Mike Harris: Jacksonville Jaguars’ Breakout Player 2013

Nov 25, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) watches as Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Mike Harris (20) makes an interception on the final play in the fourth quarter of their game at EverBank Field. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster is not yet complete but Paul Kuharsky of ESPN is already predicting the team’s breakout player for 2013 to be cornerback Mike Harris.  Harris outplayed Aaron Ross and Rashean Mathis (both no longer with the team) to finish the year starting opposite Derek Cox.  With a depleted secondary following free agency Harris looks poised to be a starter again.  Here’s what PK had to say:

"We’ll have to see just how much the Jaguars add at cornerback in the draft, but second-year man Mike Harris is in prime position to establish himself as a primary contributor. He currently rates as the No. 1 corner on the team where Alan Ball is second. However, Harris is 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, and new coach Gus Bradley is coming from Seattle, where his defensive system put a premium on big corners."

I agree that Harris doesn’t fit the mold for Bradley’s defense, but last year he showed that he can outplay players who have far more experience at the position.  While physical attributes are important they aren’t the only way to measure a player.  Harris doesn’t play bigger than his 5’10” stature but he does play better than a lot of bigger corners.  General manager Dave Caldwell has said that he won’t worry too much about a player’s measurables if the player can play better than others, I think that Harris could be one of those players.  Whether he is actually going to be the team’s breakout player or not is a little bit different.

– Luke N. Sims

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