JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's been hard to ignore the No. 36 jersey during the first two weeks of Jaguars organized team activities (OTAs). Spectators can see the jersey moving around the practice field, attacking opposing players with a sense of tamed ferocity due to the lack of contact during the OTA phase.
The player who wears the jersey, rookie safety Ronnie Harrison, has impressed his coaching staff even though his physicality has been restricted. Harrison was known for being a heavy hitter during his time at Alabama and his calling card has yet to be exploited during the Jaguars' voluntary workouts.
Instead of focusing on his physicality, the Jaguars' coaching staff has taken note of Harrison's intelligence and athleticism. The third-round pick is being asked to learn the strong safety position and his early returns during OTAs have encouraged his bosses.
“He is actually, I think, a little bit better than we thought we were going to get," Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said on Thursday. "We knew he was an in-the-box safety, around the football and a physical player. But now we are seeing him in the middle of the field back in our two-shell coverages that we run. You see his athleticism really show through."
Harrison received plenty of reps during the first six OTA workouts. He has been learning behind starting strong safety, Barry Church.
"It’s been a great experience, Church and [Tashaun Gipson] have been really helpful," Harrison said to First Coast News. "I’m just trying to learn the playbook as fast as possible and just be an asset to the team."
Harrison's ability to blitz could be his key to earning extra playing time on defense as a rookie. He has the size of a linebacker and the speed of a defensive back, which should help him get to the quarterback at the next level.
Harrison produced 3.5 sacks during his college career at Alabama. He hopes to exceed those numbers during his NFL career.
"That’s something I started doing my freshman year at Alabama, it’s kind of like a natural thing for me, just getting to the quarterback," Harrison said. "It’s fun getting to the ball and making plays."
Harrison's NFL ambitions extend beyond blitzing and playing the strong safety position. Eventually, he would like to play in several spots, similar to the way the Philadelphia Eagles use safety Malcolm Jenkins.
Jenkins played safety, linebacker and cornerback during the Eagles' Super Bowl run. Harrison offers similar versatility and he hopes to be a moving chess piece for the Jaguars' defense.
"I feel like that’s what I bring: versatility," Harrison said. "That’s what I do the best, coming out, so, you know if that’s what they want do I’m down for it."
Even if Harrison is only pegged for the strong safety role in the immediate future, he is still eager to learn the entire defense. He believes that knowledge will help him understand his and everyone else's job around him.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone believes players from programs like Alabama have a built-in understanding of the NFL game. That understanding could pay off early for the Jaguars if Harrison is exposed to heavy snaps as a rookie.
"I don’t think there is really anything you can throw at – and not just Ronnie, but any of those Alabama defensive backs – there is not really anything you can throw at them coverage-wise and scheme-wise and even technique-wise that maybe they have not seen before," Marrone said Friday.
"He is matter of fact and does a good job and studies and is smart. He’s really picking things up, so that’s exciting ... Obviously, we have more work to do, but we are looking for that transfer for when the pads come on and we get on the field.”
Much like his coaching staff, Harrison is looking forward to the contact of training camp. After weeks of holding back hits, Harrison plans to embrace his physical nature when pads are involved.
"I’m so ready for the pads to come on," Harrison said. "You can’t do a lot in shirts and shorts. A lot of guys make a couple plays you probably wouldn’t have made in pads, so I’m just ready to get them on and let them know what time it is."
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.