RJ Harvey turned heads in Denver’s preseason opener against the 49ers, flashing the speed and shiftiness that make him a legitimate contender to be the Broncos’ lead running back. Across six carries he gained 24 yards (4.0 yards per carry), showed the ability to create after contact and to turn broken plays into positive yardage — but he also made some reads and timing errors that cost him opportunities.
The numbers
– 6 carries, 24 yards (4.0 YPC).
– On average he was contacted 0.5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and gained 4.5 yards after contact (figures influenced by several outside bounces).
– Play intent: 1 carry designed to go outside, 5 intended between the tackles/tight ends.
– Scheme breakdown: 2 gap-scheme carries, 4 zone-scheme carries.
A play-by-play look (the preseason blame game)
Rep 1 — Quick toss
Harvey hits the designed path correctly, and the blocking looks to give him a lane — the play stalls because the slot receiver fails to displace the defensive end. Offensive timing and a missed receiver block are the primary failures here, not Harvey’s read or effort.
Rep 2 — Inside zone
Harvey wisely bounces outside when the middle becomes congested, but the congestion stems from a defensive end slant that forces the tight end (Trautman) to adjust and the line to help in different places. The author assigns primary blame to RT Mike McGlinchey for not chipping the slanting defender and helping Trautman, which would have cleared the intended A/B gap.
Rep 3 — Inside zone
This is a clear example of Harvey making something out of a questionable read. The line creates dents up front — Wattenberg and Quinn Meinerz move the DTs well and a linebacker is picked up — yet Harvey bounces and turns it into an 11-yard gain after making defenders miss. It worked, but it wasn’t the prescribed read.
Rep 4 — Inside zone slice
A play that drew the most frustration. Playside blocking is solid, the B gap is available, but Harvey appears late to commit and then overcorrects, running too far outside. The assessment places the blame squarely on Harvey for a slow decision and an unnecessary bounce.
Rep 5 — Outside zone
This one should’ve been a cutback hit. Trautman’s backside block cuts off the DE and Meinerz/McGlinchey give displacement to the second level — the lane to succeed was there if Harvey had trusted the interior. He likely realizes this after the fact.
Rep 6 — Inside zone
The C gap is open and the line has created enough movement for a modest gain. Harvey again bounces outside and ends up losing yards. This is another example where meeting the linebacker in the gap or taking a shorter gain would have been the correct, higher-percentage play.
Overall evaluation
None of the mistakes shown are fatal or unfixable. Harvey is playing his first NFL game at NFL speed behind an offensive line he hasn’t run many live plays with. Timing, comfort with blocking schemes and trust between runner and linemen take time to build. Most issues here are correctable through coaching, reps, and communication — both for Harvey (quicker decisions, recognizing cutback lanes) and for the line (chips and help when defenders slant, maintaining gaps, and clearer pre-snap communication).
Positive takeaways
– Harvey’s quickness and ability to make defenders miss turned marginal plays into positive yards; that playmaking trait is why he’s in the conversation for a starting role.
– Many of the breakdowns are teachable: decisive reads, finishing inside runs, and better coordination with blockers can materially improve his output.
– The offensive line showed moments of strong run blocking and displacement; with more continuity they should open more clean lanes.
Practical coaching notes and what to watch for next
– Harvey should work on quicker initial reads on zone schemes and on committing earlier when the primary gap is open.
– Drill situations that emphasize hitting the A/B gaps decisively and recognizing backside containment/cutback lanes.
– Offensive line: practice slant recognition and chip-and-release techniques so a slanting DE doesn’t create inside congestion.
– Watch the next preseason snaps for more decisive carries from Harvey and for whether the line adjusts to slants and gap discipline.
Short summary
RJ Harvey was efficient and electric in his limited preseason action, but he also bounced several runs that likely should have been hit inside. The problems shown are fixable and largely the result of first-game timing and communication issues. Expect improvement as Harvey and the line gain more live reps together.
Commentary
This performance should be taken as a promising baseline rather than a definitive judgment. Harvey demonstrated the explosiveness and contact balance to be a true playmaker; with improved decisiveness and better in-game chemistry with his blockers, he could reasonably claim the starting job. Coaches will want him to prioritize high-percentage decisions early — singles and steady gains are valuable — while continuing to leverage his ability to create after contact.
Hopeful spin
Harvey’s flashes are the kind of upside teams crave in a rookie or early-career back: natural instincts, burst, and the ability to turn limited looks into meaningful gains. The mistakes were mostly teachable. If he and the offensive line progress this preseason, Denver could have a dependable, dynamic lead back by Week 1.