Patriots sign UDFA WR Mark Harrison

[TruthSeeker]

I really hope Moe can seize the moment.

MOE doesn't have the size like LARRY fitzgerald, but I hear he runs great CURLY routes.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Great pickup -- where we got him. 6'3" 231 pound 4.46 WR with great measurables. Likened to Stephen Hill picked by the Jesters for a 2nd round pick last year. Great pickup as an URFA.

He is our Da'rick Rodgers.

He ain't no Stephen Hill or Da'Rick Rogers. But hopefully he has the desire to be good, and maybe it'll work out for him. He certainly has all the measurables.

 

[DarrylS]

Looks more like TC fodder to me..

 

[patsfan-1982]

I don't see him making the team.

Danny Amendola,
Josh Boyce,
Aaron Dobson,
Donald Jones,
Julian Edelman,
Matthew Slater,


dose 6 guys are the only WR/ST players I see making the team

 

[Wilfork#75]

I said before the draft I think he is a better fit at TE. He is fast but certainly isn't quick and I think he is really going to struggle getting separation on the outside against NFL CBs. However, if you match him up in the middle of the field against LBers and safeties then I think he has a shot. Could be a good option for training camp reps if Hernandez isn't ready to go.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I don't see him making the team.

Danny Amendola,
Josh Boyce,
Aaron Dobson,
Donald Jones,
Julian Edelman,
Matthew Slater,


dose 6 guys are the only WR/ST players I see making the team

He's a TE, a Hernandez alternative
I see him on the PS unless Hernandez pulls a Glass IR season

 

[primetime]

He's not a tight end. He played outside as a receiver in college, and there's no reason to think that wouldn't be his pro position.

 

[BB4PRez]

If he comes in with the right attitude, it sounds like he could be developed into a usefull player with some practice squad time. From what I have read, there is some question whether he sustain the right attitude.

 

[BlueThunder]

My binkie list is full.....I'll pass on him making the roster or PS.

 

[captain stone]

It'll be interesting to see if BB chooses the best out of the UDFA group or the best out of the JAG/stiff group. All three of the UDFAs aren't your typical scrubs, each with ability and potential, it's just hard to see BB carrying 3 rookie WRs.

Amendola
Dobson
Boyce
Edelman
(Slater)

Does BB choose one of:

Thompkins
Moe
Harrison

or one of:

Jenkins
Jones
Aiken
Hawkins

Bill's choice will likely come down to TC performance and, in the case of Hey Moe, to Amendola's
& Edelman's health. If either one isn't ready for Opening Day, then Moe's chances of sticking increase
exponentially. If both are healthy, then maybe he sneaks through waivers to the PS.

Thompkins & Harrison probably need PS time before reaching the 53; Hawkins & Aiken stink.

And although Jenkins & Jones are not similar WRs, they might be competing for the same spot.
May the better man win.

 

[Don Kipines]

He's a TE, a Hernandez alternative
I see him on the PS unless Hernandez pulls a Glass IR season

He's not even remotely a tight end, he's a pure outside receiver with 4.4 speed and 35" arms, why would you want him inside?

His deficiencies are his hands and his consistency, and he had pretty middling production in college. His sole NFL-caliber trait is that he's physically dominating for the position. If you take him and try to make him an H-back and an inline blocker, you're taking away the one thing that gives him a chance to make it in the league, i.e. the fact that he can outmuscle most cornerbacks while having the speed to threaten the edge.

He's a lottery ticket, but kind of an interesting one. Clearly the kid's biggest problems are between the ears. If you can straighten him out, calm him down, it wouldn't take much to make him a useful NFL player. And if he starts to figure things out, the cool thing is, there aren't many limits -- he has the body of a Brandon Marshall or Dez Bryant, he's just even more unfocused than those guys right now. But the only way you'd bother with a kid like this is if you were looking for a true wide receiver.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I don't see him making the team.

