Clay Harbor: Tight end group is ‘mismatch problem waiting to happen’
Even rookies Steven Scheu and Bryce Williams have had strong training camps.
The Patriots’ tight ends seems to make a spectacular play per day in practice.
On Monday, A.J. Derby made a one-handed grab, and Rob Gronkowski made a catch before stiff arming Patrick Chung as Gronk scampered up the sideline. Martellus Bennet has regularly flashed athleticism and excellent hands. But even rookie undrafted free agents Bryce Williams and Steven Scheu have made one-handed grabs, and caught a high volume of balls.
Tight end Clay Harbor, who has played on three NFL teams in his six NFL years, has been impressed by his new positional group.
“I feel like we can create mismatches all over the field,” Harbor said Monday after practice. “All of us can play outside and play inside. … Our whole room is just a mismatch problem waiting to happen.”
Harbor practiced in full pads for the first time Sunday. But he’s been on the field with his teammates during many of the practices, and has logged many hours in film rooms and meetings.
“It’s a great tight end group. Great guys, as well,” he said. “I’ve been with a number of tight end groups, but this is one of the most skilled and hard-working groups I’ve ever been a part of. The young guys are great players already. They work hard. Obviously, Gronk and Martellus are two of the best in the game.”
Harbor isn’t the only person in the Patriots organization that thinks this tight end group stands out. Bill Belichick addressed his tight ends at the beginning of training camp.
“It’s been probably as good of a tight end situation, overall from top to bottom, as we’ve ever had here,” Belchick said on August 3. “The guys are all competitive; they can all do enough things to be competitive”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com