It wasnt until a read a thread today and someone mentioned harris name that i remebered he was starting and he was essentially a rookie. And how we hear all throughout TC that harris was getting eating alive. ( i guess deangelo hall took notes. ha ha, bad joke. sorry)
SO I went back and re watched the game only looking in on harris. I got up to half time and thats where my recording stopped as the fat baby some how cancelled the recording without me knowing.
anyhow this is what i saw:
#74 RT ryan harris- The Big Boy looked damn good!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean real good. Even in the preseason where he was getting worked up a bit and took some holding calls i wasnt sure he would start. Infact, i didnt think he would and forgot about him almost all together. Let me tell you. He learns quick.
He absolutely OWNS in run blocking. I mean OWNS!! On almost all run plays he would shut down his man, and then shed him after the runner was past or about to pass him and then move on for another kill.
He also gets the second level extremely fast. Sometimes its almost immediate. and from there he puts LBs out of position or on their butt (<---more or less.)
He does a good job at taking his man out on the cut blocks, something clady seemed to have a little more struggle with.
In passing he has a good pop with his man and i dont recall to many times that a speed move worked. Good lateral quickness is what that says to me. When he was bullrushed occasionally he would get pushed back and sent off balance where he would be on one foot trying to regain balance. However, when that happend he would also pop his guy hard enough that he would have the same equal effect. I dont recall seeing him get beat once! I did notice one play where clady had a little problem with an inside outside speed move, but jay saw it and fled the scene no prob. to where harris rightfully shut his man down.
I love our two bookends! I really do, I was a little worried once i remembered that harris also a rookie (didnt play last year) was starting, but i looked at his play and remembered when we drafted him that some scouts. (kiper?) said he could be of 1st rd talent. I think he is.
Of course this is against the lousy raiders, and no derrick burgess as he was hurt or something, but still no one got the better of him. He is strong fast, and most of all my favorite. MEAN! he sees his target takes it out and moves on to the next.
Also of note is he doesnt stop playing. One play- young/hall was running right then went like all the way left of something and tried to turn the corner. Harris from the right side, went to the second level took out his man then saw the play all the way over on the other side and followed another raider there to take him out. The runner got tackled before they made it there but that was some good running and play chasing he did.
I guess next week we can tell for sure if what i have seen is his skills, the raiders lack of skills, or a combo of both that made him so successful. If he pans out next week, which i think he surely will, then we got, and i seriously say this, 2 pro bowlers on our oline right now this year! and ends for the next 7 years for sure.
I am no scout or professional, nor do i know the exact technique or skills required to be an olineman. I just say what i see and what i think compared to other players in past and other teams in general. Feel free to comment and or agree/disagree. It helps me analyze better in the future too.