Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris picked off Philip Rivers in previous game at San Diego. He has been one of the team’s best defenders for years. (John Leyba, The Denver Post
SAN DIEGO — Rod Woodson provides an interesting perspective on the Broncos’ Chris Harris. He performed as one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history. And Woodson worked as an assistant coach for Denver during this past preseason as part of the NFL’s internship program.
The Broncos rewarded Harris with a five-year, $42.5-million contract Friday, including a $10 million signing bonus. He is the sixth-highest paid cornerback, a bargain for the Broncos given that he consistently ranks as tops in Pro Football Focus ratings and Denver’s internal grading.
What makes Harris special? Woodson, in San Diego for his Westwood One radio coverage, identified a nuance often missed.
“He’s one of the few cornerbacks who still back pedals,” said Woodson, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “He lines up (square) to the receiver. Most guys are in open stance with back to sideline (to see the quarterback). Chris is old school.”
Harris trusts his technique because of this study habits. He watches film like a professor, analyzing his own weaknesses and receivers’ tendencies.
“You have to now how to watch dilm. I used to just keep a book of my negatives, not my positives. I knew what I was doing well. It was about identifying areas where I needed to improve,” Woodson said.
