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08-21-2009, 10:08 AM
Broncos’ Harris desires to be the best

By Brian Howell
© 2009 Longmont Times-Call

ENGLEWOOD — During his first year as a starter in the NFL, Ryan Harris made
quite a name for himself.

He was named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Pro team at right tackle and gave up
just 21/2 quarterback sacks all season.

The 2007 third-round draft choice couldn’t have asked for a better season.
Except that now he is.

“One of the guys back in St. Paul (Minn.) that’s around my high school a lot is
John Alt, and he didn’t give up a sack for three years,” Harris said, referring to
the former two-time Pro Bowler of the Kansas City Chiefs. “So I can be
better.”

It’s hard to imagine Harris being better than he was a year ago. Yet the
former Notre Dame star is accustomed to high expectations.

Prior to last year, he was a relative unknown. Although he started 45
consecutive games at Notre Dame — spending three years blocking for current
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn — Harris dropped off the radar in
2007.

Back surgery caused him to miss most of the preseason and the first five
games of his rookie season. He played in 11 games in 2007, but primarily on
special teams.

Despite the injury and a year on the bench, Harris expected the best of
himself in 2008.

“I told myself to come out and be healthy and I’m going to play great,” the 6
foot-3, 300-pounder said. “I think I met those expectations.”

Only after a rough start. During the first preseason game last season, Harris
was whistled for four penalties, including holding calls on back-to-back plays.

He played two more preseason games without a penalty. Then he played all
1,019 offensive snaps for the Broncos in the regular season and was whistled
for just two penalties.

Harris was a big reason the Broncos’ offensive line went from being a group of
question marks to being considered one of the best units in the NFL.

Center Casey Wiegmann played in the Pro Bowl. Left tackle Ryan Clady was
third in offensive rookie of the year voting. Right guard Chris Kuper was the
only guard in the league to start all 16 games and not give up a sack, and left
guard Ben Hamilton had a great season of his own.

“I think our whole line is really good, and I think you could make an argument
they’re the best at their position across the board,” Harris said. “If you’re not
striving to be the best, I don’t know what type of things you’re playing for.”

Together, the group gave up just 12 sacks, a team record. The mobility of
former quarterback Jay Cutler helped, but Harris said, “There were times when
Cutler’s athleticism helped us, and I think there were other times when our
performance helped Cutler.”

Harris’ performance certainly helped. He proved he just might be the best right
tackle in the league.

“It’s humbling, because I want to be the best at my position,” he said. “I feel
if I’m the best at my position, I can help my team win.”

That’s why Harris didn’t stop working in the offseason. As good as he was in
2008, he’s convinced that wasn’t his peak.

“I have a lot of room to improve my game, and it’s something I’ve been able to
work on here in camp,” he said. “I think I’ve done the things I wanted to do
coming into camp, and I feel like I’m a better player leaving camp, and that’s
all I can ask for.”

http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=17665

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NightTrainLayne
08-21-2009, 10:28 AM
We are blessed to have such a great line.

SR
08-21-2009, 10:47 AM
That's a great article. Clady got so much praise for his outstanding play as a ROOKIE last year that it kind of threw the rest of the offensive line's performance by the wayside. Harris was a pleasant surprise this year and it'll be awesome to see him continue to improve again this year. At least we can say we have the best at group of something.

Requiem / The Dagda
08-21-2009, 10:52 AM
Always liked Ryan. Here's to him, Clady and our interior having a heyday pancaking defenders all season!

NightTrainLayne
08-21-2009, 11:02 AM
Always liked Ryan. Here's to him, Clady and our interior having a heyday pancaking defenders all season!

I was kind of excited seeing our athletic and capable guards pulling last week on some run plays.

We have a very dynamic group there. Clady was also way down field engaging defenders on a couple of plays. I am really stoked to watch them all this season.

TXBRONC
08-21-2009, 11:03 AM
What's scary is that only two of the are over the age of 30.

pnbronco
08-21-2009, 11:05 AM
Man I like this kid. Instead of walking around saying we only gave up 12 sacks he's saying we can get better and walked the walk with working out all off season. They are a very special group of guys....:salute:

Requiem / The Dagda
08-21-2009, 11:12 AM
I just wonder if there has been any more elaboration as to whether or not Josh would move towards a more power/traditional blocking scheme as opposed to the zone. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this might impact the success of our line this year. I except to be good, but nowhere near as good as last year. That sort of line play (sacks allowed per drops) was historical.

GEM
08-21-2009, 11:12 AM
He's come a long way since being on MTV's True Life program, when he was eating everything in sight just to pack on some pounds.

Requiem / The Dagda
08-21-2009, 11:14 AM
He's come a long way since being on MTV's True Life program, when he was eating everything in sight just to pack on some pounds.

He is a God at Cretin-Derham Catholic School in St. Paul. WOO WOO! :beer:

SR
08-21-2009, 11:18 AM
He's come a long way since being on MTV's True Life program, when he was eating everything in sight just to pack on some pounds.

Don't think I ever saw that.

