HOUSTON – Christian Harris’ instincts, anticipation and aggressiveness kicked into high gear last season as the Texans’ linebacker emerged as an impact player.
Harris contributed heavily for an AFC South championship squad.
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As Harris heads into his third NFL season for the Texans, much more is expected from one of the top young linebackers in the NFL.
One of the fastest linebackers in the NFL with a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash, Harris plays the game with a nasty streak.
Harris recorded a career-high 101 tackles last season for the while learning from coach DeMeco Ryans, a former Texans Pro Bowl linebacker who played at Alabama along with his protege.
“For Christian, it was just all about just confidence,” Ryans said. “Just believe that you can make those plays. I think that -- and for me as a coach it’s one thing, just continue to exude and push that confidence upon him because he’s a great player. He’s talented. Has all the athletic ability. Now it’s just him continuing to believe that. Once he crossed that threshold of believing, that’s when you see him take off.
“He made play after play for us in crucial moments in games. He stepped up and made big=time plays for us just because take the technique and all these things aside, you have to believe you can make plays in this league and believe you’re a playmaker. Now he knows that, and he’s walking in that manner, and it’s really cool to see him show up and make plays even still, today, making plays all over the field. So, man, that’s one guy I’m proud of. So proud to see his growth.”
Harris became the seventh player in NFL history to record a pick-six for a touchdown and record a sack in the same playoff game since Texans defensive end J.J. Watt against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012.
He had eight tackles, two for losses, a 36-yard return for a touchdown of a Joe Flacco interception against the Cleveland Browns in a playoff victory. He had seven more tackles, one for a loss and pressured Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson repeatedly during an AFC divisional round loss..
With confidence, Harris kept playing faster and faster.
“You know, you talk about being a great football player no matter the position, right?” Ryans said. “It’s all about your instincts, right? If you have the instincts and you see it and trust it and go with it and you play fast, you make plays. Christian never had a problem with seeing.
“Just don’t second guess yourself. Just go and make the play. That’s for every position. Guys who play fast, right, their instincts are taking over. They’re not thinking. They are on autopilot. They’re just rolling. They know the techniques and how to do it. Now, they let their bodies take over and make plays.”
Now, Harris is teaming up with veteran middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair who joined the team on a three-year, $33 million contract after leading the Tennessee Titans with 163 tackles last season.
“I think we all saw that growth through the season,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “Obviously in the production, and being around him and his approach to everything. I would say, I think it’s awesome seeing Azeez and him together, and Azeez’s history in the system and in the front. But we try to bring guys in that, at a professional level, do it the right way, that approach their craft in the right way.
“So, Christian sort of latching onto Azeez and seeing how he’s done it and how he’s gotten to where he’s gotten to has sort of enhanced Christian’s development I think, for sure. I think he’s made a pretty big jump this offseason and hope that continues.”
Harris displayed growth during the second half of the season with his playing time and productivity both on an upward trend.
He recorded a dozen tackles in the Texans’ 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts that led to them winning an AFC South division title as they clinched a berth in the playoffs.
Following a slow start to the season, Harris had two sacks, one forced fumble and seven tackles for losses while playing 755 defensive plays for 71 percent of the total defensive snaps during the regular season.
Harris led the AFC South champions in performance-based pay.
Harris will receive a $524,084 payout under the NFL’s annual performance-based pay program, a collectively bargained benefit compensating players based on playing time and salary levels
“Christian has truly developed all throughout the entire year,” Ryans said.“He’s gotten better each week. He’s become more comfortable with what we’re asking him to do. He’s playing much faster. He’s playing physical, he’s playing mean. I love his tenacity out on the field. I think when it comes to playing ability in the passing game, he’s making plays there.
“Whether it’s sacks, getting after the quarterback or attacking the ball when he’s in coverage, but also the way he’s tackling, the physical nature of his tackling, it’s grown, and he’s done a really great job of making impact plays for us. I’m very proud of Christian to see his growth throughout the entire year, see him develop into a quality starting linebacker making plays for us.”
The former third-round draft pick from Alabama recorded 74 tackles, one interception and a sack in 12 games and 11 starts after being activated from injured reserve as a rookie. Harris is incredibly fast for a linebacker, and the Texans are excited about his present and future.
Harris intercepted a pass as a rookie against the Tennessee Titans.
Ryans, a former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers, had a lot of success developing linebackers, including All-Pro Fred Warner, a former third-round draft pick in San Francisco, and Dre Greenlaw.
Tackling remains a point of emphasis for Harris, a 6-foot-2, 232-pounder from Baton Rouge, Ala.
“Honestly, just run through contact,” said Harris, who credited Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Pete Golding for his fundamental approach. “It’s habit. That’s what coach Pete taught me at ‘Bama. Your feet go dead at contact, and you’ll have no power.”
Harris’ tackling improved significantly since a rough start against the Las Vegas Raiders in his first NFL game.
Harris’ last college game was the national championship game for the Crimson Tide, recording three sacks, four tackles for losses and a forced fumble in a loss to Georgia.
Signed to a four-year, $5.34 million contract that includes a $1.069 million signing bonus, Harris turned heads with his ability to run and diagnose plays.
Harris comes from a track background. From an early age, he was running sprints under the watchful eyes of his parents, Jefferson Harris and Ramona Harris.
“I’ve been running track since when I was like 5,” Harris said. “My parents were coaches on that team. I had lot of that to boost my speed up.”
Harris is a man in constant motion at NRG Stadium. He doesn’t waste time and uses the training facility to focus on his recovery from practice and workouts. That includes a routine of massages, stretching, cold tubs and soft-tissue therapy.
“I try to keep my body fresh and recovering as fast as I can,” Harris said. “I don’t know everything yet. I try stuff out.”
Harris wants to continue to get stronger, stay fast and work on his hands to intercept more passes.
“I want to maintain that speed,” he said. “Probably work on my hands a little more in coverage and keep my pad level low at the point of contact.”
Harris’ parents are a fixture at Texans home and road games, following their son’s career just as they did at powerhouse Alabama.
“It’s everything to have them come to the games and experience it,” said Harris, who’s represented by veteran NFL agents Rick Roberts, Martin Fischman, Donald Weatherell and other staff members at Ballengee Football. “That means a lot.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
