When Marvin Harrison Jr. dove for the goal line in Week 2 against the Rams this season, capping an electric 60-yard touchdown, the crowd at State Farm Stadium erupted as the coronation of their new pass-catching star had arrived.
Harrison had 130 yards that day on four catches. A rookie, certainly Harrison would have days that wouldn’t be as good, but the big year many predicted for the No. 4 overall pick seemed inevitable.
As the Cardinals prepare for their second meeting with the Rams this season on Saturday, a journey of a season between the two matchups, Harrison’s first year has been more about a rookie trying to find his way.
Understandable, yet frustrating.
“We’ve got to get better,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “It’s not where he wants it to be, it’s not where I want it to be. It’s not where the team needs it to be.
“Again, I haven’t lost any confidence (in Harrison). I’m excited for these next two weeks.”
Harrison hasn’t had a bad year. He has 51 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. His touchdowns lead the team (and with one more, he’d tie the franchise rookie record held by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) and he is second in catches and yards to star tight end Trey McBride.
For a team that is run-first, it fits. Expectations were different. Yet wide receivers coach Drew Terrell emphasized Harrison is “handling all that with grace.”
“The thing that’s hard, you’re judged and perceived based on other’s opinions of success,” Terrell said. “Most of the time that’s statistical. That’s the nature of our position. But as long as you turn on the tape and there is a product you are proud of when people see it, they know they have to match up with you and defend you and you are launching off the ball and making contested plays, that’s what success is on tape.”
Harrison has done that much of the time, Terrell said. Harrison has maintained the same disposition all season when asked about upping his production.
“Make the plays when the ball comes to you,” he said. “That’s all you can do.”
Not surprisingly, the soft-spoken Harrison notes all the factors that go into catching a lot of passes – the playcall, the defense, the quarterback choice, the defensive player’s effort.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to executing, making plays and doing what is best for the team to win the game,” he said. “It’s not about one person needs this many yards, or we need to throw the ball this many times or run the ball this many times. The end goal it to win.”
