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So far, so good for Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey.
Harvey's quads stole the show at rookie minicamp last week, and his diligence and intentionality have impressed coach Sean Payton.
"[Harvey] is someone, he’s picked up on very quickly what we’re doing," Payton said on May 10. "You can tell it’s real important to him. This is like the first exposure to the training room, the weight room, the schedule, the nutrition, the practice. There’s a lot more than just, ‘Hey, we’re going to run these plays.’ He’s looked good though. We’re glad he’s here, and each day there’s another little bit of an installation where we add a little bit more to it.”
Harvey demonstrated his rushing ability in college with 1,577 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns at UCF last fall. He was not often used in the passing game, but Payton believes that was a result of the offensive scheme, not Harvey's ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
Still, rookie camp provided the first opportunity to see Harvey up close in a Broncos helmet getting passing down reps.
“It was today’s install," Payton said of last Saturday's passing practice. "We put in really one route. We didn’t have it yesterday. We had choice routes. I think, when you look at a lot of college offenses, I don’t know how often the running back is built into the passing game. I think they are to some degree, but I think maybe a little bit more so at the NFL level.
"Today we had two or three schemes that went in that certainly… You try to get, if we have one of those plays in the script, we try to make sure he’s getting that rep. So there’s a lot of thought given to the play and who’s in on that play. That was the second install, and it was good to see.”
Harvey played quarterback in high school, and he began his college career as a backup QB before converting to running back. Will we see him throw the ball in Denver?
“It wasn’t my vision [for him]," Payton said to laughs. "I’m focusing on the runner right now. I [do] like that he was a former quarterback.”
Broncos fans (and fantasy football managers) are eager to see if Harvey will become a three-down back in Payton's offense. To do that, Harvey will have to emerge as a receiving threat and as a capable pass blocker.
"I know the question is, ‘Is he a three-down back?’" Payton said. "Well, he’s going to play on third down, but he could play on third down where the tight end is in protection opposite. There’s a lot we can do relative to really suit his strengths.
"It would happen occasionally with Darren [Sproles] where I’d say to him, ‘Every once in a while you might get matched up on NaVorro Bowman or [Patrick] Willis. I’m not going to make a habit of doing that, but…’ If you watch his stature, he’s put together pretty well. So there’s a difference between a small runner and a short runner. We’re not interested in the small runners, but we’re OK with the short runners.”
Harvey is short (5-8), but he's not small (205 pounds). It's still very early in the team's offseason program, but the rookie running back certainly seems to be on track to earn a big role in Payton's scheme.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Sean Payton on RJ Harvey: 'He’s looked good'
Continue reading...
Harvey's quads stole the show at rookie minicamp last week, and his diligence and intentionality have impressed coach Sean Payton.
"[Harvey] is someone, he’s picked up on very quickly what we’re doing," Payton said on May 10. "You can tell it’s real important to him. This is like the first exposure to the training room, the weight room, the schedule, the nutrition, the practice. There’s a lot more than just, ‘Hey, we’re going to run these plays.’ He’s looked good though. We’re glad he’s here, and each day there’s another little bit of an installation where we add a little bit more to it.”
Harvey demonstrated his rushing ability in college with 1,577 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns at UCF last fall. He was not often used in the passing game, but Payton believes that was a result of the offensive scheme, not Harvey's ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
Still, rookie camp provided the first opportunity to see Harvey up close in a Broncos helmet getting passing down reps.
“It was today’s install," Payton said of last Saturday's passing practice. "We put in really one route. We didn’t have it yesterday. We had choice routes. I think, when you look at a lot of college offenses, I don’t know how often the running back is built into the passing game. I think they are to some degree, but I think maybe a little bit more so at the NFL level.
"Today we had two or three schemes that went in that certainly… You try to get, if we have one of those plays in the script, we try to make sure he’s getting that rep. So there’s a lot of thought given to the play and who’s in on that play. That was the second install, and it was good to see.”
Harvey played quarterback in high school, and he began his college career as a backup QB before converting to running back. Will we see him throw the ball in Denver?
“It wasn’t my vision [for him]," Payton said to laughs. "I’m focusing on the runner right now. I [do] like that he was a former quarterback.”
Broncos fans (and fantasy football managers) are eager to see if Harvey will become a three-down back in Payton's offense. To do that, Harvey will have to emerge as a receiving threat and as a capable pass blocker.
"I know the question is, ‘Is he a three-down back?’" Payton said. "Well, he’s going to play on third down, but he could play on third down where the tight end is in protection opposite. There’s a lot we can do relative to really suit his strengths.
"It would happen occasionally with Darren [Sproles] where I’d say to him, ‘Every once in a while you might get matched up on NaVorro Bowman or [Patrick] Willis. I’m not going to make a habit of doing that, but…’ If you watch his stature, he’s put together pretty well. So there’s a difference between a small runner and a short runner. We’re not interested in the small runners, but we’re OK with the short runners.”
Harvey is short (5-8), but he's not small (205 pounds). It's still very early in the team's offseason program, but the rookie running back certainly seems to be on track to earn a big role in Payton's scheme.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Sean Payton on RJ Harvey: 'He’s looked good'
Continue reading...
