Mark Harrison?

[fierce]

Yeah BF I tend to fall on that side as well. On the Pats position changes are rarely tried as often as fans think they will and they usually don't pan out when they are.

Having said that, I went back and watched some tape of him. He runs a LOT like AH. People seem to forget AH wasn't that much of a blocker either. If he can hold on to the ball he's got a chance.

Also I could envision seeing him play WR but still run some of those same AH routes. I'm personally excited to see the year two jump from our crop of receivers last year.

 

[BelichickFan]

Physically Allen Robinson (2nd round likely) is a great comp. The 39" VJ are sick, AH had a 33. Mike Evans has a 37".

Harrison

Height: 6027
Weight: 231
40 Yrd Dash: 4.37
20 Yrd Dash: 2.58
10 Yrd Dash: 1.59
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 38 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'09"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.33
3-Cone Drill: 6.99


Robinson

Height: 6025
Weight: 220
40 Yrd Dash: 4.60
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 10'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.00
3-Cone Drill: 7.00

 

[primetime]

Harrison was better than Sanu the year Sanu went in the 2nd round (which doesn't say much, since Sanu has been a miserable disappointment in the NFL). He's got off-the-charts measurables. Allen Robinson is a good comparison of what Harrison would been considered as a prospect after that big year, but Harrison has some red flags such as inconsistency and bad hands.

Tim Wright (also from Rutgers) made the same sort of transition from WR to TE for the Bucs last season and ended up being the most productive rookie TE, so Harrison could certainly do it as well. It probably depends on roster makeup and how he looks in the preseason.

 

[ATippett56]

Physically Allen Robinson (2nd round likely) is a great comp. The 39" VJ are sick, AH had a 33. Mike Evans has a 37".

Harrison

Height: 6027
Weight: 231
40 Yrd Dash: 4.37
20 Yrd Dash: 2.58
10 Yrd Dash: 1.59
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 38 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'09"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.33
3-Cone Drill: 6.99

Robinson

Height: 6025
Weight: 220
40 Yrd Dash: 4.60
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 10'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.00
3-Cone Drill: 7.00

If playing wide receiver in the NFL was all about the "measurables", Dale Moss would be a god.

Dale Moss | South Dakota State, WR : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

 

[mgteich]

I apologize if I sounded upset. No offense is met. As was said, I often take such a tone when I strongly disagree.

I didn't think that we had reached the time that we celebrate UDFA's who might have a chance at the roster or Practice Squad. I guess we've reached that point. So, no problem.

I did indeed think that you were suggesting that Harrison presented an option instead of considering TE a top draft need. Many of us would like to see at least one top pick at TE, perhaps two in the first four rounds.

Not sure why you seem upset? I didn't say it lessens the need for a TE in the draft. I said hmmmm maybe this kid does something in practice. It's the dog days of the offseason, lighten up.

 

[fierce]

I apologize if I sounded upset. No offense is met. As was said, I often take such a tone when I strongly disagree.

No offense taken at all. I've been here too long to take this stuff personally.

I think if we draft two TE's one will inevitably be a later round pick. So let the competition shake out the roster. We drafted Boyce higher than Thompkins (who wasn't drafted at all) but Thompkins beat him out in Training Camp.

I think it's at minimum curious that we let go all of our injured practice squad guys including TJ Moe, but held on the Harrison with an otherwise crowded WR corp.

 

[supafly]

I still think the whole need for a flex/move TE is a bit overrated by us fans. We don't really have a need to transform a guy into another position, and unless we somehow move up significantly to draft Ebron or Amaro, we won't be finding the flex/move TE in the draft--at least one who's more of a sure thing in the earlier rounds anyway.

Drafting a more traditional inline TE like Niklas, or Fiedoriwicz would still allow us to do the following:

--improve our overall depth, and improve the gaping hole that is currently filled by the JAG that is Hooman (a good blocking TE3, but nothing more)

--allow us to go back to 2 TE sets at a 30-40-50% ratio

--allow us to keep the same personnel on the field in hurry up situations, where we can have the choice of pass/run options

--give us another bigger red zone target

--allows us to take advantage of mismatches vs defensive options at LB/S

--give us another option in case Gronkowski becomes injured again, instead of being left with nothing as in the past couple of years

--improves our receiving targets as a whole on a cheap, rookie pact. The odds of taking another rookie WR in the top 3 rounds of the draft probably isn't good

And most of all....

--allow us to see an improvement over Aaron Hernandez in terms of blocking capacity

 

[TonyTucker]

If Mark Harrison plays ONE meaningful snap in a Patriots uniform, I'll take a dump in the toilet and then drink the water. The guy is just a big stiff.

I'm with Supafly. Hernandez was on the field for the Ravens AFCCG loss, wasn't he? They scored a whopping 13 points and 0 in the second half. They need someone more like Gronk who's a red zone target.

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

If Mark Harrison plays ONE meaningful snap in a Patriots uniform, I'll take a dump in the toilet and then drink the water. The guy is just a big stiff.

If he scores a meaningful TD would you post the above wager on Youtube?

 

[DarrylS]

I would like to see this team revert to the 2011 offense when Gronk and AH, had 169 catches and 24 TD's...

