Secondary depth allows Harris Jr. to try safety
COSTA MESA >> Chargers coach Brandon Staley didn’t get to see the “real” Chris Harris Jr. during their lone season together with the Denver Broncos in 2019.
Harris is regarded by many as one of the alltime greats at slot cornerback, but Harris mainly played outside cornerback the year Staley was an assistant coach with the Broncos because the secondary was ravaged by injuries.
“I wasn’t really getting to see the real Chris Harris,” Staley said after Friday’s training camp practice. “But I was able to see the real Chris Harris because he’s the ultimate competitor. He’s the ultimate student of the game. And then now linking up with him here, we have more of a complete secondary here where he can kind of thrive right in his natural space.”
Harris, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s, will see many snaps at slot cornerback this season, but because Staley has an abundance of play packages with disguises, Harris will have to get familiar with a third position.
Harris lined up at safety during team drills Friday, a new role the 11-year veteran referred to as a fun challenge.
“I just got to get comfortable with it,” Harris, 32, said about playing safety for the first time since his rookie season. “Usually I can come out here and just play corner and play nickel (slot corner) and I’m fairly comfortable with that. But now I have to move around a lot more and get the communication right. Learn how my corners are playing and things like that.”
Harris said he asked safety Derwin James for advice on the new position, specifically on how to play the middle of the field and reading quarterbacks. Harris also returned feedback because James is expected to play slot cornerback for one of his many positions under Staley and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill.
“We’ve had great meetings (with) everybody as a whole,” said Harris, a Super Bowl champion in 2015 with the Broncos. “The younger (defensive backs) are growing fast and communication has been great. I know when we were in Denver when we had No. 1 defenses, we all loved each other. We all love playing with each other and that’s what you see with this group.”
With Harris playing safety, he’s gotten a good look at the Chargers’ competition for the third cornerback role. Veterans Brandon Facyson, Tevaughn Campbell and rookie Asante Samuel Jr. are competing to play on the field as the second outside cornerback next to Michael Davis whenever Harris goes to the slot.
Facyson has gotten the bulk of those reps with the first-team unit through the first three days of training camp. Samuel, this year’s second-round pick, saw an increase in snaps Friday as a slot and outside cornerback.
“(Facyson is) a guy who asks a thousand questions,” Harris said. “He has great potential. He’s a 6-foot-2 corner. He can be long. He’s gonna have to learn to use his size more and play more aggressive, but he has a future if he takes on to it and uses his size.” the NFL game is now, you need guys that can run in the second level. So the way he plays, he can move like a safety, but he hits like a linebacker.
“He has that contact ability like a linebacker, but he has that movement ability like a (defensive back). And that’s where you’re seeing the modern NFL go. He’s been a really fun guy to get to know and coach.”