Duron Harmon spent seven seasons in New England, and was a member of three successful Super Bowl-winning groups.
The Las Vegas Raiders security was a fixture on Bill Belichick’s protection and weaned on the Patriot Way. He discovered concerning the NFL from the grasp himself. That’s why it was curious to listen to Harmon say in April throughout an look on “Good Morning Football” that new Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels wasn’t attempting to repeat the Belichick blueprint for achievement.
Harmon mentioned McDaniels, the Patriots’ longtime former offensive coordinator, was “trying to create a culture that is not the Patriot Way.”
Speaking with Harmon on Thursday, days earlier than he and the Raiders will host the Patriots for joint practices Tuesday and Wednesday, he defined what that meant. Quite merely, McDaniels is attempting to be his personal man.
As others — Matt Patricia, Joe Judge, Eric Mangini and McDaniels in his first go-round with the Broncos — discovered the exhausting manner, attempting to mimic Belichick does nothing however earn you a pink slip. It’s higher to create your individual id.
“Josh is Josh. Josh will never be Bill,” mentioned Harmon. “Josh can’t emulate the Patriot Way as a result of that’s not Josh’s manner. Josh can solely be himself, and who Josh is, is who Josh needs to be.
“I’m just excited I get the opportunity to work with him again. Not only is he a phenomenal coach, but he’s a phenomenal man and a phenomenal leader. It’s been a lot of fun being here and being under him as a player on his team.”
So how would Harmon describe the McDaniels Way, which is quick changing into the Raiders Way?
“It’s just being accountable to one another,” he mentioned. “I think that’s what it truly comes down to, on the field and off the field.”
At the identical time, it could be silly to disregard a number of the classes discovered underneath Belichick. There will likely be some carryover with McDaniels making use of a number of the Hoodie’s knowledge. It’s inevitable.
“I think there’s always going to be similarities given how long Josh was in New England. That’s where he grew up as a coach, and that’s where he was also a six-time Super Bowl champion,” mentioned Harmon. “So he loved that place, liked that place, and discovered from that place. So there will likely be similarities, however on the finish of the day, you’re your individual man.
“He’s the same guy I’d sit down with in the cafeteria in New England and have conversations with. He’s still that same guy. But at the same time, his responsibility is to make sure we’re the best football team we can be. And he’s doing a good job of that.”
Harmon, who frolicked in Detroit and Atlanta earlier than touchdown in Las Vegas, definitely hasn’t forgotten the place he got here from. He’s carried remnants of the Patriot Way wherever he’s gone. It’s part of him.
“The Patriot Way has helped me become a player who’s played on Super Bowl-winning teams, and I’ll be forever grateful,” mentioned Harmon, a 2013 third-round decide for Belichick. “It taught me the importance of not only playing good in games, but playing good in practice, because that’s the way you do play well in games. That Patriot Way is the reason why I’m still playing, 10 years in the National Football League.”
In Vegas, it helps that there’s a well-recognized look to the protection, with former Patriot assistant Patrick Graham, most just lately the defensive coordinator in Miami, then with the New York Giants, operating the Raiders’ protection.
Harmon knew him from his time in New England. Graham labored with Patricia, then the Patriots defensive coordinator. So Harmon, as soon as a part of the Patriots’ Rutgers reference to Devin McCourty and Logan Ryan, has adopted his coaches and mentors, earlier enjoying for Patricia in Detroit.
He can’t wait to see what Patricia has up his sleeve in the course of the week, given he’s now presumably calling the offensive performs for Mac Jones.
“I’ll tell you what, that’ll be cool seeing him (call the plays). I’m really looking forward to seeing Matty P,” mentioned Harmon. “I’m going to provide him a crack, or a joke or two, however I do know one factor, he works extraordinarily exhausting at all the things he does.
“I won’t be surprised when he’s calling and dialing up some good stuff. But I’m definitely looking forward to competing against him … it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Harmon wasn’t shocked seeing Patricia maintain a number of roles underneath Belichick, be it senior soccer advisor, offensive line coach, and presumably, offensive play-caller.
“You know what they say, the more you can do … but he’s doing a lot,” mentioned Harmon. “I know he can handle it. He wouldn’t take on any responsibilities he didn’t think he could handle.”
While with the Falcons final yr, Harmon performed towards the Patriots in a Week 11 matchup. The Falcons hosted the Patriots for a Thursday evening recreation, so Harmon acquired an up-close take a look at Mac Jones.
“He’s a good football player. Anybody that can come in and start for the Patriots right away, lets you know that they’re smart, dependable, and a good player,” mentioned Harmon. “It’s exhausting. They put lots on you, and as a rookie, it takes some adjusting, and I assumed he adjusted rather well.
“I’m looking forward to it. We had some safety and quarterback battles. He got me a couple times, and I was able to get him a couple times. It was fun to have that type of matchup. You could see that he’s a good quarterback.”
Now 31, Harmon says he doesn’t know who’s extra excited to be in Las Vegas, him or his children. But he does see “potential” for the Raiders to be particular, even in a loaded division with the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos.
