Is Harper an enforcer?

I've heard the comparisons to Boldin and that is no insult but I don't see a Boldin type of receiver fitting into our line up. He has great hands and great body control but he is not a guy who gets separation and creates opportunities. His success has come from savy QB's and opponents taking away the other options around him. He is the guy you throw to when everyone is covered because he gives you the best chance of completion very much like when Hass was throwing to BMW.

On a side note I don't think he really fits in with the Niners either as Crabtree is excellent at getting separation and creating opportunities and unless defenses figure out how to shut him down Kaepernick will continue going straight to him.

I have been getting the feeling the reason the FO likes Harper is more due to attitude. Think Hines Ward. We have enforcers all over the field with Kamtrack, Browner, Giacamini, Lynch and now Sweezey but we don't have anyone of the receivers that have taken on that role. I think Harper may just be that guy. It's one thing to block downfied and another to take the heads off of CB's and safety's just because you can.

Remember how Browner went into blocking mode and leveled a CB (can't remember who) and caused the defender to attack him. Similar to how you have seen Ward take out defenders. I think that is what they have in mind with Harper. The enforcer of the receiving core.

This really struck home when I heard an interview with him this morning and he made a coupe comments about being nasty on the field and playing with anger. I think this guy might end up becoming a big fan favorite and will set the tone not only for the other receivers but for the defenses we will be playing.

Consider Tates hit on Sean Lee last year. It wasn't dirty by any means but it was definitely brutal and set a tone. That hit IMO was the product of preaching from the coach's to create a nasty environment but one hit a season isn't enough. We need an enforcer type personality that sets the tone every time he steps on the field, in practice and the locker room. I am excited to see how this plays out. Could be awesome.

I agree, I think the secondary has that nasty attitude-- I remember a play with BRowner vs, a Redskins WR (Santana Moss, or maybe it was the Falcons game) Browner was nearly in a fist fight with the guy and the two were duking it out and the refs let them play.

They have a nastiness about them. As much as I like Rice, he's not really the Physical type, even though he's a big Body. I think with Harper you bring an extra dimension of someone who will be nasty in blocking and also very physical with opposing defenders. I wouldn't be surprised if Harper and Browner and Sherman get into a scrum during Training camp because of the physicality. I'm really excited for this pick and I hope the staff can do wonders and coach him up so he can be a contributor this year.

I think he's a clear upgrade over Kearse and Martin. Bates is a similar player in terms of size, history. I wonder how he's developed with a year under his belt.

Edit: Oops, I misread your original point. Carry on.

So let me get this right; you are worried Harper doesn't fit because the guy he gets compared to doesn't get separation? Harper can't get separation because of Anquan Boldin?

True, but when BMW was here he was the prime receiving threat. Now defenses need to account for Rice, Tate, Harvin, Baldwin and Miller.

I think he fits perfectly. It's an element at WR we didn't have last year.

I don't think it matters if we got a Boldin clone or a Megatron clone, fact is, RW will give anyone a shot to make brilliant catches. If he can turn Tate into a mini star last season, he can hit Harper all day long if he wants to utilise his great hands. I would actually like eventually starting Harper and Tate and watch them beat the snot out of secondaries while the rest of the D is sucking wind dealing with Harvin, Lynch (and co.), Miller, and our slippery little midget with the great arm.

I'm assuming his potential to beast it on downfield blocking had a lot to do with him being the WR Seattle ultimately selected. Enforcer? I don't know. I think that particular skill just fits with what Seattle wants to schematically. Also, it seems Pete's been on a never-ending quest to find that big, physical receiver for this offense (Mike Williams, T.O., Braylon Edwards, pursuing Brandon Marshall, etc.). I don't think more finesse guys who can get separation are necessarily high on his list of wants.

Our front office rocks. They selected Harper. Ergo, Harper will be a stud.

That's my thinking (tongue planted in cheek).

In all seriousness...there's nothing wrong with having a big, physical receiver who moves the chains. Let Sidney, Golden and Percy do the fancy work.

I am excited to see what Harper can provide on the field for this team.

I would love it if he became a Hines Ward type of player. I heard Hines on Cowherd this morning and he came in to the NFL with a chip on his shoulder. He said when he was blocking he went after defensive players so that people would know who he was. He specifically mentioned Ed Reed because of Reed's stature in the league.

I figure, if you want to be noticed, you have to get in to the spotlight with someone that is already there and do something that puts that spotlight on you. Make the opposing player respect you and make them think twice about going up against you.

If Harper can play with an edge but remain within the rules, he could be like Hines. Make them hate you and it takes away from their game, it works for Breno. Giacomini isn't getting in as much trouble now but he's still irritating the defensive linemen.

If Harper wants to make this team and make it in the NFL, he has to carve out his own niche.

I think he'll be fine.

Wilson has the ability to throw WR's open, and as long as he can improvise when Russell starts scrambling, he'll become excellent. He doesn't get separation, but he catches the ball away from his body, uses his body to shield a defender, and is comfortable with contact before, during, and after the catch. These are all the elements needed to be successful when Wilson scrambles around and looks to make a play.

He's also a reputedly excellent downfield blocker, and that will help the entire team out with our RBs, Harvin and Tate all running around getting mad YAC and making fools miss.

The first time Knight Colonel Enforcer Harper pancakes Eric Reid or Tyrann Mathieu on a bubble screen to Percy Harvin, that goes to the house... he will be going insta-platinum in Seahawk-land. :lol:

RichNhansom":1y1sqmw7 said:

I've heard the comparisons to Boldin and that is no insult but I don't see a Boldin type of receiver fitting into our line up. He has great hands and great body control but he is not a guy who gets separation and creates opportunities. His success has come from savy QB's and opponents taking away the other options around him. He is the guy you throw to when everyone is covered because he gives you the best chance of completion very much like when Hass was throwing to BMW.

