Inside the New York Jets Film Room: Damon Harrison

Sep 12, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates a touchdown with nose tackle Damon Harrison (94) during the second half of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Time to float some more love towards the guy we have all come to love, Damon “Snacks” Harrison. In case you missed it, we talked yesterday about well Damon has graded out so far, compared to both his own team, and the rest of the NFL.  Give it a read if you haven’t, it has been an impressive showing so far for Harrison.

Today, we go inside the film room to take a closer look at the work of young Mr. Harrison.  How has he done it?  What is it that he is doing, that is serving him so well?  Well, here are two plays, both from the game against the Patriots, that show that not only is Damon Harrison strong, he a  smart player as well.

The first play takes place in the second quarter.

Damon Harrison is lined up just off the center’s left shoulder. The center is going to try to block Damon down to the left of our screen, as we will see in just a moment. The play is to get the line flowing to the left, and giving the running back a cut-back lane to the right. Watch how Damon uses that momentum of the center to his advantage.

Take a look in the circle. You see? The center is pushing Damon to our left, as indicated by the red arrow. However, if you look closely, you see that Damon already has a hand around him, prepping to use the center’s own momentum against him. He is going to keep him going to our left, while he stays put and pushes around the center, to make the play. Watch.

Again inside the circle, Damon Harrison has the upper hand on the center. His leverage has taken him past his man, allowing him a free shot on Ridley, the ball carrier. The center has been shoved along to our left, and with Damon’s strength, he can stand his ground and fill that lane.

Here is Damon with his free shot on the running back.

Down goes Ridley for a four yard loss. Great play, great strength and use of the lineman by Damon Harrison.

We’ll look at one more play on the next page.

Again, Damon Harrison is circled in the green. This time, they are going to attempt to block him down to the right of our screen. Damon will use the momentum of the lineman once again to allow him to run out of the play, fill the cut back lane and make the stop.

Damon already has his helmet above the man trying to block him. That tells you right there, that he already has the man beaten. He has his arms over the top of his guy. Now, Damon can simply push his man to his, and our right. It’s not hard, the lineman is already moving in that direction. He uses the guy’s own momentum to get him out-of-the-way.

Snacks is in full eating mode here. He’s got his hands on top of the lineman, and the guy’s feet are already past him. Damon has rendered this man useless in trying to block him. He’s in the cutback lane, ready to snack on the oncoming running back.

Snacks has got a little eating to do. He meets the running back in the hole, holding him to a short gain.

So, in a short time, Damon Harrison has become a force. He is not only strong, but he is smart. Put those two elements together, and add them to a player that works hard? You have a guy that is going to be around a long time, and be good at what he does.

What a privilege it will be to watch him continue to grow.