Danny Amendola,
Josh Boyce,
Aaron Dobson,
Donald Jones,
Julian Edelman,
Matthew Slater,


dose 6 guys are the only WR/ST players I see making the team

He's a PS candidate all the way. Because he didn't get drafted, you can pretty safely assume that he won't get claimed. From there, there's probably a 99% chance that he amounts to nothing, but that 1% flyer is worth it since physically he's basically a Brandon Marshall clone.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I said before the draft I think he is a better fit at TE. He is fast but certainly isn't quick and I think he is really going to struggle getting separation on the outside against NFL CBs. However, if you match him up in the middle of the field against LBers and safeties then I think he has a shot. Could be a good option for training camp reps if Hernandez isn't ready to go.

At 6'3, 230, how much immediate separation does he really need to get? CBs won't be able to out-muscle him, and once he gets going, his top-line speed is plenty good enough to punish corners who attempt to jam him at the LOS and fail.

In the overwhelmingly likely event that he fails to make it in the NFL, it will be because of his head, not because he doesn't have the physical tools to be a WR at this level.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

Really pumped about this pick up, not because I believe he beats out one of the vets or the 2 other rookies (whom are locks) outright. I'm pumped for 2 reasons/beliefs.

1) Rarely have we had a PS candidate who has elite potential/measurables at a position of uncertainty(however unlikely, his measurables are elite unarguably)

2) Who amongst us believes that Edelman, Amendola, D. Jones or Gronk/AH will miss no significant time this season? It's not a bad thing to have a prospect like this on the PS when in the past few years we've had guys like Tiquan Underoos, Kerry Taylor, Kettani, Ventrone etc. Going back and forth whom are all what-you-see-is-what-you-get type players. I believe due to the number of pass catchers with injury histories we could see a Practice Squad player at some point getting reps(hopefully not during the playoffs). I would rather that player be a high ceiling player like Harrison.

Like BradyFTW! said he's a lottery ticket, but of the sexy powerball variety with only slightly better odds.

 

[MagnumPI5]

With a good showing, Harrison becomes our new Andre Holmes on our practice squad: someone with good measurables, who at the very least play can mimic an opposing team's larger receiver, but who is also a project with the upside of developing into a contributor.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Only reason Pats got him was he failed the Bears physical because of a foot injury. He was told he'd be resigned once he got past it. Instead he ended up at Rutgers North.

I agree his best bet is on PS. But if he shows halfway decent promise in TC, he will be claimed by the Bears or another team before he lands on PS.

Lets cross that bridge when we get there. In the meanwhile, good to have him in Pats camp.

 

[bagwell368]

He won't make the 53 this year. I don't like the PS either since he needs a redshirt year, and if shows signs he could get yanked, as many of our players do.

The solution is the PUP, and he's got a perfect injury fig leaf.

 

[BTTA]

He won't make the 53 this year. I don't like the PS either since he needs a redshirt year, and if shows signs he could get yanked, as many of our players do.

The solution is the PUP, and he's got a perfect injury fig leaf.

Yup. Here's more: Y! SPORTS

 

[captain stone]

Great article by Thomas.
2 things that Harrison absolutely must accomplish during TC before he has even a remote chance
of making the Opening Day 53: be completely healthy by the very beginning of TC, and not drop
any passes, not even one; his margin of error is that slim.
Should he accomplish both of these, the question would then become: would Bill seriously consider
having 3 rookie WRs on the Opening Day 53? I highly doubt it, but one never knows.
My preference is having him clear waivers during the flood of humanity known as Final Cuts, then
signed to the PS (with TJ Moe).

 

[TruthSeeker]

Great article by Thomas.
2 things that Harrison absolutely must accomplish during TC before he has even a remote chance
of making the Opening Day 53: be completely healthy by the very beginning of TC, and not drop
any passes, not even one; his margin of error is that slim.
Should he accomplish both of these, the question would then become: would Bill seriously consider
having 3 rookie WRs on the Opening Day 53? I highly doubt it, but one never knows.
My preference is having him clear waivers during the flood of humanity known as Final Cuts, then
signed to the PS (with TJ Moe).

He won't clear the waiver wire to get to the PS. Chicago will be all over him. Especially if he's healthy and has a good camp. I wouldn't mind seeing Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Hawkins, Edelman and Harrison being our receiving squad. Nice combo of youth, veterans and speed/talent. I think Jenkins beats out Harrison though. With both Harrison and Boyce having foot injuries, they are both behind the 8 ball though. They both need to be 100% healthy and know the playbook by training camp to have a chance at making the final 53.