Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey definitely did his homework this offseason, and he's hoping it pays off big.
The Denver Broncos will be having a heated battle to get snaps and carries in training camp, and RJ Harvey is in the middle of the fray. He made an impact as a rookie last year by making regular appearances in the end zone, but it’s going to take more than touchdowns for Harvey to get on the field more often.
The running back knows this, so he’s been doing his homework this offseason, according to a report from Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk in which he mentioned studying film of the greats at each position to try to get a handle on what he needs to do.
“Just watching more film, watching other guys around the league, watching their film, I’ve been watching a lot of film of Christian McCaffrey, Kenneth Walker, Jahmyr Gibbs, guys like that, just trying to see things on film that they do, trying to help better my game,” Harvey said via Andrew Mason of Denver Sports 104.3. “Year two in the system, I feel way more comfortable and it’s only going to get better from where I left off.”
Harvey made some noteworthy contributions last year, as he had 146 carries for 540 yards and seven touchdowns last season, along with 47 catches for 356 yards and five more touchdowns. As such he was one of the more impactful rookies in the league last near, but the next step up will be a big one.
Specifically, Harvey is undersized, so unfortunately his path to greatness might be about growing a few inches and adding another 20 pounds or so. The Broncos drafted Harvey in the second round to be their third-down back, and he was successful and then some in that role.
The Broncos tried to run Harvey between the tackles late last year, but it didn’t go all that well. There were comments from the offensive linemen and the coaches that he seemed to “get it,” but at times Harvey was simply swallowed up by defensive linemen and linebackers before he could get any traction.
Denver brought back running back J.K. Dobbins, who will get first crack at those inside runs, but Dobbins’ big problem has been staying healthy. The Broncos also drafted Jonah Coleman out of Washington to be their big back this year, so he seems likely to get some of those snaps to run inside.
It’s tough to bet against a player with the determination and talent Harvey has shown, but right now he has an uphill climb on his hands.
