For Broncos running back RJ Harvey, second-year improvement starts with film study

Broncos RJ Harvey had a rookie season that by at least one key metric was a smashing success. His 12 total touchdowns were the most from a Denver running back since Clinton Portis in 2002. Second-round picks both, Harvey didn’t have the prodigious yardage tally of Portis in that brilliant rookie campaign, but showed a knack for finding gaps and openings in the compressed area of the field: the red zone.

It’s part of why the team still believes in Harvey’s promise, to the point that it decided its best course of action was to retain J.K. Dobbins — and then draft a runner in Jonah Coleman who has a similar skill set to the seven-year veteran, and thus could spell Dobbins in case he lands on injured reserve for what would be the sixth-consecutive season.

“We thought he had a real good rookie year — especially in the passing game, you see him with a lot of route variations,” coach Sean Payton said.

And thus, if something happens to Dobbins, the Broncos won’t have to readjust Harvey’s role. They can continue using him as their primary pass-catching back, while feeding him rushing opportunities outside the tackles, giving him breakaway, explosive chances. That should allow his per-carry average last year — just 3.7, which paled next to those of Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin, both of whom were over a full yard per attempt better — the chance to improve.

“In Year Two in the system, I feel way more comfortable and it’s only going to get better from where I left off,” Harvey said last month.

But Harvey isn’t just counting on his own experience and more optimal use of his skill set yielding better results in his second Broncos season. He’s putting in the work — particularly away from the field.

HARVEY FOCUSED ON FILM ROOM BEYOND HIS BRONCOS WORK

During OTAs, Harvey spoke of how much he’s examining the work of other running backs around the NFL — including local hero Christian McCaffrey.

 

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“Just watching more film, watching other guys around the league, watching their film,” Harvey said during Broncos OTAs. “I’ve been watching a lot of film of Christian McCaffrey, Kenneth Walker (III), Jahmyr Gibbs, watching guys like that and just trying to see things on film that they do, trying to help better my game.

Walker’s explosiveness was obvious during his Super Bowl LX performance, which earned him the game’s MVP honors. And at one inch taller and six pounds heavier than Harvey, his frame compares favorably to that of the Central Florida product taken by the Broncos in last year’s second round. Gibbs is one inch taller and six pounds lighter, but his superpower manifests in high all-around production; he has back-to-back seasons of at least 1,200 rushing yards to go along with three-straight campaigns in which he grabbed at least 52 passes. Mimicking Gibbs would make Harvey a potentially more potent threat.

And then there’s McCaffrey, who had a season for the ages last year: some 1,202 rushing yards, over 2,100 yards from scrimmage and 102 receptions, his highest single-season catch total in six years.

McCaffrey has a career regular-season average of 101.3 receptions per 17 games. Imagine for a moment if Harvey could become that prolific of a pass-catcher. It might not be realistic given how Broncos coach Sean Payton likes to have a running-back duo at his disposal, with room for a third-down/two-minute presence like Tyler Badie was last year, or Coleman could be right from the jump if he flourishes in pass protection next month. Although it must be noted, new primary play-caller Davis Webb could have some ideas of his own to incorporate.

Nevertheless, Harvey has the right models in mind for the quickest path to entering the conversation about the NFL’s most dynamic runners, especially given what work is likely in line for him. His path to the top could rely on becoming a more-dynamic pass-catcher after his 47-reception, 5-touchdown-catch rookie campaign; Gibbs and McCaffrey in particular offer a template to follow.

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