N'Keal Harry (lack of) Progress Report

[TheRainMaker]

Unfortunately for Harry, he will take a lot of blame for being the guy that drove the GOAT away. Brady was laughing at this guy weekly and that should've been our first warning. Not his fault as the blame goes squarely on the guy taking him and only him.

He's been so bad, suddenly Chad Jackson and Aaron Dobson are afterthoughts.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Unfortunately for Harry, he will take a lot of blame for being the guy that drove the GOAT away. Brady was laughing at this guy weekly and that should've been our first warning. Not his fault as the blame goes squarely on the guy taking him and only him.

He's been so bad, suddenly Chad Jackson and Aaron Dobson are afterthoughts.

He's definitely worse than Dobson. Dobson actually put together a half decent rookie season before he got hurt. Lol

 

[catent]

Unfortunately for Harry, he will take a lot of blame for being the guy that drove the GOAT away. Brady was laughing at this guy weekly and that should've been our first warning. Not his fault as the blame goes squarely on the guy taking him and only him.

He's been so bad, suddenly Chad Jackson and Aaron Dobson are afterthoughts.

If you think Harry, and only Harry, drove Brady away, I'm not sure what to tell you. Still bums me out to see folks sh*tting on and laughing at a kid who's 22 years old and has collectively played less than a full season in his career. He doesn't look good right now but fortunately his career isn't over at 22 years old and 13 games played. He seems like a really good kid. I sure won't be giving up on him.

He actually had a nice play early against SF, where he ran a comeback and was able to use his size and strength to get leverage and body the CB out for the catch. It's a shame a dirty chin-clipping hit from SF knocked him out of the game. FWIW, that SF defense was playing subtly dirty all game -- a lot of sneaky drops of the helmets that found jaws and chins. Going on all game.

 

[Kontradiction]

If you think Harry, and only Harry, drove Brady away, I'm not sure what to tell you. Still bums me out to see folks sh*tting on and laughing at a guy who's 22 years old and has collectively played less than a full season in his career. He doesn't look good right now but fortunately his career isn't over at 22 years old and 13 games played. He seems like a really good kid. I sure won't be giving up on him.

He actually had a nice play early against SF, where he ran a comeback and was able to use his size and strength to get leverage and body the CB out for the catch. It's a shame a dirty chin-clipping hit from SF knocked him out of the game. FWIW, that SF defense was playing subtly dirty all game -- a lot of sneaky drops of the helmets that found jaws and chins. Going on all game.

Saleh promised them dolma, humus, pita bread, and hookah after the game for each hard hit.

 

[catent]

Also, can we get the guy a damn WR number? Outside of Edelman, has any WR come in here and played well with a number in the teens?

Give the guy a proper f*ckin' number.

 

[203Pat]

I’m glad Kontra put in the work. I was gonna make the post but then just figured I’d be told I don’t know anything about football anyways lol.

 

[catent]

We've thrown, what, 4 fades to Harry since he was drafted and he's caught every single one if I remember correctly. I believe they've all come from Stidham, too. You watch his college highlights and a massive percentage of his TDs and big plays came via fades/50-50 balls.

Hopefully he can develop some chemistry with Newton, but more importantly, hopefully the coaches can develop Harry better. Drafting and talent evaluation needs to be re-evaluated, but the way that receivers are being coached and utilized also needs to be closely examined. I'm looking at you, McDaniels and Lombardi.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If you think Harry, and only Harry, drove Brady away, I'm not sure what to tell you.

BB letting the talent erode on Offense is what drove him away. He'd be back with discount had they hit on one WR. Brady was laughing at Harry almost every time he threw him the ball. I thought it was unprofessional on Brady's part, but his frustration was at an all time high.

Still bums me out to see folks sh*tting on and laughing at a kid who's 22 years old and has collectively played less than a full season in his career.

That excuse is old. On a weekly basis, we're seeing guys with less time making impacts on their team. Outside of the last drive of the Seattle game, Harry has been invisible. A lot of the blame goes to the Coaches as well. What the hell did they draft him for?

Also, can we get the guy a damn WR number? Outside of Edelman, has any WR come in here and played well with a number in the teens?

