TEMPE — Seven weeks into Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.’s career and it’s safe to say he hasn’t put up the type of consistency or success those around the team expected of him early on.
And he agrees.
“Definitely not what I envisioned, but I’m glad we’re 3-4. I think we’re not in a terrible spot at the moment. … So I just keep going and getting better each week.”
Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. on how he’s feeling seven games into his NFL career: pic.twitter.com/S1VW6pFDOJ
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 24, 2024
“Definitely not what I envisioned but I’m glad we’re 3-4,” Harrison said Thursday, falling short of expanding on what that vision looked like.
“I think we’re not in a terrible spot at the moment. I think we still have a chance to win the division, so I just keep going, keep getting better each week and that’s all I can do.”
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Through seven games, Harrison sits at 300 yards and four touchdowns on 20 receptions (43 targets). Most of that total has come from the first quarter of games, with 206 yards, four scores and 11 catches. He’s reached the 100-yard mark in a game once.
That being said, he is still one of Arizona’s top receiving threats up to this point as he continues to build chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray.
There’s levels to this, and for Harrison, the wide receiver is sticking with his process and not letting the pressure hold him back.
“When you are one of those guys, his mentality and his expectations of himself are always going to remain the same,” Murray said of Harrison on Wednesday. “There’s nothing I can do, anything that y’all write about, that’s not going to affect the way he feels like he should be playing the game or wants to play the game.
“At the same time, I don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface of what we can be. I know it’s frustrating for fans and it’s frustrating for us, too, because I want him to have 10 catches a game, 100 yards a game. We all want that, but again, it takes time, it takes work and that’s where we’re all striving to be. We’re striving to be great, and I believe we will get there.”
Where can Marvin Harrison Jr. improve?
Looking at the areas the rookie can improve upon, having a bigger impact in the run game is chief among them in Harrison’s eyes.
One area where Marvin Harrison Jr. feels like he’s improved upon seven games in: Play speed.
One area where the WR feels he needs to take another step: Run game. pic.twitter.com/B3mGdN59Pa
— Cardinals Corner (@AZCardsCorner) October 24, 2024
“You never know where (James Conner’s) going to be, because he can break every tackle on the field and you kind of just have to be ready and be on your guy,” the rookie said.
“That’s one thing I’m kind of learning with him. I gotta make sure I’m on my guy and make sure my guy doesn’t get a tackle on him.”
Where has Marvin Harrison Jr. improved the most?
If there’s one area the rookie feels he’s taken the biggest step, it’s his play speed.
Up against a Miami Dolphins defense that’s pacing the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed (154.5 yards per game) and touchdowns (three), every bit will help.
“It’s something our position coach Drew Terrell kind of harps on us every day,” Harrison said. “My play speed has picked up each and every week. I’m playing fast. In the passing game, I’m dissecting coverages really well.
“I did a really good job of that last game especially. … Just playing faster, recognizing coverages and getting to my spots.”