The second stop in the MHR Selects series will be a vote and discussion on the Denver Bronco player that best fits the "Overachiever Of the Year" label for the 2011 season. I found two Bronco players that fit the bill for this distinction. The word "Overachiever" is defined as:
1. To perform, especially academically, above the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.
2. To perform better or achieve more than expected, especially by others.
Cornerback Chris Harris went Undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Kansas. He joined the Broncos as a college Free Agent on July 27, 2011. Harris had 72 Total Tackles, six Special Teams Tackles, six Pass Break Ups and one Interception in his first year as a pro. He led the team in Special Teams Tackles on three occasions and also led the team in Total Tackles two times while being just one of four rookies to play in all 16 games (4 starts). That was unexpected out of a CFA Rookie, but not out of the Broncos Scouting Department. Last year, Cassius Vaughn went Undrafted and made the final 53 out of Training Camp.
PunterBritton Colquitt is the other candidate for Overachiever of the Year. In 2010, Britton had a decent year. He ranked 7th in the league in punts and total yards (86 and 3,835), 10th in Net yards and gross average (3,145 and 44.6). However, Colquitt's 36.6 Net average was a full 8 yards lower than his gross, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. He also forced 17 Fair Catches, a figure that placed him at #13.
This season, Britton bettered every one of those categories by a good, but unexpected margin. He was the #1 ranked Punter in Total and Net yards punting, 2nd in number of punts (101), 7th in gross average (47.4), 9th in Net average (40.2). Colquitt was the 2nd best punter in the league in dropping punts Inside the 20 yard line with 33 and #3 in forcing Fair Catches with 27. Britton had a terrific year and earned a Pro Bowl selection as an alternate. He is undoubtedly one of the major reason the Broncos Special Teams Unit improved from 27th in 2010 to 15th in the league in the this year.
Certainly both players are worthy of this honor, at least in my opinion. But what do you say MHR? Who gets the Mile High Salute?
I'm thinking I'm going to have to get one for my wife...
She’s a KU fan and I’m a K-State fan and it’s the one thing we always butt heads on. She loves the fact that I’ve celebrated a former Jayhawk so much that she brings him up more than I do during the games. And I just love seeing her in Orange and Blue so it’ll work out just fine lol.
My choice is Chris Harris. I think the guy had a great year for a rookie. The fact that we picked him up as a CFA blows my mind. I can’t wait to see what this kid can do in the years to come. Awesome post by the way. GO BRONCOS!
Tim Tebow, Willis McGahee, and Marcus Thomas are very gifted athletes. I mean, Tebow is a top 10 RB playing QB…. no question he is a freak – Willis is a burner in a big mans body…. freak – and Marcus Thomas can do standing back flips as a DT.
Chris Harris, on the other hand, was nowhere near as highly touted as these other cats. He’s one of those guys who wasn’t even supposed to make it to the next level, let alone succeed? That’s why Mike Mayock (who I really respect, btw) apologized to him after the Jets game cause he wasn’t even on Mayock’s draft board at all!!!
There is no question in my mind that Chris Harris should win this award. He is a worker bee without the god given talent that these other names were born with.
I honestly believe that, tip your hat MHR, to an illustrious evaluator who admits his mistakes, when’s the last time you heard Mel Kiper do that.. Mayock>>>>>>>>>>Kiper
He is everything we need in a young RB. If memory serves, he had a minor case of fumbleitis in college, so by no means is he ready to be a lead back, but he could help a great deal, in light of McGahee’s age and Moreno’s disappointing career so far.
Carter and Thomas are the only ones with fairly low expectations and neither really impressed, especially Carter, who struggled all season. Harris wasn’t great, but was a solid nickel back and had much lower expectations.
We already knew we had a good punter in Colquitt. But no one expected Harris to make the kind of impact he had on the team. My first memory of him was drawing a penalty for getting shoved out of bounds and then coming back in. Glad he made up for that
but Harris made the all rookie team primarily playing in the nickel. I hope he replaces Goodman as the 2 CB. I mean Goodman had some clutch plays but like Dre Bly I feel like he got burned more than he helped.
Colquitt had a good season but the fact that he had the 2nd most punts in the NFL pads his stats for forced fair catches and punts inside the 20. Hopefully next season we score more points and he punts half as much as he did this year.
How valuable have both of these kids been to our team?
Little Chris Harris, with not much speed, strength, or size, made the friggin’ All Rookie team for Pete’s sake. Britton Colquitt was arguably the 2nd best Punter in all of the National Football League. We struck absolute gold with these players…. I’m very anxious to see what other players like this we can pull from the forgottens in the draft.
and if there is a specific category you would like to see represented, feel free to add a suggestion. MVP, Most Improved and Inspirational are next on the agenda.
