By Jeremy Fowler
The Orlando Sentinel
November 20, 2008 04:00 am
—
GAINESVILLE, Fla. " In the last two years, Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin have directly collaborated on more than 200 plays and close to 3,000 yards of high-wire-act offense.
That doesn't mean Tebow has a simple formula for Harvin's madness. After all, this time Tebow is certain of one thing " Harvin will probably score this Saturday against The Citadel in the Swamp.
As to how, when and from where on the field, that's all part of Harvin's mystique as one of the greatest Gators offensive weapons of all time.
"With a guy like Percy Harvin, when you say he has three touches or five touches in a game, you want to increase that to eight and 10 touches a game, but also you don't want everybody to be keying on him and him double-covered and still try to force him the ball," Tebow said.
Tough call. It's one that offensive coordinator Dan Mullen must make every game while worrying about getting the ball to all the other playmakers on the Florida (9-1, 7-1 SEC) offense.
It's been three years since Harvin arrived on campus, and it's still difficult to figure out a player who refuses to be defined on the field.
Against South Carolina on Saturday, he did his damage as a running back with two counterruns to the left side for 26- and 80-yard touchdowns.
Against LSU on Oct. 11, Harvin did almost all his damage as a receiver with 112 yards and two scores while rushing for 13 yards on two carries.
Then there's the miraculous Kentucky game, when Harvin pretty much served as a decoy with three touches " twice as a running back, once as a receiver. He still scored two touchdowns.
Pretty soon he'll sell popcorn in the Swamp stands while running drag routes.
Harvin can barely define himself. He's referred to himself as a wide receiver and a running back at different times this year.
These days, he doesn't mind the ambiguity.
"I'm whatever the team needs me to play " receiver, running back, it doesn't matter," Harvin said after the South Carolina game.
Arguably the country's best running back/wide receiver combination player, he has had the big-yardage season (1,622 total in 2007) and the big touchdown year (14 in nine games this year), yet it's difficult to tell when he'll rack up the biggest numbers.
It's obvious Harvin has no problem scoring. His streak of 12 straight games with a score is tied for the nation's longest with Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree. With 14 scores on 85 plays from scrimmage, Harvin averages a touchdown every sixth touch.
Florida Coach Urban Meyer says it's simple, that Harvin is both a natural running back and wide receiver, but some might not agree.
After watching Harvin suck the life out of his Gamecocks, Coach Steve Spurrier said Harvin would be a 200-yard-a-game running back if he was the primary ball-carrier on another team.
Harvin is now the team's leading rusher and receiver this season with 476 yards on the ground and 519 yards from the air.
The Gators' array of explosiveness, including Tebow's 119 rushing carries for 393 yards this year, has lessened Harvin's workload. He likely won't match last year's 1,622 total yards.
That's a good thing, according to CBS Sports college football analyst Gary Danielson.
"Talking to defensive coordinators, the first option is trying to stop running backs (Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey)," Danielson said. "And that's the point. People are forced to stop them, that's why Tebow has caught his second breath and why Harvin has emerged. You can't make Tebow and Harvin the first option any longer. If you peak for Tebow and Harvin, they are gassing you."
Meyer said the Gators plan to use Harvin more as a receiver in the coming weeks, but that could change just as quickly.
Whatever wins games.
"For what we do with him, he's in the right offense and at the right place because there are some places that don't really have the knowledge or experience or personnel to use him the way we do," Meyer said.
NFL folks have told Meyer that the dynamic junior will likely be used in a similar hybrid, all-over-the-field mold at the next level because of his versatility. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Harvin might not have the body to handle "25- to 30-(carry), inside-the-tackle type games," Meyer said.
The way Tebow sees it, the important thing is Harvin's in an orange-and-blue uniform. At least for a couple more games.
"He's probably the most explosive player in college football," Tebow said. "He's probably one of the most explosive players in football period."
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