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Let’s get into some camp Whispers . . .
LB Marcell Harris continues to flash in camp.
He had three big hits on offensive players – running back Breece Hall, wide receiver Rashard Davis and tight end Trevon Wesco. He also had a QB pressure on Joe Flacco on a blitz to force the QB to throw the ball away.
Harris, who played for Robert Saleh in San Francisco from 2018-20, isn’t just a guy battling for one of the last roster spots, as some might view him, but probably a guy vying for playing time on defense.
He’s another one of those safety-to-linebacker players Saleh likes. The 49ers moved him last year.
Don’t judge him where he was picked in the draft by the 49ers in the 2018 sixth round. He had blown out his achilles his last year at the University of Florida. so he wasn’t healthy when the 2018 draft took place.
He’s got a lot of talent. He was a big-time recruit out of Orlando powerhouse Dr. Phillips High School, who most of the big powers wanted.
He’s showing good toughness in the box. Not sure about the coverage stuff yet. As I mentioned yesterday, the Jets need more plays on the ball from linebackers in coverage in this camp, and that includes him.
But he’s made a major statement in camp thus far, not just for not just a roster spot, but playing time . . .
Early in practice, Quinnen Williams had two nice plays on back-to-back plays, first a run stop on the line, and then a QB pressure on Zach Wilson forcing a throw-away. . .
Wilson had some nice throws in today’s practice. He did a terrific job of going throw his reads on a pass to tight end Tyler Conklin. He looked left and then turned his head and hit Conklin on the right side. He also had a nice strike to Elijah Moore on a crossing route in the back of the end zone, with Michael Carter in coverage.
Carter isn’t alone in having trouble covering Moore. He consistently cuts away from Jets defensive backs with his top-shelf short-area quickness . . .
Wilson continues to look good on naked bootlegs, a signature player in the Shanahan offense . . .
Defensive end Tim Ward had a QB pressure/tipped pass on Mike White.
Ward, who was a waiver claim last September from Cleveland, looks more comfortable this summer than he did last year, as a late acquisition playing catch-up all season.
At 6-6, the Old Dominion product does a nice job of disrupting pass lanes . . .
I don’t like to make a big deal about long-shot receivers because most that I’ve hype during camps end up getting cut. If a team comes into camp with a lot of depth at receiver, with veterans and high draft picks, it’s really hard to make the team at that spot as a long shot. Now, you can make the practice squad, but it’s hard to crack that roster nut.
Josh Malone, now with Tennessee, is a perfect example. He looked good in camps, but just couldn’t not “break on through to the other side,” to quote Jim Morrison.
But with that being said, Tarik Black had a heck of a catch today. The Connecticut native, who played at both Michigan and Texas, caught a slant with a defensive back in tight coverage, showing the ability to win on contested passes. He’s a jumbo receiver at 6-3, 217.
It’s going to be hard for him to make the roster, but maybe he lands a practice squad spot with a good summer.
While there is a shortage of talent at some positions in pro football, like at cornerback, not such problem at receiver.
If you watched the USFL at all this past season, that league was loaded with good receivers, and the Jets signed one in Davis.
The CFL also has plenty of good receivers.
August 3, 2022
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