Annually, a brand new crop of gamers rises to the ranks of the elite at their respective positions. Over the following few days, we’ll be highlighting these gamers who’re up subsequent within the NFL hierarchy, and are candidates for a breakout season in 2024.
With NFL go rushers getting higher on each side of the road, the correct sort out can not be a weak level. Groups are putting a excessive precedence on the correct aspect of their line, even switching the elite athletes popping out of faculty as left tackles over to the correct and trusting of their growth. Detroit Lions’ supernova Penei Sewell is the very best instance of this, however down in Jacksonville, Anton Harrison is making his case to be the following breakout star at proper sort out.
In his rookie season with Jacksonville, not solely did Harrison step in instantly, beginning all 17 video games, however performed at a really excessive degree. During the last 9 video games of the season, the No. 27 total choose didn’t enable a single sack, and in accordance with Daniel Griffis of Jaguar Report, his stress charge of three.85 % was ninth amongst all tackles per Professional Soccer Focus.
Harrison stepped into the league and confirmed his polish as a go blocker, and whereas the remainder of the Jaguars offensive line struggled at occasions, Harrison shined in true go units.
Whilst you may not have the ability to see his title too clearly on right here, Harrison is precisely the place you need him to be on this graph as a rookie go protector. His capability to win in true passing units is such an excellent chip to have for this Jaguars’ offense.
Offensive Tackles in true go units, Sewell/Wirfs . Dropping Brady (obtained ball out quick) whereas transferring to the left aspect is a giant transition and Wirfs obtained it completed. pic.twitter.com/YwnIESvQTq
— Soccer Insights (@fball_insights) June 22, 2024
Harrison has such a fast soar out of his stance that it provides him extra time to anchor and use his athletic instruments to close down most energy rushes out on the sting. On this rep, he provides up a little bit of floor to this rush with energy, however is just ready to make use of his higher physique energy to fully shut down the transfer earlier than it will get hectic.
I feel the factor that stands out essentially the most about Harrison is how affected person he’s in his go units. For a rookie proper sort out, he’s hardly ever each caught in a state of affairs the place he’s lunging or panicking. His capability to have fast reactions and faster palms to close down opposing go rushers is absolutely spectacular for a man who’s simply 22 years previous. One in all his standout video games got here in week 12 towards Defensive Rookie of the 12 months Will Anderson Jr. and the Houston Texans. Harrison didn’t enable a stress within the Jaguars’ victory, and placed on a go safety clinic. Harrison has actually sturdy palms within the passing recreation and is such an excellent mirror athlete that he’s capable of gradual this go rush earlier than it even begins. That capability to remain composed after which end as a go blocker could be very superior for a man his age, transferring from left to proper sort out.
Not solely does his persistence present up towards energy, however towards velocity he’s capable of redirect palms and by no means discover himself out of place. Watch this subsequent rep towards Anderson. Anderson goes to cut Harrison’s palms down, however Harrison removes his palms and leaves Anderson swiping at air. Then he replaces and walks him away from the QB, a extremely spectacular rep to have below your belt, in a season filled with these sort of reps within the passing recreation.
As a run blocker, Harrison leaves a bit extra to be desired. He’s nonetheless a bit extra upright as a run blocker on the level of assault, leaving him inclined to being uprooted by defensive linemen. On the frontside of this run Harrison doesn’t convey his inside hand, leaving him unavailable to totally get his palms on this defender who makes the play within the backfield.
Whereas that is probably not his sturdy swimsuit as a run blocker, he’s a lot better in house on the Jaguars’ pin and pull ideas. He’s an excellent athlete who has good spatial consciousness, choosing off unsuspecting second and third degree defenders alongside the best way. Harrison has fast ft (as proven in his capability as a go blocker) and a a lot better capability to strike within the run recreation in house on smaller guys. The Jaguars used this pin and pull motion lots with Harrison, and he was actually good at it as effectively.
Harrison has an especially shiny future on this league. With the Jaguars retaining continuity to his left with guard Brandon Scherff coming again and offensive line coach Phil Rauscher being retained, Harrison has the prospect to interrupt out and put his title among the many prime proper tackles within the league subsequent yr. With all the offseason strikes Jacksonville has made, they appear to be trending in direction of extra downfield targets, which place a heavier significance on offensive line play. With the continuity within the offensive line room and among the many offensive braintrust, Harrison has breakout potential for 2024.