2012 there was diminished production.. and last year it fell off of the chart.

Thought in 2013 when this team was put together in June they were trying to revert close to the 2011 production, and that is why they put so much faith in the young'uns. Then shyt happened and they never really reverted close to the intended offense and intended production...

Whether Harrison has an impact, or they find another Gronk or "move" TE, is immaterial.. production is the key...

 

[DaBruinz]

OK, we have a player coming to camp who can compete with Williams for the 3rd or 4th TE spot, or more likely a spot on the Practice Squad.

I see no reason why this non-talent should affect our need to draft a TE capable of starting opposite Gronkowski, or instead of Gronk when he is injured.

Anyone, please feel free to post analysis where Harrison was considered worthy of a top draft pick or was considered to starting quality material at TE.

BTW, combine stats are lost on me. There are a lot of unemployed UDFA's with fine combine numbers.

MG - Clearly the kid has talent. People have posted the numbers that have shown he does. . Whether he can make it pan out is a different question.

You clearly have it in your head that his status as a UDFA (which was because of an injury at the Combine) is some huge negative. If you are going to be so condescending about it, don't bother posting because it brings nothing to the party..

 

[Tunescribe]

"Move tight end." THAT is one of the dumbest football cliches yet. Who invented that doozy -- Mayock? I think he's also responsible for "upside," another moronic term.

 

[DaBruinz]

If Mark Harrison plays ONE meaningful snap in a Patriots uniform, I'll take a dump in the toilet and then drink the water. The guy is just a big stiff.

I'm with Supafly. Hernandez was on the field for the Ravens AFCCG loss, wasn't he? They scored a whopping 13 points and 0 in the second half. They need someone more like Gronk who's a red zone target.

Another ignorant person with nothing to actually add to the conversation. The loss to the Ravens was more about the Defense falling apart after the loss of Talib than it was the offense not being able to do things.

Supafly's post isn't well thought out considering that the 2,3,4,5, and 7 options apply equally to someone like Harrison (if he's used as a move-TE) as it does any rookie that comes in for the same position.

Furthermore, no one is saying that Harrison as the move-TE should preclude the Patriots from adding another TE in the draft. Whether it's a move-TE ala ASJ or an in-line TE like Niklas or Fiedorowicz really doesn't make a difference because they will both provide mismatches against opposing teams defenses.

 

[DaBruinz]

"Move tight end." THAT is one of the dumbest football cliches yet. Who invented that doozy -- Mayock? I think he's also responsible for "upside," another moronic term.

Such great insight, Tune. And the word "UPSIDE" has been used since long before Mayock became a name..

 

[Sfpat]

OK, we have a player coming to camp who can compete with Williams for the 3rd or 4th TE spot, or more likely a spot on the Practice Squad.

I see no reason why this non-talent should affect our need to draft a TE capable of starting opposite Gronkowski, or instead of Gronk when he is injured.

Anyone, please feel free to post analysis where Harrison was considered worthy of a top draft pick or was considered to starting quality material at TE.

BTW, combine stats are lost on me. There are a lot of unemployed UDFA's with fine combine numbers.

If you read the pre-draft mocks from last year, many on this board had him as a draftable talent as high as the 3rd round. This was before his foot injury. Maybe he will surprise.

 

[Tunescribe]

Such great insight, Tune. And the word "UPSIDE" has been used since long before Mayock became a name..

I didn't consider it "insight," but your sarcasm is noted. If Mayock didn't coin "upside" as a replacement for "potential," he certainly popularized it. Since you apparently have a bead on the origins of upside's entry to football vernacular, please share.

 

[primetime]

Upside has been used forever. I don't really pay attention to any of the big name draft pundits besides Kiper and it's not exactly something recent.

 

[Tunescribe]

Upside has been used forever. I don't really pay attention to any of the big name draft pundits besides Kiper and it's not exactly something recent.

Used interchangeably with "potential," I don't recall it being widely used by football commentators prior to 10 years or so ago ... But "move tight end" is yet another bit of trite shorthand that definitely is new.

 

[Ring 6]

If Mark Harrison plays ONE meaningful snap in a Patriots uniform, I'll take a dump in the toilet and then drink the water. The guy is just a big stiff.

I am going to send this to BB and offer him a free weekend at my lake house to pick Harrison up on a Friday and let him play one snap on Sunday.

 

[Brady6]

Mark Harrison was a productive college player as a true sophomore he had 44 receptions, 829 yards, and 9 touchdowns, he then dealt with injuries as a junior but returned as a senior with 44 receptions, 583 yards, and 6 touchdowns. He then showed up at the 2013 NFL combine and stole the show with these metrics.

Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6027
Weight: 231
40 Yard Dash: 4.37
20 Yard Dash: 2.58
10 Yard Dash: 1.59
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 38 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'09"
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.33
3-Cone Drill: 6.99

He was one of the most coveted UDFA last season.

Patriots sign coveted UDFA Mark Harrison | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

If you do not see potential in this kid you are too caught up in where players are selected, he had production, and ridiculous metrics at the combine, he did things only Calvin Johnson and a handful of other players have done in combine history. He is a raw talent, but nobody develops talent better than Belichick and his staff.