Backup defensive end looking like a keeper
Harris another example of dandy depth on Denver’s defense
When the play during the first quarter was over Saturday night, and Zach Kerr’s 334pound body remained on the grass, alarm bells sounded for the Broncos.
The defensive line for Denver had already been ravaged by injuries this month. There was Billy Winn’s season-ending knee injury. Derek Wolfe’s right ankle that swelled to the size of a softball. Jared Crick’s back that jolted with a spasm so painful, he had to leave the practice field more than two weeks ago and hasn’t returned. Wolfe and Crick are expected to return near the start of the regular season, but the last thing the Broncos needed was another defensive lineman sidelined.
While all the bumps and bruises on the Denver defense have caused concern this preseason, Saturday’s game displayed the silver lining that continues to sprout. Namely, that the Broncos have been afforded a deep look at their defensive depth and there’s a lot to like.
Shelby Harris became the latest backup to capture the spotlight, doing so in Denver’s 20-17 victory over Green Bay. The 26year-old defensive end, who was signed by the Broncos to a futures contract in January, had three sacks, seven tackles and three quarterback hurries Saturday. That followed a performance against San Francisco in which he deflected a pass and recovered two fumbles.
“Shelby’s an animal, dude,” defensive lineman Domata Peko said after the Broncos improved to 3-0 in the preseason. “He’s a
great player. He’s been doing a great job. He’s had a (heck) of an OTA, a (heck) of a minicamp and doing a great job here in the preseason. I’m really happy for him. He did a great job for us tonight.”
In the first quarter Saturday, the 290-pound Harris shoved 317-pound Packers guard Justin McCray several yards into the backfield, then pushed McCray aside and gobbled up quarterback Brett Hundley for a 9yard loss. Harris registered his second sack of Hundley midway through the fourth quarter by staying disciplined. Harris held his ground on a key third-down play as he pushed back against guard Kofi Amichia. When blitzing Broncos linebacker Kevin Snyder forced Hundley to step up in the pocket, Harris was there once again. Then, with the game clock inside 10 seconds in the fourth quarter and the Packers near midfield, Harris simply sprinted through the Green Bay offensive line and took down Hundley to end the game.
His three sacks left a major impression with the 53man roster deadline of Sept. 2 approaching rapidly.
“He’s been great,” said all-pro outside linebacker Von Miller. “Shelby’s definitely going to help us, especially at a spot where we’re light right now. It’s refreshing to get some great play out of him.”
The standout game from Harris followed a similar pattern. Against the 49ers, starting because of injuries to Wolfe and Crick, Kerr made his presence felt in the Broncos’ stifling firsthalf effort against the run. Undrafted rookie Jamal Carter, inserted early in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears because of an injury to safety T.J. Ward, recovered a fumble and had a team-high six tackles. Cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris, playing extended minutes in the first two preseason games as starters rested, has a pass deflection in every game and made an interception against the 49ers.
“It is great being here with these guys picking their brains,” said Lewis-Harris, a five-year veteran. “Some are Pro Bowlers, learning from the No-Fly Zone. I am honored to be here at the moment, really. I do whatever I can to put this on film and show what I can do.”
The backups on Denver’s defense indeed keep showing up on film. Harris was the latest to put pressure on Vance Joseph and the rest of his coaching staff as they prepare to make cuts after Thursday’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals. There will be no
easy decisions.
“You know, that’s how it should be,” Joseph said last week.