Darius Harris' Big Series
Looking closer at a standout moment from the Chiefs last preseason game.
There were a lot of good performances in the Kansas City Chiefs’ last preseason game (Jaylen Watson! Ronald Jones! MATT BUSHMAN!), but arguably the best performance came from a player on the edge of the roster: Darius Harris.
Harris has been with the Chiefs since he was picked up as an undrafted free agent in the 2019 NFL Draft. After a year on IR, Harris flitted on the edge of the LB room, eventually appearing in several games for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense as a backup MIKE and SAM linebacker. Harris was likely making the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in 2022 already, but a series of excellent plays — and an overall set of quality snaps — removed any doubt of his spot.
Today, we’ll take a deeper look at each one of those snaps, finding out how he almost killed off a Green Bay Packers’ drive by himself.
Play #1 - First and 10

One of the elements of Harris’ game that has developed significantly under Spagnuolo is his comfort level at the MIKE linebacker position. Harris was thrust into the position late in the 2020 season for a game against the Atlanta Falcons, and he absolutely looked the part. Some of the reason that MIKE ability has developed lies in the confidence that he has in his reads and his angles to the ballcarrier.
The first play of the drive exhibits those traits better than any. Harris is aligned as a “20” — shading the inside shoulder of the guard — making this a tough block for the uncovered center. Harris makes it even more difficult by ID’ing the concept immediately, mirroring the running back’s footwork, and moving downhill to the B gap with purpose. Tershawn Wharton does well to stack his single block, and Mike Danna holds a double (most importantly, the right tackle that could peel), and Harris’ exceptional angle eliminates any escape route for the bouncing back.
Play #2 - Second and 13

Harris has always had a quick trigger downhill and good body control, all the way back to his time at Middle Tennessee State University. He has a knack for slipping blocks and knifing through gaps right as they close — and before the offensive lineman can get their hands on him and eliminate him from the play. Those traits are precisely why he was able to make a stop on the next play in the series.
The Packers motion a tight end across the field, keeping him tight to the formation. Harris widens slightly toward the tight end — now the #3 receiver to the field — staying in the box against the run, but aligning closer to a throwing lane against an RPO. The Packers throw a tunnel screen to the #2 receiver, and Harris’ quick trigger downhill make it almost impossible for the center to climb and eliminate him quickly.
However, the ballcarrier does a good job reading the flow of his blocks — and sees Harris bearing down on him — so he adjusts to dip underneath his offensive linemen to try to gain more yardage. Harris uses exceptional body control to slide underneath the block, get an arm extended, and pull down the running back with an offensive lineman bearing down on him. Harris then starts tracking the consecutive plays he’s made on his fingers.
Play #3 - Third and 13

After making two plays and backing the Packers up further inside their own redzone, Harris gets the opportunity to blitz on third and long. Spagnuolo does well to disguise it — mugging the opposite B gap with Jermaine Carter and having him drop out just before the snap — hoping to shift protection away from where he wants to bring the blitz. Harris is able to get downhill quickly in what could have been a hit on the quarterback if he widened his path on the way.
However, this is where the culmination of all of Harris’ development and best natural traits come to a head. The Packers have a screen pass called, and Harris identifies the back attempting to squeeze through to the flat. He changes directions quickly, uses his terrific body control to split the right guard and the center, and meets the running back at the line of scrimmage as he’s catching the ball.
This three-play stretch for Harris wasn’t his only contribution on the night — nor in this preseason. He has been a consistent presence throughout these games, earning a roster spot backing up Nick Bolton and being a strong special teams contributor. When new faces enter the fold, it can be easy sometimes to overlook the guys that are there and making a difference at or near the bottom of the roster. Harris’ preseason — and the three plays in a row he made in this series — should help remind Chiefs fans that there’s plenty still to offer for this third-year linebacker.
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