Patsgofor4
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Messages
- 5,397
- Reaction score
- 10,789
He’s been an utter failure for the most part, save for a handful of plays, but Harry WAS a beast in college, despite not being able to consistently separate and many analysts and hard-core college football fans thought that he was going to ball out for the Pats.
He obviously needs to take his share of the blame for his struggles but it is also unfair to Harry to ignore how his injuries (year 1) and a lost offseason (year 2) may have stunted his growth and how the mistakes, lack of production and public criticisms have likely destroyed his confidence. I also believe that Josh has failed to play to his strengths and to put him in a position to succeed on a consistent basis. At times, it is as if JMD never watched any of Harry’s college tape, because he rarely lets him use his size, strength and jumping ability to make plays.
Harry likely will never produce at the level that many expected when he was drafted but I’m also not ready to say with certainty that he won’t be able to make an impact in the NFL to some degree. The guy in that video montage DOES have the talent to be WR2/3, if he regains his confidence and is used properly. This KC TD (the blown call play) in 2019 is a perfect example
....nobody else on the roster in 2019 and 2020 could have made that play. There have been a few other plays like that which demonstrate big play skills and physicality that the Pats sorely need (ridiculous diving 36 yard catch versus the bangles in 2019 that was called back because of a full start by Edelman, for instance) but “a few” over two tears is obviously not yearly good enough.
I am seemingly in the minority here but I would rather hold on to Harry, let him continue to work on his release, footwork and route running (none were good last year but they WERE better than in 2019) and give him a full offseason and training camp before making a final judgement. I’d rather give him one more shot and cut him in September if he continues to struggle than trade him now for a day 3 pick who is unlikely to ever make an impact for the Pats.
He obviously needs to take his share of the blame for his struggles but it is also unfair to Harry to ignore how his injuries (year 1) and a lost offseason (year 2) may have stunted his growth and how the mistakes, lack of production and public criticisms have likely destroyed his confidence. I also believe that Josh has failed to play to his strengths and to put him in a position to succeed on a consistent basis. At times, it is as if JMD never watched any of Harry’s college tape, because he rarely lets him use his size, strength and jumping ability to make plays.
Harry likely will never produce at the level that many expected when he was drafted but I’m also not ready to say with certainty that he won’t be able to make an impact in the NFL to some degree. The guy in that video montage DOES have the talent to be WR2/3, if he regains his confidence and is used properly. This KC TD (the blown call play) in 2019 is a perfect example
....nobody else on the roster in 2019 and 2020 could have made that play. There have been a few other plays like that which demonstrate big play skills and physicality that the Pats sorely need (ridiculous diving 36 yard catch versus the bangles in 2019 that was called back because of a full start by Edelman, for instance) but “a few” over two tears is obviously not yearly good enough.
I am seemingly in the minority here but I would rather hold on to Harry, let him continue to work on his release, footwork and route running (none were good last year but they WERE better than in 2019) and give him a full offseason and training camp before making a final judgement. I’d rather give him one more shot and cut him in September if he continues to struggle than trade him now for a day 3 pick who is unlikely to ever make an impact for the Pats.
