Looking for a quicker start
Harry excited to attack second year
N’Keal Harry‘s problem as a rookie was he could never get started.
Not in the preseason, not during the regular season, sometimes not even off the line of scrimmage on a given play.
So last spring, he slimmed down. He sharpened his footwork. He designed his offseason around the idea of starting faster.
So far, not so good. Over 11 training camp practices, Harry has been fairly erratic. There were days like Thursday, when he finished with zero receptions during a modified scrimmage that lasted more than an hour. And practices like Monday’s, when his physicality as a 6-foot-3, 220pound wideout proved too much for his defensive teammates to overcome, let alone combat.
Harry was, more or less, a barometer for how the Patriots’ passing attack performed during camp. The Pats need Harry to consistently succeed this season because of the dearth of receiving talent around him. Considering their offensive struggles throughout Thursday’s scrimmage, the regular season feels like it’s encroaching way too fast.
Still, Harry is hopeful. He told the media Friday he feels no pressure this year, only excitement.
“I would use excitement more than pressure,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there and doing my part to help the team. I just want to do everything I can and I want to play to the standards I know I can play at. To me, it’s more excitement than anything.”
Before Harry can reach his goals of game-to-game success, Harry must clear his play-to-play obstacles. Namely, press coverage.
When opposing cornerbacks controlled Harry at the line last season, the rookie rarely got himself back on course. Considering the strengths of his game lie with his size and, well, strength, Harry can’t afford to be slowed at the line. He must build momentum in his routes to win downfield and become the threat the Patriots are counting on him to be.
And no one knows that better than Harry.
“The main goal was just kinda adding different things to my bag, working different releases at the line. Trying to be lighter on my feet and really get going. It definitely helped a lot,” Harry said of his offseason. “I’m just finding ways to incorporate it in my game moving forward.”
Michel ‘feeling good’ after return
Of all the Patriots’ running backs, Sony Michel, who spent most of camp on the Physically Unable to Play list, should feel freshest.
Michel wouldn’t go that far Friday in his first time meeting the media this summer, but he did say he feels ready to play.
“I felt good,” he said. “There is a theory that me missing as much practices as I did, I’m supposed to have fresh legs. But I’ve been working my way up to that point. But I felt good just being out there.”
Michel’s workload in the early part of the season will be interesting to monitor, given the workload Damien Harris successfully undertook this summer. The former third-round pick took reps at the start of most team periods in training camp and looked like a superior player in the passing game. Of course, it’s unknown how Harris will fare in a regular-season setting until the opener rolls around on Sept. 13.
Quessenberry’s long journey
No Pats player was more unlikely to suit up this summer than tight end/fullback Paul Quessenberry.
After last playing football in 2014, Quessenberry spent the last four-plus years as a Marine. He initiated a move back to football last winter, first by altering his workouts and then securing a workout at San Diego State’s Pro Day in March. However, the Pro Day was eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Quessenberry, at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, to somehow forge a different path in front of pro coaches to show he can play as a fullback.
“Just through many great people along the way helping me out, kind of showing me the ropes of playing a new position, I was able to get my name over here to New England,” he said. “They were interested, they flew me out here for a workout and now I’m here in training camp trying to learn everything as fast as I can.
“That way I can perform as best I can and be a contributor to this football team and help this team win some games.”
Quessenberry has spent most of his time in training camp at fullback. He played defensive end in college.