Texans sign OT Ryan Harris

[Playoffs]

Alan Burge ‏@AlanBurge
Ryan Harris is your new OT #texans

John McClain ‏@McClain_on_NFL
Denver Post says OT Ryan Harris has signed with Texans so he can return to zone blocking scheme.

DOB: 3/11/1985
Ht / Wt: 6'5' / 300
College: Notre Dame


Background: http://predominantlyorange.com/2012/...kely-not-over/

Harris was drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2007 draft, and he was with the team from 2007-2010 where he started 34 games. He was placed on the injured reserve list in 2009 after dislocating two toes, and Josh McDaniels was very frustrated with his play. Harris made his way back to the starting lineup at the end of the 2010 season, but decided to move on to a different team in free agency.

Harris signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and was supposed to be the starter there until he herniated a disk in his back during a preseason game. After he had surgery (the third of his career) on his back, many believed that he didn’t play with enough athleticism.

That didn’t deter the Broncos from resigning him, however.

During Broncos training camp, Harris rotated in with the second and third team offense and was listed as Orlando Franklin’s backup on the depth chart. Chris Clark was the first tackle off the bench in practice and games, however, and as it turns out, that’s who the Broncos ended up choosing in the end.

“It always comes down to the numbers,” Elway said. “Ryan [Harris] had a good camp. He competed. We just felt that with [Chris] Kuper being down and out for probably four more weeks that numbers wise we had to go the direction that we went...

[Bleed_Blu_Red]

Very Nice if his back is good to go Great Pick Up

[Seasick Sailor]

I'm glad to see we claimed someone to help the line depth.

Can he handle the swing tackle role?

[kiwitexansfan]

Well he has proven he can be a good T in the NFL, I guess the question is whether his back can handle it.

Definitely worth kicking the tyres on.

[srrono]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...offensive-line

[rmartin65]

It had to happen. Not a surprise, and hopefully his back holds up.

[Bleed_Blu_Red]

Just throwing it out there if Newton struggles you think Kub's would pull him early and throw in Harris?

[rmartin65]

Originally Posted by Bleed_Blu_Red

Just throwing it out there if Newton struggles you think Kub's would pull him early and throw in Harris?

No. Newton is going to struggle early, it's what most young players do. It is better for him to struggle in the beginning of the season than in the playoffs.

Now, an arrangement like what happened in Brown's rookie season is pretty likely.

[Bleed_Blu_Red]

Originally Posted by rmartin65

No. Newton is going to struggle early, it's what most young players do. It is better for him to struggle in the beginning of the season than in the playoffs.

Now, an arrangement like what happened in Brown's rookie season is pretty likely.

Ya exactly what I was thinking RT by committee

[rmartin65]

Originally Posted by Bleed_Blu_Red

Ya exactly what I was thinking RT by committee

That is not what I am saying. Newton should be the starter. Harris will just spell him every couple series.

[Bleed_Blu_Red]

That's what I meant I think Harris will see the field more then what People think though Salam was on the field a lot for Brown his rookie yr and Newton is nowhere close to Duane

[beerlover]

I know a lot more about Ryan Harris than I do about Derek Newton. Excellent pick-up until Newton is fully developed.

[Playoffs]

If you want a look at Harris, he started Denver's last game at RT. It's being replayed on NFLN tonight(tomorrow) at 2:00AM CDT.

[IDEXAN]

I read the whole article in the Denver Post that was in this thread, and it sounds like most of the league has basically given up on Harris because they consider him another injury waiting to happen. And the story goes on to say that Harris at this point in his career is basically a RT, so apparently he's not going to be the true swing-tackle we were looking for ?
Oh well, maybe we'll get lucky and Newt will play respectively from Day one, or if we have to call on Harris he'll hold up long enough until the starter he's relieving can get back into the lineup ?

[Porky]

Considering we are taking the scraps off of the bone of other people's steak, I think Harris is about as good as we could expect. Good pickup. IIR he was fairly highly regarded early in his career, but it looks like the injury bug has been his nemesis.

I think how much he plays will be up to Newton. I doubt he sees any snaps at all this first week barring major injury (knock on wood) After that, I really just think it's up to Newton. If he plays like he did in the preseason, which was inconsistent at best from this layman's perspective, I could definitely see a platoon situation this year ala Duane Brown's rookie season. Nevertheless, until proven otherwise, RT has taken a major step backwards from the 2011 campaign.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by rmartin65

No. Newton is going to struggle early, it's what most young players do. It is better for him to struggle in the beginning of the season than in the playoffs.

Agreed. The thing I'm worried about is still Caldwell. Haven't been impressed yet. What are they going to do if they realize Newton's struggles are magnified by Caldwell's mental errors?

[Thorn]

This is not surprising, and he's probably the best we could do considering. I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope he's our saviour on the line however, but if he holds up enough to spell the others now and then, he's worth it.

[SheTexan]

How much did he cost?

[beerlover]

First off Ryan Harris was a premier guard prospect coming out of Notre Dame. If healthy he could be a better option @ RT than Newton beause of his experience & ability to mirror & slide in pass pro, very polished. Both lack ideal size for an NFL tackle but that's OK ZBS. Denver/Houston type player. Never fully developed strength because of injury's, best suited now as reserve tackle, if he can stay healthy & get stronger adequate starter material.

I love Newton as a left guard, not so sure he has the size to develop into elite RT prospect/player? He will start until Ryan can catch-up, depending on play may see some type of rotational plan dictated by play calling/match-ups. I have Tackle as my number one draft priority after this season. I hope Schaub can survive otherwise we are looking a TJ Yates leading the Texans in consecutive playoff appearances.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Has he been given and passed his physical this soon? 3 back surgeries is nothing to minimize. The reason that he was available and probably not heavy on the pocket book is the same reason we probably won't have him on the field for too long.