TEMPE – The Arizona Cardinals accomplished what they sought to do on Monday Night Football with a 17-15 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers that puts head coach Jonathan Gannon’s team at just one .500 game. But despite all the good the team saw in the primetime victory, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s inconsistent stat line remains a talking point.
Harrison didn’t contribute much to the team’s 326 yards behind three catches (six targets) for 21 yards as he continues to look for his second career NFL game with at least 65 yards. His 130-yard, two-touchdown performance seems like a distant memory at this rate.
But despite the scrutiny Harrison is under from a paper standpoint, his head coach and offensive coordinator aren’t concerned about where the rookie fits into the offense seven weeks later.
“I think he does some things extremely well. And then (offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, passing game coordinator/receivers coach Drew Terrell) and I give him things to be aware of throughout the week,” Gannon said. “He’s very self-aware and consistent, so he usually improves on those things. He is seven games in. It’s also a learning experience for him. As he rehearses, he will continue to learn and improve.
“We’ll find ways to continue to give him the ball, but (Greg Dortch’s) touchdown happens because they’re doubling him. Am I on a panic alert because Marvin didn’t leave last night? No, he has a positive impact on the game to help us win.
Gannon isn’t oblivious to the fact that Arizona needs to work on getting its 6-foot-4 point guard to the rock more, no matter what defenses do.
But if defenses want to get more eyes on him — which has been the case so far in 2024 — the Cardinals need to utilize mismatches elsewhere on the field. Just like they did on Dortch’s TD problem.
Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing reflects on rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr.’s MNF: pic.twitter.com/1fFsD46iDE
-Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 23, 2024
“People know him very well. The first play (of Monday’s win) was his,” Gannon said Burns and Gambo from Arizona Sports Tuesday. “I probably shouldn’t even say that.” But they trouble him, so the ball goes to (Trey McBride). They knocked it down, but the defense has a say too.
“If they want to continue to bring strengths to him, other people have to step in and play.”
Concerned about Marvin Harrison Jr.’s efforts?
There are justified concerns when it comes to giving Harrison more of the ball.
The aim of the game is to involve your best players.
But when it comes to Harrison’s mental space, as he and the team attempt to achieve it, it hasn’t raised any red flags for Gannon.
He confirmed that thinking when asked about Wideout’s efforts after the TV broadcast captured Harrison jogging for a few plays.
