Percy Harvin: Bad Fit On the Field for Browns
The New York Jets acquired Percy Harvin yesterday. Officially the trade hasn’t gone through yet but it is done. Reports are now out that the Seattle Seahawks had been shopping Harvin for a few weeks. That means that the Cleveland Browns had the opportunity to trade for the wide out but chose not to. The compensation was not overly high: A conditional 4th round pick, the Browns have two, that could go as high as a second rounder if Harvin performs well for the Jets.
The Jets, having already played their game this week, only have nine games left on their schedule. The Browns on the other hand have 11 games left, including Sunday with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Two more games in a 16 game season is a big amount. Yet the Browns chose not to offer the Seahawks something similar to what the Jets offered, even knowing they could have gotten more games out of him this season.
Joe covered some of the off the field reasons here, check it out in a new window. Yet we believe that his on the field issues may have played an even bigger role.
Injuries
Harvin’s injury history is well known. Since being acquired by the Seahawks Harvin has only played in 8 regular season games. His hip, ankles and head all are injuries waiting to happen. Trading for Harvin, who is one play away from being injured, could severely limit the Browns come game day. On a return or a catch Harvin could go down very early leaving the Browns short handed at receiver. Harvin’s dynamic talent would also be game planned in and an injury could make the team have to scrap that part of the plan early.
Size
While the Browns do not have a player as dynamic as Harvin, Andrew Hawkins isn’t far off, they do have a bunch of small receivers. Harvin would not add a missing element to the Browns offense as they have straight line speed with players like Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore. Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel have small space quickness as well.
Route Running
Percy Harvin hasn’t developed as a receiver. He is still dynamic but he has a very limited route tree that he can run well. He is used on crossing routes, slants and go patterns. He has never developed into a receiver who can run crisp routes so his quarterback can deliver him a pass on time. It is possible that his numerous ankle injuries have given him some trouble but comebacks, hard outs and other basic tenants of the Kyle Shanahan system are not something Harvin has shown the ability to do.
Hoyer has been the talk all over Cleveland, and now nationally, for his good play this season. Hoyer’s success is based on timing and receiver compatibility. That is not to say Hoyer is not able to be successful in other systems, but Shanahan has done a great job of accentuating what the cerebral Hoyer is great at. With Harvin’s inability to run routes and Hoyer’s quick decision and release the Browns offense, and Harvin’s attitude, could struggle. If Harvin doesn’t break when expected, as expected, Hoyer would either look off him or throw the ball where Harvin was expected to go. The first would start to frustrate Harvin the second could lead to interceptions.
Force Feeding
The Seahawks had to make a game plan to get Harvin the ball. They couldn’t rely on him getting open in routes so they tried to make sure he was engaged early. This led to WR screens, Jet sweeps and handoffs. That limited their offense, and Russell Wilson, from making the best decision for the team. Plays were designed specifically to get the ball into Harvin’s hands not to find the open player. The Browns would likely feel pressure to do so as well which could impact their great running game and Hoyer’s great decision making.
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Offense Is Fine
No one expected this point to be true before the season started but the offense is fine. The combination of the offensive line, running game and passing attack have done more than enough to keep the Browns in every game. Adding Percy Harvin, while exciting, is like trying to fix something that isn’t broken. In the NFL adding more talent is never an issue, adding a talent who doesn’t fit during the middle of the season could cause huge problems. Josh Gordon will be added but he was there all off-season and is now able to be in the building and know what is going on. Harvin would have been coming over with little to no knowledge of what the Browns are trying to do. Not worth it.
Front Office
Finally, if this front office didn’t want Harvin that must have had a reason. The Browns have claimed or signed a number of ex-Seahawks this year. It is obvious that they think highly of what the defending champs are doing with the additions of multiple offensive linemen and a fullback to either the active or practice squad rosters. Not taking up the Seahawks on the chance to acquire a high skilled weapon means they know enough to know he isn’t worth it. Now the Jets get a great 2009 team of Michael Vick, Chris Johnson and Percy Harvin. Harvin just wasn’t a fit on the field for the Browns.
Do you disagree with our on field assessment of Harvin’s fit with the Browns?