GEM
08-21-2009, 11:25 AM
Don't think I ever saw that.

It was back when he was coming out of high school and trying to find a college. He was way undersized for an OLineman. It followed him and a few other athletes. He had trouble with the gaining weight because with his religion, they often fast and so any weight he put on was difficult to keep on.

SR
08-21-2009, 11:28 AM
Ah. Yea I don't think I ever saw that. That's pretty crazy though how he went from being too undersized and having to force himself to gorge when he could to being one of the premier guards in the league. I'm impressed.

claymore
08-21-2009, 11:39 AM
We need to trade Harris after this year while he is at the peak of his value. :baghead:

GEM
08-21-2009, 11:40 AM
Ah. Yea I don't think I ever saw that. That's pretty crazy though how he went from being too undersized and having to force himself to gorge when he could to being one of the premier guards in the league. I'm impressed.

It was really interesting. It stuck with me because when someone mentioned it awhile back, I thought to myself...I remember that. He seemed like a really good kid. I got sick watching how much he ate in one sitting, though. :laugh:

Requiem / The Dagda
08-21-2009, 11:40 AM
Premier tackles in the league. He's a tackle.

GEM
08-21-2009, 11:41 AM
We need to trade Harris after this year while he is at the peak of his value. :baghead:

Clay, we're past the point of your peak of value, you've lost all value. We're stuck with you.


:D



I wouldn't have it any other way though.

claymore
08-21-2009, 11:45 AM
Clay, we're past the point of your peak of value, you've lost all value. We're stuck with you.


:D



I wouldn't have it any other way though.

Im the Brett Favre of the internet. :D

Poet
08-21-2009, 11:47 AM
Please tell me that it meant to say "2 1/2" sacks because at first glance I thought this was a joke article insulting the worst tackle of all time.

SR
08-21-2009, 11:54 AM
Premier tackles in the league. He's a tackle.

My bad. Thanks for the correction. Dunno why I said guard.

claymore
08-21-2009, 11:56 AM
My bad. Thanks for the correction. Dunno why I said guard.

We all have our rough days. King woke up fat agian today, cicero is still gay to.

TXBRONC
08-21-2009, 11:58 AM
Please tell me that it meant to say "2 1/2" sacks because at first glance I thought this was a joke article insulting the worst tackle of all time.

The article was trying to say that Harris only gave up 2 1/2 sacks last season.

Poet
08-21-2009, 11:59 AM
The article was trying to say that Harris only gave up 2 1/2 sacks last season.

Oh I know, my first reaction to the article was WTF 21 AND A HALF SACKS JESUS GOD ALMIGHTY!

Guy is a beast. Hell, the entire line is a beast.

topscribe
08-21-2009, 12:01 PM
Im the Brett Favre of the internet. :D

You've thrown enough interceptions . . .

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topscribe
08-21-2009, 12:03 PM
Oh I know, my first reaction to the article was WTF 21 AND A HALF SACKS JESUS GOD ALMIGHTY!

Guy is a beast. Hell, the entire line is a beast.

Of course, on the other side of the line is this little guy who had ½ sack . . . :coffee:

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claymore
08-21-2009, 12:03 PM
You've thrown enough interceptions . . .

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And I pretend my thumb and shoulder hurts to get out of work sometimes.

TXBRONC
08-21-2009, 12:03 PM
Oh I know, my first reaction to the article was WTF 21 AND A HALF SACKS JESUS GOD ALMIGHTY!

Guy is a beast. Hell, the entire line is a beast.

They were terrific last year.

Poet
08-21-2009, 12:03 PM
Of course, on the other side of the line is this little guy who had ½ sack . . . :coffee:

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I can beat him up!

topscribe
08-21-2009, 12:05 PM
I can beat him up!

He happens to be here. Just a minute . . .







*hey Ryan, I got this little fat guy who says he can beat you up. I have his address if you want it!*



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Poet
08-21-2009, 12:10 PM
He happens to be here. Just a minute . . .







*hey Ryan, I got this little fat guy who says he can beat you up. I have his address if you want it!*



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5'10 275 isn't little. Tell Clady we can take this to the buffet table if he wants.

dogfish
08-21-2009, 12:52 PM
It was really interesting. It stuck with me because when someone mentioned it awhile back, I thought to myself...I remember that. He seemed like a really good kid. I got sick watching how much he ate in one sitting, though. :laugh:


don't ever have dinner with slim. . . . :shocked:

Superchop 7
08-21-2009, 07:16 PM
The tattoo on his arm is water.

A reminder to himself to stay grounded.

The man has his priorities in order.

broncohead
08-21-2009, 07:54 PM
Of course, on the other side of the line is this little guy who had ½ sack . . . :coffee:

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We also have a guy at RG that gave up 0...

TXBRONC
08-21-2009, 08:22 PM
We also have a guy at RG that gave up 0...

I like Kuper because he brings a little bit of nasty streak to the line.

NameUsedBefore
08-21-2009, 08:43 PM
Most notable thing about this story is that it has a Broncos offensive lineman talking to the media.