Give the guy a proper f*ckin' number.

Keyshawn Johnson started that nonsense but took years to become popular. Now it's gotten out of control.

Now LB's are picking numbers in the 40's. Apparently, they don't realize once upon a time, those numbers were for guys were probably weren't going to make the team.

 

[FCB02062]

Harry is a BUST, that's Bee You Ess Tee, BUST. The guy has played enough games and has not made more than a MARGINAL impact in any game. A first round pick should be IMPACTING games, catching touchdowns, making big receptions and moving the chains on third down, on fourth down. Harry does absolutely nothing in this offense outside of the odd 5 yard catch over the middle and a 10 yard comeback/back shoulder every other game. The guy has the production of a street free agent.
People, stop hanging on to the hope that this guy will ever be anything. Keshawn f#cking Martin came to the Pats off the damn scrap heap in 2015 and in 8 games had 24 catches and 2 tds (11.2 ypc). Austin Collie was picked up off from the Medfield Transfer Station in 2013, played 7 games and had a more impactful game (vs New Orleans - 2 BIG first down catches on a gotta have it GAME WINNING drive) than Harry has ever had.
Look, it sucks that Bill the GM drafted this guy in the first round when he CLEARLY did not warrant such a high draft position. No one would be *****ing and moaning about Harry if he was a 3d round pick. Kenbrell Thompkins played 12 games as a UDFA in 2013. Extrapolate his season out to 16 games and he has 40 catches, 583 yards, 5 TDs. If Harry can't give the Pats that level of production it is proof Bill the Gm should never draft a WR again.

 

[ensoul]

I'm in the minority but I think he has tremendous upside. He has been amazing this year and could be the best WR since Edleman.

 

[DaBruinz]

The argument that Brady doesn’t like young WR was always silly.

That's never been the argument. So, your response is silly.

 

[VrabelJr]

I'm in the minority but I think he has tremendous upside. He has been amazing this year and could be the best WR since Edleman.

I feel the same. Brady was off last year and Cam has looked terrible this year, aside from against Seattle. Unless he improves his route running, I don’t think he can be a #1. But he definitely has the tools to be a pretty good Y. A different Y than what we’re used to though.

 

[Jlaff]

We've thrown, what, 4 fades to Harry since he was drafted and he's caught every single one if I remember correctly. I believe they've all come from Stidham, too. You watch his college highlights and a massive percentage of his TDs and big plays came via fades/50-50 balls.

Hopefully he can develop some chemistry with Newton, but more importantly, hopefully the coaches can develop Harry better. Drafting and talent evaluation needs to be re-evaluated, but the way that receivers are being coached and utilized also needs to be closely examined. I'm looking at you, McDaniels and Lombardi.

I can only assume that's because he couldn't get open in college.

At some point in watching his tape it would have been nice for the Patriots' scouts to stop being amazed at all the 50/50 balls he caught and question why all his catches had to be 50/50 balls.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

We've thrown, what, 4 fades to Harry since he was drafted and he's caught every single one if I remember correctly. I believe they've all come from Stidham, too. You watch his college highlights and a massive percentage of his TDs and big plays came via fades/50-50 balls.

Hopefully he can develop some chemistry with Newton, but more importantly, hopefully the coaches can develop Harry better. Drafting and talent evaluation needs to be re-evaluated, but the way that receivers are being coached and utilized also needs to be closely examined. I'm looking at you, McDaniels and Lombardi.

We target him in the flat, coming off motion, slants a lot. I'd like to see some out/up - slug-go - double moves - to counter those flat throws. Just get him going down the field.

And the bolded is a good point that goes unmentioned.

