I know this is bad board etiquette , but can't help myself. (1 Viewer)

[Kyle brister]

I know you shouldn't post a simultaneous post about a subject when there's an existing post on same subject. But there are new facts come to light. Well, actually they are old established facts which I'm just now discovering. And since I try to be pretty well informed & am really just seeing these things, I'd imagine most of you guys hadn't been informed either & figured I'd add a little seasoning to his gumbo.

This is the kind of thing that falls through the cracks on a player when he's not drafted. But I've checked out the stats on Deonta Harris & they are off the hook incredible. I know the kid was Div. II, but the other team gets schollies & the other coach draws a pay check. One I'm pretty sure drove this guy's opposing coaches crazy thinking about stopping him. it looks as if Mr. Harris AKA the flash wasn't just a return specialist in college. He was a pretty good receiver ( 226 catches for almost 2897 Yds. & 28 TDs) & ran for a few scores ( 244 yds. & 3 TDs) as well. Heck, the kid even threw a 50 yard TD in college. Let's see. 28 Rec. + 14 Ret. + 3 rushing + 1 passing = 46 freaking touch downs! Those are pretty tough numbers to beat by anybody anywhere in college.

This link gives the goods on Harris. By themselves they are meaningless. But you put that together with his performances so far. And it makes a very good case for this kid continuing to get his chances until he proves he doesn't deserve them.

https://assumption.prestosports.com...rris_deonte_nmr7?view=career&piece of work=wr

 

[dutar76]

Absolutely best post apologizing for being a re-post in the history of apologetic posts.

In 3 short weeks, Deonte has earned a job as an NFL return specialist. Whether it be for us or another team... he will be returning kicks on Sundays this year. Hopefully and probably for us.

Return specialist is one of the few positions where there's a slew of small school standouts that have made their mark.

BJ Sams / McNeese St. comes to mind.

 

[Andrus]

Posting a new thread offering new information, or a completely different take on an ongoing topic is not bad board etiquette. That being an issue is someone else's notion, not mine. Any breaking news, new info, or very interesting yet differing take on a topic deserves it's own standalone thread. As a person that hates sifting through long threads trying to find new info, that is how I feel about it.
Of course, my caveat is that what qualifies for a new thread concerning and ongoing topic is also somewhat subjective , because if your OP sucks...

In this case, it's fine!

 

[Kyle brister]

Posting a new thread offering new information, or a completely different take on an ongoing topic is not bad board etiquette. That being an issue is someone else's notion, not mine. Any breaking news, new info, or very interesting yet differing take on a topic deserves it's own standalone thread. As a person that hates sifting through long threads trying to find new info, that is how I feel about it.
Of course, my caveat is that what qualifies for a new thread concerning and ongoing topic is also somewhat subjective , because if your OP sucks...

In this case, it's fine!

The length of the previous thread was why I felt the need Andrus, Thank you sir.

 

[renegadewa]

Harris was brought in for a reason and he is exciting to watch because you just know that sooner or later he's going to do what he does best!

 

[Nightshade]

He was brought in to return kicks and hopefully replace TommyLee Lewis IMO he has already done both and easily surpassed expectations.

Lewis and Harris have the same size and straightline speed, but what seperates them phyiscally is Harris is signifigantly quicker and on top of that is more polished coming out of college depspite coming out of a small school.

 

[superchuck500]

Posting a new thread offering new information, or a completely different take on an ongoing topic is not bad board etiquette. That being an issue is someone else's notion, not mine. Any breaking news, new info, or very interesting yet differing take on a topic deserves it's own standalone thread. As a person that hates sifting through long threads trying to find new info, that is how I feel about it.
Of course, my caveat is that what qualifies for a new thread concerning and ongoing topic is also somewhat subjective , because if your OP sucks...

In this case, it's fine!

And the thread title?

 

[schuetter]

Was excited about his potential watching his college tape after we signed him. I haven’t seen him get any snaps at WR yet, but I’m hoping SP gives him a look to see if he can bring more value than just returning kicks. Just guessing, but I’d imagine he got quite a few WR screens in college.

 

[jbourque]

It would be nice to see him run some routes in Preseason 3 & 4.

I remember when Beavers (can never forget that name) returned a punt or kickoff to the house and did not make the team.

 

[Infoman]

I think he runs exactly like Darren Sproles... very shifty, good speed, great acceleration. stops and starts in a blink, and sets up his blocks to get lost in the trees...

I'd like for him to stick as well, because I think he gives us better field position on just about every kicking situation... and will likely break 2 or 3 for TDs (which can absolutely change, or blow a game wide open).

That said, he would need to be our 5th or 6th WR (if we don't keep an extra RB)... so that means one less of the other WRs CBs or RBs to make room for him... so I need to see what he can do on Offense as well. (or even as a gunner on coverage teams too)

I like him a lot, but he has to be more than just a returner to make this team IMO.

 

[dutar76]

Curious to see if he continues getting virtually all the return reps or if Grayson gets more opportunities in the final 2 preseason games. Also curious to see if Sherels gets in on the action, if he can return from injury in time.

It's obvious that SP has a vision for Grayson in our offense. The deep speed routes of course, but also those gadget wheel routes, screens, end-arounds, etc.. The plays he's dialed up for Cadet, Ginn, Tommylee, and others over the years. I'd think SP has to either consider keeping both Grayson and Harris, or he would start giving Harris some reps in the gadget role, or Grayson more kick/punt returns.

