Harvey ready to let play do his talking
Harvey's competition
Paul Spicer: Led the Jaguars in sacks last season with 7.5; Should be motivated to perform in 2008, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent next off-season.
Reggie Hayward: Averaged nine sacks a season between 2003 and 2005 but hasn't been the same player since rupturing his Achilles' tendon in the 2006 season-opener. Hayward had only 3.5 sacks in 12 games last season.
Quentin Groves: The Jaguars surrendered two draft choices to move up in the second round and select Auburn's all-time sack leader. As a rookie, Groves initially projects as a situational pass-rusher because of his size (6-3, 259 pounds).
Kenny Pettway: An undrafted third-year veteran from Grambling State, Pettway appeared in 10 games last season as part of Jacksonville's defensive line rotation. Pettway will try to keep that spot by holding off Jeremy Mincey, a former (and less heralded) teammate of Harvey's at the University of Florida.
Brian Smith: The Jaguars used a 2007 fourth-round pick on Smith, who had 31.5 sacks during four seasons at Missouri. But Smith missed his rookie campaign with a hip injury that still lingers and, at 236 pounds, may ultimately get switched to linebacker.
-- Alex Marvez
Harvey, though, isn't just reserved with the media. Even his new teammates are still trying to get a read on the eighth overall selection in April's draft.
"It's the same way behind the scenes," fellow Jaguars rookie defensive end Quentin Groves said. "You've got to talk to Derrick before Derrick talks to you. That's what I try to do — get him to open up a little more. He's quiet, the quietest kid I've ever seen."
But as long as he makes noise in opposing backfields, Harvey can let his play speak for itself.
Harvey was considered the draft's third-best defensive end prospect behind Virginia's Chris Long and Ohio State's Vernon Gholston. Not only did he notch 19.5 sacks the past two seasons at the University of Florida, Harvey also possesses traits that NFL teams covet like size, excellent first-step quickness and a long wingspan (82 inches) to fend off blockers.
The Jaguars entered the off-season seeking to improve their pass rush. The club finished tied for ninth in sacks last year with 37, but only 14 were produced by the top three ends in Jacksonville's rotation — Paul Spicer (7.5), Reggie Hayward (3.5) and Bobby McCray (3).
The inability to apply consistent perimeter pressure was especially evident in three losses that helped derail Jacksonville's season. The Jaguars sacked Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning only twice in two meetings, while New England's Tom Brady had ample time to ravage Jacksonville's secondary in a 26-of-28 passing performance during the playoffs.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio couldn't find the impact end he sought in free agency and refused to meet Miami's inflated pre-draft trade demands for Jason Taylor. So the Jaguars made one of the boldest draft-day moves in recent memory to snare Harvey, leapfrogging 18 spots in the first round by swapping picks with Baltimore.
The maneuvering cost Jacksonville two third-round picks and a fourth-rounder. It also placed Harvey in a larger spotlight than had he gotten chosen by a lesser team.
The Jaguars already had spent heavily during the off-season, giving eight digits in guaranteed salary to two free agents (cornerback Drayton Florence and wide receiver Jerry Porter) and quarterback David Garrard as part of a six-year, $60 million contract extension.
By gambling so heavily on an unproven youngster like Harvey, there is the perception that Jacksonville believed it was — as the cliche goes — "one player away" from having a Super Bowl team.
Harvey said he isn't affected by such speculation or the high expectations surrounding him.
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"I don't look at the media or anything like that," Harvey said. "I just go on the field and work hard every day. I'm just trying to get better, that's all. That's just me. I just try to work hard and stay humble."
Harvey took some snaps with Jacksonville's first-team defense during Friday's minicamp practice, but his most immediate regular-season contribution should come as a situational pass rusher. The Jaguars want the 6-foot-5 Harvey to add at least 10 pounds to his 270-pound frame, which would help him in run support.
Plus, Harvey is still a football neophyte. The 21-year-old didn't begin playing until his junior year of high school and left Florida with one season of eligibility remaining.
Jaguars personnel director Gene Smith said Harvey "doesn't have as much football history for a guy coming out (in the draft)." But Smith says Harvey's physical tools allow him to compensate.
"He does possess natural football strength and plays with good leverage," Smith said. "That right off the bat gives him an opportunity to play at a higher level."
Harvey's 2007 productivity actually fell from a sophomore campaign in which he tallied 11.5 sacks, including three in Florida's national championship victory over Ohio State. Smith believes the drop stems from Harvey having four of his 2006 defensive line teammates (Jarvis Moss, Ray McDonald, Joe Cohen and Marcus Thomas) leave for the NFL. Harvey then became the focus of blocking schemes by opposing offenses.
At least initially, that won't be the case in Jacksonville. Del Rio said he plans to use "waves" of pass rushers and expects Harvey to contribute.
Asked his personal goals as a rookie, Harvey's aspirations are as simple as his interview responses.
"Get on the field, get my first sack and help this team win," he said. "That's it."
That would give opposing offenses something to talk about.
Alex will be co-hosting from noon to 4 p.m. ET Sunday with former NFL quarterback Jim Miller on Sirius NFL Radio, Channel 124.
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