N'Keal Harry (lack of) Progress Report

Steve:Section 102 said:

I put this squarely on Belichick. He wants to coach guys he wants to coach. The position of WR is full of divas that don't fit the Belichick mold, IMO. That's not to say that every guy that plays outside the numbers is an uncoachable pain the ass, but the position has more "me first" type guys than, let's say, O line. So he has to not only navigate the normal hits and misses that every team does, but then add the layer of looking for his type of guy. I am 100% convinced this is why they can't draft true outside the numbers field stretchers for chit. They've passed on far too many wideouts since the days of Deion Branch and David Givens. This is BB's Achilles heel, and it's part of his legacy. It's the one thing he sucks at.

There were plenty of people who looked at Metcalf and his combine results and thought he had a very high bust protentional. Someone had to take the risk. I am also convinced that if he came here, he would have not gotten he coaching to develop him into what he could become. He would have been a one trick pony, running fades and jump balls. Add to that that we had crabby TB freezing wideouts out and admitting to it. The first time he ran a wrong route, zigged when he shoulda zagged or wasn't explosive enough for Old Man Brady, Metcalf would have been frozen out. Quite simply Metcalf wasn't coming here unless he fell to the 3rd or 4th round, IMO.

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NG Pats Fan said:

Harry had major red flags and most experts did not have him marked as a first round talent.

The scouting reports regarding Harry were spot on.

"Team sources call Harry not real twitchy or explosive. They worry about how he is not fast in and out of breaks and don't see suddenness. Some sources said that Harry reminded them of Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell, who is currently headed toward bust status for the Vikings. Some other sources say they are grading Harry on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft. One team source said they originally planned on grading Harry in Round 2, but were lowering him to the third round."


In comparison read Deebo Samuels scouting report


"As a receiver, Samuel is impressive. His speed and play-making skills with the ball in his hands eclipse that he is a really talented wideout. He runs good routes and consistently uses his speed to achieve separation. Samuel is very dangerous on quick slants and running go routes down the sideline. Samuel is very adept at tracking the ball in the air and plays it well. He high points the ball and times his hands nicely to make catches over defensive backs. Samuel has soft hands and catches the ball with his hands naturally. He is also an aggressive receiver who isn't afraid of contact.

What really sets Samuel apart is how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. He has excellent vision to weave around defenders and can use his speed to rip off yards in chunks. He has quick feet along with the cutting ability to stop-start or stutter step, and a strong frame to run through arm tackles. When the ball hits Samuel on the run, he is a big problem for defenders because he is tough to grab in the open field with his shifty moves. Samuel has enough speed to run away from defenders and take a catch the distance. Samuel is superb on screens and jet sweeps to race through the defense.

Samuel looks very versatile for the NFL. He could line up as an outside receiver and play the X - split end - to challenge teams vertically. Samuel also is dangerous out of the slot and could be a tough receiver to defend on underneath routes. With his size and speed, Samuel also could take some carries out of the backfield. On top of his offensive skills, Samuel is a dynamic returner who should contribute on special teams. In the 2019 NFL Draft, Samuel has a slim chance of being picked in the back half of the first round and probably will not get out of the second round if he makes it to Friday night."


Also AJ Browns scouting report


“Slot bully with rare combination of brawn and quickness that allows him to separate with both power and foot quickness. Brown has the size and demeanor to take on a relatively heavy workload as a safety blanket for a young quarterback in a ball-control passing attack. He'll see an upgrade in athlete across from him, but he has the feet and body control to uncover and create windows as a premium route-runner.”

DK Metcalf's scouting report



"The things that really set Metcalf apart are mismatch size and speed. He has excellent height and strength to be a size problem on the perimeter. That size makes him tough to tackle and a threat to make any reception as he can win 50-50 passes over defensive backs. He is a red zone-weapon who could be a point producer as a pro.

Metcalf also has freakish straight-line speed, and that was illustrated at the NFL Scouting Combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds. Off the line of scrimmage, Metcalf is very fast at running straight go routes down the field, and he can burn defensive backs by just running by them. He is a threat to score on any reception as once he has the ball in his hands because he can run away from the defense. Metcalf tracks the ball very well, using late hands to make receptions. He shows nice concentration and ability to make one-handed catches."