 

[Ian]

Harry is a BUST, that's Bee You Ess Tee, BUST. The guy has played enough games and has not made more than a MARGINAL impact in any game. A first round pick should be IMPACTING games, catching touchdowns, making big receptions and moving the chains on third down, on fourth down. Harry does absolutely nothing in this offense outside of the odd 5 yard catch over the middle and a 10 yard comeback/back shoulder every other game. The guy has the production of a street free agent.
People, stop hanging on to the hope that this guy will ever be anything. Keshawn f#cking Martin came to the Pats off the damn scrap heap in 2015 and in 8 games had 24 catches and 2 tds (11.2 ypc). Austin Collie was picked up off from the Medfield Transfer Station in 2013, played 7 games and had a more impactful game (vs New Orleans - 2 BIG first down catches on a gotta have it GAME WINNING drive) than Harry has ever had.
Look, it sucks that Bill the GM drafted this guy in the first round when he CLEARLY did not warrant such a high draft position. No one would be *****ing and moaning about Harry if he was a 3d round pick. Kenbrell Thompkins played 12 games as a UDFA in 2013. Extrapolate his season out to 16 games and he has 40 catches, 583 yards, 5 TDs. If Harry can't give the Pats that level of production it is proof Bill the Gm should never draft a WR again.

In fairness to Harry, every receiver on this roster looks bad right now but I would place the blame at the feet of the quarterback as it stands currently - who at times seems like he's aiming for their feet. We have no idea if Harry - or any of the other guys - have improved because the opportunities to catch a pass at this point simply haven't been there. And the film after the game has sort of proven that the separation issue isn't as bad as people have talked about and they're definitely leaving a lot on the field collectively at the moment.

 

[Wozzy]

In fairness to Harry, every receiver on this roster looks bad right now but I would place the blame at the feet of the quarterback as it stands currently - who at times seems like he's aiming for their feet. We have no idea if Harry - or any of the other guys - have improved because the opportunities to catch a pass at this point simply haven't been there. And the film after the game has sort of proven that the separation issue isn't as bad as people have talked about and they're definitely leaving a lot on the field collectively at the moment.

This ^

Neither Harry nor any of the receivers can throw and catch the ball to himself.

Cam sucks... horribly. And Stidham pees down his leg when he enters the game.

The receivers are getting open and getting "separation," video evidence doesn't lie.

 

[Ian]

This ^

Neither Harry nor any of the receivers can throw and catch the ball to himself.

Cam sucks... horribly. And Stidham pees down his leg when he enters the game.

The receivers are getting open and getting "separation," video evidence doesn't lie.

This is such a bizarre year - it feels like they haven't even gotten started yet. My junior year of baseball (I was a catcher) I suddenly lost my release point and while I could throw down to any of the bases, I couldn't throw the ball to the pitcher. I either sailed it over his head, or threw it into the ground...it was a nightmare and one of the most frustrating things I've ever been through. I had to just snap throw everything because I couldn't make a simple overhand throw. I ended up tearing my labrum and the throwing issue was a problem all year.

Newton feels like he's dealing with something similar, minus the injury. He claims to be fine physically but he just seems way off. It's almost like while he's been trying to work on his mechanics (Belichick mentioned they were working with him on some things during one of his press conferences back after week one if I recall correctly), instead now everything is broken. He said this morning that he believes he's thinking too much. I'm sure that's also the other half of it.

Either way, they don't have the luxury of a winning record or a buffer to help him work through it. It's hampering everything right now, including the development of guys who are suffering without someone to get them the football. That's unfortunate because if you look back at the first couple of weeks, that rapport between Cam and the guys was there. It's just amazing how after he got sick everything just fell apart.

And now...well...here we are

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Is Newton’s inability to throw to his right, negatively impact routes our receivers can run?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The argument that Brady doesn’t like young WR was always silly.

Brady’s legacy game, the game that solidified him as the undisputed GOAT was SB 51. And who did Brady trust the most in the 4th quarter of that career defining game? Malcolm Mitchell, a rookie.

Why? Because he was very dependable and knew exactly where he should be.

After 20 years of making scrubs like Chris Hogan look like playoff stars, it should’ve been very concerning that Brady seemingly gave up on Harry. If Brady doesn’t think you’re good enough, you most likely aren’t.

Brady has no time for bullsh-t. If you're solid he loves you. If you don't have the goods he will be your worst enemy.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Newton feels like he's dealing with something similar, minus the injury. He claims to be fine physically but he just seems way off.

I am not sure he would tell us if he had a shoulder problem. Maybe it is confidence or a mind block, but I don't think we can ignore the possibility his shoulder is weak and he is losing accuracy trying to maintain velocity with a sore shoulder.