable rant about why have 53 players on your team and only be allowed to dress 46???.. that makes no sense to me, not only could a team use more "rotations", but allow for "specialists" as well... never understood the value for this or for IR which also makes no sense, if you pay a player he gets injured, recovers and could come back, let him come back, not all that complicated.. maybe it is my frugal roots, but why pay these guys a lot of money not to play or be ready to play???

Agree completely.

Its antiquated thinking.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

we can assess it because Michel was starting as soon as he was somewhat healthy last year and had one of the best postseasons of any rookie RB in NFL history. Harris can't crack the 46 in his rookie season.

A ton more depth than last yr makes it tough to crack the lineup

And as we see with Michel if the OL is somewhat competent he will easily get his 4ypc and 80+ ypg consistently.