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TomPatriot said:

Where is crisp route runner we saw in college and at the combine? Where’s the guy who regularly got 5+ yac? Where’s the guy with so many moves some people thought he could be a good punt returner? Where’s the guy ASU would just run screens and reverses for because he was good with the ball in his hands like Patterson?

He should be better than he is so far.

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203Pat said:

I just mentioned in another thread about finding ways to get him the ball. They need to try something different because what they're doing isn't working. At this point get the ball in his hands the way they did with Aaron Hernandez with the jet sweeps, direct snaps, and end arounds. Maybe that helps build his confidence as an outside receiver or maybe he just finds his niche as an H-back type like Hernandez was. At this point they don't have much to lose as he is doing pretty much nothing right now.

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DropKickFlutie said:

I disagree. Harry isn't Hernandez. If anything get Asiasi or Keene the ball more that way. Harry needs to be running actual wide receiver routes.

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203Pat said:

So is it still Brady's fault that Harry is useless? Name a receiver that Brady ever "froze out" that actually did anything with another QB? This whole Brady hates young receivers narrative is so tired. Brady hates bad receivers.

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“I don’t have any trust that this guy can help us win the game. If you put him out there, I’m going not to throw him the ball,” Brady said, relaying that conversation with Belichick, during a radio interview with Howard Stern.

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203Pat said:

I highly doubt he would be anywhere near as productive as Hernandez but we have seen him attempt to be a wide receiver and so far it doesn't look good.

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DropKickFlutie said:

Just to get past the million excuses for NKeal Harry (just like for Maroney, Chad Jackson, Michel), look at all the rookie WRs this year producing despite shortened covid training camp. Not just early picks but low pick guys.


Jefferson, Claypool, Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Higgins

Brandon Aiyuk, Laviska Shenault Jr., Bryan Edwards, Devin Duvernay, Gabriel Davis, Tyler Johnson, Collin Johnson, Darnell Mooney and Donovan Peoples-Jones

--

14 rookies this year. All better than NKeal Harry

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DropKickFlutie said:

He's not quick like Hernandez. And he never plays the slot. He has to figure out how to make it work on the outside lined up as WR. And as you note he's really slow and bad at it. Just like when Mcdaniels came back and we drafted Aaron Dobson.

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203Pat said:

Looks like EEI was discussing Harry as well.

In 12 career games, Harry has 30 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns. It is worth pointing out that 42 of them -- 15 percent -- came on the final drive against the Seahawks in Week 2.

Monday on Dale & Keefe, Rich Keefe found a pre-draft scouting report on Harry from Walker Football that seems pretty spot-on.

“Team sources say that Harry is not real twitchy or explosive," it read. "They worry about how he’s not fast in and out of breaks and don’t see suddenness. Some sources said that Harry reminded them of Ole Miss wide out Laquon Treadwell, who is currently headed towards bust status wth the Vikings. Some other sources are saying they are grading Harry on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft and feel he is a kin to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Devin Funchess. One team source said they originally planned on grading Harry in Round 2, but were lowering him to the third round.”

https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/p...spot-on?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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DropKickFlutie said:

I'm trying to see how to salvage this kid. McDaniels is using him all wrong. Look at rookie WR Claypool in Pittsburgh, he's 6'4 230 pounds on pace for 1000 yards and 10+ TDs. They have him playing out wide with a route tree using back shoulder throws, chuck it after 15 yards down the sidelines, let the kid go get it, or deep posts. None of this 5-yard slot receiver crap for Harry anymore, that's suited for Edelman but Harry should be allowed like Claypool using his skill set to go get the ball.

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Boomer B said:

Cam’s doing what Brady did, if he’s not open he’s not getting the ball. Cam isn’t gonna risk a turnover if the DB is in Harry’s back pocket (like he was on the INT on Sunday). That’s why Harry had only 2 targets on 55 plays. Claypool is light years ahead of Harry.

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DropKickFlutie said:

The thing about guys like this is they may not look open. You chuck it down the sidelines and hope this WR has skills to win one on one.

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upstater1 said:

This is ridiculously easy to do.

I mean, Green Bay took Jace Sternburger over Chase Winovich!

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Brady6 said:

Well I did say hindsight was 20/20 but really Winovich is a nice player but he isn’t exactly Myles Garrett so I’m not sure I would say Green Bay not taking him was the same as the Patriots taking Sony Michel over Lamar Jackson

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