I love Woodyard to, but I think he's past being unknown
he’s well respected for his play around the league already. Harris impressed me with his aggressiveness. He always played like he belongs and held nothing back. Saw him get beat a few times but that’s the life of a CB, but it never seemed to get to him. Probably the best thing that could be said about him was he played like a veteran his rookie year.
Bunkley was acklowedged as a VERY GOOD DT in Philly
He was a bit of an unknown because he was coming off injury, but he was a multi-year starter on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Living in NFC-E land here in DC, I was always impressed by his play (plus, one of my best buds is a Iggles guy, so I had lots of opportunity to watch him.
I thought he was at worst a top-20 DT in the NFL in Philly, and nothing this year has made me re-consider that evaluation. He’s not a great penetrator, and maybe a bit of a disappointment because he was so highly touted coming out of college, but he’s extremely solid at the point of attack. Total steal on our part, and I like him a lot more than some of the jokers Philly kept over him….
CB Chris Harris came out of nowhere and proved he belongs on our team.
Like I said above, I applaud our scouts and Matt Russell for the hard work and many hours of evaluating prospects all over the country. We may have some of the best scouts in the country…
I'm thinking
A shiny new Nike orange number 25 Jersey will be headed my way this spring/summer.
Dan Hart - January 19, 2012 via mobile
I'm thinking I'm going to have to get one for my wife...
She’s a KU fan and I’m a K-State fan and it’s the one thing we always butt heads on. She loves the fact that I’ve celebrated a former Jayhawk so much that she brings him up more than I do during the games. And I just love seeing her in Orange and Blue so it’ll work out just fine lol.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - January 19, 2012
Nice win-win!
MakeCents - January 19, 2012
Wait...does this jersey exist?
Owen - January 20, 2012
Both are great candidates, but....
My choice is Chris Harris. I think the guy had a great year for a rookie. The fact that we picked him up as a CFA blows my mind. I can’t wait to see what this kid can do in the years to come. Awesome post by the way. GO BRONCOS!
mtnbikinbronc - January 19, 2012 via Android app
Oh yea,Chris Harris!
Came out of nowhere & played great at a position of need.
Mike@4th&99 - January 19, 2012 via iPhone app
Although Colquitt deserves recognition for his great year
Harris had even lower expectations going in so I had to go with him
Bronco Rob - January 19, 2012
Chris Harris
No disrespect to Colquitt, but this is no contest. Having an undrafted free agent end up on the All Rookie team is almost unthinkable.
DoubleJay - January 19, 2012
Tim Tebow?
Willis McGahee?
Quinton Carter?
Marcus Thomas?
This team is filled with overachievers this year.
Tim Lynch - January 19, 2012
Harris beats every single one of them
this kid went undrafted
Calikula - January 19, 2012
exactly and it should be plain to see
Tim Tebow, Willis McGahee, and Marcus Thomas are very gifted athletes. I mean, Tebow is a top 10 RB playing QB…. no question he is a freak – Willis is a burner in a big mans body…. freak – and Marcus Thomas can do standing back flips as a DT.
Chris Harris, on the other hand, was nowhere near as highly touted as these other cats. He’s one of those guys who wasn’t even supposed to make it to the next level, let alone succeed? That’s why Mike Mayock (who I really respect, btw) apologized to him after the Jets game cause he wasn’t even on Mayock’s draft board at all!!!
There is no question in my mind that Chris Harris should win this award. He is a worker bee without the god given talent that these other names were born with.
PaleHorse78 - January 19, 2012
I had not heard that about Mayock
That is great to hear since I too, respect Mayock’s evaluations.
KaptainKirk - January 19, 2012
Mayock is a good person
I honestly believe that, tip your hat MHR, to an illustrious evaluator who admits his mistakes, when’s the last time you heard Mel Kiper do that.. Mayock>>>>>>>>>>Kiper
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
Check it out
http://www.milehighreport.com/2011/11/17/2568987/im-fascinated-by-chris-harris-im-mad-at-myself-i-made-several-phone
Calikula - January 19, 2012
Thanks
I must have missed that one.
KaptainKirk - January 19, 2012
Yeah, and a big thanks to our scouts for finding this gem...
Hopefully we can say the same thing about Mark Dell and Mario Fannin. Along with some others since theres about 700 draftees this year….
bfree2bronc - January 19, 2012
I know nothing about Mark Dell
but Mario Fannin might very well be the “sleeper” of the 2012 TC.
I highly rec. this comment.
firstfan - January 19, 2012
Dell was with us all TC until he hurt his ankle...On IR now.
bfree2bronc - January 19, 2012
I can't wait to see Mario Fannin
He is everything we need in a young RB. If memory serves, he had a minor case of fumbleitis in college, so by no means is he ready to be a lead back, but he could help a great deal, in light of McGahee’s age and Moreno’s disappointing career so far.
