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'Harris Island' is Becoming a Thing in the Mile High City
Despite Denver Broncos GM John Elway deciding to listen to trade offers for Chris Harris, Jr. ahead of the October 29 deadline, he ultimately kept faith with the prized veteran asset. Harris is not only the original founder of the famous 'No Fly Zone' secondary, but he is also one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks.
Super Bowl 50 is now but a distant memory and the fabled elite unit Harris nicknamed is left with him as the only remaining member still in the Orange and Blue. However, lately, he is spearheading a second coming of a position group that is worthy of naming rights because it’s beginning to play with real swag and attitude.
Ever since head coach Vic Fangio found some answers at the depleted cornerback slot opposite Harris, it has allowed Kareem Jackson to significantly pull the defensive back group together, with fellow safety Justin Simmons rapidly becoming a Pro Bowl-level player.
Harris has been instrumental in nurturing and inspiring a young cover man into becoming a starter, a young man he says is like “his kid”.
His young namesake, Davontae Harris, has been a huge find for the Broncos. His late training camp release by the Cincinnati Bengals dropped him right into Fangio’s lap. As the Bengals misevaluated him, the Broncos locker room guidance of Harris has seen the second-year player thrive.
Early-season injury issues led to Fangio tinkering with his secondary in order to find the right blend, which started with his initial decision to play Isaac Yiadom as the replacement to the sidelined Bryce Callahan. Playing Yiadom backfired.
Since gaining extended playing time, 'baby' Harris has further developed into a starter in Denver's defensive line-up. Davontae's admiration for his mentor, Harris, Jr., has been made evident on his Twitter profile where he called their new partnership “Harris Island".
Running much deeper than social media gimmicks has been the invaluable one-on-one teachings that the veteran corner has been passing down to his protégé. As the young No. 27 pointed out.
“As far as from a film standpoint, he helps me and teaches me in what to watch," Davontae told DenverBroncos.com. "What to see, different keys, like different run schemes.”
What’s clear is that the veteran's input is not just directed towards individual game-plans, it’s designed to last throughout Davontae’s entire career, as he fully appreciates.
“He helps me on how he breaks down film," Davontae said. "Basically, how to become a vet, in terms of film study.”
With the Broncos defense becoming a force once again it seems certain that the pupil is doing enough to stick around. If Elway really has his finger on the current locker room pulse, he must also understand the renewed importance in keeping the youngster's mentor around longer than just the remainder of this season.
Here's to hoping, anyway.
Follow Keith on Twitter @KeithC_NFL and @MileHighHuddle.
