Foremost among those affected by the New York Jets' addition of the speedy Percy Harvin is receiver Eric Decker, who will be buoyed by the attention that defenses give his new teammate.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport spoke with Decker this week about the addition of Harvin and how it impacts his own playmaking opportunities.
"Well, what's important about (Harvin), his explosiveness, defensive coordinators key on that," Decker said. "And any way you can get the ball in his hands it really spreads the field, opens it up, vertical and horizontally, which is huge for me, running medium routes, certain crossing routes, some vertical patterns. Just allows more freedom on my side. We haven't had that top-end speed he brings to the table, so hope we can utilizing it and get this offense clicking and make some more explosive plays."
Harvin's speed -- and the pressure it puts on defenses -- will allow Decker to slide to more of a 1B or No. 2 role in the offense.
"You look at what he brings to the table and what our offense is built on, having that ability to make 20-plus yard catches, and make some of those plays -- getting the ball in his hands on handoffs, reverses, crossing routes, a lot of new thins, you just want to get the ball in his hands because he can make a five-yard catch go 70. That's what we need," Decker told Rapoport.
As far as his role this week, we know Harvin will be used on special teams as the Jets offense tinkers with how to best deploy its new weapon.
"He's got to get comfortable and coaches gotta do what's best for the offense, what he's comfortable with," Decker said about the plan for Harvin for Sunday's game versus the Buffalo Bills.
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