cowboyjoe
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 28,433
- Reaction score
- 753
Gator pick would have risk for Titans
Harvin choice is called either a boon or bust
By Jim Wyatt • THE TENNESSEAN • April 21, 2009
Read Comments(36) Recommend (5)Print this pageE-mail this articleShare
Del.icio.usFacebookDiggRedditNewsvineBuzz up!TwitterPercy Harvin has been described as football dynamite, a jack-of-all-trades athlete who might be the most potent offensive weapon available in this weekend's NFL Draft.
The Florida receiver has also been described as a troublemaker, a player who could blow up a draft class just as quick.
And now he could tempt teams picking late in the first round — including the Titans, scheduled to pick 30th overall — which a few weeks back probably figured Harvin wouldn't be available.
"I think he's a top 10 talent,'' NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "There are a lot of rumors, but also some issues where teams have to sit there and say, 'At what point does this become a viable decision for us?'
"If he is sitting there, do you take a kid who could be a human highlight reel, but has some off the field issues. Do you take a chance?''
No one questions Harvin's talent. He is one of only two Football Bowl Series wide receivers since 1996 to finish his career with more than 1,500 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards, and he's the online one to do that in just three seasons. Last season he scored 17 touchdowns in 110 touches — one score for every 6.5 touches — and averaged 108.7 all-purpose yards.
Yet the speedster has had a hard time outrunning concerns about his durability, route-running ability and — much worse — questions about his attitude and character.
The latter date back to high school, and there are reports he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine in February.
The Titans presumably have Harvin red-flagged on their draft board because of those issues, but there are also concerns about how he'd fit in as a receiver.
"You have to take everything into consideration," Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said.
"That is part of the process with players and those types of things. But he is a very, very talented football player.''
While the Titans are in need of a playmaking receiver, they're not in need of another headache.
It was just last year that they unloaded cornerback Pacman Jones, their failed first round pick of 2005.
Harvin might not be another Pacman, but …
"There are a lot of things to concern yourself with when you're investing these top dollars,'' ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "A team that has been burned by an off-the-field issue, whatever it may be, they're going to shy away.
"If teams have had good success and have managed kids properly once they got to the NFL, they figure they mature, this is something they deal with, and then you have a different outlook. There's no set philosophy on this and off-the-field character issues."
Some analysts say Harvin is worth the risk.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande, a draft analyst for Sporting News, said he thinks Harvin's off-field issues have been overblown. He has Harvin slotted as the No. 2 receiver behind Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree.
"I think he is going to be a big-time player. I know a lot of people say he has issues and is uncoachable and blah blah blah,'' Lande said.
"I just think he is an immature kid. I don't think he is a thug or a criminal. … As long as he can stay healthy he'll be an awfully productive NFL player."
The Titans should have plenty of other options beyond Harvin.
Crabtree is expected to be off the board the board, while Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey don't figure to fall to 30th.
But Rutgers' Kenny Britt, North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks and Ohio State's Brian Robiskie all figure to be "safer" bets than Harvin in the first round.
If the Titans opt to wait, Georgia's Mohamed Massaquoi and Oklahoma's Juaquin Iglesias are projected as solid choices in the second round.
"If Harvin's there and I'm the Titans, I'd take him in a minute,'' said Jerry Jones, longtime publisher of The Drugstore List. "Yeah, you can get another good receiver there, but he is one of a kind. I wouldn't pass him up, I know that.''
Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 or jwyatt@tennessean.com.
Harvin choice is called either a boon or bust
By Jim Wyatt • THE TENNESSEAN • April 21, 2009
Read Comments(36) Recommend (5)Print this pageE-mail this articleShare
Del.icio.usFacebookDiggRedditNewsvineBuzz up!TwitterPercy Harvin has been described as football dynamite, a jack-of-all-trades athlete who might be the most potent offensive weapon available in this weekend's NFL Draft.
The Florida receiver has also been described as a troublemaker, a player who could blow up a draft class just as quick.
And now he could tempt teams picking late in the first round — including the Titans, scheduled to pick 30th overall — which a few weeks back probably figured Harvin wouldn't be available.
"I think he's a top 10 talent,'' NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "There are a lot of rumors, but also some issues where teams have to sit there and say, 'At what point does this become a viable decision for us?'
"If he is sitting there, do you take a kid who could be a human highlight reel, but has some off the field issues. Do you take a chance?''
No one questions Harvin's talent. He is one of only two Football Bowl Series wide receivers since 1996 to finish his career with more than 1,500 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards, and he's the online one to do that in just three seasons. Last season he scored 17 touchdowns in 110 touches — one score for every 6.5 touches — and averaged 108.7 all-purpose yards.
Yet the speedster has had a hard time outrunning concerns about his durability, route-running ability and — much worse — questions about his attitude and character.
The latter date back to high school, and there are reports he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine in February.
The Titans presumably have Harvin red-flagged on their draft board because of those issues, but there are also concerns about how he'd fit in as a receiver.
"You have to take everything into consideration," Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said.
"That is part of the process with players and those types of things. But he is a very, very talented football player.''
While the Titans are in need of a playmaking receiver, they're not in need of another headache.
It was just last year that they unloaded cornerback Pacman Jones, their failed first round pick of 2005.
Harvin might not be another Pacman, but …
"There are a lot of things to concern yourself with when you're investing these top dollars,'' ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "A team that has been burned by an off-the-field issue, whatever it may be, they're going to shy away.
"If teams have had good success and have managed kids properly once they got to the NFL, they figure they mature, this is something they deal with, and then you have a different outlook. There's no set philosophy on this and off-the-field character issues."
Some analysts say Harvin is worth the risk.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande, a draft analyst for Sporting News, said he thinks Harvin's off-field issues have been overblown. He has Harvin slotted as the No. 2 receiver behind Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree.
"I think he is going to be a big-time player. I know a lot of people say he has issues and is uncoachable and blah blah blah,'' Lande said.
"I just think he is an immature kid. I don't think he is a thug or a criminal. … As long as he can stay healthy he'll be an awfully productive NFL player."
The Titans should have plenty of other options beyond Harvin.
Crabtree is expected to be off the board the board, while Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey don't figure to fall to 30th.
But Rutgers' Kenny Britt, North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks and Ohio State's Brian Robiskie all figure to be "safer" bets than Harvin in the first round.
If the Titans opt to wait, Georgia's Mohamed Massaquoi and Oklahoma's Juaquin Iglesias are projected as solid choices in the second round.
"If Harvin's there and I'm the Titans, I'd take him in a minute,'' said Jerry Jones, longtime publisher of The Drugstore List. "Yeah, you can get another good receiver there, but he is one of a kind. I wouldn't pass him up, I know that.''
Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 or jwyatt@tennessean.com.