Horsepower - January 20, 2012
To overachive you need low expectations
Carter and Thomas are the only ones with fairly low expectations and neither really impressed, especially Carter, who struggled all season. Harris wasn’t great, but was a solid nickel back and had much lower expectations.
Topher Doll - January 19, 2012
Harris by a landslide
We already knew we had a good punter in Colquitt. But no one expected Harris to make the kind of impact he had on the team. My first memory of him was drawing a penalty for getting shoved out of bounds and then coming back in. Glad he made up for that
Calikula - January 19, 2012
A Rock Chalk Talk vote for Chris Harris all the way...
living in Denver and having attended the University of Kansas, it’s been awesome to see a player represent the Jayhawks as a Bronco.
Owen - January 19, 2012
Definitely Harris
but Harris made the all rookie team primarily playing in the nickel. I hope he replaces Goodman as the 2 CB. I mean Goodman had some clutch plays but like Dre Bly I feel like he got burned more than he helped.
Colquitt had a good season but the fact that he had the 2nd most punts in the NFL pads his stats for forced fair catches and punts inside the 20. Hopefully next season we score more points and he punts half as much as he did this year.
PatDog13 - January 19, 2012
How valuable have both of these kids been to our team?
Little Chris Harris, with not much speed, strength, or size, made the friggin’ All Rookie team for Pete’s sake. Britton Colquitt was arguably the 2nd best Punter in all of the National Football League. We struck absolute gold with these players…. I’m very anxious to see what other players like this we can pull from the forgottens in the draft.
PaleHorse78 - January 19, 2012
I will say Chris Harris
but I’m a sucker for Wesley Woodyard, an undersized guy who gives it everything he has!
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
There are more of these coming
and if there is a specific category you would like to see represented, feel free to add a suggestion. MVP, Most Improved and Inspirational are next on the agenda.
KaptainKirk - January 19, 2012
Spencer Larsen wins best Mormon :)
just kidding!
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
I love Woodyard to, but I think he's past being unknown
he’s well respected for his play around the league already. Harris impressed me with his aggressiveness. He always played like he belongs and held nothing back. Saw him get beat a few times but that’s the life of a CB, but it never seemed to get to him. Probably the best thing that could be said about him was he played like a veteran his rookie year.
rubincarterrocks - January 19, 2012
I think
that Woodyard should be Most Inspirational
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
Dawkins would get my vote if they were to have Most Inspirational
the defense is night and day without him
Calikula - January 19, 2012
yep, born a leader.
rubincarterrocks - January 20, 2012
Harris
But I would have been just as happy to give Bunkley my vote.
Tazzik - January 19, 2012
I considered him Tazzik
KaptainKirk - January 19, 2012
Agree on both counts
Mainly because Bunk was unknown, and we had generally low expectations for DT’s in general. Good call.
MakeCents - January 19, 2012
Bunkley was acklowedged as a VERY GOOD DT in Philly
He was a bit of an unknown because he was coming off injury, but he was a multi-year starter on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Living in NFC-E land here in DC, I was always impressed by his play (plus, one of my best buds is a Iggles guy, so I had lots of opportunity to watch him.
I thought he was at worst a top-20 DT in the NFL in Philly, and nothing this year has made me re-consider that evaluation. He’s not a great penetrator, and maybe a bit of a disappointment because he was so highly touted coming out of college, but he’s extremely solid at the point of attack. Total steal on our part, and I like him a lot more than some of the jokers Philly kept over him….
cjfarls - January 19, 2012
He did have a very good year statistically
Much better than last year and one of the top two years in that regard.
KaptainKirk - January 19, 2012
CB Chris Harris came out of nowhere and proved he belongs on our team.
Like I said above, I applaud our scouts and Matt Russell for the hard work and many hours of evaluating prospects all over the country. We may have some of the best scouts in the country…
bfree2bronc - January 19, 2012
No question #25
Ratio of performance to expectation was off the chart!
MakeCents - January 19, 2012
Happy Birthday to Doom today!
52.5 sacks, INT, 137 tackles, not bad career numbers! Also, it is Steve DeBerg’s birthday today, the Kyle Orton of a generation gone by
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
also Happy Birthday to Dan Reeves!
the new Bradfather - January 19, 2012
My vote
was Chris Harris, out of the two choices. But I actually think Tim Tebow was the most overachiever…
fripp21 - January 20, 2012
Yes, Chris Harris.
9798 - January 20, 2012
Chris Harris and the Denver scouts made 31 other FOs look bad!
Arctic Bronco - January 21, 2012
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