Harvin Will Be Dynamic In 2009

The Vikings drafted Percy Harvin in the first round of April’s draft with the idea of adding depth and talent to their wide receiving corps — but what they really got was an athlete they can use all over the football field. Today, I discuss why Harvin should have success in the 2009 season.

Why Harvin?

For starters, because he’s dynamic.

Early reports from spring practice in Minnesota have indicated that the Vikings are using Harvin is a variety of ways on offense — and I’m not surprised. He’s the type of player who will make plays in the NFL when he’s given the opportunity to catch and run in space, and to do that, an offense has to have some sense of creativity.

Whether it be the wildcat, where Harvin can get the ball via the direct snap and pick up an extra blocker, or aligned in various spots on the field removed from the formation — no different than how the Eagles use running back Brian Westbrook — just get him the ball in a favorable match-up with an open field in front of him. He’ll be an issue for defensive coordinators in the NFC North.  

I know he’s still a rookie, and I’ve made it no secret here that rookie wide receivers often struggle in their first year. But the way the Vikings should use Harvin on offense is different than most rookie wideouts because he brings different talents to the table. 

Other rookies, like Hakeem Nicks of the Giants and Michael Crabtree of the 49ers, will spend their first seasons fighting for space and running down the sidelines against corners, running deep intermediate routes from outside the numbers. Harvin, on the other hand, will be used as a creative jewel.

Let’s examine why.

Why Harvin is Different

The Vikings didn’t draft Harvin to align outside the numbers to try and beat press coverage and run intermediate to deep routes. They already have that player in Bernard Berrian, who is the deep ball threat for Minnesota.

Harvin’s unique skill set is better suited to playing inside the numbers, working the middle of the football field and playing in the slot on third downs, where I expect him to be a nightmare for nickel corners and safeties.

Think about it this way: Players like Harvin — and Washington’s Santana Moss — make plays when they have a “two-way-go” on defenders — and that only happens when they’re aligned inside. They can release to either side of the defensive player and they don’t have to worry about the corner or safety using the sideline as an extra defender. In this regard, they have ample field space to work with, and ample space to beat press coverage off the line of scrimmage.

Trust me, playing any form of man-to-man in the slot is a long day’s work, especially on third downs. And using Harvin in this position will allow him to turn into one of those players the Vikings can count on to convert all-important third-and-medium situations.

I’ve always wondered why the Chicago Bears don’t use WR Devin Hester on the inside more on third downs. Players like Harvin and Hester can see their talents go to waste when they’re aligned outside the numbers because they don’t have the space to work with and thus have issues with press coverage and corners forcing them to take an outside release toward the sidelines. The route is dead once a receiver is pinned into the boundary.

The Vikings should use Berrian and Sidney Rice on the outside but use their new playmaker inside — and watch him deliver. Use him on bubble screens, use him in the running game and use him inside where he has match-ups that he can be expected him to win — because no matter who’s playing quarterback for the Vikings, it still comes down to winning one-on-one match-ups at the wide receiver position.

Sure, the Vikings’ success on offense will still depend on the legs of running back Adrian Peterson, but having Harvin gives them another outlet and another player who can be explosive with the football in his hands.

And that’s something that was drastically missing in 2008.

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