Posted by PH on 11/4/2009, 8:21 pm, in reply to "No mercy"
He will sit down in the soft spot in the zone and convert on 3rd down, he can get deep, he will run the football if need be, but what an Impact he has made on Kickoffs.
So many commercials in the NFL, it's tempting to do some clicking, but if the Vikes are receiving the Kickoff I don't do no Clicking no more.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/69150127.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUdcOy_nc:DKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Wide receiver Percy Harvin has established himself as one of the NFL's impact rookies in the first half this season by contributing in a variety of ways.
The Vikings' first-round pick last April is second on the team with 28 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns and has averaged 30.7 yards on 28 kickoffs returns with two touchdowns to rank near the top of the NFL. But one slightly more hidden area in which Harvin has really contributed -- at least statistically -- has been on third down.
Harvin is the NFL's fourth-best wide receiver on that crucial down, according to this interesting item from ESPNs Kevin Seifert. Harvin has 15 -- or more than half -- of his catches on third down for 180 yards with one touchdown and 13 first downs converted. Harvin's success has helped the Vikings rank fourth in the NFL in third-down conversions at 46.6 percent (54 of 116). (The New York Giants' Steve Smith is No. 1 with 22 catches for 265 yards, two touchdowns and 17 first downs in such situations. Vikings running back Chester Taylor is sixth at 14-143-0-4.)
Harvin, who is proving to be an extremely savvy receiver, had an interesting explanation for why things are going so well for him on third down.
“We talk about it a lot and [on] third down teams like to bring pressure," he said. "A lot of times [as a slot receiver] I’m matched up with a strong safety or outside linebacker and sometimes a nickel back, which is the other team’s third best corner or fourth best corner. So I figure with all this work I should be able to dominate that.”
Essentially what Harvin is saying is he's being covered by guys on third down who aren't going to be able to cover him. So far, it's working out pretty well for him.
96
Message Thread:
« Back to thread
