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Rookie returner Deonte Harris is on pace to make Saints history
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:55 pm
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:55 pm
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The New Orleans Saints didn’t have much to hang their hats on during last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but one player remained a bright spot: rookie return specialist Deonte Harris. Harris picked up 19 yards on a timely punt return and had his best game as a kickoff returner (bringing back four of them for 109 yards) in the loss, doing his part to give his team good field position.
What’s impressive is that this is who Harris has been all season. He’s the only player in the NFL to record 200 or more yards returning both punts (he has 232) and kickoffs (309). It’s rare to see a player impact both areas so well, especially as a rookie. And it’s not like he carries an elite NFL pedigree as a former five-star recruit; he’s a product of Assumption College, a small school in Worcester, Mass. While he stunted on that lower level of competition (earning the NCAA all-division record with 14 combined touchdown returns along the way), the ease of which his skills have translated to the NFL might be unprecedented.
His performance so far stands out well in the context of Saints team history. The 232 punt return yards he’s logged through nine games are the fourth-most in a single season for New Orleans since Sean Payton was hired as head coach, surpassing Reggie Bush’s own rookie production in 2006. He’s on pace to collect 412 yards on punt returns, which would be the best total in Payton’s era and the fifth-most in franchise history. It’s a long shot for him to unseat Michael Lewis’s 2002 season (his 625 punt return yards and 1,807 kick return yards earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition), but it’s obvious that Harris can’t be completely ruled out.
Talk about hitting on an undrafted free agent signing. And these numbers don’t account for a long punt return touchdown Harris scored against the Chicago Bears but lost on a dubious holding call that still vexes his coaches. He’s a player who’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball; hopefully the Saints can start to involve him on offense.
The New Orleans Saints didn’t have much to hang their hats on during last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but one player remained a bright spot: rookie return specialist Deonte Harris. Harris picked up 19 yards on a timely punt return and had his best game as a kickoff returner (bringing back four of them for 109 yards) in the loss, doing his part to give his team good field position.
What’s impressive is that this is who Harris has been all season. He’s the only player in the NFL to record 200 or more yards returning both punts (he has 232) and kickoffs (309). It’s rare to see a player impact both areas so well, especially as a rookie. And it’s not like he carries an elite NFL pedigree as a former five-star recruit; he’s a product of Assumption College, a small school in Worcester, Mass. While he stunted on that lower level of competition (earning the NCAA all-division record with 14 combined touchdown returns along the way), the ease of which his skills have translated to the NFL might be unprecedented.
His performance so far stands out well in the context of Saints team history. The 232 punt return yards he’s logged through nine games are the fourth-most in a single season for New Orleans since Sean Payton was hired as head coach, surpassing Reggie Bush’s own rookie production in 2006. He’s on pace to collect 412 yards on punt returns, which would be the best total in Payton’s era and the fifth-most in franchise history. It’s a long shot for him to unseat Michael Lewis’s 2002 season (his 625 punt return yards and 1,807 kick return yards earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition), but it’s obvious that Harris can’t be completely ruled out.
Talk about hitting on an undrafted free agent signing. And these numbers don’t account for a long punt return touchdown Harris scored against the Chicago Bears but lost on a dubious holding call that still vexes his coaches. He’s a player who’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball; hopefully the Saints can start to involve him on offense.
Posted on 11/14/19 at 10:20 pm to GMoney2600
He’s been a pleasant surprise. I still get a little nervous with him back there fielding punts though.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 5:17 am to GMoney2600
If the guy had 3 more inches on him he’d be a good WR, really good.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 6:08 am to Brandincookem
Except for the pesky fact he can’t hold onto the ball
Posted on 11/15/19 at 6:29 am to Proximo
quote:
Except for the pesky fact he can’t hold onto the ball
The guy has two fumbles on the year, he recovered one of them, and the other was due to a big hit that I don’t expect anyone to hold the ball through. He hasn’t fumbled in over a month.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 6:34 am to GMoney2600
To be fair, Some of those returns he got less yards than we would have if he just fair caught it.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 6:47 am to CP3forMVP
You and the other joker are right, he’s an elite receiver
Posted on 11/15/19 at 7:33 am to GMoney2600
I still say hes going to frick us in the playoffs or SB with a terrible decision and a muff or fumble
Posted on 11/15/19 at 10:32 am to SirWinston
Saints have no deep game this year, other than Ginn, He needs to be involved into the passing game, even if he is just sprinting down the field to take the top off the defense.
Hes going to have some bumps.
But he is a asset. I dont think he is TTL level.
Hes going to have some bumps.
But he is a asset. I dont think he is TTL level.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 12:00 pm to GMoney2600
Hope so, he and the saints laid an egg vs the falcons last weekend
Posted on 11/15/19 at 12:56 pm to Proximo
quote:
You and the other joker are right, he’s an elite receiver
Don’t make moronic comments like “he can’t hold onto the ball” when that’s not the truth. This board did the same thing to Brandon Coleman.
Posted on 11/17/19 at 1:59 am to GMoney2600
quote:
And it’s not like he carries an elite NFL pedigree as a former five-star recruit; he’s a product of Assumption College, a small school in Worcester, Mas
The must have an incredible special teams cozch as Cole Tracy played here prior to transferring to LSU for his senior season.
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