Derrick Harvey (1 Viewer)

[rabidfireweasel]

I am curious what the draftniks/IDP guys think? Outside of Gholston, he seems as likely as anyone to be a 3-4 LB (great size at 6'4 260) and a potential target of teams that may trade back (Jets, Dolphins, NE). What can you tell me about him that you have seen?

 

[Weiner Dog]

Being drafted as a 1st-round OLB in a 3-4 scheme is the ultimate compliment. The team drafting you is essentially saying, "You're such a bad mo-fo, we believe you are quick enough to occassionally drop into coverage, but also tough enough to challenge OT's on your path to the QB".

The best examples are obviously Merriman, Ware and Wimbley. You should also hear the likes of Woodley and Spencer over the next year or two. These players are arguably the best all-around athletes on their respective squads. The same may be said for Gholston and Harvey. Where I don't believe Harvey is quite in the realm of Gholston, I think his size (260lbs) and athleticism could very well land him a gig as a 3-4 OLB.

Many ranking services have Harvey ranked as the #3 DE behind Long and Gholston. Most ranking services also believe Harvey is a better prospect than his teammate from last year and former 1st-rounder, Jarvis Moss.

 

[faux_bear]

I'm a Gator fan and I don't understand the Harvey hype. He finished his junior season with 8.5 sacks in 13 games, but he seemed to disappear for long stretches at a time. He played big in some big games (3 sacks against Ohio State a year ago in the championship game, 2 sacks against michigan in this year's Capital One Bowl), but he really seemed to take a lot of plays off...He definitely hasn't played like a Merriman or Demarcus Ware, players who always seem to be wreaking havoc and getting their names called constantly during the game... I dunno, but to me, Harvey had a pretty quiet season and wasn't the force I was hoping he would be after last year's championship game.

That said, he definitely has all the physical tools and talents to be a stud in the NFL.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

I'm a Gator fan and I don't understand the Harvey hype. He finished his junior season with 8.5 sacks in 13 games, but he seemed to disappear for long stretches at a time. He played big in some big games (3 sacks against Ohio State a year ago in the championship game, 2 sacks against michigan in this year's Capital One Bowl), but he really seemed to take a lot of plays off...He definitely hasn't played like a Merriman or Demarcus Ware, players who always seem to be wreaking havoc and getting their names called constantly during the game... I dunno, but to me, Harvey had a pretty quiet season and wasn't the force I was hoping he would be after last year's championship game.That said, he definitely has all the physical tools and talents to be a stud in the NFL.

I am not trying to nit pick, but there is a huge range between a viable starting OLB in a 3-4 and Merriman. If people were projecting him to be like Merriman or Ware, he would be a consensus top 5-10 pick. Most see him going in the late teens to early twenties. I would agree though the his projection is more about potential than production.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I'm not a Harvey fan. I have a hard time seeing him in pass coverage. I agree with faux bear, he just didn't play to his potential. I cannot remember where I read it, but somewhere I picked up a pretty negative review of his athleticism. Jarvis Moss looks decent in Denver, and Harvey and Moss were very similar. He'll get a chance to run some LB coverage drills at the Combine if asked. His Combine performance will be interesting. He may light it up for all I know. He's had some great games in the limelight and a bunch of snoozers when no one was watching.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

The buzz about Harvey seems to be steadily increasing. Do any of his supporters see him as a 3-4 outside LB or strictly as a DE?

 

[Chaos Commish]

The buzz about Harvey seems to be steadily increasing. Do any of his supporters see him as a 3-4 outside LB or strictly as a DE?

Yes, I retract the above negativity. It's important to be forgiving and understand all DEs disappear from time to time like Harvey did. The more I've learned the more I like. Turns out he's a great kid with a dynamite work ethic, freakish strength for his size, and we all new he had the wingspan of pterodactyl. Additionally encouraging is the scouting community seems to be telling him, "You're suck a bad mo-fo, we believe you are quick enough to occassionally drop into coverage, but also tough enough to challenge OT's on your path to the QB".Wimbley wasn't as hyped as Harvey, and he is more explosive (and smaller), but his draft season rise was very similar to what we're picking up on Harvey. I knew I liked Harvey better than Jarvis Moss a couple years ago, and Moss looked pretty good as a rookie before busting his shin. I think this kid is going to be good. Man, if Kiwanuka and Greg Ellis can play LB then maybe we should lower the bar a little on what might work, because both of them looked like pure 4-3 ends to me. Nothing ever suggested either could flip their hips and drop into coverage, but bigger brains than ours are trying to make it work.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

He will not go lower than 15th in the draft, because the Lions will take him if he is available at their pick.

 

[Toads]

He will not go lower than 15th in the draft, because the Lions will take him if he is available at their pick.

Harvey get's the "Biggest Risk" accessment from several talent sources. He's the Somewhere Man between Ware and Wimbley....and that's a big spread.Harvey's value depends on tackles in most systems, and therein lies The Rub.