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Justin Harper knows what you're thinking.
He knows that you think he has potential. He knows that you like his size, speed, and pass catching ability. He knows that you think he's a great practice player, but that when the lights come on, he doesn't bring his A-game.
And he knows that last part needs to change.
"I'm going into my third year, and it seems like the same thing's been happening," Harper says. "I practice well, I get a lot of talk about 'Hey, are you pleased?' or 'You've been catching the ball well'. Now I know I just need to convert it over to my games.
"For me right now, it's all about Thursday versus the Panthers, and if I can do it then, that means I can do it the following game and hopefully make this roster."
Harper seems to always show well in training camp. The 6-3, 226 pound receiver has displayed big-play potential the last three summers, making highlight-reel catches and looking smooth in his route running. But he's had trouble carrying that play into the preseason.
In 2008, his rookie year, Harper appeared in all four preseason games but caught just one pass for 18 yards. In 2009, he posted solid numbers the first two preseason contests (six total catches for 119 yards and a touchdown), but dropped a few easy passes. He then caught just one ball over the final two games, with a few more drops sprinkled in.
The result - a spot on the eight-man practice squad at the start of the season instead of the 53-man roster.
For that end result to change this time around, Harper knows he needs to focus on one word: consistency.
"Over the last two years, with me being a developmental guy, all they kept saying was, 'Be consistent'," Harper said. "Looking at Anquan Boldin, he's one of the most consistent people. Looking at Derrick Mason, he's one of the most consistent route-runners. Mark Clayton, as far as knowing the plays and stuff like that, he's real consistent.
"That's a great group of receivers right there, so if I want to [make the team], I have to be consistent all the way around."
While he started the 2009 season on the practice squad, injuries to fellow wide receiver Marcus Smith and a few other key special teams players led to the Ravens signing Harper to their active roster late in the year.
He saw his first NFL game action Week 14, made a special teams tackle in Week 15, then was a gameday inactive for the final two regular season games and both postseason contests.
This year, with Boldin, Donte' Stallworth and rookie David Reed joining the Ravens' wide receiver ranks (and a healthy Smith back in the fold as well), Harper has his work cut out for him when it comes to making the 53-man.
Realistically, the Virginia Tech product is competing with Reed, Smith and Demetrius Williams for the Ravens' fifth wide receiver job, leaving him in a precarious spot as the preseason arrives tonight.
That doesn't appear to bother the carefree wide receiver, who always seems to have a smile on his face and a cheerful comment on his tongue, even when the stakes are as high as they are tonight.
"I never really look at where do I fall in, I just look at myself as one of the guys right now," Harper says. "I'm going to continue to push Anquan, I'm going to continue to push Mase. I want to make it hard for [the coaches]. If they do got to get rid of me, they're gonna have to put their head down and can't look at me in the eye. That's the mentality that I have.
"I'm blessed to be in the situation I'm in, so wherever I fall, I'll fall pleased."