That brings us back to the WR roster discussion. MT, Ginn, Smith are likely locks. If he were to keep Grayson for the deep and gadget role and Harris as a return specialist only... that would be 5 WRs, leaving room for only 1 more receiver out of Kirkwood, Cobbs, Carr, Humphrey, Butler, or Dural.

Sean Payton's return specialists have always had a role on offense or defense, even if it is only deep depth at WR, RB, or DB. For us to keep 7 WRs, SP would have to consider Harris a valuable enough returner to warrant a specialist-only position (like kicker, punter, and long snapper). He's even tried to work Garret Griffin at TE/FB and long snapper as not to have to use a roster spot exclusively for that position. It didn't work out, but having explored the options shows how he feels about versatility and the 53 man roster make-up.

Having said all that... would it give Sherels a better chance at winning the job because he's "listed" as a DB? Or maybe Grayson as he's not only listed as a WR, but he appears to be SP's new joker project? (and we all know how Sean Payton loves his joker projects)

 

[WxM]

It would be nice to see him run some routes in Preseason 3 & 4.

I remember when Beavers (can never forget that name) returned a punt or kickoff to the house and did not make the team.

Larry Beavers.

He's been lightning it up in West Virginia with a bunch of WVU guys.

Remember Larry Beavers?

In case you don't, he was with the Saints several years ago and is most "famous" for returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in his first preseason game against the Patriots.Anyway, I was reading up on the local indoor football team, and noticed this stat line:"West Virginia was led by...

saintsreport.com

They recently won their league title.

 

[Dillonsp]

Curious to see if he continues getting virtually all the return reps or if Grayson gets more opportunities in the final 2 preseason games. Also curious to see if Sherels gets in on the action, if he can return from injury in time.

It's obvious that SP has a vision for Grayson in our offense. The deep speed routes of course, but also those gadget wheel routes, screens, end-arounds, etc.. The plays he's dialed up for Cadet, Ginn, Tommylee, and others over the years. I'd think SP has to either consider keeping both Grayson and Harris, or he would start giving Harris some reps in the gadget role, or Grayson more kick/punt returns.

That brings us back to the WR roster discussion. MT, Ginn, Smith are likely locks. If he were to keep Grayson for the deep and gadget role and Harris as a return specialist only... that would be 5 WRs, leaving room for only 1 more receiver out of Kirkwood, Cobbs, Carr, Humphrey, Butler, or Dural.

Sean Payton's return specialists have always had a role on offense or defense, even if it is only deep depth at WR, RB, or DB. For us to keep 7 WRs, SP would have to consider Harris a valuable enough returner to warrant a specialist-only position (like kicker, punter, and long snapper). He's even tried to work Garret Griffin at TE/FB and long snapper as not to have to use a roster spot exclusively for that position. It didn't work out, but having explored the options shows how he feels about versatility and the 53 man roster make-up.

Having said all that... would it give Sherels a better chance at winning the job because he's "listed" as a DB? Or maybe Grayson as he's not only listed as a WR, but he appears to be SP's new joker project? (and we all know how Sean Payton loves his joker projects)

I agree with everything you said, but I think people are focusing too much on Harris being listed as a WR and keeping only 6 WRs, if we go with Harris over Sherels. I think, if we go with Harris, we keep 6 additional WRs, just like we would if we were to keep Sherels.
Side note- I'm really excited to see how Payton uses Grayson. So far, he's a better version of everything Payton wanted out of TLL.

 

[dutar76]

I agree with everything you said, but I think people are focusing too much on Harris being listed as a WR and keeping only 6 WRs, if we go with Harris over Sherels. I think, if we go with Harris, we keep 6 additional WRs, just like we would if we were to keep Sherels.
Side note- I'm really excited to see how Payton uses Grayson. So far, he's a better version of everything Payton wanted out of TLL.

That is the question... in the past SP's return specialist have been guys like Reggie, PT, Sproles, Byrd, Ginn, Kamara, Tommylee, Cadet, Taysom, Marcus Murphy, etc.. A guy that has at least "some" use or role on offense or defense. With his lack of work so far on offense, keeping Harris as a return specialist only would be first time that's happened in SP's tenure. That I can remember anyway.

 

[Kyle brister]

That is the question... in the past SP's return specialist have been guys like Reggie, PT, Sproles, Byrd, Ginn, Kamara, Tommylee, Cadet, Taysom, Marcus Murphy, etc.. A guy that has at least "some" use or role on offense or defense. With his lack of work so far on offense, keeping Harris as a return specialist only would be first time that's happened in SP's tenure. That I can remember anyway.

This may be true. But this is the first time SP committed to that kind of player when they signed Sherels. So maybe this kid is so impressive & they really want to see him be a solid returner by day one & that's possibly why he's not getting any WR work. Plus if he does get a spot, that makes the other decisions in a very crowded position that much more difficult to make, meaning if they already think the is gonna make it as a returner & they might have plans down the road for him as a specialty player, why waste that time now, when they have to give other guys as much time at their positions as possible.
One thing's for certain. If Harris is the only returner we see for most of the game Saturday, It's a pretty sure bet he will be returning punts & kicks opening day. I think this guy is a way better version of Michael Lewis. He's fearless & that makes him dangerous for any defense anywhere. If his hands are as good as a receiver as they are as a returner, they'll find a place for him in this offense.