Annually, a brand new crop of gamers rises to the ranks of the elite at their respective positions. Over the subsequent 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 cross rushers getting higher on either side of the road, the precise sort out can now not be a weak level. Groups are inserting a excessive precedence on the precise facet of their line, even switching the elite athletes popping out of faculty as left tackles over to the precise and trusting of their improvement. Detroit Lions’ supernova Penei Sewell is the most effective instance of this, however down in Jacksonville, Anton Harrison is making his case to be the subsequent 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 stage. During the last 9 video games of the season, the No. 27 general decide didn’t permit a single sack, and in line with Daniel Griffis of Jaguar Report, his strain charge of three.85 p.c was ninth amongst all tackles per Professional Soccer Focus.
Harrison stepped into the league and confirmed his polish as a cross blocker, and whereas the remainder of the Jaguars offensive line struggled at instances, Harrison shined in true cross units.
Whilst you won’t be capable to see his identify too clearly on right here, Harrison is strictly the place you need him to be on this graph as a rookie cross protector. His skill to win in true passing units is such chip to have for this Jaguars’ offense.
Offensive Tackles in true cross units, Sewell/Wirfs . Dropping Brady (bought ball out quick) whereas shifting to the left facet is a giant transition and Wirfs bought it completed. pic.twitter.com/YwnIESvQTq
— Soccer Insights (@fball_insights) June 22, 2024
Harrison has such a fast leap 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 in a position to make use of his higher physique energy to fully shut down the transfer earlier than it will get hectic.
I believe the factor that stands out essentially the most about Harrison is how affected person he’s in his cross units. For a rookie proper sort out, he’s not often each caught in a state of affairs the place he’s lunging or panicking. His skill to have fast reactions and faster palms to close down opposing cross rushers is actually spectacular for a man who’s simply 22 years previous. One in every of his standout video games got here in week 12 in opposition to Defensive Rookie of the Yr Will Anderson Jr. and the Houston Texans. Harrison didn’t permit a strain within the Jaguars’ victory, and placed on a cross safety clinic. Harrison has actually sturdy palms within the passing recreation and is such mirror athlete that he’s capable of gradual this cross rush earlier than it even begins. That skill to remain composed after which end as a cross blocker could be very superior for a man his age, shifting from left to proper sort out.
Not solely does his endurance present up in opposition to energy, however in opposition to pace he’s capable of redirect palms and by no means discover himself out of place. Watch this subsequent rep in opposition to 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 beneath your belt, in a season filled with these type 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 vulnerable 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 will not be his sturdy swimsuit as a run blocker, he’s a lot better in area on the Jaguars’ pin and pull ideas. He’s an excellent athlete who has good spatial consciousness, selecting off unsuspecting second and third stage defenders alongside the way in which. Harrison has fast ft (as proven in his skill as a cross blocker) and a a lot better skill to strike within the run recreation in area on smaller guys. The Jaguars used this pin and pull motion loads with Harrison, and he was actually good at it as effectively.
Harrison has an especially vibrant 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 possibility to interrupt out and put his identify among the many prime proper tackles within the league subsequent 12 months. 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.
