Aaron Dobson and Duron Harmon have nowhere to go but up

Via ESPN.com

There is nothing more devastating for a young player than a Sophomore slump. Perhaps the spotlight stifles players to shine, but when you are on a team as deep as the New England Patriots you have no choice but to stand out.

With training camp starting this week pressure to be brilliant may be higher than others. At two of the biggest competition positions both sophomores Aaron Dobson and Duron Harmon are the two players we picked that need to step up to the next level.

Dobson

will have his work cut out for him as he starts camp on the PUP list. The young WR is still recovering from foot surgery he underwent in March.  As Mike Reiss of ESPN put it: 

"It would be a surprise and disappointment if he's not ready for the start of training camp, as he's the type of outside receiver (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) who can help balance out the attack playing alongsideJulian Edelman (5-11, 198) and Danny Amendola (5-11, 195) in the three-receiver package."

Dobson has the potential to be a stretch the field type of wide-out and a legitimate red zone threat. After a lukewarm rookie season (37 passes for 519 yards) expectations are high. Dobson needs to rely on his football IQ and being ready mentally for the start of the preseason or this could be the demise for another Patriots hopeful.

Harmon

I think personally that this guy is a diamond in the rough! He had a slow start to the season in 2013 but after an injury to Steve Gregory the rookie out of Rutgers showed glimpses of brilliance against Denver, and Carolina. Although Harmon is not a top flight elite athlete, he has a high football IQ which  as history shows proves to be just as relevant in Belichick eyes.

Belichick about Rutgers players, Via Luke Hughes NESN:

“They’ve all been productive. They’re unselfish players. They work hard for the team. They do a lot of little things in the game like communication and special teams and all those types of things. So there’s a common thread: they’re football guys that work hard at it, that have had good careers there and that continue to get better because it’s important to them. And they’re smart, instinctive players.”

If Harmon could be a bit better than Gregory against the run, I think the second year player could be a solid piece to the 2014 Patriots secondary. Let us know which second year players need to step up in 2014 to make a difference.

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