CLNS Media
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • A List Podcast
    • Almost Shameless
    • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
    • Bruins Beat
    • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
    • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
    • Celtics Beat
    • Celtics Lab
    • Celtics Stuff Live
    • Celtics Postgame Live
    • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
    • The Garden Report
    • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
    • Patriots Beat
    • Patriots Postgame Show
    • Patriots Roundtable
    • Patriots Press Pass
    • Poke the Bear
    • Red Sox Beat
    • Winning Plays
    • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Almost Shameless
      • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
    • podcast
      • Celtics Lab
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Patriots Roundtable
      • Poke the Bear
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Lazar: Patriots’ Damien Harris Deserves More Love Among NFL’s Best Running Backs
NFL Featured Banner

Lazar: Patriots’ Damien Harris Deserves More Love Among NFL’s Best Running Backs

Harris is third among all running backs in Pro Football Focus grade this season.
Evan LazarBy Evan Lazar10/27/20214 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

The old trope among fantasy football experts is to avoid Patriots running backs because head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t care about your fantasy team.

Belichick still doesn’t care about your fantasy team, but there may be an exception to the rule for the Pats this season with third-year running back Damien Harris.

Although Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, Cleveland’s Nick Chubb, and others get more national attention, we should start talking about Harris as one of the NFL’s premier ball carriers.

According to Pro Football Focus, Harris has the third-best overall grade among running backs (83.5), is seventh in both rushing yards after contact (311), and forced missed tackles (20). Furthermore, 45.1% of Harris’s rushing yards are over expected (seventh-best in NFL).

Harris also has the eighth-most rushing yards (437), is third in rushing touchdowns (five), and has three 100-yard games in New England’s first seven contests (second-most in NFL).

By the metrics, Harris is, at worst, a top-eight running back in the league and is trending upwards.

Trending
Is the Series Over After Celtics Collapse vs Bucks in Game 5?

Plus, he’s a perfect fit for the Patriots’ power rushing scheme due to his size, power, burst, vision, and patience to stay behind pullers and fullback Jakob Johnson before exploding into the secondary.

“Damien’s been a very good player for us. He has done a good job of (maximizing yards),” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said last week. “He has a ton of respect from every player and coach in this organization, as he should because he’s earned that. That’s not something you get from talking or some kind of false image. You get it from day after day, consistent performance and dedication, and he’s the poster boy for that.”

Last week, Harris added to his league lead with his fifth rush of 20-plus yards with excellent vision and burst on a 32-yard gain.

https://www.clnsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Harris32Yards-1.mp4

In the play, the Pats call a single-back draw where they have tight end Hunter Henry and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers crack block defenders in the box. Out of the corner of his eye, Harris sees Jets cornerback Bryce Hall give up contain on the outside, following his man coverage assignment into the box (Meyers). Harris takes the green grass vacated by Hall, bounces it outside, and takes off on an explosive play.

In the loss to Dallas, Harris had another 100-yard performance with two rushes of 20-plus yards.

https://www.clnsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/HarrisWham.mp4

Here, the Pats ran a wham scheme. Center David Andrews puts himself through to the second level, and fullback Jakob Johnson blocks the nose tackle. Harris sees Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch step into his initial rush path, and with no wasted steps, cuts across Andrews’s block to daylight. The lateral movement to change course without gathering with multiple steps is unique, and Harris finishes the run by dragging defenders for a few extra yards.

https://www.clnsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/HarrisFBCounter.mp4

The offensive line does most of the work on his second explosive run to get Harris through the initial entry point on a fullback counter scheme. Harris stays patient behind his blocks, and once he gets into the secondary, it takes a host of Cowboys to get him on the ground.

Harris’s teammates point to his finishing, physical style, and football IQ as traits that allow him to operate effectively as New England’s lead back.

The Alabama product is on pace for his first career 1,000-yard season with double-digit touchdowns and is responsible for 56.5% of the Patriots’ rush attempts this season.

In a rushing attack that typically spreads around the carries, Harris is developing into a true lead-back and is quietly becoming on the NFL’s best.

 

Post Views: 11
Bill Belichick Damien Harris Patriots
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

Evan Lazar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Evan Lazar is the New England Patriots beat reporter for CLNS Media.

Related Posts

Patriots Assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge Shed Light on New Roles

05/16/2022

Patriots Mailbag: What Schematic Changes Will the Pats Make on Offense This Season?

05/15/2022

Can Mac Jones Carry the Patriots Offense in Year 2?

05/13/2022

Meet Bengals Rookie Cordell Volson: A Strong Candidate To Challenge For Starting Left Guard

05/13/2022

Patriots 2022 schedule breakdown with Patriots broadcaster Bob Socci

05/13/2022

Patriots Schedule Officially Released – Open Up as Underdogs Against Miami Dolphins in Week One

05/12/2022

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
Home Featured Banner

Grant Williams Wins Game 7 for the Celtics

By Bobby Manning05/16/2022

BOSTON — Grant Williams hit 7 threes and led the Celtics in scoring for the…

Celtics Blow Out Bucks 109-81 to Win Series

05/15/2022

What Are the Keys to Celtics vs Bucks Game 7?

05/15/2022

Recapping an epic Game 6 vs. Bucks, looking ahead to Game 7 for the Celtics

05/14/2022
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • View All Podcasts
  • About
  • Privacy Policy

2021 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Cleantalk Pixel