“Working again with Josh, working again with Pat, coming out every day with a group of guys who are hungry, and excited about playing football,” he mentioned. “And then, also just looking at the talent, the talent that this team has. Talent only takes you so far, but it’s a good place to start. I couldn’t be more excited about joining this team, and getting the opportunity to compete with these boys.”
McDaniels took a slew of former Patriot coaches with him to Vegas, (Mick Lombardi, Carmen Bricillo, Bo Hardegree, Jerry Schuplinski, Graham) together with a number of former gamers together with Harmon, Brandon Bolden, Josh Stidham, Jakob Johnson, Isaiah Zuber and Jermaine Eluemunor.
Said Harmon: “What I’ve learned over time, is that you can never do anything alone. You need a good team around you.”
Winning three championship rings with the Patriots is a testomony to that.
Edelman return?
During an look on the Rich Eisen Show, retired Patriots receiver Julian Edelman planted the seed of a doable return to soccer.
Not as a year-round soccer participant, extra like a man who’d slip in and play on the finish of the yr and post-season.
Edelman, now 36, retired from soccer largely as a result of one in all his knees couldn’t maintain as much as the trials of a season. However, almost two years out of soccer, he wouldn’t rule out a return if the Patriots, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or one other playoff-caliber crew got here calling later this season.
“I’ll tell you right now, if I had three weeks, three maybe four weeks — beginning of the season, absolutely not,” Edelman mentioned a few doable comeback. “But if there’s a team vying for a playoff run, guy goes down. Could I get ready? I probably could. … You can never say never.”
Former teammate Harmon’s response?
“That would be cool. That would be a story for sure,” Harmon mentioned. “He’s trying to do what (Rams safety) Eric Weddle did, coming back for a couple games and winning a championship.”
Edelman instructed Eisen he missed the sport extra this yr than final.
“I miss waking up in August, going to the sector and smelling the fresh-cut grass, seeing the sprinklers simply completed. Seeing our gear guys simply ending setting all of the stuff out. The locker room, the fellas, the competitors.
“Now, being in my second year out, I can actually miss it because last year it was still ingrained in my head. That last year was rough. Football is not fun when you’re bruised — when you feel like (expletive).”
Pickens turning heads
Bill Belichick may by no means reside down the N’Keal Harry decide, contemplating all the good receivers (Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.Okay. Metcalf) he missed out on within the 2019 draft.
No doubt all eyes will likely be on Tyquan Thornton, the Patriots’ second-round decide, and the way he fares in contrast with others in his draft class. Thornton, on the very least, doesn’t look he’ll be accessible initially of the season, and sure past given the reported collarbone damage he suffered Friday evening towards the Panthers. So different rookie receivers will get a leap on him.
Already, George Pickens, taken by the Steelers at No. 52, two picks after Thornton, has been drawing rave critiques. Skyy Moore, taken at No. 54 by the Chiefs, is one other wideout to watch. Of course, Thornton may emerge as a star down the street, each time he returns, and the dialogue ends.
If not, Pickens, the eleventh receiver chosen general, and Moore, will pique the curiosity of Patriots followers.
Pickens, a Georgia alum whose inventory seemingly dropped due to the ACL tear he suffered in spring follow final season, has been electrical by most studies. During the Steelers preseason opener towards the Seahawks, Pickens had three catches for 43 yards and a landing. He caught a 26-yard fade in the correct nook of the tip zone, and made it look straightforward.
“His body control is something serious,” two-time All-Pro free security Minkah Fitzpatrick mentioned of his teammate through the Pittsburgh Tribune. “You saw it Saturday night in the back of the end zone. Everything looks easy and natural to him.”
Fellow huge receiver Diontae Johnson sounds awestruck.
“He’s a freak, that’s what he is,” Johnson mentioned. “That’s a special talent. You can’t teach some of the things he does.”
Irsay excessive on Ryan
Colts proprietor Jim Irsay is bullish on Matt Ryan and his soccer crew.
Meeting with the media Wednesday, Irsay mentioned the addition of Ryan had bolstered his hopes for one more championship, saying the quarterback was “everything we hoped and dreamed for.”
Irsay principally chalked up final yr’s “massive problems” to former quarterback Carson Wentz’ inconsistency.
He’s anticipating Ryan to assist return the Colts to greatness.
“We did all those things with Peyton (Manning) and Marvin (Harrison), as well documented,” Irsay mentioned. “The 115 wins in a decade, going to 2 Super Bowls, successful two residence AFC Championship Games.
“But now’s the time to create another era. It’s been created in Pittsburgh. It’s been created in Green Bay. It’s been created in Denver. So, you have to do that. I mean, it’s about greatness.”
Forgetting somebody?
How concerning the Patriots with six championships over the course of 20 years?
Interesting slight, to say the least.
Patriots with second-oldest roster
Bookies.com, doing the mathematics on each crew’s projected 53-man roster, calculated the typical age for all 32 NFL groups this season.
The outcomes?
The Raiders (27 years, 5 months, 27 days) and Patriots (27 years, 5 months, 13 days) land within the prime two spots on the record by way of having the oldest rosters within the league.
The youngest?
The Browns (25 years, 5 months, 27 days) stand because the youngest. Just above them are the Chiefs and Rams.
Source: www.bostonherald.com