Shaun Mayo Arizona Cardinals Chief People Officer | Arizona Cardinals Website
Shaun Mayo Arizona Cardinals Chief People Officer | Arizona Cardinals Website
Before Marvin Harrison Jr. was drafted into the NFL, expectations for the wide receiver were high. However, seven games into his career, Harrison acknowledged that his start has not gone as planned.
When asked to describe what he had envisioned, Harrison struggled to articulate his thoughts. "I don't know," he said. "I don't know."
Defenses have focused on neutralizing Harrison in their game plans. On Monday night, he identified a Cover Two cloud scheme that effectively removed him from play, similar to tactics used by Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh during their college encounters.
As Week 8 approaches, the Cardinals' offense has yet to fulfill its potential, though Harrison remains a central figure. Quarterback Kyler Murray commented on this dynamic: "When you are one of those guys, his mentality and his expectations of himself are always going to remain the same," Murray said. He added that they have not yet fully realized their capabilities and expressed frustration shared by both fans and players alike.
Harrison's performance in Week 2 showed promise with two touchdowns and 130 yards in the first quarter alone. So far this season, he has recorded 20 catches for 300 yards.
Wide receiver Michael Wilson praised Harrison's work ethic: "He's great Monday through Saturday, but he is going to be great on Sunday," Wilson said. He emphasized that chemistry will improve over time and production will follow.
Coach Jonathan Gannon noted that Harrison's presence benefits other players as well; it helped open opportunities for Greg Dortch against the Chargers.
The team seeks more contributions from receivers like Dortch, Wilson, and Zay Jones as they aim for first place in the NFC West. Murray remains optimistic about their progress: "We've got guys in that room that are perfectionists and understand how great we can be... I'm excited and I'm very optimistic about where we can take it."
Harrison stays focused on improving each week: "I just take it one day at a time, one game at a time," he said. His goal is continuous improvement throughout the season.