Click to expand...

I think you're definitely missing a lot of key points especially in the comparison to Boldin. In terms of athleticism, Harper is better than Boldin.

Boldin out of college ran a 4.72 40 in the Combine at 216 pounds.

Harper ran a 4.50 40 in the combine at 229 pounds and then ran a 4.45 at his Pro Day.

In fact, Harper is better than Boldin in every tested measurable at 13 plus pounds.

Theoretically, if Harper were to slim down 10-15 pounds and improve his overall athleticism specifically speed, you could get a player who clocks in the 4.35-4.45. Is that not the type of guy who get separation and create opportunities for himself.

I'm not sure what you're arguing against either because you're also right Seahawks didn't draft Harper to be a burner capable of creating separation. They drafted him because he's capable of being that big WR like BMW and Edwards. What Harper lacks in a few inches of height, he makes up for in a solid Vert (35 ½), Long Arms (32 ¾), and a Basketball background as a Post-Up player (able to box out defenders and High-Point the ball). And they definitely drafted him for his ability to be an enforcer as a big, tough, physical WR as well as his upside to be an elite and tenacious downfield blocker.

I like the comparison to Hines Ward because that's exactly who he reminds me of and I think many are vastly underrating his receiving ability. He was in a run oriented offense and as for savvy quarterbacks... Klein might've been savvy for the option system that was used at Kansas State, but his ability to diagnose coverages, make quick throws and most importantly, make accurate throws left a lot to be desired. Klein was vastly overrated at Kansas St.

I'm really interested in seeing what Harper can do with a quality QB that can deliver accurate passes to him on a consistent basis. Harper might not create the huge separation that's needed for an inaccurate quarterback to make a throw at the college level, but a step or two on a defender is open in the NFL when you have someone like Russell Wilson that's willing to fit the ball into tight windows, and Harper does do that.

Scottemojo":13coq6bx said:

So let me get this right; you are worried Harper doesn't fit because the guy he gets compared to doesn't get separation? Harper can't get separation because of Anquan Boldin?

Click to expand...

:13:

firebee":3irc9sxf said:

I like the comparison to Hines Ward because that's exactly who he reminds me of and I think many are vastly underrating his receiving ability. He was in a run oriented offense and as for savvy quarterbacks... Klein might've been savvy for the option system that was used at Kansas State, but his ability to diagnose coverages, make quick throws and most importantly, make accurate throws left a lot to be desired. Klein was vastly overrated at Kansas St.

I'm really interested in seeing what Harper can do with a quality QB that can deliver accurate passes to him on a consistent basis. Harper might not create the huge separation that's needed for an inaccurate quarterback to make a throw at the college level, but a step or two on a defender is open in the NFL when you have someone like Russell Wilson that's willing to fit the ball into tight windows, and Harper does do that.

Click to expand...

Except for the fact that he is 20lbs heaver than ward and an inch taller.

Never said I was worried about anything or that Harper can't do anything. That wasn't the point of the thread.

I think Hines Ward might be a better comparison is all and I suspect the FO brought him in partially for that reason.

RichNhansom":hqes8w1i said:

I don't see a Boldin type of receiver fitting into our line up. He has great hands and great body control

Click to expand...

These are pretty much the reasons I thought Boldin or a Boldin type would be perfect for our offense. We have Harvin and Tate who can make plays with the ball in their hands; we have Rice who can make tremendous sideline catches and go down the field. A bigger-body like Boldin who basically catches everything over the middle is exactly what we need to compliment those guys. He may not be the quickest in separation as you said but he also can catch under duress like nobody else in the league.

Couple things

1. He's not slow. He's actually pretty fast. Faster than DeAndre Hopkins and a whole slew of others. His quickness is actually very good. Comparable to Steadman Bailey/Quinton Patton. In fact by measurables, he's pretty indistinguishable from Patton in speed/explosion/agility. Except he is on another plane as far as physicality goes.

2. His route running is generally poor. The fact that he doesn't produce consistent separation can be partially remedied by just becoming better at his craft.

3. He has good tools. Good hands. Catches contested balls. Extends from his frame. Has 'World Theory' bulk and speed. He gives up a lot in height to a guy like Justin Hunter. But that guy plays physically like a 5'8" sissy. Harper plays like a man with a pair. Angry. Violent. Aggressive.

4. Seattle understands that these guys aren't as good as they WILL be. Harper has a lot of fight. A lot of tools to work with. And a reasonable expectation that he will continue to master his craft. You can become a better technician. But if you don't have the God given physical tools and equally the mindset to match -- those are things that can't be 'coached up'.

Harper is going to be a better pro than he was a collegian. Of that I have no doubt. This guys is going to grow and if he grows sufficiently well, he'll be Rice's successor.

Intermediate to deep middle does make sense but the Boldin type receivers usually make their hay in systems that don't feature multiple receivers that excel in getting open. They often become the guy you go to when nothing else is there. If everyone is covered and you have to pass, those are the guys you ho to because they have the best chance at coming down with it.

Kaepernick is going to see a covered receiver when he looks at Boldin. If he is smart he will find ways to put the ball in the best location that Boldin can fight for it but if he gets through his progressions and someone else looks open he will probably take that option most often even if that receiver isn't the better option.

With Rice, Tate, Miller, Baldwin and Harvin it will be very difficult to cover them all. So if Harper is a Boldun clone (not saying he is) our system probably wouldn't utilize his skill set.