There’s no time like the present for Harry
Cam Newton did his best to pump up his young receiver, one he desperately needs to be a star and produce in the offense.
The veteran quarterback has a little experience when it comes to players like N’Keal Harry. He understands the plight of firstround receivers, having been in the huddle with a few wideouts in Carolina with pedigrees similar to Harry’s.
Newton gets it.
The remarks he made backing Harry on Wednesday were akin to a big brother being supportive of a younger sibling.
Newton needs Harry. The Patriots’ offense needs Harry. So Newton’s going to put his arm around the receiver, and do whatever it takes to keep him upbeat and focused on the task at hand.
If there are no reinforcements brought in, Harry, perhaps more than anyone, holds the key to Newton’s success going forward.
Week 1 obviously made it tougher for the receiver to build momentum and gain more confidence during his redemption season. But it also made it harder for anyone outside of the Patriots circle to buy into him living up to his potential.
While there were flashes of Harry’s enormous talent last season, there were just as many moments where it was easy to question if he would ever turn into the impact player the Patriots were counting on.
Granted, he’s young, and has yet to play a season’s worth of NFL games. At age 22, he’s still learning. But patience is wearing thin.
While his performance against the Dolphins had some good moments, the bad ones stood out much more. And as Newton pointed out, the bad ones are what people tend to gravitate toward — with good reason.
Harry’s fumble out of the end zone for a touchback was nearly catastrophic. It might have cost the Patriots a win, as Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker smacked the ball loose with Harry a yard from paydirt. At the time, the Patriots held a 14-3 lead late in the third quarter and could have put the game away with a score. Instead, the Dolphins got the ball and drove 80 yards for a touchdown before adding a two-point conversion.
And if that wasn’t a good look, being flattened by a player half his size as he was picking up speed after another catch also did him no favors. Jomal Perry, all of 5-10, 189 pounds, leveled the 6-foot-4, 225pound Harry, who was going full tilt, but dropped like a rock.
While Harry finished with as many catches as Julian Edelman (5), he wasn’t nearly as impactful.
That, of course, isn’t the narrative the Patriots are pitching. Whether it was Newton, or wide receivers coach Mick Lombardi, they focused on the positives. Let’s just say, if that’s the tactic needed to unlock Harry’s physical skills and talent, so be it.
“It was just one mistake. Him still being a young player trying to come into his own, things like that will happen, you just want them to be minimized as much as possible,” Newton said of Harry’s fumble. “But he’s making leaps and strides as everyone would expect them to be. He’s growing up into his best self and for him, after chatting with him, he knows.”
No matter the method of motivation, Harry needs to produce. Unless the Patriots make a trade to spruce up the receivers room, Harry has to be a worthy sidekick to Julian Edelman. He has to be an explosive threat for the rest of the receivers to be effective.
It’s even more apparent this week with the Patriots facing the Seahawks, who will be keen on stopping Newton’s rush party.
It’s highly doubtful the Patriots will be able to pull off another 42rush, 217-yard ground display against Pete Carroll’s defense, which is one factor. Another?
D.K. Metcalf will also be catching passes at CenturyLink Field Sunday night.
Metcalf, another member of Harry’s draft class, has been lighting it up with the Seahawks.
While Harry was taken at No. 32 in the first round, Metcalf, a second-round selection at No. 64, was one of the better rookie receivers last year, catching 58 balls for 900 yards, and 7 touchdowns.
And, he’s picked up where he left off. Metcalf hauled in four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ season-opening win over the Falcons.
Unlike Harry, who was a nonfactor in 2019, Metcalf blazed his trail and already looks the part of a star receiver.
On Sunday, the Patriots will surely be paying attention to him.
“You see a guy towering over everybody and running by everybody,” said Patriots corner Jason McCourty. “He’s a guy who can run a deep route. He’s a big, strong, physical player, not afraid to mix it up on slants. So he’s obviously a tough cover, somebody that we’re gonna always have our eyes on.”
That should also be what the Seahawks defenders are saying about Harry. They should be game-planning to stop him. Only, his NFL resume doesn’t warrant that kind of attention.
Not yet anyway.
Right now, Harry’s trying to get past his gaffe against the Dolphins. Newton might have his back, but it’s still up to Harry to respond.
Lombardi pointed toward a message Edelman has been preaching, relating it to Harry.
“N’Keal’s a young player just learning as he’s going and has been doing a great job, working really hard just as Jakobi (Meyers) has, Damiere (Byrd) has, and Julian has,” said Lombardi. “And I think Julian, especially, has shown those guys, ‘Hey look, things are going to happen in a game. It’s how we respond to them. And how we act after them.’”
In other words, the ball’s in Harry’s court.