Arizona
Former Cardinals WRs Reveal How Arizona Can Fully Unlock Marvin Harrison Jr
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season was underwhelming for many of the league’s top rookies. Few performances, however, were more underwhelming than that of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, had just one reception for four yards in his NFL debut. He was targeted just three times.
After the game, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing put the onus on himself to get his potential superstar wideout the ball. And this week, two former Cardinals wide receivers had some advice for Petzing and the rest of the Arizona staff.
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GLENDALE, AZ – AUGUST 10: Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, at State Farm Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Harrison Jr. should get going sooner rather than later for the Cardinals.
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
In an interview with longtime Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers, former Cardinals wide receivers Roy Green and Frank Sanders discussed how Arizona could better unlock Harrison. They also urged fans to remain optimistic about their star wide receiver.
“One of the great things he has is a great quarterback,” the two-time Pro Bowler Green said to Somers. “He has all the ability in the world. He’s going to be OK, without question. He’s going to be OK.”
What can Arizona do to get him more opportunities?
“When you have safeties on the backside, those are the guys who had to cover me,” Green said. “Once I get six to seven yards down the field, it’s all about the safety now. With the right play action, he’s got half the field and he’s not going to cover me.
“I think Marvin can do that same thing, particularly with the way we (the Cardinals) are running the football with (James) Conner. Play action is going to give (Harrison) opportunities to make big plays.”
While play action was one solution from Green, Sanders wants to see Harrison go in motion to create some mismatches. Harrison didn’t go in motion once across his 55 snaps in his debut.
“It’s exactly what Dallas is doing with CeeDee Lamb, what Minnesota is doing with Justin Jefferson, what the Raiders are doing with Mr. (Davante) Adams,” Sanders said. “They are putting them in the slot and moving them around consistently. They have them in motion running zip, zang, zoom, zing.
“They are trying to get a mismatch with their No. 1 guy vs. the defense’s nickel coverage or their dime back. But if your offense is not that, then you’re going to be trying to change everything to accommodate one person.”
While it was a disappointing first game for Harrison and the Cardinals, there’s plenty of reason for optimism. Harrison is coming off back-to-back seasons at Ohio State in which he accumulated more than 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He was considered by some to be one of the greatest wide receiver prospects ever.
“Everybody knows he’s a hard worker and he’s going to do what he’s supposed to do,” Green said. “He has a chance to be special.”
Harrison’s next opportunity will be on Sunday in an NFC West battle with the Los Angeles Rams. The Cardinals will likely have made some adjustments to get their talented wideout more opportunities.
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