Percy Harvin hit free agency this offseason after the New York Jets decided to cut him loose, and there wasn’t a whole lot of interest in him on the open market. After seeing the struggles that he had last season split between the Seattle Seahawks and Jets, there weren’t many teams willing to risk giving him a contract. The Buffalo Bills, on the other hand, saw him as an opportunity to take their offense to the next level.
During the 2014 season, Harvin ended up catching 51 passes for just 483 yards and one touchdown. It was a massive fall from the player that was once viewed as a potential superstar. Injuries have messed with Harvin for the vast majority of his career, but he is still holding out hope that he can turn his career around with the Bills.
Despite all of the struggles that he has had, turning his career around in 2015 with the Bills is exactly what will happen.
Whaley on Percy Harvin fitting in: “unbelievable” right now. Says having a HC who is a leader of men helps other strong personalities fit.
— Sal Capaccio (@SalSports) May 22, 2015
There are still a few question marks surrounding the Bills as the 2015 season closes in, and one of those is who will be the starting quarterback. E.J. Manuel appears to be the front-runner for the job, although both Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor are still in the competition as well. Having a starting quarterback that isn’t capable of being a legitimate star is exactly the type of situation that Harvin needs.
Rex Ryan was hired as the Bills’ new head coach earlier this offseason, and is a major upgrade over what Buffalo has had over the past few seasons. He brings the type of swagger that NFL teams have to have, and knows how to get the most out of his players. Perhaps the biggest thing that he brings to the table is the knowledge of how to instill his players with confidence and use them to the best of their abilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8N5etzBBZ4
At just 27 years old, Harvin is still in the prime of his career. The issue for him over the past couple of seasons is that he hasn’t been in an offense that has utilized him the right way.
Due to the fact that the Bills don’t have a quarterback capable of making every kind of throw, Harvin’s ability to make plays in the open field will be used much more in their offense. He can make plays in the screen game, and also come across the middle. If the Bills want to go deep, Harvin is more than capable of turning on the jets and beating defensive backs down the field.
He has been around the NFL long enough to find himself and figure out where he is most successful. Buffalo signed him to be their utility wide receiver, and to bring the playmaking ability that their offense lacked in a major way last season.
Looking ahead to the 2015 season, there is absolutely nothing holding him back from breaking out and putting up big numbers. He has had a full offseason to work on his body and get healthy, and if he stays healthy he will turn his career around. Having a coaching staff that understands how to work with their players and help them improve is exactly what Harvin has needed.
There is no one that can deny the fact that he can be a special player when he’s healthy and comfortable, and that is what Buffalo can expect to see this season.
Being able to be a supporting member of the offense will also do him good. During his tenure with the Seahawks and even with the Jets, he was actually the number one wide receiver. Sammy Watkins will have that role with the Bills in 2015, and Robert Woods has proven himself to be a quality receiver while Charles Clay is a major upgrade at the tight end position.
All of that being said, it will be very interesting to see what kind of numbers Harvin puts up this season. He is ready to prove himself to the NFL once again, and the Bill s have given him the perfect situation to do just that.
