The next Marvin Harrison? (1 Viewer)

[Shutout]

I was watching this kid in college and kept thinking "he just has that "it" that reminds me of Marvin Harrison (when Harrison was really good)." He doesn't have the physical stats and attributes that jump out at you like Randy Moss Speed and AJ size and Fitz hands, but when you watch him, he just always seems to make that catch in the right spot AS HE IS moving exactly to where he should be to start making open space between him and the defender. Whatever that IT is, he just looks like it.

The guy I am talking about is Harry Douglas. I was really disappointed last year with his injury because I thought he was ready to take that next step but, like Marvin in the early years, injury happened and he was out for the season.

But now he's back and he's not the secret I was hoping he would remain because of Jenkins' injury, but now that his name is starting to float about, I thought I would check other people's opinions.

I think he has "it" and I like his QB, his team support, and how they were using him before he got himself injured.

Does anyone else see the similarities/think that this guy could be one of the next stars in the making at the position? Anyone else see that style he has where he seems to make the cathc, be in the right spot, create that separation?

 

[CalBear]

Marvin Harrison wasn't the #2 WR on a team with one of the top #1 WRs in the league. (Not to mention one of the top TEs). His competition at WR was Terrence Wilkins and Jerome Pathon. The year before Manning got there (Harrison's first big year), their leading receiver was Marshall Faulk.

If you want to shoot high, perhaps he could aspire to be the next Wes Welker.

 

[Birdie048]

I don't know if he has the same "physical" abilitis or atributes as Marvin, but I like the kid. I have held him for a year with the expectation that he would develop into a nice 1B WR next to Roddy White.

3rd round pick from Louisville IIRC. I saw him as a Boldin type player.... has the drive to excel, but does he get the chance?

 

[CalBear]

I don't know if he has the same "physical" abilitis or atributes as Marvin, but I like the kid. I have held him for a year with the expectation that he would develop into a nice 1B WR next to Roddy White. 3rd round pick from Louisville IIRC. I saw him as a Boldin type player.... has the drive to excel, but does he get the chance?

A Boldin type player? Seriously? Anquan Boldin is a huge, physical receiver whose draft stock dropped because he didn't run a fast 40 at the combine. He outweighs Douglas by at least 40 pounds. Douglas is a small, quick receiver whose game doesn't look at all like Boldin's, and, unlike Boldin, he is on a team with an established #1. (Boldin filled a WR vacuum in Arizona).

 

[Sweet Love]

I think it is really tough to compare a guy who really hasn't seen the field much to an all-time great like Harrison. While I understand your comparison in regards to physical attributes, does he have the cerebral skills and field-vision to be a good WR? Time will tell, but Harrison was Harrison because of the QB he had, and the team's ability to draft and maintain talent. Atlanta seems to be on its way, but they would have to be an all-decade like team to replicate the setting that Harrison had to thrive.

 

[Shutout]

Marvin Harrison wasn't the #2 WR on a team with one of the top #1 WRs in the league. (Not to mention one of the top TEs). His competition at WR was Terrence Wilkins and Jerome Pathon. The year before Manning got there (Harrison's first big year), their leading receiver was Marshall Faulk.If you want to shoot high, perhaps he could aspire to be the next Wes Welker.

I get the difference you're pointing out but I'm asking if anyone sees the talent possibilities in the kid. Frankly, I don't see how the rest of it relates. Reggie Wayne came into a situaiton where he was more like ouglas (a clear #1 on the team) if you want to make that comparison, but it certainly didn't stop him. Lots of guys become great despite the presence of other great players (Boldin) or not (Steve Smith). The presence of a great QB may or may not affect production (Fitz, Marshall). So, all things aside...Does anyone see the talent, the abilty, etc.? I don't really care to hypothosize and draw conclusions on current team makeup to that degree (I think it obviously helps that they have young talent around him...having Matt Ryan is better than having Jake Delhomme at this point). I just want to know what others see in him.

 

[Shutout]

but they would have to be an all-decade like team to replicate the setting that Harrison had to thrive.

The setting and surrounding talent is only relative to a degree. Great players tend to be great players and produce with or without teams as good as the Colts around them. Steve Smith has been an off and on one man show for years. And I'm not saying he has to BE Marvin Harrison; just wondering if others see that type of game with that kind of upside in him. Granted, its a lofty status to try to live up to but what kind of thread would this be if I asked "can this guy be the next Laverneous Coles"? You have to set the bar high enough to get the idea across: Is this a guy that could be one of the next young stars/better players in the league at the position.

 

[CalBear]

I get the difference you're pointing out but I'm asking if anyone sees the talent possibilities in the kid.

Well if you're asking that...then, I think there's less than a 1% chance that Harry Douglas has as much talent as Marvin Harrison or has a career that ends up looking anything like Harrison's. Harrison was a first-round draft pick; Douglas was a third-round draft pick. Harrison started at WR right out of the gate; Douglas sat behind a guy who at the time had never managed 40 receptions. Harrison had 64 receptions and 8 receiving TDs as a rookie; Douglas had 23 receptions and 1 receiving TD. The only real similarities at this point is that they're both small receivers.